The Rudiment Documentation

A setlist app built for the stage — not the rehearsal room. Manage your entire song catalog, build gigs, annotate your own parts, and perform with lyrics, chords, tempo, and cues right in your pocket.

Creating an Account

The Rudiment uses email and password accounts. One account can belong to as many bands as you need — each band is independent.

1. 1
   Open the app and tap Start Free Trial
   

   You can create an account from any device — The Rudiment is a web app that works in any modern browser, and can be installed to your home screen like a native app.

2. 2
   Enter your name, email, and password
   

   Your display name is what bandmates see. Use something recognizable.

3. 3
   Create or join a band
   

   After signing in you can create a new band or join one using an invite link from a bandmate.

Setting Up a Band

Each band has its own song library, gig list, settings, and member roster. Create as many bands as you manage — pricing is per band, so you only pay for what you actively use.

1. 1
   Tap "+ New Band / Performer"
   

   From the band list, tap + New Band / Performer and enter a name and genre.

2. 2
   Pick an accent color
   

   This color carries through into gig mode for this band. Genre auto-suggests a color — override it any time with the swatch picker in Settings.

3. 3
   Customize in Band Settings (optional)
   

   Upload a logo, set a stage photo background, add your website and social media links.

Members & Ownership

Band members share the same song library and gig list. Each member keeps their own private annotation layer — what you add to My Notes is yours alone.

Inviting members

1. 1

   Open the Settings tab and scroll to Members.

2. 2

   Tap Copy Invite Link and send it to your bandmate by text or email.

3. 3

   When they open the link they'll be prompted to log in (or sign up) and confirm joining.

Removing a member

As the band owner, tap Remove next to any member in the Members table. They'll lose access to the band immediately. Members can also leave a band themselves using the Leave Band button.

Transferring ownership

The band owner can hand over ownership to any existing member — useful when a band manager changes, or the original creator is stepping back.

1. 1

   Open Settings → Members as the band owner.

2. 2

   Tap Transfer Ownership next to the member you want to promote.

3. 3

   Confirm the transfer. The selected member becomes the owner; you become a regular member.

Managing Songs

The Song Library is the master list of everything your band plays. It's shared across all members and lives in the Songs tab of the Band Dashboard.

Adding a song

Tap the Add / Edit Song header to expand the form. Fill in the fields — title is required, everything else is optional — then tap Add Song to List. Songs appear immediately in the library.

Editing a song

Tap anywhere on a song row to open it in the editor. The form expands and scrolls into view. Make your changes and tap Save Song.

Deleting a song

Tap the 🗑 icon on the right side of any song row. You'll be asked to confirm before removal.

Filtering songs

Use the search box at the top of the library to filter by title or artist in real time.

Song fields

Bulk importing songs

Add your entire catalog at once using the Bulk Import section in the Songs tab. Two formats are supported:

• Plain text (.txt) — one song title per line, or Title - Artist per line
• Spreadsheet (.csv) — columns for title, artist, BPM, key, length, time signature, and tags

After import, songs appear in the library immediately and can be edited one by one to add lyrics, chords, and cue notes. Download the CSV template from the Bulk Import section to get the exact column headers The Rudiment recognizes.

Looking up song info

The song editor can fetch BPM, lyrics, and key/chords for you instead of typing them from memory, right from the fields where you'd enter them.

Adding Chords

Chord markers are embedded directly into a song's lyrics and render floating above the corresponding word — exactly like a traditional chord chart.

Format

Place a chord in square brackets immediately before the word it sits above:

[G]  [F#m]  [Am7]  [Cadd9]

Example

[G]I can't [Em]stop the [C]feeling

In gig mode this renders "G" floating above "I can't", "Em" above "stop", and "C" above "feeling".

Global vs personal chords

Chords added in the song editor are global — shared with the whole band. For chords that only you need (your own voicings, reminder fingerings), use Personal Annotations instead. Both layers display together in gig mode.

