Cover Band vs Original Band: Which Should You Start With? — Clear Decision Criteria and Tips for Doing Both

"Should I start with a cover band or an original band?"

When you decide to form a band, many people pause at this very question. Especially in the early stages of experience, the choice between the two fundamentally changes your practice content, how you recruit members, and how you present yourselves at live performances.

As of 2026, both styles coexist actively in Japan's music scene. Visit a live house and you'll find cover bands performing with passion on the same floor as young bands performing original compositions. Neither is the "correct" choice. What matters is choosing the one that aligns with your goals and circumstances.

This article systematically explains the merits and demerits of both cover bands and original bands, decision criteria by type, and practical approaches to doing both. Including how to recruit members on Membo, this content will be useful for everyone at the starting line of band activity.

1. Definitions and reality of cover bands and original bands

What is a cover band?

A cover band (Wikipedia) is a band whose primary activity is performing songs by existing artists. In English-speaking countries, they're also called "cover bands" or "tribute bands."

In Japan, the typical style is performing songs by a single specific artist (such as a B'z cover band or GLAY cover band), though there are also styles that mix songs from multiple artists. As of 2026, cover bands are not just a stepping stone for beginners but have become a mature form of music where experienced musicians continue for the pure purpose of "perfectly reproducing music they love."

To find members for a cover band, you can search for "cover band," "tribute," and similar keywords on Membo to find recruitment information nationwide. Regional examples can also be found in articles like Band member recruitment in Nagasaki and a complete guide to all 47 prefectures.

What is an original band?

An original band is one whose main repertoire consists of songs they wrote and composed themselves. Nearly all professional-oriented bands aiming for major label debut are original bands, but original band activity is also increasing among hobbyists with the motivation to "create our own music."

As of 2026, the widespread adoption of DAW and streaming services has significantly lowered the barrier to creating and sharing original music with the world. On Membo's recruitment list, recruitment listings with conditions like "original-oriented" or "composers welcome" are increasing.

2. 7 Merits of Cover Bands

Merit 1: You can start ensemble immediately

The biggest strength of a cover band is that "the songs to be performed are already decided." Since there's no need to create songs from scratch, you can start practicing the week members come together. Especially for beginners forming a band together, it's the ideal first step. Once you gather members on Membo, you can immediately start with your favorite artist's covers. For how beginners come together, tips for when you're not getting responses to member recruitment is also helpful.

Merit 2: Your performance skills improve steadily

The process of trying to perfectly copy your favorite artist's songs is the best practice. Guitarists research a specific artist's phrasing and picking habits, drummers pursue groove reproduction. This repetition of "imitation" creates the foundation of musical vocabulary and technique. At music stores like Ishibashi Musical Instruments, you often hear the saying "covers are the best textbook."

Merit 3: Audience connection happens naturally

At a cover band's live performance, the audience knows the songs. The moment the performance begins, they react with "Oh, this song!" and the entire venue becomes enveloped in unity. While original bands must overcome the hurdle of "getting people to listen," cover bands can immediately create a space to "enjoy together." When playing with foreign musicians, covers also become a common language.

Merit 4: Members come together more easily

A statement like "We're recruiting a bassist for our B'z cover band" has clearer targeting than "We're recruiting musicians who match our original music direction." Having a shared favorite artist as an axis makes it easier to share direction, and recruitment posts on Membo become easier to write.

Merit 5: Motivation is easier to maintain

The joy of being able to play songs you love becomes energy to continue band activity. The sense of accomplishment when you nail a difficult phrase, the exhilaration when the band comes together—these accumulate and lead to motivation for the next song.

Merit 6: Setlist composition is straightforward

When planning your live setlist, cover bands can choose from an enormous pool of existing songs. Do you want to accelerate the tempo, or create a more relaxed flow?—you can create a setlist with professional-quality flow simply by selecting from already-proven songs.

Merit 7: Studio practice is efficient

Cover band practice has a "correct answer" in the form of the original recording. When you bring the sound together in the studio, you can clearly see what's missing by comparing it to the original song. Using rehearsal studios for efficient practice is another strength of cover bands. For studio selection reference, member recruitment templates with regional information are also helpful.

