Tablet/phone music apps - Going digital

[mizedog]

In another thread, unrelated thread, the question of what music software is used live was asked. I thought I’d post a couple quick screenshots here for reference instead of pulling the other thread off topic. I know this info has probably been covered many times. I just thought I’d add a few quick screenshots.

Switching from paper to digital.
I used to print out five line staff all the time, and have stacks, and stacks of it. I would have to spend too much time pulling the music for the week’s gig (usually church gig). During the holidays, the music could get to be as long as eight pages, even including Codas, etc. to shorten the music. The apps mentioned below had one time fees.

Next evolution:
Write, or type out my own chord charts. I invested a huge amount of time on this, and tried to get them down to one page. Unfortunately, singers, or just being part of several groups, would necessitate changing keys at the last minute. So, I started to rewrite my chord charts with two, to four stacked chords so different keys would be there. I color coded the chords to try an avoid mixing them up. It worked, most of the time.

It’s funny how other, traditional musicians (at church) would struggle to accept the idea of a chord chart without all the timing, notes, dynamics, and harmonies available. They actually liked decoding the Codas, etc., and learning to navigate from one page back, noting the different endings to verses, choruses, etc. I felt that I could just feel it. Or, I would know that my harmony line is on the third, or the the fourth, or I would just jump tracks to fill in gaps.

The worst part of using paper was having to get all those sheets to stay on the music stand, even with fancy wide extensions. Or, to be in the dark, or to be outside in the morning dew, or the afternoon wind.

Going digital:
I knew about some of the Apple apps out there, but had a Galaxy Note 3. I stumbled on Setlist Helper, and jumped all over it. I built a bracket that would clamp my phone to a mic stand and dumped the music stand. The downside of using a phone? Scrolling! I could have bought a Bluetooth scrolling pedal, but decided to go with an tablet. Setlist Helper requires some Wiki/HTML knowledge, but it’s not hard to learn.

Instant key changes. I can stress enough how being able to quickly change keys totally changed things for the better. No more panicking!

Android 10” tablet
I bought, and used a super cheap Android tablet for a year or so, but it was a terrible tablet. The upside was that I could almost get a full song on one screen!

iPad Pro
I bought a 2017 iPad Pro with a 12.9” screen, and am still using it. It handles darkness, dew, and wind great. However, in cold, outside settings, the battery can drain quickly. In bright sunny situations it struggles to get bright enough.

Apps:
Setlist Helper was not available for Apple. I knew I wanted to stay with chord charts. OnSong became my go to app. From what I’ve read, it’s pretty universally used in some settings. It can drive external monitors, and can even drive several iPads for a group (which I don’t use). I like the ability to add colors.
Here is my folder for music on my iPad:

OnSong:

SongSheet Pro:
A couple of my groups use this. It’s ok, but not as user friendly as OnSong. Those bands tend to make tons of scrolling necessary. But, that’s not the app’s fault.

Setlist Helper:
Setlist Helper finally published an Apple version, but I like the Android version better. By the way, this app was created by, and is maintained by one very supported person. He’s available for questions, and takes feedback, and makes updates as needed.

 

[mrcbass]

When I started doing the band thing in 2015, I was on paper as well - a great big binder with songs ordered in our set lists, using charts like the ones above. The KB player was using a tablet and by the end of 2016, I did so as well. I use Android so had to use an app called SongBook. It works well, but has some quirks. I started with notes that were complete charts like you have, but didn't like having to interact with the tablet to scroll while playing. The app has a scroll feature, but it wouldn't reliably retain the "time of play" that drives the scrolling speed, so it was always a PITA to use.

Since then I've developed a shorthand method of making notes which typically condenses the chart down to one a one page chart. For example my notes on Peaceful Easy Feeling would look like this:

I: D (Intro)
V: D G ... A7 (Verse, repeat D G more then twice)
D G ... A7
C: A7 G D G Em A7 (Chorus)
D Em G A7 G
'Cuz I got a peaceful easy feeling (Harmony lyrics if I need them)
And I know you won't let me down
'Cuz I'm already standing on the ground

Etc.

The barest of skeletons. Obviously, you have to know the song for these charts to work and I typically find that once I've finished converting standard charts into my notes, I know the song pretty well. I may not have all my lines developed, but could get through it in a pinch. I rarely actually need them on stage, but it sure is nice being able to pull up notes for a request that I haven't played in years and be able to jump back on it with ease and confidence.

"Do you know XYZ?"
"I probably have notes on it, so yeah."

The tablet and notes is pretty much required stuff when doing sub work and working with bands that will pull songs out of their butts on stage. Probably the best tool I've ever used.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I subbed with a band that provided me with a document of >100 songs that were chord/lyric sheets. Apparently they use an Apple app that reads the document and activates links in the table of contents for easy tapping from one song to another.

Problem #1 for me: I'm an Android guy
Problem #2 for me: I don't care for chord/lyric sheets. I prefer numbers to letters, but if no numbers, a proper chart

Below is how I use Setlist Helper on my Galaxy Tab S4: essentially, as a glorified text pad/organizer for my simplified Nashville numbers. My charts provide far less information than letters (and also the formal Nashville system), but that's fine... all I usually need is a quick reminder of song structure.

