Become a top guitarist

BECOMING A STUDIO GUITARIST – PART TWO

In the previous article we’ve discussed what it is to be a studio guitarist and we’ve also had a detailed look at two of the initial steps of becoming one. In this article we will continue our journey, having a look at the third and final step of that journey. We will also give you some useful tips and thus hopefully help you achieve your dream to become a professional studio guitar player.

3) Make contacts – Playing with different bands, performing live, visiting different studios and rehearsal rooms will undoubtedly result in meeting many new people related to the music world. As you practice steadily and your skills improve these people will start noticing you and at some point you will get some session recording offers. Every producer needs some fresh blood, so don’t think they’re doing it from good heart. The truth is that the market is swarmed with skilled session guitar players, BUT these guys are usually in the business for quite a long time and know their price really well, and if a producer is short on budget, which tends to happen a lot when you’re working with less known artists, and you have the skills, he will gladly hire you instead. That put, it doesn’t sound too good, but actually it is a great way to gain some real studio recording experience and to build a portfolio of projects that you’ve worked on. These will later open your doors to working on more serious projects and with more popular artists.

Following these 3 steps (see Part One for Steps 1 and 2) you are much closer to becoming a real studio guitarist. To be successful you have to keep repeating them throughout your career, but in such way that:

- Your practice sessions get much more complicated than before.

- The bands you play with consist of much more skilled musicians and sound much more professional than your previous ones.

- Your contacts in the music industry world get much more influential being able to secure you working in better studios with better recording engineers and artists.

And before you begin your journey, here are some final tips that will increase your chance of success:

- Listen to music a lot and in as many different genres as possible. Don’t just limit yourself to only one genre.

- Learn to play on as many different guitars, amps, stomp boxes and effect processors as possible. You never know which studio you may get into and what equipment you may have to use, especially in the beginning of your career.

- Learn to use audio recording software. Sometimes you simply need to show the recording engineer what you’re trying to tell him.

- Try to find suitable contacts on your own instead of waiting someone to notice you. Ask the owners of the places where you rehearse or the people that you meet on gigs if there’s someone that may need your recording services.

- Don’t worry if your first studio recording sessions are crap. You can’t expect working with world acclaimed artists right from the start.

Last but not least – don’t get easily discouraged. Finding the right bands to play with may take you an year or two. Finding your first contacts with people belonging to the music industry may take even more. Just be patient and both of these will happen sooner or later. Good luck!

Related posts:

1. Becoming a studio guitarist