Create a Guitar Cover for Your Favorite Song!
Learn and arrange a simple guitar cover of your favorite song by practicing chords, strumming patterns, and recording a short video performance at home.
Step-by-step guide to create a guitar cover of your favorite song
How To: Create & Record Your Own Music Song Covers in Audacity
Step 1
Pick your favorite song to make a short guitar cover of.
Step 2
Find a simple chord sheet or lyrics with chords for that song.
Step 3
Tune your guitar so it sounds right before you start playing.
Step 4
Look at the chord sheet and write down the chords used in the section you will play.
Step 5
Practice each chord shape one at a time until you can hold it cleanly for four beats.
Step 6
Practice switching between the chords slowly until the changes feel smooth.
Step 7
Choose one simple strumming pattern and practice it slowly while holding a single chord.
Step 8
Combine the strumming pattern with your chord changes by playing the first verse or chorus slowly.
Step 9
Set a steady tempo on the metronome and play the chosen section along with it.
Step 10
Decide which part of the song you will record for your short video (intro verse or chorus).
Step 11
Rehearse the entire chosen section until you can play it through without stopping three times in a row.
Step 12
Set up a quiet tidy spot with good lighting to record your performance.
Step 13
Record a short video performance of your chosen section from start to finish.
Step 14
Share your favorite video take on DIY.org for others to see your guitar cover.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have a chord sheet or a tuner?
If you don't have a printed chord sheet, use a free site or app like Ultimate Guitar or a web chord finder to show the chords, and if you lack a tuner use a smartphone tuning app or an online tuner before 'Tune your guitar so it sounds right'.
My chords buzz or I can't switch smoothly—what should I try?
If chords buzz or you can't hold them cleanly for four beats, press closer to the fret, use the tips of your fingers, mute unwanted strings with your palm, and slow the metronome while repeating the steps 'Practice each chord shape one at a time' and 'Practice switching between the chords slowly'.
How can I adapt the steps for younger or older kids?
For young beginners pick a two‑chord song, reduce the hold time to two beats and record a shorter clip, while older kids can add a capo, learn a simple riff between chords, or raise the metronome tempo to make 'Practice each chord shape' and 'Rehearse the entire chosen section' more challenging.
How can we improve or personalize the guitar cover before sharing?
To enhance your cover, try changing the strumming pattern from the chosen one, add a short fingerpicked intro, use a capo to change the key, record multiple takes to edit together in a free video editor, and then 'Share your favorite video take on DIY.org'.
Watch videos on how to create a guitar cover of your favorite song
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Facts about learning guitar and arranging songs for kids
🎶 A "cover version" is a new performance of an existing song — sometimes covers become more famous than the original!
🕒 Just 20–30 minutes of focused practice every day can make your playing much stronger in a few weeks.
🎵 Lots of pop songs use simple 3-chord progressions (for example G–C–D) — perfect for beginner covers.
🎸 Most guitars have six strings tuned E–A–D–G–B–E — learn that and you unlock hundreds of chords!
📱 YouTube and social media helped discover stars like Justin Bieber from cover videos — your cover could reach thousands!
How do I create a simple guitar cover of my favorite song at home?
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