Studio Guitarists |
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Jun 5 2014, 04:10 PM
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This is thread to honor the studio guys! How many times you are listening to a song and have no idea who played the guitar parts in it or that cool solo?
These are session guitarists, they record and perform music for other people. Sometimes they are credited but often they are just "ghostwriting". During his heyday in the ’60s and ’70s, Tommy Tedesco played on recordings by everyone from the Beach Boys to Ella Fitzgerald. In addition, several TV theme tracks — including those for Bonanza and Batman — bear his trademark licks. Guitar Player magazine once dubbed him the most recorded guitarist in history. He is just one example of a very long list of session guitarists that has contributed with fantastic guitar work. What do you think makes this guys different then other "regular" guitarists? I think that versatility is the characteristic number 1 that a session guitarist needs while regular players need to have an personality and more defined style that makes him unique and recognizable. Post yt song links/info on famous session musicians in this thread. What do you think are the most important skills a session musician needs to have to get into that line of work? -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jun 5 2014, 04:43 PM
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Oh man there's so many.
Here's Larry Carlton in one of his most famous 'session' moments. Both rhythm and lead guitar ... As for what it takes: versatility, quick thinking, focus and (musical) honesty. How well and how quickly can you interpret what an artist or producer or engineer wants? Or how quickly can you figure out what the song needs? As for why: it's different for different musicians. Some just like a lot of different types of music and don't want to only focus on one thing. Some fall into it w/o trying. If you read music real well and know a ton of chord voicings you can be an asset to writers, producers and engineers (you're fast, and time is money). A lot of players don't want to tour or got sick of it (had families). Here's Steve Lukather with 'the Tubes' (solo at about 2:35) ... Country session ace Brent Mason w/Alan Jackson (solo at 0:47) ... *The best one's actually do have a 'personality'. This post has been edited by klasaine: Jun 5 2014, 04:52 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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They always want someone, who is spontaneous, friendly, versatile and FAST(meaning no shredding here, of course!). So if you can read, it's good BUT it's not absolutely necessary!!!|
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Jun 5 2014, 05:06 PM
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Carol Kaye:-
Tim Renwick:-  He's worked with loads of people. You can read a list HERE. He's also an amazing Teacher and an incredibly nice guy. I've had the privilege to meet him a couple of times after I won a free lesson with him!  And don't forget the main man on so many records....... Steve Cropper!!  Diversity is a big part of doing session work, although Steve Cropper has his own distinct stamp that he puts on things!!
This post has been edited by Sensible Jones: Jun 5 2014, 05:08 PM -------------------- I'd rather have a full Bottle in front of me than a full Frontal Lobotomy!!
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Jun 5 2014, 05:35 PM
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QUOTE (Guido Bungenstock @ Jun 5 2014, 08:54 AM)  The most important prerequisite is NOT sight reading as most people may think! It's just the ability to find the right vibe, groove or whatever in just a few seconds and having great ears of course Well put. I read pretty well but it's my ability to find what's necessary that keeps me working. *Also ... be punctual, don't talk shit about other players (don't talk too much in general) and make sure your gear works. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jun 5 2014, 05:57 PM
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QUOTE (Sensible Jones @ Jun 5 2014, 04:06 PM) Carol Kaye:- Tim Renwick:- He's worked with loads of people. You can read a list HERE. He's also an amazing Teacher and an incredibly nice guy. I've had the privilege to meet him a couple of times after I won a free lesson with him! And don't forget the main man on so many records....... Steve Cropper!! Diversity is a big part of doing session work, although Steve Cropper has his own distinct stamp that he puts on things!! Good call on Tim Renwick. Played with Pink Floyd (at least live) during the Delicate Sound of Thunder days. The Pulse DVD is still one of my all time favorites. My first thought was Dann Huff (Guido beat me to it). Whitesnake, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Rogers, Peter Cetera, Celine Dion, just to name a few. He's also produced for Megadeth, Faith Hill and Rascal Flatts among others. I used to be really into Country way back when and I swear he played on literally every album. Very impressive resume. --------------------  |
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Jun 6 2014, 09:12 AM
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I can't believe how no-one thought of him so far:
 This here, is his list of collaborations  Behold: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Lukathe...laborations_A-Z
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Jun 6 2014, 11:27 AM
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Tim Pierce
Tom Bukovac Greg Leiz (pedal, lap steel) Jim Keltner (Drums) I often wonder how much Dann Huff is responsible for Modern Country music sounding like 80's rock music, not only is his guitar playing all over the records, but he produces a staggering amount of them too! -------------------- My SoundCloud
