How to Choose a Session Guitarist for Metal and Progressive Music

If you're making metal or progressive music, finding a guitarist isn't just a matter of finding someone who can play fast. The part has to feel right against the drums, support the arrangement and still sound convincing when it's recorded. That applies whether you need a lead solo, tight rhythm guitars or parts written from scratch.

Technical guitar playing is a big part of my background, especially metal, neoclassical guitar and intricate rhythm work. These are the things I'd look at when deciding who to bring onto a track.

Listen for timing, not just difficulty

Fast picking and complicated runs can be impressive, but rhythm recording asks a different question: does the playing actually sit with the groove? A guitarist might be comfortable with demanding lead passages but less at home with repeated tight rhythm takes, stops and starts, or a riff that shifts its accents around the bar.

For progressive music, listen to how the player handles unusual metres, syncopation and changing sections. It isn't about making everything more complicated; it's about keeping the part controlled even when the arrangement is complicated.

A solo should still belong in the song

The best approach depends on what's happening around the guitar. Sometimes the track calls for a technical lead with quick changes and precise articulation. Other times, a simple melody or a few well-placed notes do more. I like guitarists who can make that decision rather than treating every solo as an opportunity to fit in as many notes as possible.

If you've got a reference, be specific about what you like. It might be the phrasing, the energy, the rhythmic placement or the way the solo builds, rather than the exact notes or tone.

Check what the examples actually demonstrate

A guitarist's performance videos are useful because you can hear their timing, articulation and approach to difficult passages. But a cover is still a cover: it demonstrates playing ability, not necessarily previous paid session work. Original collaborations can tell you something different about how they contribute to a finished song.

I use my own covers to demonstrate aspects of my playing, including melodic lead work and intricate progressive-metal rhythms. They aren't labelled as client commissions. For an original collaboration, my guitar solo on Mellowtonic's Holy Ghost is a separate example of contributing music to an existing song.

Talk about exactly what needs recording

Before booking, ask whether the guitarist is following an existing riff, writing the part, recording multiple separate takes, or covering a whole arrangement. Double-tracking is a specific recording task and shouldn't be assumed to be included just because someone advertises rhythm guitar. The same applies to additional solos, revisions and editing.

Your producer may also want separate WAV files aligned to the session, a particular sample format, or dry guitar recordings for reamping. Those details are worth agreeing on early. You don't have to know every technical term, but it's helpful if the guitarist and producer are talking about the same deliverables.

Ask how collaboration works

A useful session guitarist should be comfortable with some back-and-forth. You might send a rough idea and want a few directions explored, or you might have a fully written arrangement that needs to be followed closely. Neither approach is better; it's about being clear on which one the song needs.

I enjoy working with artists and producers who want to try ideas, but I'm equally happy recording a defined part. The more specific we can be about the brief, the easier it is to spend the recording time on the music rather than on avoidable misunderstandings.

Remote recording or a studio session?

Remote guitar recording can work wherever you're based, provided we agree on the tracks and delivery requirements. In-studio work can make sense when you want to shape a part together in real time. I offer both remote recording and in-studio sessions across Victoria, with studio work quoted separately.

If you're looking for someone to record technical solos, intricate rhythm parts or guitar arrangements, have a listen to the actual performances and send a bit of information about your project. My Session Guitar page is here: https://www.davidwymanmusic.com/session-guitar