3. 3 Demerits of Cover Bands

Demerit 1: Originality is difficult to develop

Because cover bands perform someone else's music, there are fewer opportunities to create "music that's uniquely yours." As members continue with covers for a long time, some may feel "I want to express more of our own sound." Overcoming this wall is an ongoing challenge for cover band continuity.

Demerit 2: Copyright and royalty issues exist

For live performances, copyright management organizations like JASRAC (Japan's performing arts rights management organization) handle everything comprehensively, but posting performance videos on SNS or YouTube may require separate authorization. Band scores themselves are copyrighted works and cannot be reproduced without permission. Rights processing for foreign artists' songs can become particularly complex. As of 2026, this is one of the important issues cover bands face when distributing video content.

Demerit 3: You may be seen as "a substitute for that artist"

Even an excellent cover band may be viewed as "I like B'z but can't go see them" or "as a replacement for GLAY." No matter how much you perfect your cover band performance, you're stuck with constant comparison to the original artist—a structural dilemma.

4. 7 Merits of Original Bands

Merit 1: Truly unique music is born

An original band's songs exist nowhere else in the world. Your experiences, emotions, and perspectives are condensed into an expression that no one else can replicate. By searching for original-minded members on Membo, you can build your own unique world. Case studies of bands formed across generations also feature examples of original bands with varied member backgrounds.

Merit 2: The path to becoming a professional opens

Submitting demo tracks to record labels and labels, entering music competitions, music streaming distribution—all of these become possible only with original songs. As of 2026, uploading songs to Spotify or Apple Music can be started for free even by individuals. With an original band, there's potential for your music to reach listeners worldwide starting today. Playing with foreign members can also give your songs international reach.

Merit 3: Your band's brand identity forms

By accumulating original songs, your band establishes a musical identity. Fans emerge who "love that band's music," and the band name becomes directly associated with the sound. This "brand" becomes your band's long-term asset. Major label debut (Wikipedia) for bands aiming at this level requires original songs as an absolute condition.

Merit 4: Musical growth is deeper

The process of songwriting, composition, and arrangement requires musical thinking different from instrument performance. Chord progressions, melody lines, lyric word choice, sound balance—this experience of considering these elements enhances your overall abilities as a musician. Shimamura Musical Instruments' music lessons, including composition and DAW courses, are growing in popularity. The 47-prefecture guide also helps you understand each region's musical environment.

Merit 5: Copyright belongs to you

The copyright to your original songs generally belongs to those who created them. Posting on SNS, video distribution, registration with music streaming services, commercial use—you can decide all of this independently. Unlike cover bands, the range of activity options is broad, which is a significant advantage.

Merit 6: You can enter contests and auditions

Most band contests and music awards held throughout Japan require original songs. As of 2026, many contests targeting original bands continue to be held, including those sponsored by Yamaha like "Music Revolution."

Merit 7: Deep connections with fans develop

Fans of a band with original songs resonate with that music itself. The experience of "that song's lyrics were exactly how I felt" creates a depth of connection that's rare at cover band performances. Looking at Membo's recruitment list, you can sense the high passion of fans drawn to original-oriented bands.

5. 3 Demerits of Original Bands

Demerit 1: The startup barrier is high

Starting an original band requires songwriting work. Especially for beginners, creating a song from scratch is a major hurdle. When all band members are at the "I want to learn to play first" stage, balancing original creation with skill development becomes difficult.

Demerit 2: It takes time to captivate audiences at live performances

An original band's live performance of unknown songs requires audiences to first get into "listening mode." To deliver your music to people seeing you for the first time requires song quality, performance skill, and live performance power. Building this up takes considerable time.

Demerit 3: Agreement on musical direction among members is difficult

While cover bands get direction settled by "let's do this artist," original bands must decide "what kind of music do we make" from scratch. Members' opinions often diverge in this process, sometimes causing band dissolution. When recruiting members on Membo, clearly stating your musical direction helps prevent such trouble.

6. Which to start with — Decision checklist by type (Q&A format)

Answer the following questions to find the style that suits you.

