The Ultimate Setlist For Acoustic Guitar -A to Z Challenge

[@7rd8]

Your guitar playing is great, Frank! Thanks for setting the bar for me.

[@FrankPersico]

I appreciate the kind words… cheers

[@marklewis94]

Frank, I loved your set list, but you asked for alternative suggestions, so here goes. Great American Songbook: *Stormy Weather *Ain't Misbehavin' *One For My Baby (And One More For the Road) Classic Rock *Ripple &/or Friend of the Devil There are almost always one or two Deadheads in any crowd and happy Deadheads always tip well *Werewolves of London Motown/R&B *Tears of a Clown *Tracks of My Tears If its a good singalong crowd *My Girl They're all Smokey Robinson tunes. What more justification is needed Country *Crazy *Whiskey River And with the right crowd *You Never Even Called Me By My Name Thanks again. Your list is great just as it is!

[@FrankPersico]

Great suggestions!! I appreciate it ..cheers

[@BrianGrossPy]

my sing along set list 1 Sweet Caroline 2 Don't stop believing 3 Whats up 4 Piano man 5 country roads 6 hey Jude 7 hotel California 8 it's my life 9 have u ever seen the rain 10 livin on prayer I work as a soloist artist on a cruise ship and these songs always work 👍

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the road tested songs! Or should I say sea tested?!? lol cheers

[@jeffhartman5166]

Great idea! Here’s my choices from my set list. Some because I love the songs, others because the audience loves the songs, and some because it’s the only song we do for that letter! A - All My Loving B - Baby Blue C - Changes in Latitude D - Dancing In The Dark E - Every Rose Has It’s Thorns F - Folsom Prison Blues G - Good Riddance H - Hooked On A Feeling I - I Want It That Way J - Jack and Diane K - Knocking On Heaven’s Door L - LA Freeway M - Melissa N - Night Moves O - Only The Good Die Young P - Piano Man R - Rainbow Connection S - Sweet Child O’ Mine T - Take It Easy U - V - W The Weight X Y - Your Mama Don’t Dance

[@FrankPersico]

Great list. Thanks for sharing with us all!

[@johnbankston72]

Love ABB’s Melissa. It’s the one song I always have to play anytime I pick up the guitar.

[@AG-wg1sy]

A - Am I The Only One B- Brown Eyed Girl D - Down in a Hole E - Elderly Woman Behind The Counter F - Freshman H - House of the Rising Sun I - If You Could Only See the Way I - I Alone L - Lake of Fire L - Lightning Crashes M - Mr Jones R - Rhiannon R - Round Here S - Something to Remind You S - Snuff T - Take me home Country Roads T - Through Glass U - Under the Bridge

[@jeffhartman5166]

Great list. Thanks for sharing!

[@FrankPersico]

Awesome list!!

[@MichaelCovey-dp7mk]

Love it so far Frank! That's quite a challenge brother, I'm only halfway through at the moment and you've already got my mind working overtime. Can't wait to hear the second half! Keep up the great work!...

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much. I appreciate the comment

[@jed1166]

Great video! First, I will give you my substitutions. BUT, I will certainly be putting some of your choices into my song list! Excellent choices! A- Angel from Montgomery. B- Blvd of Broken Dreams. C- Come Monday. D- Drive. E- End of the Line. F- From the Beginning. H- Heart of the Matter (Forgiveness) I- I’ve Just Seen a Face L- Life by the Drop. M- Mary Janes Last Dance. N- Nothing Compares 2 U. O- One of Us. P- Patience. R- Roller Derby Queen. S- Slip Sliding Away. T- Tuesdays Gone Y- Yellow Ledbetter.

[@FrankPersico]

You got some bangers in there. Good stuff.

[@outtamilk]

❤ your setlist! I would definitely swap out N - Never goin back again for N - Nutshell (N - Never ever been able to play it without mucking it up). E - Every breath you take. G - Goin to California. H - Here comes the sun. I - Interstate love song. J - Jolene or Just the two of us. K - Kiss from a rose. R - Ramble on. T - Talks to Angels. Z - Zombie or Zorba the Greek. I really like your videos!

