Guitar Professional Standards & Competencies 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a session guitarist receives a lead sheet, what is the first professional step before recording begins?
- Start recording immediately to save studio time
- Review the chart, note any questions, and confirm the key and tempo with the producer (Correct answer)
- Transpose the chart to your preferred key
- Request a full written-out tablature instead
Correct answer: Review the chart, note any questions, and confirm the key and tempo with the producer
Reviewing the lead sheet and clarifying details with the producer prevents costly retakes and demonstrates professional preparation.
Question 2: A professional guitarist is asked to play a style outside their comfort zone on a paid gig. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Accept without disclosure and improvise on the night
- Decline immediately without offering alternatives
- Be transparent about your limitations and suggest a qualified substitute if needed (Correct answer)
- Charge a higher fee to compensate for the difficulty
Correct answer: Be transparent about your limitations and suggest a qualified substitute if needed
Transparency about skill limitations protects the client's project and upholds professional integrity.
Question 3: What does 'doubling' mean in a professional studio context for guitarists?
- Playing twice as fast as written
- Recording the same part a second time to add thickness to the sound (Correct answer)
- Using two guitars tuned an octave apart simultaneously
- Charging double the standard session rate
Correct answer: Recording the same part a second time to add thickness to the sound
Doubling involves recording the same part again so the two tracks are layered, creating a fuller, wider sound.
Question 4: Which behavior best demonstrates professionalism when a bandleader gives critical feedback on your playing mid-rehearsal?
- Defend your interpretation loudly
- Remain silent, make the requested adjustment, and move on (Correct answer)
- Argue that the original part sounded better
- Take a break and return when emotions have settled
Correct answer: Remain silent, make the requested adjustment, and move on
Accepting direction without argument shows coachability, which is one of the most valued traits in professional musicians.
Question 5: A professional guitarist should carry which item to every live gig as standard preparation?
- A spare guitar, extra strings, cables, and a tuner (Correct answer)
- Only the guitar they plan to play
- A printed set list from the previous gig
- Their award certificates for credibility
Correct answer: A spare guitar, extra strings, cables, and a tuner
Backup gear ensures the show continues despite equipment failure, reflecting true professional preparedness.
Question 6: What is the standard professional practice regarding mobile phones during a recording session?
- Keep the phone on loud in case of urgent calls
- Use the phone freely between takes
- Silence or power off the phone to avoid interfering with recordings and focus (Correct answer)
- Record a backup of the session on the phone
Correct answer: Silence or power off the phone to avoid interfering with recordings and focus
Phone notifications and RF interference can ruin takes and distract everyone; silencing it is standard session etiquette.
Question 7: When a guitarist is hired as a sideman, who holds creative authority over the musical arrangement?
- The guitarist, since they are an expert on their instrument
- The bandleader or artist who hired them (Correct answer)
- The sound engineer on the night
- Whoever arrived at the venue first
Correct answer: The bandleader or artist who hired them
A sideman's role is to serve the bandleader's vision, not to assert their own creative preferences.
Guitar Professional Standards & Competencies 2
When a session guitarist receives a lead sheet, what is the first professional step before recording begins?