Free setlist planner for musicians and bands

A setlist is more than an ordered song list. Shape the energy, prove the transitions, fit the promised time and keep the practical show around it.

Use this template free Free, no account, opens in your browser.

Main focusSetlist plannerBranchRunning orderThoughtSoundcheck prioritiesBranchShow-day run sheetThoughtPack and stage check

Built from the same cards and connections you edit inside HeadTidy.

What’s included

An ordered song table with duration, key or tuning, lead and transition
A soundcheck checklist aimed at risk rather than full-song rehearsal
A show-day run sheet from load-in through settlement
A practical instrument, stage and merchandise pack list
An after-show loop for payment, fixes, contacts and rebooking

Build the set around energy and changeover

Open with something reliable, place contrasting songs deliberately and notice clusters of instrument or tuning changes. The Transition column holds count-ins, spoken cues, segues, patch changes and who starts. Add the song durations and leave room for talking, applause and an encore rather than filling every promised minute with music.

Use soundcheck on the risks

Check the quietest and loudest moments, every unusual input, the hardest change and the monitor information the players actually need. A stage plot and input list help the engineer prepare; playing six complete songs usually does not.

Keep the show around the set

The run sheet connects load-in, setup, soundcheck, doors, stage time and settlement. The pack list covers small failure points such as power, batteries, hearing protection and payment equipment. Afterward, save changes to the running order while the evidence is fresh.

Worked example

A forty-five-minute set totals forty-three minutes before introductions. Moving the alternate-tuning song beside another guitar change creates a long pause, so the band moves it earlier and prepares one spoken cue to cover the switch. The final order has forty minutes of music and enough breathing room to finish on time.

How to use this template

Start
Add the show time limit and every candidate song with its real duration.
Sort
Order for energy, tuning and transitions, then rehearse the risky joins.
Move
Complete the run sheet, soundcheck priorities and pack list before leaving.

Frequently asked questions

What information belongs on a setlist?

Include song order and title at minimum. Duration, key or tuning, lead, starting cue, transitions and equipment changes make the list more useful to the people performing it.

How long should a setlist be?

Build to the performance length agreed with the venue, but leave room for applause, introductions, pauses and unexpected changes. The sum of song durations should normally be shorter than the full stage slot.

Can I print or export the setlist?

HeadTidy can export the map as PNG or PDF and its structure as Markdown or OPML. Keep a simple stage-facing version as well as the fuller planning map when performers do not need every production detail.