I mostly play/sub in bar bands that do common covers, and many tunes in my catalog have simpler structures than this. Speaking of which, I don't have a sheet for every song I play, especially the simple and overplayed ones. I actually do have one for "Mustang Sally", but it only contains notes such as "Band X plays this in Db, Band Y plays this in A"!

Again, my mind works with numbers. The great advantage is that numbers remain the same in any key. Seeing the chord flavor isn't important for me: I have prior familiarity with the tunes, so I either know it or can deduce it. Also, with no lyrics to take up space, my number charts rarely exceed one screen.

The biggest downside of numbers is songs that have modulations -- "Just You and Me" by Chicago is probably the worst offender in my list. Also -- jazz. But I use iReal Pro on those rare occasions where I have to hack my way thru jazz.

There are also minor complications with numbers. For example, Soulshine is essentially in a major key, but the "7" is a whole step down from "1". But that's common for bluesy rock, and regardless, I have prior familiarity. In some cases I add notes or special shorthand for trickier progressions: tritone substitutions or whatever.



Short summary of the top advantages of Setlist Helper and electronic in general:

• My catalog of 550 songs is stored in my 10" tablet (I wouldn't want to use a phone, but some bandmates do)
  
• Songs are easily organized into setlists, one for each of my bands (regular and sub)
  
• Easy duplication of a song into multiple setlists
• Easy to dig into my catalog when a band gets a request for a song outside of their usual list
• If all else fails, I can search the net for a chart (and pray that it isn't wrong )

 

[Fuzzbass]

But I use iReal Pro on those rare occasions where I have to hack my way thru jazz.

Copied/amended from my (off-topic) comment in another thread:

iReal Pro is available for both Apple and Android. This is a freakin' amazing app for real charts. Playing in a different key? The app can transpose! You can modify existing charts or write your own from scratch, but it's fairly easy to search/download charts in a huge variety of genres, either individual songs or huge compilations such as "jazz 500": that's right, 500 jazz standards. I've actually gigged this app for a dinner set of jazz. Oh... you can also use it as a practice tool to play along with the charts. The instrument AI is impressive! You can deselect bass to play along with keys and drums/percussion, or leave bass in. I used it quite a bit when I was taking theory lessons

 

[mizedog]

Thanks for adding your great info.
I’m not nearly as busy gigging as I was when I was younger, single, and had lots of time. Back then (90s), there was no digital option. For church, I kept big three ring notebooks, and built those chords charts I mentioned above. For live, working band situations, I was determined NOT to have a music stand anywhere near me. I wanted to own the songs, and be able to run, and dance around. I regularly used an old Nady wireless, and would jump down in the crowd, and get the ladies dancing! That meant memorizing the songs. I had about 350 memorized. Many were easy from bands like Bad Company. Many had very specific harmony lines and/or bass parts (Journey - we started as a Journey tribute, Boston, Kansas, Chicago, Styx, Extreme, The Outlaws, etc.). Plus, when we whittled down to just drums, bass, guitar and singer, I would cover many of the rhythm guitar, lead guitar hamony (thinking Bon Jovi, etc.), and some keyboard parts (Too Much Time - Styx, Mutron).
So, in a perfect world, memorization, with understanding the chords relationships of the progressions ruled. I am trying to get back to memorization and it’s so freeing when I get a song down (like Say That You Love Me by Fleetwood Mac, with vocal harmony, and singing lead on Pride And Joy). I can concentrate on the music, and the show, and avoid looking down to a music stand. I’m working on it, but not all the way there.

I’ve started adding the basic chords at the top of some songs like below. But, I may try the numbering system with the key noted. Often, the guitarist will put together a song chart with chords for his capoed guitar. That really throws the keyboardist off. I can often transpose on the fly in those situations, but try to rewrite the actual chords. Like I said, I’m using a big iPad. If I get to the numbers/chords only, I might be able to minimize to just my Note 10 phone, and no music stand!!!!

 

[Fuzzbass]

For live, working band situations, I was determined NOT to have a music stand anywhere near me. I wanted to own the songs, and be able to run, and dance around.

That's a great target. When I have one busy gigging band, then I go for no cheat sheets with that band.

Right now I'm busy gigging, but don't have that main band: my time is split between a half-dozen bands that gig irregularly, and also never rehearse. So I use my tablet, though I only really need it for a couple/few songs per set.

Actually, my newest band gigs almost every weekend, but I'm in rotation with two other bassists who have seniority so I only get about 1 gig per month. The BL has subs for every position to ensure that he can stay that busy. Their setlist includes over a dozen new-to-me songs, so I have my tablet as security blanket.

It's important to note that I ask every new BL in advance whether they mind me using a tablet. The usual response is "no problem, I do too". That would not be the case with a super-busy band, but again, that doesn't apply to me at the moment.

 

[Fuzzbass]

P.S. Interesting arrangement of Tennessee Whiskey -- key change, extra chords.

 

[mizedog]

Yes, the singer of the song chose the key, provided the chords. That key makes it easier for me to hit those harmony lines. Those chords are just a starting place. I tend to rome around from there. Looking at the structure, it makes me realize we could go straight into Sad Eyes by Robert John. Not sure Tennessee Whiskey fans would like that though...