Do you want to cover a song you love, but without the vocals lyrics ? Whether on piano, guitar, violin, or with multiple instruments, reinterpreting a song as an instrumental version takes a little work. How do you adapt a sung melody, adjust the arrangements, and—most importantly—capture the emotions of the original song?
From choosing instruments to the art of performance, check out our tips for creating your own instrumental cover.
What is an instrumental cover of a song?
Covering a song in an instrumental version means reinterpreting a piece without the lyrics. The melody that is usually sung is then performed by one or more instruments, such as the piano, guitar, violin, or saxophone. The goal? To make the song recognizable and convey its emotions.
Be careful, however, not to confuse an instrumental cover, an instrumental version, and karaoke:
An instrumental cover is a new interpretation of a song in which instruments replace the vocals to play the melody.
An instrumental version refers to a song without vocals, typically based on the original musical accompaniment.
The karaoke version works on the same principle, with a music track designed to accompany a singer.
How do I get the instrumental version of a song?
To play a song without the lyrics, you'll need the instrumental track. You have two options: find an existing instrumental version or use software to remove the vocals from the original track.
Find an instrumental or karaoke version that's already available
Some artists offer instrumental versions of their songs, without the vocal track. You can also try karaoke versions or backing tracks—accompaniment tracks designed for playing or singing along with a recording.
To find them, check out YouTube, streaming platforms, or specialized music websites.
🧡 Tip
Before choosing your track, check the following:
tonality: Is it the same as in the original piece? If you're playing from a score, the two should match.
Tempo: Some versions play the song slower or faster. Make sure the tempo suits your performance.
Recording quality: Listen to the balance between the instruments and make sure the track doesn't contain any residual vocals.
Structure: The verses, choruses, and instrumental sections must match the version you want to play.
Remove the vocals and isolate the instruments using AI
Can't find an instrumental version of your song? You can remove the vocals from the original recording using audio separation software.
This technique, known as stem separation, uses artificial intelligence to distinguish the different tracks in a song. It allows you to isolate the vocals, as well as certain instruments such as drums, bass, guitar, or piano.
Several tools offer this feature:
Moises: to separate vocals and instruments, adjust the tempo, and work on backing tracks.
Ultimate Vocal Remover: free, open-source software that offers various audio separation models.
LALAL.AI : an online tool that lets you extract vocals and various instrumental parts from a song.
The process is the same for all software: import your audio file, select the parts you want to isolate, and then extract the desired track.
Good to know: The quality of the result depends on the original mix. On some tracks, fragments of vocals may remain audible, or instruments may be distorted during the separation process.
How do you turn a song into an instrumental cover?
An instrumental cover is in the works! Melody, instruments, chords, and " rythm ": here's how to create your own arrangement.
1. Identify the melody and the key elements of the song
First, listen to the entire song to identify the vocal melody—the one your instrument will need to play. Then focus on the chords, the bass line, and the " rythm " to better understand the song's musical structure.
The goal is to identify what makes the song recognizable, without trying to reproduce every detail of the original arrangement.
2. Choose the instruments that will replace the voice
Which instrument will play the melody instead of the singer? The same song won't sound the same on the piano, guitar, violin, or saxophone.
You can choose to play alone or create your cover using multiple instruments:
When playing solo, you should play the melody and, if your instrument allows it, the accompaniment as well. On the piano, for example, the right hand can play the melody while the left hand plays the chords or the bass line.
In a band, each instrument can have a specific role: a violin plays the sung melody, a guitar provides the chords, and a bass supports the rythm.
Not all instruments have the same range. Therefore, some melodies will need to be played an octave lower or higher.
10 instrument duos that go well together
3. Adapt the " tonality " and vocal range to one's instrument
A melody written for the voice isn't always suitable for your instrument. Some notes may be too high or too low, and some passages may be difficult to play. For your instrumental cover, you may need to change the song's key or trans tonality certain notes by an octave.
Learn how to find the right tonality to sing a song that suits your voice.
Transposition allows you to change from one key ( tonality ) to another while preserving the original melody. For example, if you transpose a song from C major to D major, all the notes go up by one tone. You can also play a melody an octave higher or lower to adapt it to your instrument's range, without changing the tonality.
Transposition: 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Working with Your Sheet Music
With Newzik, import your sheet music and use the transposition feature on compatible formats to adapt it to your instrument. The app also lets you annotate passages that need to be modified, add fingering, and note the changes you’ve made to your arrangement.
4. Rearrange the accompaniment and the rythm
An instrumental cover can stay close to the original song or stray from it to offer a new arrangement. A pop song played on the piano, a folk song on acoustic guitar, or a rock song adapted for a string quartet—the possibilities are endless.