[@FrankPersico]

Great picks. A lot of the songs on here were considerations … maybe I should have done 2 songs per letter and turned it into a full length movie?? Hahaha 😂 next time … cheers and thanks for commenting

[@outtamilk]

@@FrankPersico lol just too many great songs out there to choose from!

[@stringmantony]

That’s a great set, Frank! Excellent Travis Picking too. 👍👍👍

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you kindly!

[@johngrattan302]

Luv it👍, Horse w no Name, Imagine, More than a feeling, Yellow, and Zombie. I just started following you with loop pedal teachings and this so Thank you Frank🎸

[@FrankPersico]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@BostonAndMaineLive]

Thank you for the setlist.

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure

[@ltbpoe]

Thanks for sharing. Really helps as i have been working on several of these songs. That Ziggy Stardust intro was easy for me to pick up. Thanks again.

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure

[@makingmusiconline2309]

Absolutely fantastic. There are a few songs that I don't think are as big over here in the UK (I'm sure there are plenty of Death Cab fans, but not something that gets much airplay), same thing for, say, Hootie and the Blowfish, or Stoned Temple Pilots. But ... I'm sitting here listening, with Ultimate Guitar open in another tab, and I'm emailing myself the chords and lyrics for all the songs that I know that I haven't already got in my songbook. So many fabulous ideas, thank you!

[@FrankPersico]

My pleasure. Thanks for commenting!

[@MisterNewman]

That. Was. AWESOME! (said in the voice of that little kid from The Incredibles). Thanks for this Frank.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrJduncan73]

That, right there, is a great setlist! I really like the mix of styles-strum, fingerpick, or flat picking. I plan on using these songs to balance my practice-great job on “Never Going Back Again,” which I still haven't mastered. Thank you!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the support by watching and commenting…

[@jz4901]

Thank you very much for the video! Great to see how much mileage you can get from simple chords, it's easy to get overwhelmed with complex arrangements. Cheers and best wishes!

[@FrankPersico]

You're very welcome!

[@briang768]

Here are my picks from my repertoire: # - 59th Street Bridge Song A - Absolutely (The Story of a Girl) B - Baby Please Don't Go C - Cake by the Ocean D - Drive E - Elderly Woman Behind The Counter in a Small Town F - Fire G - Give a Little Bit H - Here Comes the Sun I - I Don't Want to Spoil the Party J - Jumper K - Kiss L - Learn to Fly M -Mother Nature's Son N - Never My Love O - Outside Woman Blues P - Personal Jesus Q - R - Rocky Raccoon S - Save Tonight T - Times Like These U - V - Volcano W - Working Class Hero X - Y - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away Z -

[@FrankPersico]

Great pics. I may have to “borrow” some :)

[@russr1338]

Very impressive! Just to come up with a set list for every letter and then be able to play each. Well done!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting

[@kevinmcfarland8305]

great list ! I'm not much of a fingerpicker but I will be when I get thru this list ! Thanks

[@FrankPersico]

Rock on!🤘

[@ghijkmnop]

Here you go, Frank! These are currently among the 300-odd lyric sheets in my "hymnal," and good ones to have in your back pocket: # - 500 Miles (Proclaimers) A - Alison B - Bad Bad Leroy Brown C - Cuts Like a Knife D - Daydream Believer E - Eye in the Sky F - Fire and Rain G - Give a Little Bit H - Hey Jude I - I Will Survive J - Just the Way You Are K - Knowing Me Knowing You L - (SO MANY L Songs) Love Story M - Maneater N - Never Surrender O - Overkill P - Please Come to Boston Q - Quinn the Eskimo R - Rocky Mountain High S - Slow Turnin' T - True U - Up on the Roof V - Ventura Highway W - Wicked Game (good looper song) X - I don't have an X song Y - You May Be Right Z - Ziggy Stardust

