{"id":20017,"date":"2023-09-20T09:04:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T14:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/?p=20017"},"modified":"2025-10-17T08:47:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T13:47:38","slug":"how-to-prepare-a-setlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/how-to-prepare-a-setlist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare a Setlist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tips for Building a Dynamic Setlist That Will Engage Your Audience and Elevate Every Performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The following information on how to write a setlist is excerpted from the Berklee Online course Jazz Singing 201<\/a><\/em>, written by Patrice Williamson<\/a> and currently enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Setlists are essential for organizing and structuring a performance, ensuring that your music flows smoothly from one song to another, and energizes the audience in the way you want it to. They’re also crucial for making sure that everyone on stage is on the same page! When putting together a setlist, there are many factors to consider, such as the theme of the performance, the audience\u2019s expectations, and your desired emotional or musical arc throughout the show. I\u2019ll share how to prepare a setlist from my experience as a jazz vocalist, but these tips can apply to other genres as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compiling Songs for Your Setlist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to have a list of all the songs in your repertoire. This means that before you even put together your setlist, you should compile all <\/em>the songs you could conceivably play live. Information on the list should include the key, the meter, your preferred tempo and style (i.e., medium swing, uptempo swing, or ballad). Also, make note if the music to be shared with the band is an arrangement or a lead sheet. Having this at your fingertips will help you assemble your book and make last-minute gigs straightforward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Gig Book<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A \u201cgig book\u201d is a collection of songs in the key you\u2019re most comfortable singing them. Be sure to amass a variety of songs in order to create a compelling setlist. It\u2019s also important to have your book in digital format. These days I can AirDrop a chart to the band instantly, right before we play. And if my technology isn\u2019t working, I always have a hard copy of my book with me so folks can take a picture of the lead sheet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lead Sheets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A lead sheet is the manuscript of a song in condensed form. The purpose of the lead sheet is to have all pertinent information contained on one or two pages. Information needed: harmonic progression\/chord changes, melody, lyrics, meter, groove, and tempo. We find the structure or form of the song on conventional sheet music. Since many jazz standards come from Broadway shows, the score can be several pages long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to Find Lead Sheets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are countless publications available with hundreds of lead sheets. We often refer to these collections as \u201cFake Books\u201d or \u201cReal Books.\u201d These days, the terms are interchangeable. The difference being that the original \u201cFake Books\u201d were notorious for having incorrect chord changes and\/or melodies. And \u201cReal Books\u201d were supposed to be correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can only find formal sheet music for a song, writing a lead sheet isn\u2019t difficult. Begin by dividing each stave into four measures. Many jazz standards are 32 bars long, with 8 measures in the first and second A sections, 8 measures in the B section, and 8 measures in the final A section. Having a uniform number of measures per line is easy to see and keeps you from getting lost. At the beginning of the page, write in the clef, key signature, and time signature. The melody goes on the staff and the chord changes are above each measure. In the top left-hand corner, provide groove [i.e., medium swing, ballad, bossa, and tempo (BPM, which stands for beats per minute)]. If there are repeats, a dal segno, or a coda, be sure to highlight those directions so they are easy to spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arranging Your Setlist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A good setlist has enough variety to keep everyone engaged. You want to avoid having too many similar songs back to back. Aspects to consider include key, groove, tempo, meter, instrumentation, and story. You also need to make sure you have more than enough music to cover the length of the gig. I always have more songs on the setlist than the allotted time will allow. This way, it\u2019s easy to change the list at a moment\u2019s notice without scrambling for a replacement song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a method I\u2019ve adopted over the years: I cut out each song title so I can move them around like puzzle pieces. I sing the beginning of each tune to suss out the flow and move the titles around until it feels right. When settling upon an order, it\u2019s always a good idea to begin with a song you know very well. This will help you get acclimated and comfortable onstage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few setlist options. Notice the differences from one song to the next. The shift may be with the key or the tonality, the groove, the meter, or the tempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patrice Williamson’s method for helping her determine her setlist. She cuts out each song title so that she can move them around like puzzle pieces. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Themed Setlist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Presenting a show around a subject or theme is a great way to publicize your performance. Try spotlighting your favorite artist, or programming songs from a certain era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Say you have a performance in September, you could sing \u201cSeptember in the Rain,\u201d \u201cSeptember Song,\u201d \u201cThe September of My Years.\u201d And if you\u2019re in a part of the world where this month coincides with the fall season, you could include \u201cAutumn in New York,\u201d \u201cAutumn Leaves,\u201d \u201c\u2018Tis Autumn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another idea regarding a themed setlist is to have the song titles tell a story. In 2017, I released Comes Love<\/a><\/em>, a tribute album to Ella Fitzgerald for the celebration of her centennial. The 12 songs on the recording present a narrative arc that reflects a woman\u2019s journey from loneliness to love, and from lost love back to resilience and joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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