Work continues on the chords and the rythm. For example, by slowing down the tempo and replacing block chords with arpeggios (the notes of a chord played one after another), you can transform a pop song into a softer acoustic version.
Another tip: Try adding counter-melodies (secondary melodies), simplifying certain chords, or varying the rhythm between the verses and the choruses.
Be careful, however, not to overdo the accompaniment: the main melody should remain clearly audible, even if you choose to deviate from the original version.
5. Adapt the song's structure to a version without lyrics
Without the lyrics, certain parts of a song can seem long or repetitive. Revising the song's structure helps hold the listener's attention and adds rythm to your instrumental cover.
For example, you can shorten a verse, play the chorus only once, or replace a vocal part with an instrumental solo. Adding an introduction or transitions between the different sections also allows you to customize your arrangement.
One last tip: pay special attention to the end of the song. Instead of repeating the final chorus exactly as it is, why not end with a variation on the melody or a few chords played more softly?
How can you convey the emotion of a song without a " lyrics "?
Without the lyrics, it's up to your instrument to convey the song's emotions. The way you play the notes matters just as much as the melody itself.
Work on your musicalphrased : just like a singer, take breaths between phrases, hold certain notes longer, or vary your articulation. The same melody can sound very different depending on whether you connect the notes (legato) or play them more detached.
Play around with nuances and variations in intensity. A chorus played with more force, a gradual crescendo, or a softer passage on the piano: each nuance brings a different intention to your performance. Pauses also help create contrasts, so don’t hesitate to take a few breaks— you don’t have to fill every measure!
To work on your interpretation, listen to the sung version again. How does the artist emphasize certain words? When does he or she hold a note or pause? Try to capture those intentions with your instrument.
Prepare and practice your instrumental cover with Newzik
Once your arrangement is ready, it’s time to start rehearsing! Download the Newzik app and find all your sheet music in a single digital library. The app offers a variety of tools to help you work on your instrumental cover, whether you’re practicing alone or with other musicians.
Import and organize your sheet music in your music library so you can find all your songs on your tablet, computer, or smartphone.
Annotate your sheet music to add fingering, indicate dynamics, or mark passages that need work.
Adjust your sheet music to fit your instrument using the transposition feature available on compatible formats.
Work on your rythm with the metronome to improve your precision.
Record your rehearsals so you can listen back to your performance and identify areas for improvement.
Share your sheet music with the other musicians in your band and work together using collaborative annotations.
Newzik supports you from your first rehearsals all the way to the stage.
Download the Newzik app and enjoy a 7-day free trial!
5 Tips for a Successful Original Instrumental Cover
Here are a few tips for working on your arrangement and avoiding common mistakes.
Choose a song you know well. It will be easier for you to recall its melody, r rythm , and nuances. Also, listen to several versions of the song to discover other ways of interpreting it.
Adapt the arrangement to your skill level. There's no need to try to reproduce all the instrumental parts. It's better to have a simple, well-executed accompaniment than a complex arrangement that's difficult to play.
Don't overload the accompaniment. The melody should remain in the foreground. Leave pauses between musical phrases, and avoid using too many notes or effects that might overshadow the main theme.
Record yourself during rehearsals. When you listen back, check your pitch, " rythm ," and nuances. If the melody lacks expression, work on the intensity, articulation, or duration of certain notes to capture the intent of the original song.
Have someone else listen to your cover. Ideally, choose someone who knows the song. Can they recognize the melody without the in lyrics ? Their feedback will help you identify the parts that need work.
FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Instrumental Versions
How can I remove the vocals from a song for free?
The free Ultimate Vocal Remover software lets you separate the vocals from the musical accompaniment. Import your audio file, then run the vocal removal feature to extract the music alone.
How can you play a song without knowing music theory?
Don't know how to read sheet music? With a little practice and a trained ear, you'll learn to pick out the melody and chords. Tablature, video tutorials, and simplified sheet music also make learning easier. Start with a short melody and slow down the tempo to work on the difficult parts.
Which instrument should you choose when covering a song?
The piano and guitar are well-suited for instrumental covers because they allow you to play both the melody and the accompanying chords. The violin, saxophone, or flute are also suitable for covering a vocal part, with other instruments providing the accompaniment.
Is it legal to post an instrumental cover online?
Yes, but an instrumental cover is still subject to the copyright of the original song. Some platforms, such as YouTube, have agreements with copyright management organizations. These agreements do not cover all uses: an arrangement that alters the work may require authorization from the rights holders.
