Harry Bartlett on SoundBetter

I’m an award-winning guitarist and composer with a love for the nuanced craft of recording. I deliver thoughtfully arranged, high-quality guitar tracks for your album or next single, with the goal of supporting your vision without ever getting in the way.

Hi, I'm Harry Bartlett.

I've had the privilege of playing alongside Bela Fleck, Tray Wellington, Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers), Gary Nichols (Steel Drivers), John Mailander (Bruce Hornsby, Billy Strings), among many others; I've worked with producers such as Dan Hannon (Manchester Orchestra), and Viktor Krauss (Lyle Lovet, Robert Plant) and I've recorded remote guitar tracks for countless artists out of my studio in Nashville, TN.

I’ve always been drawn to a wide musical palette. My formal studies are in jazz (University of Toronto; School for Improvised Music, NYC) and my roots are in bluegrass and folk music (including mentorship with Jordan Tice and an award from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History). Equally at home on electric and acoustic guitar, my work as a session musician spans Indie, Rock, Folk, Singer Songwriter, Jazz, Bluegrass, and Chamber Music.

I'm also a solo artist, and my music has been described as “presented with a delicacy combining classical, string band and jazz elements” (The Whole Note) and “thoughtful, impressionistic, and cinematic” (LA Jazz Scene). My experience as a composer inform my guitar tracks in that I see every note as an opportunity to serve the song.

I would love to work together and hear more about your project. Click the contact button above to get in touch!

Click the 'Contact' above to get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Credits

Discogs verified credits for Harry Bartlett (4)

Estelle Honeywell
Dan Pitt Trio
Harry Vetro's Northern Ranger
Bjorn Kriel (2)
Bunkhouse (2)

Endorse Harry Bartlett8 Reviews

by Cody Z.
Verified
Tries to get the best out of the song/job! Gives options and new adds while also maintaining the heart of the song. Good experience!
by Jack Finlayson
Had the pleasure of working with Harry on two songs this winter. He was professional, communicated well, and delivered a great final product. Will definitely be working with him again in the future.
by David Johnstone
Working with Harry is simply a dream. He possesses that unique ability to serve a song in a way that is completely original to him. His palette is refined, yet playful. I had the pleasure of working with him on my last record and he played what became my favourite moments. When it came to mix the project, half of my notes were to simply turn Harry up. Besides being one of my favourite composers and players, he’s also an incredibly honest, reliable, and genuinely kind soul. Your only regret will be that you can’t play with him every second of every day.
by Charissa Hoffman
I feel so lucky whenever I get to play with Harry! It’s rare to find someone whose chops are equal to their sensitivity and ear. He’s a really thoughtful and conversational player and has an amazing gift for adding his musical voice to a song while still complementing what other players are doing. I’m a big fan of his musical work but he’s also incredibly professional- always 100% prepared, on time, and knowing the songs inside and out.
by Koby A
Harry's contributions on sessions are of top quality. His thoughtful improvisations improve the life of any track he plays on. I highly recommend hiring him for your project if you want well-crafted guitar arrangements and someone who demonstrates professionalism at every step.
by Maddisun
Working with Harry is such a great experience! He's also a great friend and person to have in your life. We met when I travelled to Nashville, and we got a chance to do some writing/jamming which was very fun. Then I hired him to play guitar for my new album "The Pages" and I was so impressed and happy with his work. He has so much artistic sensibility in his playing, the parts were unique and thoughtful. We went back and forth a bit with changes etc and he was so easy to work with. I've also worked with him on some guitar lessons, and I love his teaching style. 10/10!
by Leni B
Harry was the perfect guitarist for the Heart of Gold cover I recorded for a live recording / video session. He’s so talented and creates nuances in the arrangement that filled it out perfectly. Not to mention he’s great to work with - thanks so much Harry!
by Stefanie Joyce
I highly recommend working with Harry! His work is incredibly thoughtful, and his responses are efficient and timely. I have worked with him on numerous projects, most recently as a composer, arranger, and producer on my latest record. He has an ability to think about the different components of a song both as individual pieces and part of a greater whole. He really helped me fine tune my own sonic voice and expand upon it in incredibly unique ways. A consummate professional!

Interview with Harry Bartlett

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I recently got back from a week recording in Muscle Shoals. There is so much history of recorded music there from Aretha Franklin to the Rolling Stones and it was inspiring to be around that. I also appreciated how collaborative the experience was between the artist, producer, and us in the band. We started with 7 demos and ended with 7 fully orchestrated pieces of music that all have a unique character. I'm really proud of what the team accomplished!
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Thoughtful, intentional, collaborative.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would love to work with Adrienne Lenker. I grew up listening to a Neil Young and sonically her music is evocative of that but she takes it to so many new places. She is also one of the most visceral lyricists I can think of. I feel inspired to play even by reading her words on a page.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Most of my work is with artists in the Indie, Americana, Folk spheres.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I want to hear about your vision! I want to know what images your music conjures up, what books and films your inspired by. I like to place myself in the world you are trying to build with your music and help amplify that vision.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: In addition to my work as a recording guitar player I'm also a composer and have composed 4 records as a bandleader, for film, and for large ensembles at the University of Toronto. This experience permeates my process when I'm recording, I think very compositionally about guitar parts.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I start by listening to the track I am sent as it is and mapping out in my mind what I will record before I get to the studio. I find this leads to ideas that feel personal to the song rather than generic guitar parts.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: The first musical experience I had that stopped me in my tracks was hearing David Gilmour play on Dark Side of the Moon. Later, the guitar playing of Jim Hall and Bill Frisell would really inspire me. What I'm impressed by in these 3 players is their efficiency. They play the right thing and nothing more! I take this attitude of care to every job I do.