If you've ever stared at your concert history wondering why you still don't have a Q, you're not alone. Welcome to the Concert Alphabet, the collector's game that sounds simple until you're three years in, stuck on a few letters, and seriously considering buying tickets to see Queensrÿche in a casino ballroom.
What Even Is the Concert Alphabet?
The concept is straightforward: see a live artist for every letter A through Z. One artist per letter. That's it.
The execution? That's where things get complicated.
Most people don't set out to complete the alphabet. They just realize one day that they've seen a lot of shows, start mentally running through the letters, and then inevitably hit a wall. Usually around Q. Sometimes X. Often both.
And that's when the obsession kicks in.
On paper it sounds harmless. In practice, it quietly rewires how you think about every show. That random opener you'd normally skip? Suddenly you're checking their name to see if it starts with a letter you need. If you've ever built a concert bucket list, the alphabet adds a whole new layer of strategy to it.
The Rules (Such As They Are)
Here's the thing nobody tells you: there's no official rulebook. No governing body. No Concert Alphabet Federation issuing rulings from on high. It's all vibes and personal standards.
That said, there are debates that come up constantly. Here's where most people land:
Does "The" Count?
Short answer: no, and honestly, it shouldn't.
If you count "The" as T, you're basically cheating. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Killers, The 1975. Suddenly T becomes the easiest letter in the alphabet. File them under B, R, K, and the number-band gray zone respectively.
This shouldn't be controversial. Skip "The."
Do Openers Count?
Yes. With caveats.
If you were in the venue and watched them play, it counts. If you were still in the beer line or walking to your seat, be honest with yourself.
The real question is whether you remember them. Some of my favorite concert discoveries have been openers I'd never heard of. Those absolutely count. But that band you vaguely recall hearing while you were texting your friend about where to meet up? That's between you and your conscience.
What About Festivals?
Festivals are where the alphabet game gets genuinely complicated.
Full set, dedicated stage, you were there for it? Counts.
Three songs while you were walking between stages, half-listening, trying to find your group? Doesn't count.
The honest test: if someone asked "have you seen them live?" would you confidently say yes? Or would you have to add qualifiers? If it requires an asterisk, it probably shouldn't be on your alphabet.
DJ Sets?
This is where friendships end.
Some people are hardliners: a DJ set isn't a concert, period. Others argue that if they're performing live, even if that performance is selecting and mixing tracks, it counts.
My take: if it was a ticketed event where the DJ was the main attraction, it counts. If it was a DJ set at a club night or between acts, probably not.
But honestly? This one's personal. Just be consistent with your own rules.
Do Tribute Bands Count?
No. And if you have to ask, you already know the answer.
Does Seeing Someone Twice Let You Use Them for Two Letters?
No. Absolutely not. One artist, one letter. You don't get to claim Taylor Swift for both T and S just because you saw the Eras Tour twice.
The Difficulty Tiers
Not all letters are created equal. Here's roughly how they shake out:
Easy Mode: A, B, C, D, E, M, R, S, T (if you're strict about skipping "The")
These letters have so many major artists that you probably filled them in without trying. If you've been to more than a dozen concerts, you likely have most of these covered.
Moderate: F, G, H, J, K, L, N, P, W
Plenty of options, but you might need to be a little intentional. You probably have some of these, and the gaps are fillable without too much effort.
Sneaky Hard: I, O, U, V, Y
Fewer obvious choices than you'd think. When's the last time you saw a major artist whose name starts with U? (U2 is carrying a lot of weight for that letter.)
Pain Letters: Q, X, Z
Welcome to the real game.
The Impossible Letters: Q, X, Z
Let's talk about the letters that break people.
Q
Q is brutal because there just aren't that many Q artists, and the ones that exist tend to be pretty niche.
Your realistic options:
- Queen (if you caught the Adam Lambert era, or if you're old enough to have seen Freddie)
- Queens of the Stone Age (probably your best bet if you're into rock)
- Questlove (but see the DJ set debate above)
- Quavo (solo or does Migos count?)
- Queensrÿche (they still tour, mostly at casinos and rock cruises)
- Quiet Riot (same circuit as Queensrÿche)
The Q struggle is real. Most people either luck into a Queens of the Stone Age show or resign themselves to waiting years for the right opportunity.
X
X is arguably worse than Q because at least Q has Queens of the Stone Age.
Your options:
- X (the punk band, still touring occasionally)
- X Ambassadors (if you caught them at a festival)
- XXXTentacion (no longer possible, obviously)
- Xzibit (does a club appearance count?)
Some people try using first names (looking at you, Xavier Rudd fans). That feels like switching rulebooks halfway through the game.
Z
Z is tricky but actually more achievable than X.
