Session Guitarist

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Yes, I’d recommend https://soundcloud.com/zean-otey/cover. That is one of my last collaborations as a session musician. Beautiful song and I had really fun working on it.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: In 2018, a client asked me if I could record a video, playing and explaining how to play some christmas songs on the Ukelele. I really had fun doing it and my client was really happy when the job was done.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: When it comes to amplifiers and stompboxes, I prefer analog. For recording or mixing, I prefer digital. It always depends on what your client needs.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I´m gonna do my best till you feel you have what you asked me for.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: Clients always ask If Im avalaible for start working or if I can play any specific guitar. I usually ask some questions to make everything clear and start working.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Fender Stratocaster, Universal Audio Apollo twin, MacBook Pro, Martin &Co Acoustic guitar and a Neumann U87.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: I usually work on Rock, Pop, Funk, Soul, Blues and other styles. Last year I´ve been working with many acoustic tracks. I´ve been studying many fingerpicking styles and many clients asked me to record using them. I really had fun doing it.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I play guitar since I was 13, and started working as a session musician since 2008.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Im recording some guitars for a client from USA, Soul style, with my Stratocaster, Really funny job.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: Im always learning, playing different genres, meeting people all over the world, with different ideas and knowledge. I could not be more fortunate.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: The only way to have problems with clientes is when things are not clear before starting the work, That´s why I ask many questions before, so as we wont have any problems after.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: Wich chords you want me to play, If you prefer any guitar and strumming or fingerpicking style, the bpm of the track, any song as reference, If you need me to improvise something or you want me to record exactly what you ask for.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: You can be sure that Im gonna work till you get what you need, I really enjoy my work and Im always trying to improve myself.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: A music lover that keeps learning everyday and discovering music all the time.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: John Mayer is always an inspiration for me, the sound of his guitars, how incredibly he plays acoustics and how he produce his songs. I love Jamiroquai songs and style. Steve Ray Vaughn, David Gilmour, BB King, Albert King, the edge. Last time, Ive been listeting a lot to a new talent called Tom Misch.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: You must always try to simplify your work and keep everything tidy in your workspace, like your computer, your stompboxes, your cables and everything you need to a professional recording session.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Im really obesessive with the sound of my guitars, taking care about the tempo and the performance I`ve recorded. I record always trying to get my best and if I dont feel it´s ok, Im gonna record it till I think it´s the best I can do.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: Always try to improve it, with a professional sound and the arrangement that I consider will be the best.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: I receive the track. Prepare a new Pro Tools session Import the tracks and start working. Take a listen to the track and if I feel its ready, send it to my client and wait for his/her oppinion.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Im working with Mac and pro tools since 2008. I have many guitars: Fender Stratocaster Custom Shop 1956, Gibson SG Reissue 61, Parker Fly Deluxe 1995, Martin & Co GPCRSGT. I usually record using Amplitube and Guitar Rig, but I have a Fender Supersonic 22w and a Marshall 4x12 cab for those clientes who ask for real amplifiers. To record the acoustic guitar, I have an AKG C214. Some of my stompboxes: Eventide TimeFactor, OCD overdrive, Green Rhino Overdrive, Rat Distortion, Dunlop Wah, Vox Wah, Zvez Fuzz Factory, Boss CS3 Compression Sustainer. I have Mackie Monitors, but I feel more comfortable using my Sony MDR 7506.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I used to use many effects in my setups, like The edge, many delays, and choruses, and always discovering new sounds. Actually I started to listen to many artist that dont use many effects, like ohn Mayer, Joe Bonamassa, and old artists like Steve Ray Vaughn or BB King.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: I usually work recording many style of guitar tracks, depending on what my clientes ask for. They send me a track, and tell me what they want me to do. Sometimes they give me the chords and indicate me the type of strum or fingerpicking they need. Sometimes, they allow me to decide what I think is gonna be better for the song.