Q1: How much instrument experience do you have now?

A. Less than one year / nearly beginner
We strongly recommend starting with a cover band. The joy of playing songs you love becomes the energy to keep practicing. First, use Membo to search for companions with keywords like "beginner welcome" and "cover band."

B. About 2-3 years of experience
You can start with either. If "getting better" is your current priority, perfect your technique with a cover band; if "creating your own music" comes first, original band is worth attempting.

C. Five or more years of experience
You have a technical foundation. If "play music we love for fun" is the goal, a cover band works; if "advance to the next level" is your aim, start an original band. Either way, finding members with similar experience on Membo is important.

Q2: What is your band's goal?

A. Have fun playing music with friends
Cover bands are right for you. The goal's bar is lower, and you accumulate success experiences easily. Find fun-focused members on Membo.

B. Perform at a live house
Both are possible. Cover band performances offer audience unity; original bands let you deliver your music. Both paths to live houses are open.

C. Make a living from music / major label debut
Original bands are essential. The professional path requires original songs. Find professional-minded members on Membo and start songwriting together.

Q3: Do you have songwriting/lyric writing experience?

A. None at all
Starting with covers while gradually learning composition on the side is recommended.

B. A little (made songs with DAW or guitar)
You have a foundation to attempt original bands. Even imperfect songs can be refined with members willing to collaborate. Find such members on Membo.

C. Extensive (you have multiple demo recordings)
Actively pursue joining or forming an original band. Search Membo's recruitment list for listings like "with demos" or "songs completed," or create your own recruitment post.

Q4: What matters most to you about your band?

A. I want to express respect for a favorite artist
Cover/tribute bands are perfect. Find fans of the same artist on Membo.

B. I want to create our own unique world
Original bands are for you. Finding members with the same vision on Membo is the first step.

C. Just want to enjoy performing, mainly want continuity
Cover bands have higher retention rates. Enjoy while improving skills, then try originals when ready—that flow is more realistic.

Q5: What experience do you want from recruiting members?

A. Beginners and complete novices are OK
Cover bands with a "grow together" approach fit. Posting beginner-welcome recruitment on Membo attracts people with matching enthusiasm.

B. Some experience is necessary
Either cover or original bands work. Specify experience years in your Membo recruitment for better targeting.

C. Composition/arrangement experience is necessary
This recruitment assumes an original band. State this directly in your Membo recruitment.

7. Practical approach to "doing both" cover and original

The false choice of "cover or original" isn't actually necessary. Most successful bands use an approach that combines both well. As of 2026, Membo increasingly shows recruitment posts for bands doing both covers and originals. While referencing recruitment templates by genre, develop your own style.

Approach 1: "80% covers, 20% originals" start

In your band's first 3-6 months, focus your practice and ensemble on your favorite artist's covers. Simultaneously, try creating one original song monthly. This pace lets you establish technical foundation while developing original songwriting ability.

Example schedule:

• Months 1-2: Create 5-8 cover songs for a gig-ready setlist
• Months 3-4: Record jams during sessions and collect phrases you like
• Months 5-6: Refine one collected idea into a complete original
• After 6 months: Mix 1-2 originals into your live setlist

Approach 2: Add arrangements to covers to develop "originality"

While staying a cover band, adding unique arrangements to performances develops your originality sense. Change the intro, extend the ending, add improvisation in the middle—these small changes build composition intuition. Bands with foreign members especially benefit from this arrangement approach.

Approach 3: "Tribute to original" transition strategy

One strategy is to establish yourself as a cover band first, building an audience, then release original songs. The context of "that cover band released originals" can draw attention.

Using this strategy, clarify when recruiting on Membo that you're considering an eventual shift to originals. This reduces the risk of members leaving due to unexpected direction changes.

Approach 4: Balance through member role assignment

Assign "composer" roles within the band—that person brings the original foundation, and the full band arranges it. Not everyone needs to be a composer; dividing into "players" and "writers" lets both happen naturally. Add "composers welcome" to your Membo recruitment to attract suitable members.