Clearing chords

In the song editor, tap ✕ Clear Chords to strip all [chord] markers from the lyrics in one step. A confirmation prompt prevents accidental clears.

Personal Annotations

Personal Annotations are your private layer — they sit on top of the shared lyrics and are only visible to you. Every band member has their own independent layer. Use it for instrument-specific cues, personal chord voicings, section reminders, or anything the rest of the band doesn't need to see.

Opening the annotation editor

Tap the +Cue button on any song row in the Song Library. This opens the personal annotation editor for that song, showing the full lyrics line by line with each word as a tappable target.

Adding a personal chord or cue note

1. 1

   Tap any word in the lyrics to select it as the annotation target.

2. 2

   Choose Chord (a chord name floating above that word) or Cue Note (a color-coded label). Type your text, pick a color if needed, and tap Add.

3. 3

   Your annotation saves instantly and appears in gig mode the next time you open that song.

Removing an annotation

Annotations appear as colored chips on their line in the editor. Tap a chip to delete it instantly.

Clearing all at once

Use the ✕ Clear Chords and ✕ Clear Cues buttons at the top of the editor to wipe all personal annotations of that type for the song. Both require confirmation before clearing.

Songs with no lyrics

No lyrics on file for a song? My Notes still works. Use "+ Add Chord or Cue" to add notes one at a time (type, text, color) — they show as removable chips in the editor and as colored pills in gig mode, respecting the same Chords/Cues toggles as word-anchored notes.

Cue Notes

Cue notes are color-coded labels that float above specific words in the lyrics — use them to flag a key change, a stop, a groove shift, a drum fill, or any moment that needs a visual reminder on stage.

Cue notes are added via the +Cue button on any song row and are personal — only you see them. This means every band member can annotate the same song with their own instrument-specific cues without cluttering anyone else's view.

Preset colors

Use colors consistently — for example, orange for groove changes, red for stops, yellow for dynamics. Each musician can develop their own system.

Gig Builder

The Gig Builder is a drag-and-drop setlist editor. Build your running order before a show, and it's ready to run in Gig Mode the moment doors open.

Creating a gig

1. 1

   Open the Gigs tab and tap + New Gig. Enter a name and date.

2. 2

   Tap songs from the library panel to add them to the setlist. Use the + button to add to the main set or the ⊕ button to add to Alternates.

3. 3

   Drag the ≡ handle on any item to reorder. Tap 🗑 to remove.

4. 4

   Tap Save Gig.

Editing and copying gigs

Each saved gig has an Edit button that reopens the builder with everything pre-loaded. The Copy button clones the setlist with the date and venue cleared — the fastest way to reuse a set for a recurring show.

Quick-add a song from the builder

Tap + New Song inside the builder to create a song and add it to the current set without leaving the screen.

Auto-Build Gig

Let The Rudiment draft the setlist for you. Tap ⚡ Auto-Build next to + New Gig on the Gigs tab to open a modal that generates a full running order toward a target duration.

1. 1

   Pick a target duration (1–5 hour dropdown, plus a +15 min button to fine-tune), a date, and a venue.

2. 2

   Choose how many of your most recent gigs to use as the "what do we actually play" reference.

3. 3

   The generator ranks songs by how often they appeared across those gigs and fills toward your target using each song's length (estimating from the band's average when a song has no length set), with a 20-second per-song buffer built in for banter and tuning.

4. 4

   The result opens in the normal Gig Builder, pre-filled with date, venue, and songs, for you to review and adjust. Nothing saves automatically.

Alternates & Extra Songs

The Alternates list is a holding area for songs you want available on the night but not in the main running order — encores, deep cuts, covers, or fillers if a set runs short.

Adding to Alternates

In the Gig Builder's song library panel, each row has two buttons:

• + — adds to the main setlist
• ⊕ — adds to the Alternates panel

Alternates are saved with the gig and appear as a collapsible section below the main set in the setlist view. Tap any alternate to open it in full lyrics view just like a regular song.

