Whether you're playing a three-hour bar gig, a 30-minute open mic, or just running through songs at band practice, you need a setlist. Scribbling song names on a napkin works in a pinch, but it doesn't help when the singer wants everything in a different key or the drummer needs to know the order for next week's show.

The Setlist Builder on Toca Aquela lets you organize your songs, adjust transpositions per song, and share the whole list with your band — no account required.

How the Setlist Builder Works

The setlist feature lives at /setlist. Here's what you can do:

Add Songs

Search for any song in the Toca Aquela library and add it to your setlist. The search works by title, artist, or lyrics — so if you only remember a line from the chorus, you can still find it.

Each song gets added with its original key and chords. Your setlist shows the song title, artist, key, and a link to the full chord sheet.

Per-Song Transposition

This is where the setlist builder really shines. Every singer has a different range, and every guitarist has capo preferences. With per-song transposition, you can:

• Shift individual songs up or down by any number of semitones
• See the new key displayed right in the setlist
• Keep other songs untouched — transpositions are per-song, not global

So if your vocalist nails "Wonderwall" in A instead of the original Em, just transpose that one song. The rest of your setlist stays in their original keys.

Reorder Your Lineup

Drag songs up and down to arrange your set order. Think about pacing — start strong, build energy in the middle, close with a crowd-pleaser. The setlist keeps your order locked in so you don't have to remember it on stage.

Share With Your Band

Once your setlist is ready, share it via a link. Anyone with the link can view the setlist and access all the chord sheets. No sign-up needed — just send the link to your group chat and everyone's on the same page (literally).

This is especially useful when:

• Band members practice at home before rehearsal
• You're filling in with a new group and need to learn their songs
• The sound engineer asks what you're playing tonight

Song Requests

Planning an event where the audience can request songs? The setlist feature supports song requests. Attendees can suggest songs, and you can review and add them to your running setlist.

Setting Up a Gig Setlist

Here's a practical workflow for building a gig-ready setlist:

1. Start with your catalog — add all songs your band knows
2. Filter by key — group songs in similar keys to minimize retuning or capo changes
3. Set transpositions — adjust any songs that your vocalist performs in a different key
4. Arrange the order — open strong, vary the energy, close with a banger
5. Share the link — send it to the band for review
6. Print or bookmark — have it ready for the gig

Why Use a Digital Setlist?

Compared to handwritten setlists or shared spreadsheets, the Toca Aquela setlist builder gives you:

• Integrated chord sheets — tap any song to see its full chords and lyrics
• Live transposition — change keys without rewriting chord sheets by hand
• Instant sharing — one link, everyone has access
• Reusability — save your setlist link and reuse it for recurring gigs
• No sign-up — everything works without creating an account

Setlist Tips From Working Musicians

Energy Flow

Don't front-load all your high-energy songs. A good setlist has peaks and valleys:

• Opener: Mid-energy crowd-pleaser everyone knows
• Early set: Build energy with upbeat songs
• Mid-set: Drop to a ballad or acoustic moment
• Late set: Peak energy — your biggest, most danceable songs
• Closer: End on a high note everyone will remember

Key Management

Group songs in similar keys together when possible. Jumping from E to Db to G# means constant capo adjustments and retuning. If you keep songs in related keys (G, C, D for example), transitions are smoother.

Have Backup Songs

Add 2-3 extra songs at the bottom of your setlist. If a song isn't landing, swap it out. If the crowd wants an encore, you're ready.

Time Your Set

Most songs run 3-5 minutes. A 45-minute set needs roughly 10-12 songs. Don't over-pack — leave room for banter, tuning, and transitions.

Pair With Other Features

The setlist builder works great alongside other Toca Aquela features:

• Scroll mode — play through each song hands-free during the gig
• Chord booklets — print your setlist songs as a backup
• Transpose on the song page — experiment with keys before committing to a transposition in your setlist

Build your first setlist at Toca Aquela and see how much smoother your next rehearsal goes.