Make a Gig Book
Build a printed setlist book organized by set, energy arc, or venue. Flip to the right song instantly — no scrolling, no dead air between songs.
Why Build a Gig Book?
Zero dead air on stage
A physical book means instant page flips between songs. No unlocking phones, no searching apps, no "hold on, I'm loading it."
Survives any venue
Outdoor festivals, dim pubs, bright stage lights — paper works everywhere. No screen glare, no dead battery, no WiFi needed.
Call any song by page number
"Page 23" is faster than "the one in G that goes like this." Auto table of contents means everyone finds the chart instantly.
Who Uses a Gig Book?
Any musician who performs live and wants a reliable, organized reference on stage.
Cover & function bands
200+ songs across weddings, corporate events, and bar gigs. One book, every song, organized by set and energy.
Guide for bands →Solo performers & singer-songwriters
Chord charts for your originals and covers in one compact book. Flip to what feels right for the room.
Jazz & jam musicians
Standards organized by key or feel so you can call a tune fast when someone shouts "something in Bb!"
Jazz fake book guide →Dep & session musicians
Walk into any gig with a book of charts you can sight-read. Chapters by genre or artist for quick lookup.
Chapter Ideas for a Gig Book
Use MakeMySongBook’s chapter dividers to organize your repertoire for the stage.
By set
ClassicSet 1, Set 2, Set 3, Encores. The classic structure — flip to the right set and play straight through.
By energy
Energy arcOpeners, High Energy, Mid-Tempo, Slow & Acoustic, Closers. Build a set arc by picking from each chapter.
By genre
VersatileRock, Pop, Soul, Country, Oldies. Useful for function bands who switch genres to match the crowd.
By decade
Crowd requests60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, Recent. Crowd shouts "play some 80s!" — you flip right there.
By key
Smooth flowAll songs in G, all songs in A, etc. Keeps transitions smooth and reduces awkward key jumps between songs.
By venue type
Function bandsWedding Reception, Corporate, Bar/Pub, Festival, Private Party. Grab the right chapter for tonight's gig.
Build Your Gig Book in 5 Steps
From a folder of charts to a stage-ready book.
- 1
Collect your charts as PDFs
Chord charts, lead sheets, lyric sheets, tabs — anything you reference on stage. Export from apps, download from music sites, or scan handwritten charts. Name files clearly: "Don't Stop Believin' - E.pdf".
Find sheet music → - 2
Upload to MakeMySongBook
Drag and drop your PDFs into the builder. Multi-page charts stay together automatically. Upload your entire repertoire — there are no file limits.
- 3
Organize by set or energy
Add chapter dividers — "Set 1," "Set 2," "Encores" or "High Energy," "Mid-Tempo," "Ballads." Drag songs into chapters and reorder until the flow is right.
- 4
Customize the cover
Add your name or band name, a subtitle like "2026 Gig Book," and pick a color theme. Upload your logo or band artwork for a professional look.
- 5
Generate and print
One click generates the final PDF with auto table of contents, page numbers, song title headers, and smart page alignment for double-sided printing. Print, bind, and you're gig-ready.
Printing & binding tips →
What the Tool Adds to Your Gig Book
You upload the charts. MakeMySongBook handles the book formatting.
Table of contents
Every song listed with page number and chapter. Scan it before the gig to confirm your set order.
Chapter dividers
Full-page set breaks so you know exactly where Set 2 starts. Add a chapter description like "After the break."
Song title headers
Every page shows the song title in the corner. Glance down mid-song and confirm you're on the right chart.
Page numbers
Call out a page number and every band member flips there. Faster than naming the song during a loud soundcheck.
Smart page alignment
Multi-page charts always start on the correct side for double-sided printing. No mid-song page turns.
Cover with your branding
Your name, band logo, color theme, and artwork. Looks professional sitting on a music stand.
Tips for a Great Gig Book
- Include key and tempo in the file name ("Sweet Caroline - C - 126bpm.pdf") so they show up in the table of contents.
- Use A4 for music stands. Use A5 Booklet for a compact book you can prop on a keyboard or clip to a mic stand.
- Print on 120gsm+ paper — it survives sweaty hands, outdoor wind, and the occasional spilled drink.
- Laminate the cover or use a clear plastic sleeve. Your gig book will live in a gig bag and take a beating.
- Keep a master copy and reprint when the setlist changes. Add new songs, drop retired ones, regenerate in minutes.
- Spiral-bind or comb-bind so the book lies flat on a music stand without springing shut.
- Mark crowd favorites with a sticky tab so you can find them instantly when someone shouts a request.
Need Charts?
Find chord charts, lead sheets, and tabs for your instrument.
Ready to Build Your Gig Book?
Upload your charts, organize by set and energy, and generate a print-ready gig book in minutes. Free, no account needed.
Start Building