Let's track some guitars! As a Los Angeles-based studio and session musician with over twenty-five years of experience, I have produced thousands of guitar, bass and ukulele tracks featured in film, television, movie and video game trailers, advertising spots, and album releases (including EMI's New World).
As a music producer, composer, songwriter and mixing engineer, I’m well versed in every aspect of building solid guitar tracks, including rhythms, melodic lines, fills, arpeggios, leads, harmonies, ambiance, and full soundscapes. I know how to work with vocal or instrumental melodies to create memorable lines and “hooky” phrases.
It's my goal to create the right tone and part to complement the soundscape of your song or cue.
I work remotely (and quickly) in my recording studio, and will send the tracks back to you via WeTransfer. In most cases, I record left and right tracks to create a wide stereo spread. All electric guitar tracks are professionally recorded with two vintage microphones using world-class mic preamps and converters. I take the extra step to edit to the grid and remove any unwanted noises, and can send recorded files dry or with printed effects.
My credits include: The Martian, Words and Pictures, The Switch, Big Crush II, Pistorius, Hope Springs, 2 Broke Girls, Big Hero 6, NCIS, The Good Dinosaur, Tori and Her Hair, Castle, MasterCard, The Discovery Channel, Party of Five, Dawson's Creek, Providence, Grosse Point Blank, D.C., Let's Make a Deal and many more.
I'd love to hear about your project! I'm friendly and easy to work with. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
15 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients
Endorse Bryan Kelley
check_circleVerifiedBryan rocks. His guitar work is tasty, good communicator, fast response.
check_circleVerifiedBryan did a great job! I sent him a partial demo sans any additional tracks and he still provided a fantastic track in the end.
check_circleVerifiedBryan killed it on these guitar parts! Very helpful and patient with some long-winded instructions/ideas and the end product was exactly what I needed. Excellent communication throughout the process, thank you Bryan.
check_circleVerifiedGreat recording and performance, very friendly and quick reply!
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Bryan is a true pro session musician with amazing skills and understanding of production and arrangement. He knows how to play for the song! I've worked with some of the best in the world, and Bryan holds his own. I can't wait to work with him again.
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Working with Bryan was great! He had great ideas for my songs and was very easy to communicate with. Loved working with him and will definitely work with him again!
check_circleVerifiedBryan was super fast, delivered the track in 1 day. Easy to work with and delivered a great sounding track. Highly recommended!
check_circleVerifiedBryan did a great job recording some Bass and Guitar for a track we are working on. He was timley and easy to work with!
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Bryan is a great guitar player and is very responsive. He is easy to work with and delivers as promised. I look forward to working with Bryan on many projects.
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Super experience. Very professional and great player!
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Bryan did an amazing job. I definitely will be hitting him up for more work!
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It's second time collaborating with Bryan, he always deliver high-quality guitar tracks. Thx a lot!
Bryan Kelly is a pleasure to work with, not only is he a great musician with good melodic instincts and a sensitivity to the vision of the song, but also, he is meticulous in the performance and execution of the take. When he sends me the final version, all I need to do is bring up the fader, and it is perfect!
David Zaffiro: producer, engineer, mixer
Credits: The Band Perry, Little Big Town
Bryan does a lot of the guitar tracks for my scores and songs. He is a master of tone and his attention to detail is unmatched. He is professional, fast and precise. It is a absolute pleasure working with Bryan.
I've been working with Bryan for some years now, and his attention to detail and ability to dial in the perfect tone are top-notch! His recorded parts augment the song and often inspire me to improve my own arrangements.
He is a pleasure to work with and very accommodating. The delivered materials are neatly organized and clearly labeled, making the drop-ins a breeze. Can't recommend enough!
Interview with Bryan Kelley
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: I'm typically hired to create and perform dynamic and expressive electric and acoustic guitar parts that complement the arrangement of a song or score.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I use a variety of vintage and modern guitars, hand-wired tube amps and boutique pedals. I record most electric guitar tracks with two vintage microphones using high-end mic preamps. I normally work in Logic and ProTools, and use Apogee clocking and A/D converters. I use two mics on almost all guitar tracks - one vintage Shure SM57 and one vintage Beyer M160 (ribbon). I use a vintage AKG mic for all acoustic guitars and ukulele.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: As a music composer and songwriter, I’m well versed in every aspect of building solid guitar tracks, including rhythms, melodic lines, fills, arpeggios, leads, harmonies, ambiance, and full soundscapes. I know how to work with vocal or instrumental melodies to create memorable lines and “hooky” phrases.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: I'm a great listener and communicator. I work well with other musicians to help realize their vision and to produce guitar and bass parts that bring their song / project to life.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Songs, film and television underscore, movie and video game trailers, and advertising spots.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: I recommend recording parts with an input signal that is 3/4 way up the meter. Take the extra step to edit to the grid and remove any unwanted noises. Lo-cut the guitar tracks at 100 Hz to clean things up, and leave more room for the bass.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Rock | Pop | Singer/Songwriter | Country | Ambient | Soundtrack
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been playing guitar since I was 13 years old. I grew up in Seattle playing with some of the most well-known music acts in the world. As a songwriter and music composer, I decided that moving to Los Angeles was my best option for making a living by playing music. With over twenty-five years of experience, I have produced thousands of guitar, bass and ukulele tracks featured in film, television, movie and video game trailers, advertising spots, and album releases.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: It helps to have part or sound samples of music similar to what you want for your project. You could also just sing it for me - I'll catch your vibe!
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What instruments would you like for me to record for you? Who's your audience? What's the mood you're after? Do you have a style or sample of other artists that you might be hearing for your project? Do you have stems? What's the BPM?
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: How much do you charge? I typically answer by asking them about their budget. Depending on the project and the client's vision, the cost will be affected by the amount of tracks needed to make their project sound its best.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I get to do what I love!
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Excellence and satisfaction!
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both! I love analog, and use vintage microphones, mic pre-amps and tube amps for all recordings. To me, analog just sounds better! I love digital for the editing capabilities and limitless plug-in options.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Without a doubt, I would take my Jeff Senn Telecaster, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Divided by 13 RSA23, Klon KTR, Diamond Comp Jr, Demeter Tremulator, and Strymon El Capistan! (I know that's seven, but who's counting?)
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Lots! I'm currently writing, recording and producing ambient guitar tracks for a BMG release that is in the vein of "Explosions in the Sky" and "Sigur Ros", I'm playing guitar and bass for a collection of "spaghetti western" tracks for "Discovery Channel," and producing a pop-country song for a fellow songwriter.
I was the guitarist, bassist, composer, producer and mixing engineer in this production
- The Wanderer written by Bryan Kelley and Luciano Storti
- Falling Forward written by Bryan Kelley and Luciano Storti
- Gettin' Dirty written by Bryan Kelley and Luciano Storti
- Adrios Gringos written by Bryan Kelley and Luciano Storti
- Electric GuitarAverage price - $150 per song
- Acoustic GuitarAverage price - $150 per song
- Bass ElectricAverage price - $150 per song
- UkuleleAverage price - $150 per song
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $250 per song
Turn-around times are typically 24-72 hours depending on the project.
- Coldplay
- U2
- Tom Petty
- Vintage and modern guitars | handwired amps | boutique pedals. Electric guitar tracks are recorded with two vintage microphones using world-class mic preamps. Logic | ProTools | Apogee clocking and converters used for recording.
Discounted rates when doing multiple instruments per song. Please ask!