Options:
- Zac Brown Band (probably the most accessible path to Z)
- ZZ Top (classic rock fans have this covered)
- Zombie, Rob (if you're into that)
- Zedd (see DJ set debate)
- Zayn (if you caught his brief solo tour era)
Z is gettable. It just requires intention.
How People Actually Track This
Most people don't realize they're playing the alphabet game until they're already halfway through. Then comes the inventory, usually in a notes app, sometimes a spreadsheet, occasionally a frantic late-night list on paper. If you're trying to figure out how many concerts you've actually been to, you'll run into the same counting debates.
The problem with most tracking methods is that they're scattered. Your ticket stubs are in a drawer, your Ticketmaster history is buried in emails, and your memory isn't as reliable as you think. (Was that show in 2019 or 2018? Did you actually see the opener or just hear them?)
If you're serious about tracking (and if you're reading this, you probably are) you need everything in one place. Concert date, venue, artist, the whole picture. Otherwise you're just guessing at your own history. That's true whether you're building an alphabet or just trying to answer the basic question of what concerts you've been to.
That's actually why we built the Concerts Remembered app. It started because we wanted a way to document shows that wasn't just a list of names and dates. We wanted to capture what the experience actually felt like. But once you have all your concerts logged in one place, patterns start to emerge. Including which letters you're missing.
And once you see those patterns, you can't unsee them.
The Honest Truth About Completing the Alphabet
Here's what nobody says out loud: most people don't finish.
They get close. They fill in 23, 24 letters. And then they stall on Q, X, or Z for years. Sometimes a decade.
And that's fine. The alphabet isn't really the point. The shows are the point. The alphabet is just a fun framework that makes you notice patterns in your own concert history. It gives you a reason to check out an artist you might have skipped, or to say yes to a show you were on the fence about.
Worst case? You end up at a concert you wouldn't have gone to otherwise, and you have a story. Best case? You discover something great.
So yeah, maybe I'll never get my X. Maybe Q stays empty for another five years. But I'll keep showing up to shows either way.
That's kind of the whole point.
The alphabet just gives the obsession a name.
What's your hardest letter? And what's the most questionable entry on your alphabet, the one you count even though you're not totally sure it should count? We want to hear about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules for the Concert Alphabet?
There's no official rulebook. The basic concept is simple: see a live artist for every letter A through Z, one artist per letter. Beyond that, you set your own rules. The most common consensus: skip "The" (file The Beatles under B), count openers if you actually watched their set, don't count tribute bands, and be honest about festival sets you only half-watched.
What are the hardest letters to complete?
Q, X, and Z are the letters that stall most people. Q has limited options (Queens of the Stone Age is the most accessible path for rock fans). X is arguably the hardest letter in the entire alphabet, with almost no major touring artists. Z is tough but gettable with artists like Zac Brown Band or ZZ Top. The "sneaky hard" tier (I, O, U, V, Y) also catches people off guard.
How do I figure out which letters I'm missing?
Start by listing every artist you've seen live. If you can't remember them all (most people can't), dig through your email for ticket confirmations, scroll your camera roll sorted by date, and check setlist.fm for shows at venues you've attended. The Concerts Remembered app tracks your full concert history in one place, which makes spotting alphabet gaps much easier than piecing it together from scattered sources.
Do openers count for the Concert Alphabet?
Most people say yes, with one condition: you had to actually be in the venue watching them perform. If you were in the beer line or still finding your seat, that's a stretch. The real test is whether you could tell someone "I've seen that artist live" without needing to add qualifiers. If you need an asterisk, it probably doesn't count.
Does a festival count as one concert or multiple?
It depends on how you're tracking. For the alphabet specifically, most people count individual sets they genuinely watched, not the festival as a single entry. If you stood in the crowd for a full set at a dedicated stage, that artist counts. If you heard three songs while walking between stages looking for your friends, it doesn't. Be honest with yourself.
How long does it take to complete the Concert Alphabet?
There's no standard timeline. Someone who goes to 20+ shows a year across multiple genres might accidentally complete it in 5-6 years. Someone who sticks to one genre or goes to fewer shows could take a decade or longer. Most people stall at 23-24 letters and spend years hunting for Q, X, or Z. Some never finish, and that's genuinely fine. The alphabet is a framework for noticing patterns, not a test you need to pass.
Can I use the same artist for multiple letters?
No. One artist, one letter. You can't claim Taylor Swift for both T and S even if you've seen her five times. Each artist fills exactly one spot on your alphabet. This is one of the few rules that's essentially universal.
What's the best way to display or share my Concert Alphabet?
Some people fill in a simple A-Z grid with artist names. Others get creative with photos from each show, ticket stubs, or color-coded charts. Posting your alphabet on social media (especially with the gaps visible) tends to spark good conversations. People love debating which artists should fill which letters and suggesting options for your missing ones.
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