Performing a cover can be a great thing for you and your career as a musician. It can help you get more exposure, both live and online. On a live stage, people love listening to songs that they are familiar with, and if the song you are covering is well known, it is sure to turn heads and attract attention. People are constantly searching the Internet for popular songs, and covering one of them can make it possible for them to include you during their searches. And while covering a hit song can be a huge boost to your career, it’s essential that you avoid the big mistake that countless musicians fall into. Solve this problem and you can maximize your results.

The biggest mistake people make when choosing to cover a song is not choosing the song (although you will probably want to avoid choosing an obscure song that people won’t easily recognize). The problem you will face is that most of the songs covered are considered classical, and on a scale of 1 to 10, most are possibly 9 or 10 and were recorded in top-notch studios. If you simply copy it, your “copy” will most likely not reach the same level as the original. Many people have very strong feelings and associations with the songs they love, preferring to hear the original than a near “carbon” copy. Fortunately, with a little thought and effort, this problem can be solved. The answer is that you need to “make it yours” by giving it something unique.

The natural question that arises from saying “make it unique” is simply how? Here are a few different ways to differentiate your cover from others. It changes the key of the song drastically. Take a slow ballad and turn it into a fast rock song, or vice versa. Changes the key in which the song is played. Change the song tempo or song arrangement. Change the dynamics. The key is to take your time and be intentional as you think about all of this.

An example of a great cover that might inspire you is Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.” Guns ‘N Roses “Sweet Child’ O Mine” has been toned down into a Sheryl Crow cover. Eric Clapton put a unique spin on Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff.” Many more can be found with a few quick searches on the Internet. Also, if you have a niche music project, like Camille and Kennerly (sisters who have had great success covering popular songs on the harp), or the Vitamin String Quartet (a string quartet that creates classical interpretations of various popular songs and artists ). You may find that cover page making can even become a viable business model.

Covering songs can be a great way to get exposure, and if you take the time to make your version unique, you’ll maximize that exposure and have a much better chance of being above the rest of the crowd.