Setlist Entry Types

A setlist isn't just songs. Four entry types let you fully script a show:

Medley Mode

Chain songs that run together into a medley. They stay as individual songs in gig mode but are visually connected so you always know where you are in the run.

1. 1

   In the Gig Builder, tap 🔗 Combine to enter medley mode.

2. 2

   Tap each song you want in the medley — they highlight with a green border.

3. 3

   Tap 🔗 Combine again to lock the group. A 🔗 badge appears on each song in the builder.

In the setlist view, medley songs show a green left border and a MEDLEY tag, still listed individually by song title. In gig mode each song opens individually but shows a 🔗 chip in the header so you know you're inside a medley.

Naming a medley

When you lock the group, you'll be prompted for an optional medley name (e.g. "Journey Medley"). If you set one, gig mode shows that name in the header and in the Next/Prev "up next" labels in place of each individual song title. Leave it blank and the individual song title shows as usual.

Flagging & Rehearsal Mode

Flag songs during a show that need more work, then run back through only those songs as a focused rehearsal playlist. Flags are per-gig — each gig tracks its own list independently.

Flagging a song

In gig mode, tap the ⚑ Flag button while viewing any song. It turns into 🚩 Flagged immediately. Tap again to unflag.

Needs Rehearsal banner

When songs are flagged, a 🚩 Needs Rehearsal banner appears at the top of that gig's setlist showing the count and listing the flagged titles. The gig list also shows a 🚩 badge so you can spot outstanding flags at a glance.

Rehearsal mode

Tap the banner to open a view that lists only the flagged songs. Navigation moves through only those songs — not the full setlist. Run through what needs attention without working through the whole show.

Export & Print

Export or print any gig's setlist from both the Gig Builder and the Setlist view. Choose which fields to include before exporting.

Export formats

Print options

The Print dialog offers font size (Small / Normal / Large / XL), portrait or landscape orientation, 1 or 2 column layout, a "scale to fit one page" option, and per-field toggles for Artist, BPM, Key, and Cue notes. When your set has dividers, you can print each set on a new page or side by side in columns.

Gig Mode

Gig Mode is a full-screen lyrics viewer built for the stage — readable from a distance in a dark room. Navigate with a single tap or a swipe. Everything you need is at your fingertips; everything else is out of the way.

Opening a song

From the Setlist view, tap any song to open it in gig mode. The song title, set position, BPM, key, and time signature are shown at the top. Lyrics fill the rest of the screen.

Navigating songs

Tap the ‹ and › buttons at the bottom to move between songs, or use swipe gestures (see Swipe Navigation). Your current position in the set is shown in the bottom bar.

Notes panel

Tap the Notes button to reveal the song's general notes. The panel stays open as you navigate between songs and resets when you exit to the setlist.

Collapsing the header

Tap ▴ Hide Info in the header row to collapse the artist, BPM, key, time signature, and notes panel — leaving only the song title and controls visible. This maximises the lyrics area during a live set. Tap ▾ Show Info to restore. The preference is saved so it stays collapsed between songs.

Flagging songs

Tap ⚑ Flag in the header to mark a song as needing rehearsal. It stays flagged across sessions until you clear it.

Swipe Navigation

Navigate songs in gig mode without looking at the screen — swipe gesture support means one hand on your instrument, one quick swipe to move forward.

BPM Tempo Dot

A small circle in the bottom-right corner of gig mode flashes at the song's BPM — a visual click track so you can lock in the tempo before counting in, without making a sound.

1. 1

   The dot appears automatically when a BPM is set for the song and begins flashing on load.

2. 2

   Double-tap the dot to pause the flash. It stays visible but stops pulsing.

3. 3

   Double-tap again to resume.

Want a bigger or smaller dot? Set it once in Preferences — Small, Medium, or Large — and it applies everywhere.

Gig Clock & Timers

Keep track of time without ever picking up your phone. The current time, gig elapsed timer, and break timer are all built into the app and visible throughout gig mode.