8. How to effectively communicate your "cover/original approach" when recruiting members

Simply writing "cover band" or "original band" in recruitment doesn't convey your tone. The more specific your Membo recruitment post, the better matched your respondents.

Cover band recruitment example

Poor example: "We're recruiting members for a cover band"

Good example:

We're recruiting a drummer for a B'z cover band in the Tokyo area (mainly Nerima and Itabashi). We're targeting a live house performance in fall 2026, planning 2-3 studio sessions monthly. We're exacting about perfect reproduction. We prefer those with 3+ years' experience, but we value B'z passion over years. We want to find people who share our musical taste for long-term collaboration.

Key points:

1. Target artist: Specify which artist's covers
2. Activity style: Perfect reproduction or creative arrangement approach?
3. Frequency and location: How often, which area
4. Goals: Aiming for live performance or studio sessions only?

Reference copy-paste recruitment templates and post to Membo's recruitment list.

Original band recruitment example

Poor example: "Looking for people to do an original band with"

Good example:

I'm performing as a guitarist/vocalist. I've created 5 J-Rock/Japanese rock-style original songs and am looking for a bassist to work with as a band. I can share demo recordings. We're aiming for live house performances and music distribution eventually. We prioritize compatible direction over current skill level.

Additional information to include for original bands:

1. Specific sound: Describe influenced artists ("like 〇〇")
2. Songs available: Do you have demos?
3. Creation method: Who writes, individual or collaborative?
4. Vision: Distribution, live performance, contests, etc.

Also read tips when recruitment responses are slow for deeper insights. Membo collects recruitment information nationwide for both cover and original bands. Find perfect matches or post your recruitment.

9. Case studies of famous bands that started with covers and succeeded (Japan)

Examples of "starting with covers and becoming professional" are numerous in Japanese music history and continue being cited in 2026. Here are representative cases.

Carol (Nagagaki Yoichi) — Starting from Beatles covers

Carol (Wikipedia) originally started as a Beatles cover band. By mimicking the Beatles' Hamburg-era rocker style, they gained attention, then revolutionized Japan's rock scene with original songs. The fact that Nagagaki Yoichi "started by perfectly copying music he loved" shows cover bands are a gateway to excellence.

B'z (Inaba Koshi) — LOUDNESS cover band experience

B'z (Wikipedia)'s Inaba Koshi was in a LOUDNESS (Wikipedia) cover band before his major debut. Similarly, Mr.Children (Wikipedia) members polished their skills in high school cover bands. That experience became the foundation for their later vocal style and musicality. B'z holds the Guinness world record for most album sales by a Japanese artist, yet their roots are in cover bands. Many searching for B'z covers on Membo, as it's one of Japan's most popular cover bands.

BUCK-TICK — Cover band to original transition

BUCK-TICK (Wikipedia) formed in spring 1984 as a cover band called "Hinanko GO-GO," then changed their name to BUCK-TICK when they began creating original songs. They achieved major label debut in 1987, becoming pioneers of Japan's visual kei scene. Their transition from cover to original band is often cited among musicians.

The essence of learning from covers

These examples show cover bands aren't "inferior" but rather "sites of musical training." Within the act of perfectly reproducing a great band's music lies arrangement wisdom, groove creation, and band ensemble essence.

Today, searching for cover band members on Membo might be tomorrow's first step toward an original band. Regional examples are detailed in Nagasaki's music scene. The cross-generation band activity perspective also helps when considering cover and original balance. Band activity examples across prefectures are featured in regional articles starting with band recruitment in Hokkaido.

10. How to find cover and original band members on Membo

Membo is a search service specialized in band member recruitment. You can search all member recruitment information nationwide across 47 prefectures, whether for cover or original bands.

Membo's basic usage

Step 1: Open Membo's main search page
Enter search terms like "cover band," "original band," "guitarist wanted" in the keyword field. You can also filter by region, instrument, and genre.

Step 2: Find matching recruitment on the recruitment list
Information from 10+ music sites displays automatically translated to 8 languages. Both cover and original band recruitment are included.

Step 3: Apply to recruitment you're interested in or post your own
Membo lets you post your own member recruitment. Specify cover or original band and use the recruitment tips above to write effectively.

