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"Cheat Sheets" for Live Gigs

Baird6869

Baird6869

Feb 16, 2007
16,717
5,037
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
#1
As posted a few weeks ago, I am trying to learn 80 sonngs in 2 months for 2 different bands I have joined.

I am at about 60% of the songs being really tight and comfortable playing live but the remaining 40% may cause problems as I don't necesasarily like the songs that much or they have lots of changes.

So..... I have decided to add some cheat notes to my setlists (they are taped to the floor near my monitor anyways, so why not?). I am not using them as a crutch, just as a backup as a last resort in case I forget where to start or forget a strange bridge.

Does anyone else do this??? If so, what type of notes do you use?

Here are a couple of examples of the type of notes I have used to remember A Foo Fighters bridge and a couple of parts in Green Day's Holiday.

Holiday - Guitar Starts - Pause after 1st Chorus / CGBE on Solo / End on E

Learn to Fly - All Start - Bridge BGDEAGAx2
 
#2
Call them cheat sheets if you like but don't worry about needing those for the first few gigs at least. 80 songs is a lot and your examples on cheat sheets are totally OK IMO.

I use "cheat sheets" (or lead sheets as I prefer calling them) all the time that include the key signature, the lyrics and the form. If there is a special riff somewhere I'll just add a note [riff here] or something similar. Sometimes I make a note on the rhythm of the riff too. All the rest is in my mind.

This works well for most pop/rock music, but I don't know how well it would work for riff-based metal... Another method could be better for that.


EDIT: I sing lead too and that's why I also have the lyrics on the lead sheet. Sometimes I make shorter versions on the lyrics (i.e. write out only the first words of the verses, chorus, bridge etc) and that is to 1) learn the lyrics songs better, 2) prevent myself from looking too often on the lead sheets. It looks bad if you don't know the lyrics but I am really poor at memorizing them. :hmm: To have the first words helps a lot.
 
#3
I've done similar things to that, especially when our band was first starting out. Usually I'd type out notes behind each song like:

"Mary Jane's Last Dance" Tom Petty -
Verse: A-G-D Chorus: E-A-E-A-D

or however it went. I wouldn't recommend trying to tab things out note for note, or getting really detailed. In the middle of a gig, on a stage that's probably fairly dark, you're not going to be able to pay attention to much detail on your notes. Make it big enough so that you can read it easily, too.
 
#4
We do this. We actually have small clampon music stands, and I have an organized folder with lyrics and sometimes some of the notes for stumbling points in some of the songs.

I think it's more acceptable now since Karaoke is more prevalent. Even though I rarely NEED the sheet, it's good to know it's there. Some songs like My Sharona have different leads into each chorus, and with it spelled out in front of me and the guitar player, we KNOW that neither one of us will have a brain fart.

I sing a lot of lead so it helps since I'm always doing two things at once and it helps with the 'autopilot.' No matter how many times you sing a song, you can go blank and trip yourself up.

Using bold/normal text:

I put (A)notes right into the middle of para(G)graphs like this(D).
 
#5
This is something new to me. Used to be this wasn't allowed and one should be embarrassed should you use them.

Now, I see people with books of lyrics and chord charts. I will bring a few things to rehearsle but not to the stage when we get there. I like a clean stage. The higher paid bands in town don't have these things.

I don't know what happened between then and now but at some point it became acceptable to have lead sheets/cheat sheets on stage.
 
#8
All our band members except the drummer have "song books" with each song in order of each set to be played. I rarely use mine at a live gig except for the set list sheet. I memorize each bass line for each song and "IF" I forget a line I just flip to the numbered set/song before we start the song. I guess you could call this "cheating" but I call it "not screwing up the song". :D :bassist:
 
#11
When I play at church I keep the chord charts up there, with some of my notes scrawled on there just in case I need a reminder, or have a riff/lick I wanted to use.
But when I'm playing a gig, I try to go buy memory, but 80 songs is alot, so I'd say if you really need to use a cheat sheet, just keep some reminders.
 
#13
We play 30-40 songs a gig. If we've made key changes, I may write a quick note here or there. But I would only do it on the setlist that is going on the floor, or out of sight - not on a music stand. Especially if I am being paid to entertain and engage the audience.
 
#14
depends. I use full charts at church and if I'm doing fill in work. At church I use a music stand, on a fill in gig, I try to put them out of sight of the audience. On a gig with a band I usually play with, I have "reminders" on the set list, but that's it - "Drummer counts off - all in", "guitar starts", "Don't Rush!!", etc...
 
#17
not that big a deal. i use 'em for a couple songs i do. i've seen excellent jazz bands with chord sheets, symphony musicians can use cheat sheets. why not rock bands. especially cover bands - when i'm expected to know 100+ songs.
i changed my tune when i saw sting with a music stand on stage - not sure what he had up there - setlist, chord changes, not sure.
 
#19
I say is better to cheat and have charts than doing a poor job. I use a music stand with music charts of the songs I play. Some songs are lyrics with chords on top, like this:

C D Gm
Looking for a hot stuf, baby this evening

Others are just lyrics with the main key written on top. For the most complex I write the chart note by note in bass clef. Just like you'd see on the jazz fake books. It is useful when I have to play together with horns, piano and players that read the music.

Having the music in front of me should mean I have prepared for the gig, rehearsed my parts and took notes during practise. I have ABSOLUTELY NO SHAME AT ALL in showing them. Almost nobody I've played with in the past complained. I don't hide it behind monitors or anything. Everybody can see it anyway, who are we fooling here???

If I was a pro and had all day to dedicate to this thing I'd probably memorize it. If I played with the band 4 nights a week I'd memorize it but for me it is not the case.
 

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