Gal Shalev on SoundBetter

Live guitar session player with over 15 years of experience in both studio recordings and live shows. Specializes in creating comprehensive and musical guitar arrangements. My top priority is to serve the song musically, filling in the needed parts while leaving enough room for the rest of the instruments.

Over the years I have played with some of the biggest local artists, and worked with the top people in the industry.
I'm able to play written music charts, or given the creative freedom, come up with parts I find fitting for the song.
Fitting for both upcoming artists and well established ones.

I'm familiar with any type of guitar, including electric, acoustic, nylon string, and ukulele.
I own a plethora of guitars from different kinds and brands, and thus able to find the perfect tone for each song and genre.

If you hire me as a guitar player, you'll receive professional, great sounding guitar tracks, recorded through high end equipment.
The tracks are already edited, and ready to mix.

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

7 Reviews

Endorse Gal Shalev

by Ariel Z.
Verified
I'm so happy and speech less! Glad I chose Gal. Gal is one of the best guitar players I've worked with. I recommend sending him your project!
by Lior Avramov
Verified
Thank you gal for amazing experience!
by Tal B.
Verified
I wanted Gal to produce my song, he did a great job, quality sound, and most importantly I got the files very quickly. You should work with him :)
by Omer Z.
Verified
Wow! Gal is just a great musician.
I was so happy to work with him!!
The price was fair, and to my surprise the project sent to me very quickly.
I will recommended him for sure.
by Liat.E
Verified
Wow! Gal is a professional guitar player.
His sound is just perfect and the work was sent to me so quickly.
I was so happy to work with him, a great pleasure! I definitely recommend him!

Guys, Your project will be in excellent hands ;) Good Luck!
by Yarin
Verified
Great sound, Amazing guitar player, and a good guy!
He did an awesome job on my song. I highly recommend him!
by Avihai H.
Verified
Gal is a proffesional and talented guitar player!
he took my song from good to great with his skills.
also he so nice and kind.
the sound quality is great, and ill work with him in feauture projects for sure!
thank you gal!

Interview with Gal Shalev

Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: It is important for me to bring my own flavor to a song. I don't like unnecessary overloading of a track. I like to receive references from clients beforehand. The precision of playing in time is very important to me as well as everything related to delivering a good quality product to the customer.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I produced an entire album for my wife, I'm very proud of it because it was the beginning of my path as a musical producer, and of course in all the songs I'm the one who recorded guitars.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Musical productions for various singers, recording guitars and edits.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Too many to mention everyone here :)
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Trying to combine them, but the world is almost entirely digital these and I want to deliver a contemporary product.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: You will receive quality product. Clean and accurate. I will work with you untill you are %100 happy with the result.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: The satisfaction of hearing the end result.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: - What is your availability? Answer: I am available, turnaround mostly 2-3 days. - Do you record all types of guitars? Answer: Depends on your song. - Do you also do musical productions? Answer: Yes.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That there is no money in music.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: - Do you have a reference? - Do you know exactly what kind of guitar work you need?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Go over my profile, get in get in touch, share your music and ask any question you might have.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Acoustic guitar, laptop, notebook, pencil and sunscreen.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been playing since I was 4 years old. I first learned how to play the keyboard, I played classical music at first but I really did not connect with the instrument, and by the age of 13 I decided to learn how to play the guitar. I joined a music school, I had been performing with local bands since the age of 14. Later on, I started touring professionally. As time went by, I wanted to produce and record guitars in my own studio. I set up a studio in my hometown, went through a mix and mastering course and started my way. Today I record guitars and produce music for various artists.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Precise, not overwhelming and with a lot of love.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: That would be Bruno Mars, I think he's an amazing singer and I love his songs.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: I think “fresh” is a very important thing in producing a new song. When you write and compose a song, you don’t try to invent the wheel, and subconsciously is you aim to create a certain result you've heard before. It is important to mimic exactly the right tones and feel from references, I believe that if you follow these steps you will get the result you are after.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop and Rock.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: My strongest talent is a fast turn around. I hear the song and quickly know what I'm going to play.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: First, I listen to the demo then I do a second hearing and write a chart of the whole structure. If the client wants electric and acoustic guitars in the project, it usually starts with acoustic guitars.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I record in an acoustically treated studio, working exclusively with "Pro Tools", on a Mac, mainly a Kemper for electric guitars. Acoustic, classical I track with Steven Slate's VMS or AKG214 microphones combined with the Slate preamp. I used an Apogee Quartet interface and Adam A7X Monitors.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Gipsy Kings, Guns & Roses and Adenara Buccelli.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Mostly acoustic and electric guitar work.