Top 5 Cover Songs For Solo Acoustic Gigs - Learn These Now!

[@jed1166]

Nice list! My #1 go to is The Weight…

[@rexomatic8667]

Fun list. I generally play about 50% original and 50% covers, Dylan, Guthrie, Tom Petty, Nick Lowe, Beatles, John Mayer, Byrds, John Prine, Rolling Stones, Griffin House, Avett Brothers. When playing with the band, I Don’t Know (original) gets them dancing, usually at end of gig.

[@kmacdc4]

I added Killing Me Softly to the rotation. Always goes over well.

[@imtjfox]

Here Comes the Sun has such a great recognizable intro. Love the list, great video!!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thanks!

[@BenEBrady]

I've been playing out for 50 years and one song, probably most surprising is Puff, the Magic Dragon. Everyone loves that song. Especially older audiences. Another of my absolute must do songs is American Pie.

[@aaronshortmusic]

I have never tried that one. We did sing it in school. Thanks!

[@BenEBrady]

@aaronshortmusic when I used to teach people how to use software and we were in a group setting, at the bathroom breaks if anyone came back late, their penalty for being tardy was to sing Puff. I seldom had stragglers in my classes.

[@CommViewer]

Nice input….what’s your top ten list ?

[@BenEBrady]

@@CommViewer let's see... Puff the magic dragon American pie Take me home country roads San Francisco Bay blues Blowing in the wind Margaritaville The silver tongued devil and I Solitary man Houston, I'm coming to see you Amarillo by morning You're sixteen You can find all of these on my KZbin channel.

[@scottbecker3485]

Nice to hear what works for you. As for Country Roads, it also „works“ here in Germany, especially late in the evening when folks are a bit „alcoholically happy“. ;-) That said, among musicians here that song is kinda disliked because so many drunken people want to hear it (and shout-sing along with it). I stopped playing it for years, but you convinced me to give it another try. ;-) Other good ones I‘d add to the list: September, Valerie, Ayo Technology, I‘m a Believer, Bad Moon Rising, Faith, Happy, I Shot the Sheriff, Long Cool Woman, Maneater, Mrs. Robinson and Walking on Sunshine.

[@DavidEidelberg]

I almost always play Here Comes The Sun. Now I use the Key 9 pedal to make the sound bigger.

[@xanderlnelson4369]

Thank you so much for this! I’ve been playing music for 20 years, but I’m just starting my solo cover gig journey and am looking for those certified crowd pleasers 🤘🏻

[@aaronshortmusic]

I’m glad it helped. Let me know if you would like a follow up and please share the video if you know anyone else that would benefit from it or enjoy it. Cheers!

[@kjlee2112]

Excellent list and video sir. I'm all about this kind of content from you. Songs that have gotten the best response from my gigs: Waterfalls (TLC), Baby Hit Me One More Time (Travis cover of Britney Spears). It's amazing the response I get from those two songs alone - people participate and dance and it surprises me every time, though I suppose it no longer should ha. Mr. Brightside, Hey Jealousy, and Wagon Wheel should also be on the tried and true and "these always work" list. As much as people say they hate Wagon Wheel... like you say... those same people get caught up in everyone else singing it or dancing to it and go right along with it. It's just one of those songs ha. Thanks again Aaron.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Great stuff. I think I need to react to the songs from the comments. I have my own thoughts and experiences with some of these!

[@MichaelAlso]

Great choices & great vid

[@michaelhayes9773]

I read somewhere that Country Roads was written by the other two, he was a friend and came in and changed a couple lyrics and took writing credit. He was known for that kind of stuff.

[@edhalbach9550]

Great list! Give us more!

[@jonberry2021]

I take requests whenever possible and I agree with your choices and would add: Hotel California The Joker Amie Piano Man Summer of 69 Bad Moon Rising Tennessee Whiskey Wagon Wheel Margaritaville Don’t Stop Believing Sweet Home Alabama I’m a Believer Sweet Caroline Jessie’s Girl

[@patsysmith8030]

How about Valerie, Wonderful Tonight and Hey Jude?

[@TomZola1]

Your guitar sounds great!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Thank you. That is the direct sound. No microphone!

[@e-BikeLife]

@@aaronshortmusic That begs the question, "What ARE you playing?".

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@e-BikeLife Cole Clark. Amazing pickup system.

[@vt500ft]

Still ever play a Rainsong?

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@vt500ft Yes still have one. So sad they closed.