[@JoeReblMusic]

Now we need numbers 0 thru 9

[@ghijkmnop]

@@JoeReblMusic Here are the ones I have in my book: 3 AM 5 O'Clock World 6th Avenue Heartache

[@FrankPersico]

Good stuff here! Thanks for sharing f

[@BrianBlue202]

I’ve mentioned on comments before that I watch your channel for tunes to add to my song list and any other good tips about gigging. Once again you came through with flying colors. Btw, I live in Idaho close to where the Wyoming, Idaho and Montana borders intersect. I’m a few hours from Yellowstone Park. This area is a fly fishing Mecca with some of the best fly fishing rivers in the US. People come from all over the world to fish here. Though I realize it’s unlikely, if you ever get out West bring your guitar and fly fishing gear and we’ll jam and fish. Thanks again for the song suggestions. Cheers!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much! It’s actually a dream of mine to drive cross country to Yellowstone park! And to Flyfish out there .. I may take you up on that!

[@Troy1g]

It takes much dedication to reach your level, thank you for sharing.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for watching!

[@J.Blogsblues-ns4to]

Interesting idea Frank, so I 've come up with my own A-Z. Songs without asterisks are ones I've performed live, ones with one asterisk are songs I've rehearsed but not performed, songs with two asterisks are future possibilities, so here it is, I hope it be of interest to you and others looking for some ideas of songs to play : - Always on my Mind Blowing in the Wind Can't Help Falling in Love With You Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood Exit Music (for a film)* Feeling Good Get Back * House of the Rising Sun / Hallelujah I'd Rather Go Blind Jennifer Juniper ** King of the Road ** London Calling My Way Need Your Love so Bad Only You Perfect Day Quinn the Eskimo ** Riders on the Storm ** Somewhere (from West Side Story)* The Thrill is Gone Unchained Melody Venus in Furs ** Wonderful World X Y Z Bit impossible so for XYZ I'll go for 'The Impossible Dream'* rehearsed it many times and it's nice to play but too much for my voice!!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up. Some great picks on here !!

[@jayogden773]

Well done Frank! Amazing List!

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you kindly!

[@petertrevorah7689]

Amazing work - I loved every second.

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you very much!

[@taylor54994]

Frank, love your list, there a few of yours I'm going to learn add to my list However my suggestions are Stormy Classics IV I Go Crazy Paul Davis I Can't Tell You Why Eagles April Come She Will Paul Simon Willow Weep For Me Chad & Jeremy Summer Breeze & Diamond Girl Seals & Croft Wildfire Michael Martin Murphy Year of the Cat Al Stewart Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight James Taylor I could go on and on but these are a few of my set list

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much and I appreciate you sharing your picks!! Good ones

[@teacherengagingtechnology8819]

This is ironic for me 😂. I’m in Oaxaca for vacation and trying to reinvent my approach and practice routine for when I return home. This summer I created a songbook of things I wanted to improve on and have in my set list. To keep it organized I alphabetized it. People going through it ripped pages out and annoyed me, so I made a table of contents that people could look at to make requests of songs that I know. My practice routine became an alphabet soup! I would play the songs in order one day, then play it backwards the next day. Utilizing this method, I found that I was able to crystallize the songs to memory and recall them, playing any one of them from memory without help or faltering. Now I am going to continue this, while trying to improve individual songs, or adding new ones as I get bored…I even found that there were some that I should set aside, because they didn’t fit me well. Great video, makes me want to play soooo much!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much for sharing. If this video makes you want to play then I consider it a success!

[@johnlax22]

Great list!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks!

[@stephendennis7871]

I realy enjoyed this and it helped me to select my next i need to learn.

[@FrankPersico]

I'm so glad!

