We talk about building your repertoire, what it is, and how best to choose the right songs to add to it! Part of my Intermediate Course.
A repertoire is the collection of songs you know how to play. We aim for this to be songs we can play at a moments notice without looking at chords or lyrics, as if we are ready to play a gig. However, using chord sheets is fine either as a prompt or out of pure necessity, we are still learning after all.
My beginners course states that you need to demonstrate that you can play at least 10 songs that you know along to the recording. If you can't do that yet, make this your top priority.
What songs should I learn?
It really helps if these are songs that other guitarists will likely know. This way, if you ever happen to be in a situation where another guitarists or a singer want to play with you, you have something prepare that they are likely to know!
I also recommend learning songs that will help you achieve one of your Musical Goals or that you can use in your musical outlet (discussed in lesson 7 of this section). For example;
Songs I'm learning to improve my barre chord changes
Songs I'm learning that are my all time favourites to jam along to the recordings
Songs I'm learning for an open mic night
Songs I'm learning for a Jam with a neighbour
Furthermore, I advise you to try and find songs that will define what you’re about musically. Add in enough variation to keep it interesting for your mood, but put enough focus on a specific genre to make good progress in a single area, e.g. playing and singing at the same time, lead guitar playing etc.
Finally, treat your repertoire like it is the set list of a real band, perhaps even your favourite band! Real bands and pop acts have their core songs and old favourites that they will always play or play often. These are mixed into their set or repertoire with more recent additions that the band likely won’t play forever, but are perhaps from their new album or rarities for their catalogue to give the fans and the band something new to play. The key is balance between these, and some movement of songs in and out of the set over the tour or over the years. Why not treat your song repertoire in a similar way?
