My Busking Set List & How To Write One 

Thanks

Im 66. I busk to make the streets better. I play fiddle and guitar and sing. I want people to have a little dance. So I start with fiddle tunes. Rasy to aet up and get a sound i like. After about 30 minutes i switch to guitar and voice. I compensate for my mediocre voice by playing fancy guitar. The setting for fiddle tend to fit for the guitar. Thrn I loop a bit of guitar (chirds the canon in d) and then pick the fiddle up to play the tune. This bit usually lasts a while. Then i go back to fiddle tunes. No idea what works the best. Sometimes its george formby sometimes fiddle sometimes blues. Often people walk past a few rimes and then donate. Good attitude, Dude.

Having read all the responses, I think you are on the road to creating a real busking community. I can see it now. The ARP buskommunity.

I'm not a busker (yet?). But I had performed on stage. So, just two things for beginning sets: The first song should be one, you are absolutely save on singing/playing. Because a good running first song gives you confidence (!!!) for the whole set! And very often (at least on stage, maybe at busking too?) you have to do some adjustments, WHILE singing/playing the first song: Checking monitor sound (and communicate with the technician eg.) or volume, replacing monitor box, stands, cables etc. (and sometimes other band members ;-) ).. So you cant't concentrate hundred percent of singing/playing the first song! Another thing is, performing in front of people, is all about communication (not so much about music!). So, to start a set is like meeting another person for the first time. You wouldn't say "hello" so softly, that the other can't hear you and you would not yell "HELLO!!!!!" right in face, that his ears are bleeding. The way in the middle is good for a first contact. I tink that's the same with the beginning of a set. One or two mid-tempo songs are ideal for a start. Ballads and the hard stuff are for later in your set, when the audience know you. But that's just my two cents... PS. Summer of 69 is always a good choice to get people (esp. ladys ;-) )

I completely agree with your ideas of starting with something that fits well within your range to warm it up and singing songs that you want to sing. I am very pleased to see you including so many of your own songs. I sing only my own songs these days. When I return to a place I sometimes get requests to sing one of my songs and that makes me very happy. Sometimes I get a request to sing a cover (Hurry On Sundown by Hawkwind or anything by Nirvana or Metallica have been recent requests, for example!!!) . That ain’t gonna happen, but I’m intrigued that some people think I could. I explain that I only sing my own songs and that avoids the embarrassment of having to admit I don’t know the string of requests someone may make in exasperation. I try to mix up keys and metres so there is variety between adjacent songs, although that is probably more important for a gig than for busking. I think it does though provide some relief for anyone who may be forced to hear my music because they are working in a nearby shop or office. Sometimes I link songs thematically. Great video as always. Cheers.

Totally agree its best to only play what you like because otherwise, you're performance of the song will feel flat and disingenuous. Great setlist!

Your music taste is exactly the same as mine, I think that's why this channel resonates with me. Keep doing what you do!

I like the idea of a warm up song, I ripped a vocal chord in 2017 so I couldn't sing so mine is now "wait and bleed" by slipknot. I finds it makes me sound ill in the span of a minute which is what I need.

Another great video and as always I watch all the way through! My busking is quite unique in the fact that I suffered a couple of serious health issues that made a massive difference to my ability to play guitar. So that said, my setlist has definite "must haves". 1) They have to be songs I can sing well obviously, but more than that they need to be really easy to strum! I used to strum like you, but not anymore. 2) as you say, I have to love the song. 3) (only in my opinion, everyone varies) they need to be pretty well-known. So if anyone is interested or just starting out, here's my list: 1) Still haven't found what I'm looking for - U2 (a great "throat opener", for me at least, and pretty much everyone knows/likes? it)) 2) First cut is the deepest - Rod Stewart (same reason) 3) Don't let me down - Beatles (stone cold classic and people ALWAYS stop in their tracks and listen/donate) 4) Candle in the wind - Elton John (you might think "that's a bit miserable?" but people love it!) 5) Let it be - Beatles (same reason as 4) 6) Yellow - Coldplay (again, instantly recognisable once you sing first line!) 7) Stand by me - Ben E King (another all-time classic that I love singing and people enjoy) 8) Somewhere only we know - Keane (this one is unbelievable, I'd say it's the biggest earner along with don't let me down) 9) Don't look back in anger - Oasis (no explanation needed) 10) Valerie - Zutons (seems all ages know this one, and I like singing it) 11) Silence is easy - Starsailor (mainly because I know James Walsh haha, but a great one to belt out too) 12) Everybody's changing - Keane (great to sing, easy to play, many people like it) 13) Free fallin - Tom Petty (busker's classic?) After this I'm struggling, not only physically, but for ideas.... so I get just over an hour with this. AND here's a question for ARP and everyone else, do you repeat songs? Like if you have your "best" songs, do you play them twice? If I see there are more people at the end, I sometimes repeat don't let me down, just because why not? :) I think it's important to say, my reasons for busking are simple, just to be able to play and sing again. I have a good job so it's not for the cash, and I only usually make about €25, half of which I donate to stroke charities. Plus it's a "release" after tough days at work, so when I have a day off, I go for an hour to busk, and absolutely love doing it! Cheers ARP and everyone!

Poor Ed Sheeran, man. He can't catch a break on your channel. Anyway, good video, I like the longer ones that show the donations you get etc.

Hi enjoying the video, I agree with choosing the songs that you like and enjoy doing, by the way "what model guitar are you using?" Keep the videos coming.