[@catwalker3615]

I’ve listened to Beatto, Davids, etc etc. And they are great. You are the first person I have EVER thumbs up or subscribed to (congrats?:). Love your insights and playing. I liked all a-z choices. M-I would replace w MaryJane’s Last Dance. H- I would replace w Here Comes The Sun. Not that I didn’t love all your choices. This was so good and love the fact you clearly show your technique. SO helpful!

[@FrankPersico]

Wow I’m totally flattered. And I like your substitutions lol. Welcome to the channel .. cheers

[@riverfarm1]

That’s a great list and idea. I’ve got some work to do adding a few of these to my set list (s)

[@FrankPersico]

Go for it!

[@FreddyDelGenio]

Great list, Great chops !!!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for listening. I appreciate the kind words

[@RonBmusic661]

Oh this was fun, had to give it a try with songs on my set list. Beatles and CCR can add a lot. Only X was not found yet. Really enjoy your channel.

[@FrankPersico]

It definitely was a challenge but a lot of fun. Thanks for commenting

[@luckyhaskins69]

Lot of nice lumber in that room man. Lots of very nice fingerpicking going on here also. very nice. I am branded as an outlaw country guy so when i need some go to standards I reach for something like midnight rider or cant ya see. I also often play turn the page. I can usually squeak in whatever i choose in most venues but i at least hover near my branding. I really cant do brown eyed girl and such.. just cant man.. dig em and all.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much for commenting. Sounds like you are doing YOU! And that’s the most important thing. Cheers brotha

[@MichaelGlennglennimages]

This is a nice practice routine too.

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you think so! Let’s just say there was a good amount of foul language being thrown around in the filming of this! Lol it was tough

[@peternuss8682]

BRAH YOU HAVE SOME MAD SKILLS

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much

[@thewiseoutlaw41]

Great set list, Frank. You have excellent taste. I wouldn’t necessarily replace anything, but these could slide in as replacements, or encores… All Apologies Bron-Yr-Aur Crazy on You Dear God / Dreamboat Annie Give a Little Bit Look out for My Love Rhiannon Starman Where Our Destination Lies / Wild World I would enjoy your set for sure, and you’re right! The Martin guitar sounds amazing through that microphone, each song example was brief but effective and entertaining. Keep up the good work.

[@FrankPersico]

Thank you kindly! I appreciate the other song picks as well!

[@Fronz05]

Very nice! Frank, if I made any changes I would not play 'Cat's in the Cradle'. It's a fantastic song but it can drone on a little if you play all verses and it's very melancholy and I might cry while playing it during the set.😥 I'd love to see the full versions of all the songs you suggest here, especially 'Over the Hills and Far Away'. How is your full version? Maybe a later video can cover that song.

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaha yeah I can see that. I haven’t done a vid in that one yet. Hmmmm good for thought … thanks for commenting

[@brettrhea9179]

That was an adventure down memory lane

[@FrankPersico]

For me as well:)

[@John-D.]

Your list is Nice! 🎶🎶

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks! 😄

[@kerryfromaj9032]

Amazing work Frank. 👍🏻

[@FrankPersico]

Many thanks!

[@kevinkohler7997]

Thanks for getting my brain going at 1am when i have to be up at 5. 😉 Great idea & list

[@FrankPersico]

Ooops. My bad lol. :):)

[@davidwilliams7552]

Thanks very inspiring!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for watching!

[@jameswilliford5478]

Excellent list...I was happy to see a Chili Peppers song in there. A lot of their songs are really nice, especially when transposed to fingerstyle.

[@FrankPersico]

Love the chili peps!thanks for commenting …

[@grene1955]

Great picks! These are what I generally do....For H, Holy Holy... For I, I can See Clearly Now. For J...Just A Song Before I go. For M, Mona Lises and Mad Hatters or Melissa. For N, Nights In White Satin. For O, Oh Girl. For P, Please Come To Boston. For R, Roll Me Away. For S, either Seven Bridges Road or Shooting Star (Bad Co). For T, Turn The Page. For U, Unchain My Heart.