Gear Tyler Burning Water 2K Burny RLG90 with BK Emeralds Fender US Tele with BK Piledrivers Epiphone 335 with Suhr Thornbuckers PRS SE Custom 24-08 Ax8 Fessenden SD10 PSG Quilter TT15 |
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Jun 6 2014, 11:30 AM
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You must've missed Guidos post
 QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jun 6 2014, 09:12 AM) I can't believe how no-one thought of him so far:
This here, is his list of collaborations Behold: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Lukathe...laborations_A-Z |
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Jun 6 2014, 03:22 PM
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QUOTE (klasaine @ Jun 5 2014, 08:43 AM) Here's Steve Lukather with 'the Tubes' (solo at about 2:35) ... And mine. Check some of these out ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xs2kJn6PBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5duZ6MS-WDE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcKFiDONNDI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJkdPLzfGG0 This post has been edited by klasaine: Jun 6 2014, 04:44 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jun 6 2014, 04:30 PM
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QUOTE (klasaine @ Jun 5 2014, 01:35 PM) Well put. I read pretty well but it's my ability to find what's necessary that keeps me working. *Also ... be punctual, don't talk shit about other players (don't talk too much in general) and make sure your gear works. You are adding here some very important things to have in mind if we want to be session guitarist. Don't talking too much is very important and off course having all our gear working perfectly are fundamental for this type of job. These are not "skills" but clever details to be successful. This lesson is a tribute to session guitarists: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/who_is...sion_guitarist/ What other things do you think we should have in mind if we want to be session guitarists? -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jun 6 2014, 05:12 PM
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QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Jun 6 2014, 08:30 AM) You are adding here some very important things to have in mind if we want to be session guitarist. Don't talking too much is very important and off course having all our gear working perfectly are fundamental for this type of job. These are not "skills" but clever details to be successful. This lesson is a tribute to session guitarists: https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/who_is...sion_guitarist/ What other things do you think we should have in mind if we want to be session guitarists? Your time and feel has to be really good. You need to be able lock into the rhythm, whether that's a real drummer or a machine or a track. You should have some non-standard guitars i.e., baritone or bass VI, Danelectro, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, a Gretsch, an old jazz hollowbody (even if you're primarily a rocker), a cheap and funky old Japanese axe from the 60s like that Teisco I just had worked on (you can find them really cheap), a banjo, a mandolin a saz, etc. Basically - have something non-standard and unique. Sometimes a kids 'toy' acoustic guitar is the 'right' sound for the track. You never know. Same for pedals (or rack processor) - have some wacky and ambient sounds available. A really nasty, buzzy fuzz tone, super 'choppy' tremelo, Octaver, Whammy pedal, etc. Make sure your guitars are well intonated. If you use your amp make sure it's relatively rattle free (tubes or cabinet). Don't bring any cables or pedals that are questionable as to their working condition. Have a really accurate tuner (Petersen strobo stomp or Sonic Research turbo tuner) If the producer/artist/engineer request that you play their gear (guitar, amp, pedal, processor, software) - do it. Try to make it work. If their gear is just not getting it then gently suggest that you can get what they're looking for with one of your guitars, amps or pedals. *Always be positive and 'yay team!' about the whole thing. Be able to have 20 different ways to play a G chord to an F chord: Triads, arpeggios, one note sustained from each chord, one note that works over both chords, with tremelo (w/o trem), volume swells, with fx, clean, distorted, try it on the 'weird' guitar, try it on a banjo, etc., etc., etc. ... and be able to do this quickly and happily. *The tip is that you need to be able to play the different approaches and get the sounds very quickly. Be able to play the same part over and over again, 30 times, mistake free and with the same spirit as the 'first' take. Be able to match levels and articulation for a one or two note or phrase fix? *Sure, the engineer can fix it - but you don't want to make him or her have to do that extra work. Be able to play an EXACT double of what you just did. The more shit you bring to the party - musically, conceptually and gear wise - the better your chances of finding the thing that makes the track better. You ALWAYS have to think, "is what I'm doing adding to the track or detracting?" When you add something that makes the song better than it was before you played ... then your phone will ring again. Think like an arranger, not a guitar player. What does the song 'need'? ... what doesn't it need? And needless to say - PLAY GOOD! This post has been edited by klasaine: Jun 7 2014, 08:04 AM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jun 7 2014, 02:46 PM
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All that stuff that I mentioned above is what 'I' do and seems to be generally what's expected of 'me'.