[@folkenbluzer]

Thank you Aaron! I found this helpful. I've been playing out a little bit the last couple of years and did originals the 1st couple time which were well received but the sound guy said, people like to here sings they already know too. My covers are of more obscure music that get an ooo from some but an eh from most lol. I may have to give them a country roads next time and violent femms I think was a great suggestion also so I may learn that one. Something in the orange by Zack Bryan was suggested by someone in the audience and went over well the next time I played. It's not too difficult either. Also , I've yet to purchase that microphone pickup for the guitar you were using for a bit. The name is eluding me. I'll have to catch you on a livestream and ask about it. Anyway thanks for the performance tips and all the equipment reviews👍👍

[@danielgunderson5360]

Satisfaction, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, All Along The Watchtower

[@danielgunderson5360]

Also Free Fallin'

[@patsysmith8030]

Love it

[@DavidEidelberg]

Pretty much everyone I know sings Country Roads in G. Denver had a really high voice. I even played it at the cancer hospital today and saw so many people singing along.

[@kmacdc4]

Is "Don't Look Back in Anger" basically the UK version of Sweet Caroline?

[@davemason6444]

I find a Beatles medley always goes well. But here are a couple of odd ones which people seem to enjoy: Praise You by Fat Boy Slim Dancing in the Moonlight by Thin Lizzy (need an octaver and a looper to do it solo, but the baseline is easy and repeats throughout). I sometimes do the "other" Dancing in the Moonlight by Toploader that most people also know without noticing they have the same title!

[@aaronshortmusic]

Those are good ones. Are you in the UK?

[@davemason6444]

Australia! A similar musical tradition ... but just a wee way away.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@davemason6444 Cool! I thought those songs were big in the UK only.

[@brucehartley3858]

All of those go over well at karaoke too - but unlike playing an instrument, it’s hard to get the KJ to alter the pitch unless you know them and they have the equipment to do so.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Karaoke can be difficult for that reason.

[@brucehartley3858]

@@aaronshortmusic I know that all too well, I have perfect pitch and know instantly if the song is played off pitch and when that happens i mention it, but some DJ’s don’t even know it’s happening or if they do, why it happens. To me, if it’s the same source, it should be the same pitch every time. I suspect it’s different copies of it they accumulated over the years

[@PooNinja]

Big hands I know your the one 😂👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@reghacksaw1258]

My dear fellow, I very much enjoy your videos, however I do have a couple of observations: If your intention is to keep old people such as me out of local music venues by reducing the repertoire of solo acoustic players to a handful of songs which have been over performed in some cases for decades then just say so and I will just stay at home. In my own case I can’t sing or play guitar very well (despite 50+ years of practice). In view of this I decided a little while ago to only perform my own songs. The advantages of this include: no one knows when I make a mistake (unless I pull a face, which does happen quite often), no one joins in and overshadows my performance by singing in time and in tune. I do spend quite a lot of time waiting for bookings.

[@bailey123198]

Just a suggestion, although it may not fit your interest level. I'd suggest as a follow-up, take 2 of those songs and give a 3 1/2 minute lesson on each, with guitar in hand. Not a deep dive, but just more content than you had time for in this video. 🎼🎶🎤 (using Acoustic)

[@aaronshortmusic]

Yes I plan to do that at some point.

[@DavidEidelberg]

Pink eyed girl, cross eyed girl, one eyed girl etc…. And in Columbus, Ohio, “my Buckeye girl.”

[@DavidEidelberg]

I haven’t played Wonderwall in years. But you need some Tom Petty in the top 5.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Give me your top 5.

[@PaulAshley]

I can't stand Brown-Eyed Girl! I do Here Comes The Sun in a short medley with a capoed version of McCartney's I Will. My biggest singalong success was with American Pie. Also liked is Walking In Memphis.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Only play songs that you enjoy. It’s one of those songs the I play as much for the reaction than my enjoyment. Maybe more so!

[@seahorse2547]

American pie takes all evening! ! 😮

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@seahorse2547 That’s why I love it lol

[@PaulAshley]

@@seahorse2547 Around eight minutes and that helps fill up a set!

[@mandriod5255]

Where the hell has individuality gone?

[@aaronshortmusic]

You can still be in individual while learning the classics.

[@mandriod5255]

@@aaronshortmusic None of the songs her would be on my set list due to a conflict of style, but I much prefer to hear different songs from different artists, some songs that you wouldn’t normally hear and some originals.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@mandriod5255 I play those too. These are the songs that never fail at any gig.

[@tonybowen]

Blister In The Sun is such a great tune. I’d add - Angels - Robbie to the obvious list And I’d add - Walk Like An Egyptian - Bangles for the curve ball.

[@aaronshortmusic]

Angels is one of those songs that works better in the UK than the USA. People know it but not like they do in England. The Bangles could be cool solo acoustic!

[@tonybowen]

Walk Like is my go to for audience participation.

[@aaronshortmusic]

@@tonybowen I wonder if it’s more popular in the UK. Does anyone know Wagon Wheel over there? I have a feeling they don’t (or maybe it got big recently).

[@tonybowen]

@@aaronshortmusic yes it’s annoyingly popular here too.