[@FrankPersico]

Great picks and thanks for sharing

[@candybonhomme5915]

Great idea. Alphabet list. As a woman Zombie would have been my Z for sure but I'm definitely adding some of these

[@FrankPersico]

Zombie was on my list but I pulled it at the last minute when filming. I was trying to find songs that had more iconic guitar parts that were recognizable on their own. It was a tough challenge!

[@ravenlookingglass5148]

Quite a compilation. Quirky and very much of an era. Quick comment - I would go for Quiet Nights (Corcovado) for the Q choice to throw in a little bit of that bossa nova vibe: either the Astrud Gilberto version (but lyrics really depressing) or the Nancy Wilson version (depressing lyrics slightly tweaked into something a lot more uplifting). Now inspired to come up with my own list…. A has to be Amelia by Joni Mitchell….

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much for sharing you picks and commenting. I’m gonna have to give those songs a listen

[@benisplayin]

love that Death cab for cutie. Great guitar song.

[@FrankPersico]

Yeah it’s a great song!

[@robertgrimsted877]

Thanks frank what a challenge brilliant listening to you really good idea you brilliant on your guitars 🎸😀

[@FrankPersico]

I appreciate the kind words. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@kocherpm]

You prove again that you are the the Pied Piper of the Troubadour kingdom! I shall follow!

[@FrankPersico]

Hahahah too funny. 😂 thanks

[@Medic397]

Brilliant

[@FrankPersico]

Glad you enjoyed :)

[@elc1109]

Thank you, I really appreciate this!

[@FrankPersico]

You're very welcome!

[@shellygambino6745]

Great Choice of Songs, i knew all but 3. I would have choosen Iris for the I. Awesome!!!

[@FrankPersico]

Ahhh good choice!! 👍 hope you are doing well:)

[@shellygambino6745]

​@@FrankPersico thank you, i am. My Best Friend passed away in my arms in February. He lost his 5 year fight with Stage 4 Lung Cancer but each day the grief isn't as sharp anymore. I hope you, as well are doing well to sir.

[@thunderbirdforlife]

Gold Dust Woman. Green River. Green Grass of Home. Georgia on my Mind -- ANYTHING but Good Riddance!

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaha

[@peternuss8682]

Green grass and high tides?

[@thunderbirdforlife]

@@peternuss8682 awesome song!

[@donnacolwell3988]

That is an excellent collection of crowd-pleasing songs. I do have a suggestion for an "A" song. A Design for Life by the Manic Street Preachers. I think you could create a really powerful acoustic arrangement for this song. Even though it is an old song (1996), I heard it for the first time only a few years ago. What do you think about including songs in a set that might not be familiar to the audience?

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for the suggestion. It’s definitely ok to introduce more unknown songs. Just have to pick your spots.

[@kanjisan9965]

I try to avoid songs written by keyboard players, but I’ve got an acoustic treatment of Tom Traubert’s Blues. Also ,Will You Still love Me Tomorrow, but it does have 7 new chords. Vincent Black Lightning was definitely written by a guitar player

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for commenting and sharing your perspective! Cheers

[@emmanuelalviola4112]

Excellent choices. Although I would have picked Time ina Bottle for “T”.

[@FrankPersico]

Oooh nice one. I need to relearn it lol

[@Xyrofant1]

Great Job;can I find the TAB‘s anywhere?

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much. I have not covered the tabs but they should be hard to find in a google search. They are all pretty popular songs. Best of luck

[@ToB10ya]

What, no Don Henley? That's probably good. Thx Frank

[@FrankPersico]

Hahahaha …. Good one! I don’t wanna have 60 lawyers camped outside my house

[@ricomajestic]

I think a list of songs categorized/organized by band might be easier when you are trying to recall the songs. Any tips on memorizing lots of songs for gigs?

