For pop and rock and soul gigs, I make sure I know the material 100% but do use I use a set list with hand written notes using a sharpie. I.e. Change of key, extended outro, special bridge section. I'm new to my band so the goal is to minimize the notes part as I get settled in.
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Don't Use Charts on The Gig
- Thread starter P. Aaron
- Start date
okcrum
in your chest
I play in five different bands and if you count the possible tunes that could get called, it is probably close to 1000. Sorry, but I can't remember all of those. My goal is to avoid charts when possible, but sometimes I need some reminders.
I'm one of those guys playing in a Steely Dan tribute band. I have most of the songs down by memory but tunes like Aja, Gaucho, Babylon Sisters have enough "sorta the same but details are different" parts that I want to make sure when I'm playing in front of a crowd. I know the essence of the tune, but every note matters and I want to get it right.
If I was playing in one band with a limited number of tunes they'd all be stone cold memorized. But that isn't the case and I don't have 8 hours a day to run tunes. Ymmv.
I'm one of those guys playing in a Steely Dan tribute band. I have most of the songs down by memory but tunes like Aja, Gaucho, Babylon Sisters have enough "sorta the same but details are different" parts that I want to make sure when I'm playing in front of a crowd. I know the essence of the tune, but every note matters and I want to get it right.
If I was playing in one band with a limited number of tunes they'd all be stone cold memorized. But that isn't the case and I don't have 8 hours a day to run tunes. Ymmv.
What are charts? Oh I know.... they are something to get the guitar confused at practice. If you need charts on a gig, maybe you should take up gardening.
+1 on this. The PW stuff just isn't burned into my memory the way the "regular" rock/blues/rockabilly tunes are. While I like some of the PW tunes and especially enjoy guys like Lincoln Brewster, the truth is I don't listen to PW music much outside of learning it for the gig.
Also, as Pacman mentions, if it's a fill-in gig, esp. with short notice or some odd arrangements I might use some charts. I generally would prefer not to use them in a rock/bar band situation, but if I get a call on Tuesday for a sub gig on Friday I'm gonna have to cheat a bit. I'm not a pro, and I have a day job.
Some gigs I do, there is no way around charts. No way in hell I'm going to spend hours and hours learning 3 hours worth of songs from 4 or 5 different acts, many of which I may work with once a year tops. Nor am I going to attend 5 rehearsals with a top 40 band I'm subbing with one night for $150. But if I have their songs memorized, the stand goes away because I only use them when I have to. With my regular band, never. Only the horn guys use music stands, and we in the front line never do and never would. We did give our guitarist 2 weeks with one when he first joined, though. He got thrown to the wolves and had to replace our old guitarist with only one night notice.
Mostly what Jimmy said - my rhythm & horn section used to back up all the Motown type touring groups and we would get 1 have assed rehearsal with their 'musical director' usually a guitarist or keys guy. The amount of material was emmence for just a few shows so charts off to the side were necessary. But, after the first time through no prob.
Playing jazz is another issue altogether. The great players refuse to rehearse AT ALL and they know 100s of tunes and can transpose them to any key - it's their ears that are so good they hear the changes 2 measures ahead.
So, I need help there. Used to carry around 3 giant books now it's my iPhone or iPad at most. It's off to the side, backlit and I'm usually good after first time through.
When I'm the BL and its jazz I keep the song list to a reasonable number and make folks rehearse as much as I can. After all Miles didn't have a 200 tune list and his guys rehearsed the limited list enough to really internalize it together, as a band. To my tastes that's the best and the classics prove my point (I think) hehe
Playing jazz is another issue altogether. The great players refuse to rehearse AT ALL and they know 100s of tunes and can transpose them to any key - it's their ears that are so good they hear the changes 2 measures ahead.
So, I need help there. Used to carry around 3 giant books now it's my iPhone or iPad at most. It's off to the side, backlit and I'm usually good after first time through.
When I'm the BL and its jazz I keep the song list to a reasonable number and make folks rehearse as much as I can. After all Miles didn't have a 200 tune list and his guys rehearsed the limited list enough to really internalize it together, as a band. To my tastes that's the best and the classics prove my point (I think) hehe
We use lyric sheets....I don't usually look at them...but they are there. We add 10 new songs a month (over 150) covering everything from 50's to current country, to rock and pop. We ALWAYS interact with the audience and each other. Never affected our performance or getting rehired.
I write out charts to give me something to look at when I'm practicing and memorizing songs. By the time of rehearsal and performance, I'm off the charts and fully on memory.
*See what I did there?
*See what I did there?
I play at church and our "song list" is in 4 three ring binders....and growing...
We change it up a lot....so I always use chord charts etc..... Also... The leader has a tendency to change things up...even "on the fly" so I need to make notes to do it right " this time"...and it might be different next time.
If we did the same songs over and over I could get off charts... But not now.
We change it up a lot....so I always use chord charts etc..... Also... The leader has a tendency to change things up...even "on the fly" so I need to make notes to do it right " this time"...and it might be different next time.
If we did the same songs over and over I could get off charts... But not now.
if you're playing originals, don't use a chart.
If you're playing a 2 hour set with a setlist, don't use charts.
If you're in a top 40 band that will play all night with a repertoire of 400+ songs - good luck without charts.
If you're playing a 2 hour set with a setlist, don't use charts.
If you're in a top 40 band that will play all night with a repertoire of 400+ songs - good luck without charts.
That's all I did for years on the cruise ship circuit, read charts on the gig for a new entertainer/show all the time. Different acts may play the same song ("My Girl", anyone? Lol), but arrangements differ greatly.
Rock cover bands and jazz combos I would leave the charts at home.
Rock cover bands and jazz combos I would leave the charts at home.
No charts- but like many I will write down the first note/chord to a song if we haven't done it a while. My band probably has about 45-50 songs we could pull out, and some of them are quite intricate classic rock like "I'm your captain", War Pigs and Working Man. We do about 6- 9-10 minute long songs. (Maybe that is why we don't get many gigs)
Freddie Washington used charts on certain tunes when he played with Steely Dan. Anthony Jackson used charts on some tunes he did with Hiromi.
Maybe you should send those guys some fertilizer and a hoe...or maybe you can sub the gig
s0c9
Supporting Member
LOL.. nice frequency (we don't but) that didn't answer the question on how many songs on your set list...
We play 6+ gigs a month w/ 120+ songs on the list, adding up 5-10 new ones a month.. so on occasion we get asked for something - like a wedding song - that we have not played in a while (like months!). Our singer uses a stand-mounted, black iPad.. hard to see. I could not remember all those words either...
Me, I do not use charts other than for those situations as I'm in your court on performance.. but I see many bands that do, and some are more discreet about it than others.
Freddie Washington used charts on certain tunes when he played with Steely Dan. Anthony Jackson used charts on some tunes he did with Hiromi.
Maybe you should send those guys some fertilizer and a hoe...or maybe you can sub the gig
And Victor Wooten used charts when he played with The Electrik Band live and I'm pretty sure he is no slouch!
But knowing him, he probably is a fantastic gardener too!! Hehehe!
