Free setlist maker

How to build a setlist

A good setlist is paced, not just listed. Most working bands build each set the same way:

• Open with something everyone knows and the band can play in its sleep. Nerves settle and the room knows what kind of night it is.
• Build, then give the room a breather. Two or three songs that lift, one that lets people sit down or get a drink, then build again.
• Watch the keys and tempos side by side. Three songs in a row at the same tempo blur together, and a jump from Db to E between songs is easier with a beat of silence than a segue.
• End each set strong, so people are still on the floor when you come back.
• Keep a couple of spares in your pocket for a room that's going better, or worse, than you planned.

How long should a set be?

It depends on the booking. Bars and clubs often run two or three sets of 45 to 60 minutes. Wedding and function bands commonly play two to four sets with breaks around dinner, speeches and the cake. Whatever the contract says, set each set's slot in this maker and it tells you, song by song, how much time is left to fill or how far over you are.

Stage copy or band copy?

The stage copy is what gets taped to the floor: big numbered titles you can read from a few feet away, one set per page, with the key beside each song. The band copy is for rehearsal and the sub's inbox: every set on as few pages as possible, with keys, tempos, lengths and notes like who starts the song or where the segues are.

Getting the details to the band

The setlist tells the band what to play. They still need the call time, the address, the attire and the pay. GigPenguin sends each band member their own gig sheet by text or email, shows you who has opened it, and tells everyone when something changes. Making a stage plot too? Try the free stage plot maker.