[@FrankPersico]

Repetition. Listening in the car. And playing as many gigs as you can. Also forcing yourself to get off the crutch of the tablet as much as possible will get more and more of that repertoire into memory

[@GuitarNGrillnDad]

bummer no singing. I saw “solo acoustic” so was hoping for the whole package. But excellent playing of the guitar parts. thanks

[@FrankPersico]

Awww I’m sorry man. Didn’t want the copyright police to come lol

[@John-D.]

Most "fireside chats" around a campfire require singing. 🤘😮

[@FrankPersico]

lol true

[@kengraham9925]

Nice list although should be called 26 fairly challenging songs. Though I noted that Wish You Were Here could be a great looper song.

[@FrankPersico]

Hahaha 😂

[@DerekHart-g3t]

Frank you are terrific, now try a list with numbers🙂 Then maybe even fish🙂🙂.

[@FrankPersico]

Working on it! 😝

[@4gcole]

Do you do any standard songs like Blue Moon, The Shadow of Your Smile?

[@FrankPersico]

Not usually. I will sometimes do some instrumental chord melodies of jazz standards. Satin doll, all the things you are etc.

[@benisplayin]

I was hoping for Kodachrome by Paul Simon for the K song.

[@FrankPersico]

Great one! I do play that actually

[@robmckay4127]

Great list Frank, but as an advanced beginner, some songs were a bit beyond me.

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks so much. Tackle what you can. Before long you will be playing all of them. The journey way never ends …cheers

[@John-D.]

"Even in the Quietest moments" is on My list as is "Stll, you turn me on". THEY LOVE IT!

[@FrankPersico]

Thanks for sharing

[@stevenhenty6499]

Hi recent suscriber great video thanks

[@FrankPersico]

Welcome and thank you

[@johnheer3059]

Here's an idea. Just show up with no list and ask the people in the audience who their favorite group or artist is?

[@FrankPersico]

Not a bad idea. Some of the best song ideas over the years have come from the audiences requests

[@unrulyarcana2394]

To be fair, the person asking is likely inexperienced. They may not have a wide variety of songs in their back pocket. Everyone has to start somewhere, lol.

[@Bubba-zu6yr]

Save the ‘by request’ line to try out songs you just learned, lol. John, it’s just not practical. Do you gig?

[@johnheer3059]

@@Bubba-zu6yr I have played in public for about 20 years. My wife also plays with me on the bass guitar. The only way it is practical is because 20 years ago, each song I would master, I would create a one page songsheet with lyrics and chord changes and drum cues for my drum machine I run with my foot. Then as people at gigs would ask for a band or artist I did not have at least one song from, I made it a point to add them. 20 years later and 4000 songsheets later, we can please most anyone that does not Google "Most obscure artist" on their phone. Last saturday night we batted 1000 at a local swimming resort! I post my cell number up front and people text them to me. The suitcase carrying my song books is huge lol. The toughest one we got Saturday was John Prine.

[@brettmidd2250]

Tell me you’ve never played in front of an audience without telling me you’ve never played in front of an audience

[@PeteFolksinger]

Well Done! X and Z had me stumped. Well for Z I could've done a parody I wrote during COVID call Zoom Operator (think Smooth Operator).

[@FrankPersico]

lol thanks now I have that stuck in my head! Lol hysterical. Zoooom Operatooor…

[@thunderbirdforlife]

Authority Song Back in the High Life Can't You See Dancin' in the Dark Eyes Without A Face Folsom Prison Blues Gotta Get Drunk Have A Drink On Me I Wont Back Down Jockey Full OF Bourbon Kansas City Long Cool Woman Melissa Norwegian Wood Ooh La La Peaceful Easy Feeling Queen Bitch Run To You Shanty Thunder Road Under the Red Sky Viva Las Vegas Willin' X (got nothin) Yer So Bad Zanzibar

[@FrankPersico]

Great great list! Thanks

[@freesk8]

This is a great list! Thanks! :)

[@TheHesseJames]

Olympic games

[@FrankPersico]

🙌🙌