How to Cover a Song: Complete Guide to Recording & Releasing Covers (2026)

Recording a cover song is one of the best ways to develop your skills, build an audience, and enjoy making music. Here's everything you need to know to do it right.

Step 1: Choose the Right Song

Not every song makes a good cover. Consider these factors:

Songs That Make Great Covers

Songs to Avoid

The "Twist" Test

Ask yourself: What would I do differently?

If you can't answer, maybe choose a different song. The best covers bring something new:

• Different genre (acoustic punk, metal ballad)
• Different tempo (slow fast song, upbeat sad song)
• Different arrangement (stripped down, fully orchestrated)
• Different emotional angle (angry becomes sad, etc.)

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Need instrumental tracks? StemSplit can extract instrumentals from any song — perfect for practice or creating backing tracks for your cover.

Create Backing Tracks →

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Step 2: Create Your Arrangement

Start with the Structure

Map out the original song:

• Intro → Verse → Chorus → Verse → Chorus → Bridge → Chorus → Outro
• Note key changes, tempo changes, dynamics

Decide What to Change

Consider modifying:

• Key: Match your vocal range
• Tempo: Faster for energy, slower for emotion
• Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar? Full band? Electronic?
• Structure: Cut unnecessary sections, extend others

Work Out the Chords

Resources for finding chords:

• Ultimate Guitar (ultimate-guitar.com)
• Chordify (auto-generates chords)
• Songsterr (tabs with playback)
• Your own ears (best for accuracy)

Create a Demo

Before full recording:

1. Record a rough version on your phone
2. Listen critically
3. Identify what works and what doesn't
4. Refine arrangement

Step 3: Get Instrumental/Backing Tracks

Option A: Play Everything Yourself

Most authentic approach:

• Record each instrument separately
• Build arrangement from scratch
• Complete creative control

Option B: Use the Original (Karaoke/Instrumental)

Search for existing instrumentals:

• Karaoke versions (quality varies)
• Official instrumental releases (rare)
• YouTube karaoke channels

Option C: Extract Instrumentals with AI

Use StemSplit to create instrumentals:

1. Upload the original song
2. Remove vocals
3. Use the instrumental as backing

Important: Using extracted instrumentals still requires licensing for distribution. The composition copyright remains.

Option D: Hire Musicians

Session musicians can:

• Create professional arrangements
• Play parts you can't
• Elevate production quality

Platforms: Fiverr, SoundBetter, local musicians

Step 4: Recording

Basic Home Recording Setup

Recording Tips

Vocal Recording:

• Record in a quiet space
• Hang blankets to reduce reverb
• Position 6-12 inches from mic
• Record multiple takes
• Comp (combine) the best parts

Instrument Recording:

• DI for guitar/bass (use amp sims)
• Acoustic: room sound matters
• MIDI for drums/keys if needed

Production Basics

1. Edit: Tune vocals, tighten timing
2. Mix: Balance levels, EQ, compression
3. Master: Final polish, loudness

If mixing isn't your skill, hire a mixing engineer ($50-200 for a single).

Step 5: Get Licensed

Before distribution, you need a mechanical license.

Easiest Method: Through Your Distributor

Most distributors offer cover licensing:

• DistroKid: Cover song licensing built-in
• CD Baby: Cover song licensing service
• TuneCore: Similar offering

Cost: $15-20 per song + ongoing royalties

Alternative: Direct Licensing

• Harry Fox Agency (songfile.com)
• Easy Song Licensing
• Loudr

What You Need to Provide

• Song title
• Original songwriter(s)
• Publisher (if known)
• Your release details

Step 6: Distribute

Where to Distribute

Through aggregators, your cover reaches:

• Spotify
• Apple Music
• Amazon Music
• YouTube Music
• Tidal
• Deezer
• 100+ other platforms

Distribution Services

What to Include

• Properly credited songwriters
• Cover artwork (don't use original album art)
• Your artist name
• Release date

Step 7: Promote

On Release Day

• Post to social media
• Share behind-the-scenes content
• Email your list (if you have one)
• Submit to Spotify playlists

Ongoing Promotion

• Create video content (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram Reels)
• Perform it live
• Collaborate with other artists
• Engage with fans of the original

Leverage the Original Artist

• Tag them in posts (they might share!)
• Use relevant hashtags
• Join fan communities

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't Copy Exactly

A note-for-note recreation is:

• Hard to match quality
• Doesn't showcase your artistry
• Forgettable

Don't Change Too Much

If it's unrecognizable, what's the point? Keep the essence.

Don't Ignore Licensing

Getting caught without a license can mean:

• Takedowns
• Lost revenue
• Potential legal issues

Don't Use Original's Album Art

Create your own artwork. Using the original's art is trademark infringement.

Don't Rush the Mix

Bad production undermines great performance. Take time or hire help.

Cover Song Ideas by Strategy

For Building an Audience

Cover trending songs:

• Current hits (fast turnaround needed)
• Viral TikTok songs
• Songs blowing up in your niche

For Showcasing Skills

Cover challenging songs:

• Vocally demanding songs
• Instrumentally complex pieces
• Songs that let you show off

For Standing Out

Cover unexpected songs:

• Genre-flip (metal version of pop, acoustic version of EDM)
• Older songs new audiences don't know
• Deep cuts from famous artists

For SEO/Discovery

Cover high-search-volume songs:

• Classic rock standards
• Wedding songs
• Karaoke favorites

FAQ

How much does it cost to release a cover?

Roughly $30-50 total:

• Distribution: $10-20
• Licensing: $15-20
• Additional royalties per stream

Can I release a cover on Spotify?

Yes! Use a distributor with cover licensing. Your cover goes through like any other release.

How long does licensing take?

Usually instant to a few days through major distributors. Direct licensing takes 1-2 weeks.

Can I make money from covers?

Yes, but expect lower margins. Royalties to original songwriters are deducted from your earnings.

Should I release covers or originals?

Both have value:

• Covers: Build audience, practice recording
• Originals: Higher earning potential, artist identity

Many successful artists mix both.

How do I know if my cover is "different enough"?

If you can imagine it standing alone as a compelling recording, it's different enough. If it only makes sense as "X song by Y artist," add more of yourself.

The Bottom Line

Recording covers is a great way to develop as an artist, connect with audiences, and make music you love. Follow this process:

1. Choose a song you can make your own
2. Create a distinctive arrangement
3. Record with the best quality you can manage
4. Get properly licensed
5. Distribute and promote

The infrastructure for releasing covers has never been easier. Don't let the process intimidate you — just start.

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Create Professional Backing Tracks

Extract instrumentals from any song.

• ✅ Remove vocals for karaoke-style tracks
• ✅ Practice singing without the original voice
• ✅ Create demos before full production
• ✅ Works with any song

Try StemSplit →

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