Clock

The current time (12-hour format) appears on the Setlist screen and in the performance header on every song screen. It updates every second automatically — no setup required.

Gig timer

A ▶ Start button appears on the Setlist screen and in the performance header. Tap it to start a running elapsed counter for the gig. The timer persists as you navigate between songs — you start it once and it runs until you reset it.

Tap ↺ Reset to clear the timer and start again (a confirmation prompt prevents accidental resets).

Break timer

When you navigate to a break entry in your setlist, a break timer starts automatically. The break screen shows all three values at once:

• Time — current clock time
• Gig — total elapsed gig time
• Break — how long this break has been running

The break timer resets automatically when you navigate to the next song — no manual action needed.

Controls & Toggles

The controls bar at the top of gig mode gives you quick access to everything you need to customize the view mid-performance — without leaving the song.

Text size

Tap A− to decrease and A+ to increase the lyrics font size. The setting persists between songs and sessions so you set it once and forget it.

Chords toggle

Shows or hides the global chord markers embedded in the song's lyrics. Useful for songs where you know the changes cold and just need the words. Preference is saved between sessions.

Cues toggle

Shows or hides your personal cue note annotations. Turn them off when you no longer need the visual reminders. Preference is saved between sessions.

Scroll toggle & speed

Activates auto-scroll (see Auto-Scroll). Use the − and + buttons on the right side of the controls bar to set the scroll speed from 1 (slowest) to 11 (fastest). Your speed setting is saved between sessions.

Auto-Scroll

Auto-Scroll keeps your place as a song progresses — the lyrics scroll down automatically so you never have to touch the screen during a performance.

Tap Scroll in the controls bar to start. Tap again to stop. You can manually scroll at any time and auto-scroll picks up from where you stopped.

Adjusting speed

Use the − and + buttons next to the Scroll speed label to set a speed from 1 (very slow) to 11 (fast). Speed 5 is the default. Your setting is saved between sessions, so you can dial it in once for your typical song tempo and leave it.

Preferences Menu

Preferences is a personal, per-device settings screen, separate from Band Settings. It's stored on your device (not synced to the band), so each musician can set it up their own way even when sharing one band.

Open it from the hamburger drawer, either from the bands-list page before picking a band or from inside a band's dashboard — same menu either way, no active band required.

Bluetooth Pedal

A Bluetooth page-turner pedal can drive gig mode hands-free — no hardcoded keys, so it works with whatever pedal you already own. Nothing is assigned by default; every action starts unset until you configure it.

Mapping a button

1. 1

   Open Preferences → Bluetooth Pedal Configuration. It shows a live "N buttons assigned" (or "Not configured") status.

2. 2

   Tap Assign next to the action you want, then press the pedal button you want mapped to it.

3. 3

   Repeat for as many buttons as your pedal has. Available actions: Next Song, Previous Song, Flag Song, Return to Setlist, Toggle Chords, Toggle Cues, Toggle Auto-Scroll, Scroll Speed +/−, and Font Size +/−.

Band Settings

The Settings tab in the Band Dashboard. Most sections are owner-only — members can see the Members section and use the Leave Band button.

Social & Contact — QR codes for fans

The Rudiment can generate scannable QR codes for everything fans might want to do after your show. Fill in any of the fields below in Band Settings, and icon buttons appear automatically on your band card. Tap any icon to show its QR code full-screen — ready to be scanned.

Venues

Save the venues your band plays regularly and attach them to gigs — so load-in time, address, and contact details are always one tap away on show day.

Each venue can store a name, address, contact name, phone number, load-in time, and general notes. Access Venues from the Venues tab in the Band Dashboard.

Plans & Pricing

Every band starts with a 30-day free trial — full access, every feature, no song limits, no credit card required. The Rudiment pricing is per band — you only pay for each band you actively use. One person pays for the band; every member gets full access at no extra charge per person.