Recording Guitar for Your Song: What to Send Me
If you've got a song that could use some guitar, you might be wondering what you actually need to send me. The answer is usually less than you'd think. You don't need to have everything perfectly recorded or know exactly what part you want yet. A rough mix and a bit of an idea are a good place to start.
What I enjoy most about recording guitar is coming up with something that feels like it belongs in the song. Sometimes that means playing a part exactly as you've written it. Other times you've got a space in the track and want me to experiment with a few ideas. I'm very happy doing either.
Start with the song as it is
Send me your latest mix or demo, even if it isn't finished. Hearing the other instruments, and especially the vocals if there are any, helps me understand where the guitar should sit. A WAV file is great, but an MP3 is absolutely fine when we're just discussing ideas.
It's useful to know the tempo, key and structure if you have them. A quick note saying 'solo after the second chorus' or 'rhythm guitar through the whole track' can be enough. If you're working with a click, odd time signatures or tempo changes, let me know about those too.
Tell me what you're imagining
This is probably my favourite part. Are you after something melodic and expressive, a really tight rhythmic part, or a solo that gets a bit more adventurous? Do you want the guitar to be the focus for a moment, or add a bit of colour without getting in the way of everything else?
You're welcome to send a couple of songs as references, but it helps if you tell me what it is you like about them. It could be the tone, the phrasing, the harmony or just the way the guitar builds the energy. I enjoy improvisation and experimenting with different sounds, so I'm always keen to explore something a little different if it suits the track.
We can work out the practical stuff together
Once we know what you need, we can agree on the parts, the audio files you'll receive, the timeframe and how revisions will work. If your project needs dry guitar tracks, a particular sample rate, or separate rhythm and lead parts, just mention it. We'll also clarify any important credits, licensing or release details before recording begins.
If the song is unreleased, send it through privately and make sure we're both working from the latest version. There's nothing worse than putting time into a part and realising the arrangement has changed underneath it.
Have a track in mind?
Feel free to send me a demo and tell me a bit about what you're going for. Whether you've got a very specific guitar part in your head or you're still figuring it out, I'd be keen to hear it and see what we can come up with.
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