The Concert Alphabet: The Rules, the Gray Areas, and Why Q Ruins Everything

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.

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.

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 actually why we built a concert tracker 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.