I have been searching online for a while and cannot seem to find much in terms of help for the topic of setlist arrangment. I've been to tons of live shows by professional bands and know for a fact that they are crafting emotional shows based on the careful choosing of their material. If anyone has any advice on this topic let me know. I did find one article that had some good tips but I am looking for more depth on the subject. ANy books, DVD's out there?

http://tinyurl.com/25v3f5

I know most of my bands started and ended with song that where in your face that being faster pace. we throw in a slower song about 4th song in and work our way back up to the end to finish it like we started. As far as books and dvd's on this not to sure if there is or isn't








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You just have to make sure it all flows, the same with sequencing an EP or LP. Don't play an acoustic ballad right before or after a thrash number.

My old band put a funny song at the end of set. It was more of an On core song, because it didn't fit to what we were playing. We put a smile on people faces. It was call :The Lock 14 Christmas song, band name Lock 14. The course was simple, it went like this.

Santa Clause was Fxxking your
Santa Clause was Fxxking your
I saw Santa Clause was Fxxking your
Santa Clause was Fxxking your

if you have heard of it, you probably laugh your ass off, it was the cheesiest thing i have ever played and the most requested song ppl asked for.


N

Set list arrangement is one of those things where you have to separate the forest from the trees and look at the forest. What I mean is, as far as energy level, crowd mood, and ear fatigue, you have to judge what type of song to play. Some bands can even sense what the crowd is up to and then decide right there on the spot from a collection of their songs, which one they will do next, but here is a fairly typical setlist, I think...

First 3 or 4 songs - full out, crazy, melt your face tunes. You want to get the audience pumped up and glad that their anticipation paid off.
next song - moderato jam. something that still has the energy, just not in such high doses. think of it as filler.
next 1 or 2 songs - let the audience cool down with some of your more mellower jams. give their ears a break.
right after the slow jams, melt their face off again.

repeat this until the end of the show, and know matter what step you are on, make the last number a face-melter.


Doing a cyclic set list like this supplies contrast, variety, and a kind of organic flow to your show. However, these are only my thoughts, and there probably are tons of more qualified people out there that disagree with me.








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Puddleglum wrote:

First 3 or 4 songs - full out, crazy, melt your face tunes.

I wish songs actually melted your face.

cxo wrote:

Puddleglum wrote:

First 3 or 4 songs - full out, crazy, melt your face tunes.

I wish songs actually melted your face.

Well, according to your avatar, they DO!








_________________
P.S. - Calli is an A-hole. But I can't help but love her.

Puddleglum wrote:

cxo wrote:

Puddleglum wrote:

First 3 or 4 songs - full out, crazy, melt your face tunes.

I wish songs actually melted your face.

Well, according to your avatar, they DO!

No no no... they make faces explode, not melt!

To add to the setlist question, if you're writing for just a one hour set, always always save the best song for last. If you do all covers, make sure the last cover is one that the whole drunken crowd can sing along with.

If you're throwing together a list for a 2-4 hour performance with breaks, I'd throw the best song somewhere in the last 3/4 of the set, and end with something that maybe sums up all the rest of the performance. Something not face "exploding" heavy, not something that will make them fall asleep at the wheel on their way home.

cxo wrote:

Puddleglum wrote:

cxo wrote:

Puddleglum wrote:

First 3 or 4 songs - full out, crazy, melt your face tunes.

I wish songs actually melted your face.

Well, according to your avatar, they DO!

No no no... they make faces explode, not melt!

To add to the setlist question, if you're writing for just a one hour set, always always save the best song for last. If you do all covers, make sure the last cover is one that the whole drunken crowd can sing along with.

If you're throwing together a list for a 2-4 hour performance with breaks, I'd throw the best song somewhere in the last 3/4 of the set, and end with something that maybe sums up all the rest of the performance. Something not face "exploding" heavy, not something that will make them fall asleep at the wheel on their way home.

Like maybe a Swampcore tune?








_________________
P.S. - Calli is an A-hole. But I can't help but love her.

Puddleglum wrote:

cxo wrote:

Puddleglum wrote:

cxo wrote:

Puddleglum wrote:

First 3 or 4 songs - full out, crazy, melt your face tunes.

I wish songs actually melted your face.

Well, according to your avatar, they DO!

No no no... they make faces explode, not melt!

To add to the setlist question, if you're writing for just a one hour set, always always save the best song for last. If you do all covers, make sure the last cover is one that the whole drunken crowd can sing along with.

If you're throwing together a list for a 2-4 hour performance with breaks, I'd throw the best song somewhere in the last 3/4 of the set, and end with something that maybe sums up all the rest of the performance. Something not face "exploding" heavy, not something that will make them fall asleep at the wheel on their way home.

Like maybe a Swampcore tune?

+1 sir, +1...

SWAMP BREAKDOWN!!!!!!!!!!


BREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeee

lol








_________________
http://www.myspace.com/toddnelsonproject
http://www.myspace.com/straitjacket85
81 Gibson V
86 Carvin V220
84 Kramer Striker USA w/ EMG KH20
PODxt Live

guitarcheese wrote:

I have been searching online for a while and cannot seem to find much in terms of help for the topic of setlist arrangment. I've been to tons of live shows by professional bands and know for a fact that they are crafting emotional shows based on the careful choosing of their material. If anyone has any advice on this topic let me know. I did find one article that had some good tips but I am looking for more depth on the subject. ANy books, DVD's out there?

http://tinyurl.com/25v3f5

It has to flow with what you know.

I suggest that you arrange your songs so you can go from one to the next with as little time between them as possible.
F'rinstance: If you use a drop-D for one song, make it the last one in the set so don't have to waste the audiences time making them listen to you tune.








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Play what you want, play what you feel and don't look so suprised when the people you play for don't get it.

yep you want it to flow smooth and keep the aud. in to it. If you have a tune that is in different tuneage best thing is to have another guitar so you just have to change guitars








_________________
http://www.myspace.com/toddnelsonproject
http://www.myspace.com/straitjacket85
81 Gibson V
86 Carvin V220
84 Kramer Striker USA w/ EMG KH20
PODxt Live

straitjacket85 wrote:

yep you want it to flow smooth and keep the aud. in to it. If you have a tune that is in different tuneage best thing is to have another guitar so you just have to change guitars

Or you could get one of those handy-dandy robo-guitars that Gibson just released.








_________________
P.S. - Calli is an A-hole. But I can't help but love her.