If you make a name for yourself as a guy in a band then you have a lot more latitude because they are probably looking for you to add 'your' thing - 'your' sound. You'd use your signature (sounding) guitar and amp, etc. Santana is a great example: if he 'guests' on a record they expect a PRS and Mesa Boogie set for max sustain! -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jun 7 2014, 02:52 PM
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QUOTE (Sensible Jones @ Jun 6 2014, 04:03 PM) Yeah, he was great on that tour, he also played on the Division Bell Tour as well. Sam Brown sang backing vocals too and absolutely amazed me with her vocals on Great big gig in the sky!! Yep, Sam Brown is a wonderful and much underated vocalist. Tommy Tedesco used to write a nice colum in Guitar Player way back in the 70s/80s which was kind of his diary as a studio musica. -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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Jun 7 2014, 03:07 PM
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TT's 'studio log' was great!
 This post has been edited by klasaine: Jun 7 2014, 03:14 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jun 7 2014, 03:11 PM
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QUOTE (klasaine @ Jun 7 2014, 02:07 PM) TT's 'studio log' was great! ... Very much so, , intelligent, insightful and amusing - there were some issues of GP where that a couple of the other columns were the only things I read. -------------------- Get your music professionally mastered by anl AES registered Mastering Engineer. Contact me for Audio Mastering Services and Advice and visit our website www.miromastering.com
Be friends on facebook with us here. We use professional, mastering grade hardware in our mastering studo. Our hardware includes: Cranesong Avocet II Monitor Controller, Dangerous Music Liasion Insert Hardware Router, ATC SCM Pro Monitors, Lavry Black DA11, Prism Orpheus ADC/DAC, Gyratec Gyraf XIV Parallel Passive Mastering EQ, Great River MAQ 2NV Mastering EQ, Kush Clariphonic Parallel EQ Shelf, Maselec MLA-2 Mastering Compressor, API 2500 Mastering Compressor, Eventide Eclipse Reverb/Echo. |
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Jun 7 2014, 03:13 PM
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QUOTE (klasaine @ Jun 6 2014, 01:12 PM) Your time and feel has to be really good. You need to be able lock into the rhythm, whether that's a real drummer or a machine or a track. You should have some non-standard guitars i.e., baritone or bass VI, Danelectro, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, a Gretsch, an old jazz hollowbody (even if you're primarily a rocker), a cheap and funky old Japanese axe from the 60s like that Teisco I just had worked on (you can find them really cheap), a banjo, a mandolin a saz, etc. Basically - have something non-standard and unique. Sometimes a kids 'toy' acoustic guitar is the 'right' sound for the track. You never know. Same for pedals (or rack processor) - have some wacky and ambient sounds available. A really nasty, buzzy fuzz tone, super 'choppy' tremelo, Octaver, Whammy pedal, etc. Make sure your guitars are well intonated. If you use your amp make sure it's relatively rattle free (tubes or cabinet). Don't bring any cables or pedals that are questionable as to their working condition. Have a really accurate tuner (Petersen strobo stomp or Sonic Research turbo tuner) If the producer/artist/engineer request that you play their gear (guitar, amp, pedal, processor, software) - do it. Try to make it work. If their gear is just not getting it then gently suggest that you can get what they're looking for with one of your guitars, amps or pedals. *Always be positive and 'yay team!' about the whole thing. Be able to have 20 different ways to play a G chord to an F chord: Triads, arpeggios, one note sustained from each chord, one note that works over both chords, with tremelo (w/o trem), volume swells, with fx, clean, distorted, try it on the 'weird' guitar, try it on a banjo, etc., etc., etc. ... and be able to do this quickly and happily. *The tip is that you need to be able to play the different approaches and get the sounds very quickly. Be able to play the same part over and over again, 30 times, mistake free and with the same spirit as the 'first' take. Be able to match levels and articulation for a one or two note or phrase fix? *Sure, the engineer can fix it - but you don't want to make him or her have to do that extra work. Be able to play an EXACT double of what you just did. The more shit you bring to the party - musically, conceptually and gear wise - the better your chances of finding the thing that makes the track better. You ALWAYS have to think, "is what I'm doing adding to the track or detracting?" When you add something that makes the song better than it was before you played ... then your phone will ring again. Think like an arranger, not a guitar player. What does the song 'need'? ... what doesn't it need? And needless to say - PLAY GOOD! Your post in fantastic man, and let me say that the last question is exactly what I do every time I record guitars for my band. I think that this is essential if you are on a full band with vocalist where the songs are the important thing. You summarized a good list of things to have in mind and there are also some clever ideas there to make your work even more valuable, thanks for taking the time to share this wisdom. -------------------- My lessons
Do you need a Guitar Plan? Join Gab's Army Check my band:Cirse Check my soundcloud:Soundcloud Please subscribe to my:Youtube Channel |
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Jun 7 2014, 03:17 PM
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QUOTE (tonymiro @ Jun 7 2014, 07:11 AM) Very much so, , intelligent, insightful and amusing - there were some issues of GP where that a couple of the other columns were the only things I read. Tony, as a recording engineer what do you 'want' in a session musician? -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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