Arranging setlists in clusters

GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on Aug 20 2016 03:07 PM

Been doing some research and came upon the idea of "clusters", short groups of 3-4 songs of a similar theme or type.

Broke down our songs into the following rough categories:

Surf
Spy
Space
Horror
Spaghetti Western
Latin
Island
TV Theme
Hot Rod
etc.

They can be played in any order depending on the feel of the audience, take breaks when it feels right.

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Aug 20 2016 03:30 PM

We play songs in groups of 3-4, but we don't write to themes/genres/categories.

Our groups of 3-4 are played back-to-back with no extended breaks or banter, just count-offs/starting. After the group we'll take a few seconds, sort any gear stuff out, say howdy, make a joke, etc...

Our setlists are very tailored to be dynamic and to keep the audience engaged without overwhelming them. We don't play for too long, we don't play too many songs that have similar energy one after another. Songs witho trumpet are spaced out, and songs with compact organ are spaced out and mixed in with our songs that have everyone playing guitar.

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GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on Aug 20 2016 04:48 PM

I hear ya. Tried to keep each group different within itself if that makes sense Things like slow, fast, similar chord changes all came into consideration as much as possible.

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drumsdick

Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 225
Central CT, USA
United States

Posted on Aug 20 2016 04:57 PM

Watch out for the drum beats also! One would be ill-advised to play Squad Car, California Sun and Surfin' Bird too close together. Or, Tamale Wagon, Moon Dawg and Lullaby of the Leaves, as another example.
Just sayin'.
- Dick

—

*Dick B.
The Aquatudes
http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521

Last edited: Aug 21, 2016 06:37:36

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GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on Aug 20 2016 05:40 PM

Lots of variables to consider. Will take another look at the pulse or drumbeats of the songs. Did pay attention to slow, mid tempo and fast though. Good point!

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Aug 21 2016 11:05 AM

As with drum beats, try to avoid playing songs back to back in the same key.

—

Happy Sunsets!

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GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on Aug 21 2016 11:07 AM

Yeah, I remember reading an interview from Joe Pass where he mentions that.

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Merlin

Joined: Feb 03, 2011
Posts: 111
Brampton, ON
Canada

Posted on Aug 22 2016 06:30 AM

tahitijack wrote:

As with drum beats, try to avoid playing songs back to back in the same key.

Or you could consider stringing them together into a medley.

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GregEL

Joined: Mar 16, 2016
Posts: 217
Highland CA

Posted on Aug 22 2016 06:41 AM

We do that with Walk Don't Run and Perfidia.

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tahitijack

Joined: Nov 03, 2006
Posts: 693
San Clemente, CA
United States

Posted on Aug 22 2016 09:21 AM

Add Lullaby of the Leaves to round out the medley.

—

Happy Sunsets!

Last edited: Aug 22, 2016 09:22:31

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ErnestHernandez

Joined: Jun 16, 2008
Posts: 597
The Alamo City, TX
8 News Pins

Posted on Aug 22 2016 10:05 AM

We employ the cluster technique as well...;) Similar to Jake we create 3-4 song pods that are dynamic and sonically interesting. I like being able to run 3-4 songs at a time without a break, it's punchy and energetic and it helps to eliminate fidgeting around in between songs. I also like the flexibility of calling an audible to our set list and moving a cluster depending on how the audience is reacting.

—

https://kingpelican.bandcamp.com/

Last edited: Aug 22, 2016 11:04:23

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ScottyBravo

Joined: Jul 14, 2008
Posts: 92
Chandler, AZ

Posted on Aug 22 2016 10:31 AM

I don't cluster. I'll arrange each set in an order that I think will be sonically interesting for the audience, while also tossing lead guitar responsibilities between our guitarists. Then I go through the set and look for segue opportunities.

—

Scott
http://thesurfsideiv.com/
https://www.facebook.com/surfsideiv/

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GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on Aug 20 2016 03:07 PM Been doing some research and came upon the idea of "clusters", short groups of 3-4 songs of a similar theme or type. Broke down our songs into the following rough categories: Surf Spy Space Horror Spaghetti Western Latin Island TV Theme Hot Rod etc. They can be played in any order depending on the feel of the audience, take breaks when it feels right. Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Aug 20 2016 03:30 PM We play songs in groups of 3-4, but we don't write to themes/genres/categories. Our groups of 3-4 are played back-to-back with no extended breaks or banter, just count-offs/starting. After the group we'll take a few seconds, sort any gear stuff out, say howdy, make a joke, etc... Our setlists are very tailored to be dynamic and to keep the audience engaged without overwhelming them. We don't play for too long, we don't play too many songs that have similar energy one after another. Songs witho trumpet are spaced out, and songs with compact organ are spaced out and mixed in with our songs that have everyone playing guitar. Top
GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on Aug 20 2016 04:48 PM I hear ya. Tried to keep each group different within itself if that makes sense Things like slow, fast, similar chord changes all came into consideration as much as possible. Top
drumsdick Joined: May 29, 2007 Posts: 225 Central CT, USA	Posted on Aug 20 2016 04:57 PM Watch out for the drum beats also! One would be ill-advised to play Squad Car, California Sun and Surfin' Bird too close together. Or, Tamale Wagon, Moon Dawg and Lullaby of the Leaves, as another example. Just sayin'. - Dick — *Dick B. The Aquatudes http://www.aquatudes.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Aquatudes/107419619521 Last edited: Aug 21, 2016 06:37:36 Top
GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on Aug 20 2016 05:40 PM Lots of variables to consider. Will take another look at the pulse or drumbeats of the songs. Did pay attention to slow, mid tempo and fast though. Good point! Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Aug 21 2016 11:05 AM As with drum beats, try to avoid playing songs back to back in the same key. — Happy Sunsets! Top
GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on Aug 21 2016 11:07 AM Yeah, I remember reading an interview from Joe Pass where he mentions that. Top
Merlin Joined: Feb 03, 2011 Posts: 111 Brampton, ON	Posted on Aug 22 2016 06:30 AM tahitijack wrote: As with drum beats, try to avoid playing songs back to back in the same key. Or you could consider stringing them together into a medley. Top
GregEL Joined: Mar 16, 2016 Posts: 217 Highland CA	Posted on Aug 22 2016 06:41 AM We do that with Walk Don't Run and Perfidia. Top
tahitijack Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 693 San Clemente, CA	Posted on Aug 22 2016 09:21 AM Add Lullaby of the Leaves to round out the medley. — Happy Sunsets! Last edited: Aug 22, 2016 09:22:31 Top
ErnestHernandez Joined: Jun 16, 2008 Posts: 597 The Alamo City, TX	Posted on Aug 22 2016 10:05 AM We employ the cluster technique as well...;) Similar to Jake we create 3-4 song pods that are dynamic and sonically interesting. I like being able to run 3-4 songs at a time without a break, it's punchy and energetic and it helps to eliminate fidgeting around in between songs. I also like the flexibility of calling an audible to our set list and moving a cluster depending on how the audience is reacting. — https://kingpelican.bandcamp.com/ Last edited: Aug 22, 2016 11:04:23 Top
ScottyBravo Joined: Jul 14, 2008 Posts: 92 Chandler, AZ	Posted on Aug 22 2016 10:31 AM I don't cluster. I'll arrange each set in an order that I think will be sonically interesting for the audience, while also tossing lead guitar responsibilities between our guitarists. Then I go through the set and look for segue opportunities. — Scott http://thesurfsideiv.com/ https://www.facebook.com/surfsideiv/ Top

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Arranging setlists in clusters