Solo Acoustic Setlist

dean111music · April 2017

Hi

I have been booked to play a solo instrumental acoustic show at a drinks reception for a wedding. I'll be only playing as background but wanted to get some ideas to add to my set. Any songs of some acoustic arrangements that are fun to play that will go down well for this kind of event?

So far i have songs like

Here comes the sun
While my guitar gently weeps
Nothing else matters
Don't worry to happy

richardhomer · April 2017

Grounds for Divorce by Elbow....

djspecialist · April 2017

I recently did exactly this, and played

Fell in love with a girl - White Stripes (slowed down a lot compared to the record)
Thirteen - Big Star
Weather with you - Crowded House

It went down pretty well, given my meagre talents

djspecialist · April 2017

A couple of other ideas

Here Comes Your Man - Pixies
Teenage Kicks - The Undertones

One problem I had is that a lot of songs which seem quite sweet and event-appropriate on the surface might not be once you start digging into the lyrics. (That Pixies number being about tramps dying in an earthquake, for example). But as long as everyone has had plenty of champers I doubt that matters too much ...

dean111music · April 2017

ah i should of pointed out its going to be instrumental! No vocals

fishfingers · April 2017

All you need is love - doing this (fingerstyle solo) for a wedding in June

Winny_Pooh · April 2017

More than words - bullshit but women love it, same with Ronan Keatings' When you say nothing at all.

Feist - 1234
Sting - shape of my heart
Travis - why does it always rain on me
Devendra banhart - at the hop
Fairground attraction - perfect
Fleetwood Mac - dreams
Bob Dylan - blowing in the wind

dean111music · April 2017

thats great. would these be easy to arrange for solo acoustic?

Winny_Pooh said:

More than words - bullshit but women love it, same with Ronan Keatings' When you say nothing at all.

Feist - 1234
Sting - shape of my heart
Travis - why does it always rain on me
Devendra banhart - at the hop
Fairground attraction - perfect
Fleetwood Mac - dreams
Bob Dylan - blowing in the wind

Winny_Pooh · April 2017

Depends on your skill level, I would assume them to be straightforward. Try them. And capo up if need be to get some more open strings in the arrangement.

joneve · April 2017

Check out some John Mayer, Third Eye Blind (Semi-Charmed life is relatively easy) and Jason Mraz stuff.

Also I used to do a King of Wishful Thinking (Go West) cover, which goes down a storm with anyone who's seen Pretty Woman.

ESBlonde · April 2017

All Cried Out - Alyson Moyet

thebreeze · May 2017

There's lots of stuff from Van the Man that will go down well:
Have I told you lately
Someone like you
Brown eyed girl
Queen of the Slipstream
etc.
The Wet Wet Wet song from Four Weddings (can't remember it's name)
Let it be me - Everley Bros

Rocker · May 2017

Always play songs the punters like and can sing along with you. They are not thinking of your clever licks and chord progressions, drinking is their main objective, so use this to your advantage. Everyone knows 'The Boxer' and songs of that ilk, so sing those songs.