Using Membo for cover bands

• Search Membo with terms like "cover band guitarist" or "B'z cover"
• Filter by region for convenient studio locations
• Add experience level and activity frequency as search conditions
• Post to the recruitment list with "cover band friendly" and artist names
• Add Membo's PWA app to your smartphone for notifications
• Enable push notifications to receive matching new recruitment alerts

Using Membo for original bands

• Search Membo with terms like "original band," "composers welcome," "with demos"
• Post to the recruitment list with "original-focused" and major label ambitions if applicable
• Describe your sound by mentioning multiple influential artists
• Check Membo's help for effective recruitment writing tips
• Follow Membo's news for latest usage updates

When looking for both

If you're interested in both, write "primarily covers but considering originals eventually" in your Membo recruitment. Attract people sharing your direction. Membo works nationwide, so regional members can safely participate.

With 8-language support, Membo also works well for forming bands with foreign musicians. Check Membo's operating information as well.

11. FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can we do originals while being a cover band?

A: Absolutely. Many bands do both simultaneously. The style of playing covers while developing originals through jam sessions during practice breaks is widely adopted in Japan's band scene. As of 2026, Membo increasingly sees "cover main, originals included" recruitment.

Q: Can cover bands go professional?

A: Professional cover/tribute bands do exist earning income. However, becoming a general "professional musician" in the music industry typically requires original songs. Most professional bands have transitioned from covers to originals.

Q: I'm struggling to assemble original band members. Should I start with covers?

A: It depends on your situation. If you "want to do originals but lack bandmates," one approach is starting with covers to build relationships, then proposing an original transition. Alternatively, post recruitment to Membo's list stating "future original focus" to attract aligned members from the start.

Q: How many songs do you need for a cover band live performance?

A: Depending on stage length, a 20-30 minute set typically needs 4-6 songs. Consider timing including MC. Prepare more but perform only songs you're confident about. Recruiting experienced members on Membo lets you share live management know-how.

Q: How long should you do covers before starting an original band?

A: No fixed rule exists. A reasonable guideline is "after performing 1-2 live shows as a band." Experiencing ensemble feel, live performance atmosphere, and member communication this way helps you focus on songwriting. Use Membo recruitment well and discuss timing with bandmates.

Q: What music stores offer good cover band scores?

A: Shimamura Musical Instruments and Ishibashi Musical Instruments offer extensive band score selection. Band scores (Wikipedia) are also helpful. As of 2026, digital and downloadable scores are common, with many practicing via smartphone or tablet.

Q: Are there copyright concerns posting cover band videos on SNS?

A: Posting performance videos on SNS or YouTube requires copyright clearance for the songs. YouTube uses Content ID management (allowing possible monetization or blocking) for many songs. Instagram and TikTok similarly manage registered songs. Check each platform's current 2026 terms. For JASRAC-managed songs, certain posts are allowed under platform blanket licenses.

12. Summary

Cover bands and original bands—neither is inherently superior. Each has clear merits and demerits, and your optimal choice varies with your goals, experience, and situation.

Cover bands suit you if:

• You have less than 1-2 years instrument experience
• You want to perfectly reproduce favorite artist music
• Enjoying performance with friends is your priority
• Skill improvement is your main goal

Original bands suit you if:

• You're aiming for professional/major label success
• You have songwriting/composition experience and want to share your music globally
• Creating a unique band brand matters to you
• You're considering music distribution or competitions

The most practical and successful approach is "building foundation with covers while gradually developing originals." As of 2026, many active Japanese bands operate this way.

Whichever path you choose, your first need is "bandmates." Membo provides member recruitment information across all 47 prefectures in 8 languages. Whether seeking cover or original band members, start by searching Membo.

Your band's starting point is today.

Please also reference related articles:

• 5 copy-paste recruitment templates (Rock/J-POP/Jazz/Metal/Acoustic)
• 5 points to reconsider when recruitment gets no responses
• Playing with foreign musicians — breaking language barriers practical guide
• Cross-generation band case studies
• How to recruit band members across all 47 prefectures — complete guide from Hokkaido to Okinawa