My approach is completely different on the capo. I tend to change keys a lot, because to me it feels a bit tiring to listen to several songs in the same key back to back. But I'm so used to doing this and I have the feeling that my guitar and the capo became such great friends over time that I rarely have to tune it after putting it on another fret. Maybe I just got better at applying it. Using the capo can be quite an art form in itself, knowing on which frets you put it on straight or if a slight angle works better, which strings to push down first and stuff like that. I learned that it's not always as simple as clamping it down anywhere anytime. I think it's worth putting some time into it and use it in different ways and check the intonation and stuff.

I have worked at compiling a solid set list, but, for each occasion. For 3 hour gigs I alternate between fast and slow tempo, capo or no capo, original or cover, just to keep interest. For an audition/demo/open mic situation I hit em with my best material, upbeat mostly, but the first and last songs are Uber important here as they will recall those two over the others. I love ARP!

Is that a Gibson Songwriter? If so, that's a pretty sweet guitar! I have one myself but rosewood. Props to you for being brave enough to play such a nice guitar outside of a studio or a inside gig job.

You are my hero and my inspiration. I just back to busking and performaing live after a long lay off and you are a great help. Thanks!

Still working my way through your busking videos Ben. This subject interested me a lot. I've never busked in my life, but I reckon I want to have a go next year in warmer weather (my 60 odd year old fingers don't respond well to the cold!) I may never have busked, but I do gig a bit and set list design is an important feature. These days I'm never offered a chance to play in a busy pub environment. There's a lot of ageism out there. Me and my 60 year old mates do not generally fit in with what the bar/pub is trying to attract. We have though, managed to get one cocktail bar in town willing to give us a small room on their quietest night of the week to play for anyone who turns up. We have to promote the thing ourselves, so many of our audience members are known to us. We take it turns to participate, two or three different acts each time (there's quite a few of us oldies still wanting to strut our stuff occasionally). Now, our audiences are small, but they stay put for the whole evening and they are genuinely there to listen, which makes the 'shape' of the set list very important. There can be no repeats, nor can two different acts play the same songs! For me, aiming at a 45 minute set, I start with something safe, well within range, but with some impact (perhaps something people of my demographic/age will recognise). Having established my cred, I can then go off into more obscure things in the first third of my set. Here I can stretch to things a little more challenging vocally, and if not too many people know the songs, it'll still get some applause. At some point though, you need to set your eyes on the finishing line and start to build towards that; head for the line and drag your audience with you. Out come the familiar crowd pleasers, maybe a chorus ot two and encourage some participation. I have in my songbook a number of higher tempo party pieces, medleys of 60s/70s hits which I get everyone singing along with. I never do more than one of the medleys and it is always my last piece. Leave them on high, leave them wanting more. Then on to the next act. I realise that busking and small gigs are not the same thing, but interesting that we're driven by similar ideas and motives.

i'll be just here until you get famous

Enjoying your content here in central Texas. If you like American CW covers, look at Turnpike Troubadours and Midnight River Choir. There is some good stuff there.

My set list. I listen to my own stuff walking to the pitch. Then pick at random. And freestyle at quieter intervals to gain new ideas for lyrics.

spot on, man. you should play songs you like. why play tunes you don't like just to please others? play what you like and people will like it too.

Definitely learning the hard way I need to start doing covers ;//

Hey man I've been following you for a while and I really appreciate the knowledge you share. I've started busking myself and and have some questions for you... 1. What is your busking sign made out of and how did you stick it on so it lasts? 2. I notice you have some kind of connector stand for your zettle and wondered where you got that? Thanks man and hopefully see you out busking as am planning a trip to Brighton soon! Thanks so much, Paul 😊

I've just brought the Mackie Showbox. Csmt wait to get using it!

Love your videos. "Gone Fishing" sounds like a guy's version of a Taylor Swift song. Great busking tips!

Absolutely great video and spot on! Busk authentic!

Thanks for sharing Bro, very interesting list, great warm up tunes and following on with an awesome set. Keep going pal.

❤❤❤❤what a rad dude lol

I really inspired by your videos, this is great advice and makes me want to get out busking, mainly because I love playing to an audience and like you I love to play my own songs. Thank you for sharing your work.

Great video once again. Onwards and upwards.

BLOW ME (well not literally...), I'm half way through the video and an original pops up called 'If I'. I've an original song from around1992ish called 'And If I'....I'll have a listen to your now. It reminds me though of a song I wrote in about 1994ish (and I'm about to perform for the first time at Huddersfield Food & Drink Festival on Aug 3rd...I think I open the 4 -day Festival) called Bedtime Stories'. About three months after finishing recording it, Madonna no less then releases an album of the same name. Nothing new under the sun it appears...

Ah!....'The Boulevard delivered by The Bard'....this was one of the songs all my guitar students wanted to play when I was teaching many moons ago. I presume you know that Noel Gallagher had a hissy fit when he first heard this song saying it was a rip-off of 'Wonderwall'. If that's not the pot calling the kettle, I don't know what is....

I heard on another busking channel, that they only do a 10-12 minute set and repeat it, because most people only stop for a few minutes on their way to elsewhere, and if they've tipped, their not going to tip again later into the set. It made sense, and probably worth an experiment?

Sorry that I'm late to this party. Great video. My set list is made up of mainly covers. My starting song is Proud Mary which is a bit of a banger easy on my voice and easy to play and it eases me in to the show. Keep it up man.

Can u play No surrender by Bruce Sprngtein. The Boss

Hello there! I loved this video!! It is really helpful for me❤, how many songs in total are you playing in your SETLIST? 🎸🎸🎸 Thanks a lot! keep going, and i also loved your ORIGINAL SONGS!! I hope to ear them in Apple Music!!

👏👏❤

great stuff :)

GREAT STUFF