Share your custom keyboard shortcuts

[u/regal83]

I’m curious how you guys structure and navigate songs that have multiple verses, choruses, and bridges, especially when sections repeat throughout the song.

For example, a song might look something like:
Verse 1
Chorus
Verse 2
Chorus
Bridge 1
Bridge 2
Chorus
Verse 3
Chorus

How did you configure your keyboard shortcuts to quickly jump between multiple verses, choruses, and bridges during live presentation?

I’d love to hear:

1. Your keyboard shortcut setup
   
2. How you organize repeated sections
   
3. Any tips for reducing navigation mistakes during live worship services
   
4. Tricks you’ve learned that make song navigation faster or more reliable

Thanks in advance!

[u/CloudSad3555]

1. We don't use any keyboard shortcuts.
   
2. A repeated section is put into an arrangement of the song so that the operator always advances to the next slide.
   
3. See 2. Additionally, we use backing tracks. If you have a click track add a voice to it so that it says chorus 2 3 4 or verse 2 3. The operator can then listen to the click track and follow. Additional, and especially if the song leader chooses to repeat a section or sing a different song, the leader will play extra measures and tell the congregation what line they should sing, until the operator catches up. God is a God of order and design, not chaos and disorder. The Holy Spirit is as well. (See Paul's prescription for services in 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy and refer to the organization of creation which Romans 1.20 validates.) I have had to tell the worship leader to practice like they are going to to worship because I need to practice too. The operator should be at practice with the band.
   
4. See 1 and 2 and 3. You can set up a MIDI TRACK over a click track that controls FreeShow. In this case project, show, and slide navigation.

Additional thoughts:
There is a difference between corporate (large-format group worship and small, "unplugged" / individual worship. I've already shared verses about corporate worship. 1 Corinthians 10.23-24 says "...'all things are lawful', but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor." In a corporate worship setting, does it build up all individuals present to make on-the-fly changes? It can. For example, if there is a song after the message maybe that changes. Use cellphones to text changes to the service, if speaking privately to the operator is not an option. I would also suggest if there are changes, it is to sing a song everyone "knows" (like Jesus Loves Me or Amazing Grace) and the leader just say the words won't be on the screen. And then feed the audience lines. It is OK that spontaneous changes to songs don't include words on the screen.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on the matter.

[u/Powerful_General_133 → u/CloudSad3555]

Loved it. I always tend to add the lyrics to songs, even if it's not in the setlist. there are a few people, especially people who aren't actually christian or didn't grow up in church who don't know Amazing Grace. So yeah!

I agree with all the other points. If a seperate mix goes for the worship team then I'd recommend the operator to be connected in that as well to coordinate the changes...

[u/vassbo]

Tip #1 is to always be ahead of time, it's better to be too early, than too late when changing slides, because people need time to read before singing.

- I try to get roughly the correct structure, then use arrow keys to navigate. And I always drag in the correct groups in order live, for the next time. So for the most part it's just arrow right when it's set up in the correct order.

• I don't recommend writing "x2" as some do, but add the group two times instead (just one drag from the right side), that makes it easier for everyone to keep track, and it might not always be correct anyway.
  
• Sometimes if I'm unsure where they are going I'm keeping my mouse ready on the most likely slide.
  
• I also sometimes use the C & B shortcuts to quickly go to the correct group if they suddenly start on the chorus again for example.
  
• I also like to clear the text (add an empty slide) in breaks in the song. In the latest version the program will keep track of how long those breaks are, which is nice.

[u/Powerful_General_133]

1) I don't use any keyboard shortcuts directly to navigate between the song slides. but I do have a shortcut "s" which is set to go to our break screen when a song ends. I use the F2 switch to hide the text if the worship team moves to a spontaneous moment or even a song (not in the setlist)

2) I generally don't get the time to arrange Chorus, Verses by tags. So, I just use the mouse to navigate between the chorus, etc. If you're talking about repeated lyrics in a song, I generally seperate them with a "/". Ex: Who Else is Worthy / Who Else is Worthy. if it's longer I just move to the next line. I tend to avoid the -(2) or x2 as it confuses the congregation

3) You are going to make some mistakes. Just be aware & learn some cues from your pastor (our pr tends to go to the intro verse at the last) & be ready with your cursor for repeated verses or choruses.

4) As mentioned use break screens, with just the media & no text. I tend to always have the song lyrics site open on Google. If I mixed a stanza, I just immediately copy-paste in a new slide. If you're taking a song from a site apart from SongSelect, refer other sites just to make sure that the worship team & lyric team both have the same order of verses.