How to get the best musicians in town (or the world) to play on your sonG

Have you ever been working on a song in the studio and thought, “man, this song could really use a cello in the bridge…but I don’t know any decent cellists.” Session musicians to the rescue!

A session musician (or session player) is a professional instrumentalist who specializes in studio work. They will typically have the musical “chops” and studio experience necessary to deliver a great result every time. 

Things to look for in a great session musician are:

• Creativity - often a session player will be expected to create a great part on the fly.

• Flexibility - songs can change key, tempo, structure or arrangement, and the player must be able to adapt quickly.

• Efficiency - nailing parts with minimal punch-ins or retakes means you won’t eat up studio time “figuring it out.”

• Musical literacy - not all session musicians need to read musical notation, but they must understand the musical system and be able to “speak the language” in order to communicate effectively with the producer and artist.

• Studio experience - playing in the studio is very different than playing live. Session players will be comfortable with click tracks, headphones, punching in, and all the other mechanisms of studio work.

• Professional attitude - being punctual, courteous, and pleasant is just good business.

• Pro-level, well-maintained instruments - great instruments just sound better!

So how do you find one of these mythical, musical creatures? Well, if you’re working with a producer or engineer you trust at the studio, just ask them! Producers and engineers should be familiar with the top session musicians in your area. In fact, a producer’s “Rolodex,” if you’ll pardon that outdated term, is a great resource.

For example, the cello for your song’s bridge - your producer or engineer has probably recorded many different cellists over the years. Maybe some did great and some just did OK. Who do you think they will recommend to you? The ones who did great! It’s a symbiotic thing - if the producer brings in a great player who nails the part, it will make them look good too. 

The existing relationships between the producer/engineer and the players will make everything easier. They can help you contact the person; they probably know how much the player charges; they may have insights into how the player likes to work and the best way to set up for that. 

It’s also important to prepare for the session by providing the player with the materials they’ll need. Typically you would send a rough mix of the song (sometimes with a click track, MIDI mockup of the part in question, or other customizations), chord charts and/or sheet music, and some style references. Style references are songs from other artists that have the vibe/tone/attitude you’re going for the part in your song.

But what if you don’t live in a city with a lot of cellists? Or, what if you’re looking for a more exotic instrument, and your producer doesn’t know anyone who plays it? Several online platforms exist to solve this problem - SoundBetter, Airgigs, and Fiverr are among them. Session musicians can create a profile on the site and list the services they offer, along with demo material (very important, so you can hear them in action) and references or reviews. In this case, the recording will usually be done “remote,” by simply trading files - you send the player your materials, and they send you back a recording of their part. It’s a little bit less interactive than sitting in the studio with someone crafting a part together, but the results can often be stellar. Do make sure you understand the player’s revision policy before starting work. 

The online platforms have their own built-in payment systems, but when working with a local player, ask ahead of time how they like to be paid. Usually payment is due at the end of the session. PayPal and Venmo are popular options. Also, make sure you have the proper spelling of the person’s name so that you can give proper credit when your song is released. 

With your local network of session musicians and the global reach of online platforms, the sky’s the limit. Have fun!