How much can you really make playing sessions in Nashville?
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- There are a few different ways we get paid. Broadly, these are from union sessions ("on the card"), indie sessions ("off the card"), royalties, and special payments. Let's check out each of these scenarios, including the scale wages for each kind of session, such as masters. Enjoy!
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0:00 This channel is all about creating hooks.
1:29 A cool song I was working on recently
2:26 Why is this SO cool?
5:31 Course coming soon!
5:44 SO, how do session players get paid?
7:29 Nashville runs on a 10/2/6 session schedule
11:22 This is what a union time card looks like
13:11 Every session has a session “leader”
15:30 Let’s talk recording scales and payment
23:38 the AFMSAGAFTRA fund
27:18 Special Payments
Please SUBSCRIBE, and thanks for hanging out!
"Tools for the Creative Guitarist" is exactly what I come here to learn, and I'm pretty sure I want to buy in when your course is released. You've already elevated my playing just by being a good influence, a player I listen to carefully and try to break down what I'm hearing. [I know others love to hear about and talk about the gear . . . it's the sound and the player input that I'm trying to soak up here.] Our non-professional band tries to look and sound professional. Appreciate your help so far. 🎸
So interesting to get a peek behind the Nashville recording curtain. Thanks for sharing and your constant honesty!
"You can't have any weird smells..." LOL😂 Thanks for the great videos!
As a time limited (business owner, husband, father) hobby musician (church/home recordings) this kinda exposes how much a studio musician has to do in order to make money. While there are exceptions, you make it sound like the majority of studio musicians are going to work a lot to make a lot of money like any other career.
I think many of us think that if you’re a studio musician in Nashville, you make bank. This is a great video, makes a lot of us respect what you do and keep up the good work!
First off, man... this is insightful. If someone wanted to try and move in this direction, might be the most informative thing on UA-cam. Also, I feel like you buried the lede a little with your closing seconds. You are getting paid for your thousands of hours honing your craft. I am a former gigging guy turned glorified enthusiast. I keep saying your (you guys, Buk, you, Pierce, etc) ability to execute - when it counts - is the super power. To make a 'part' in heat of battle, being watched, with the clock ticking is amazing to me. Great vid and you guys deserve every penny... and probably more. No need to respond here.
My comment to your post is: DING DING DING!
This is quickly becoming one of my very favorite YT channels. Love the way you provide really interesting content with great playing, tones, and tips. Many thanks Justin!
Hands down best YT channel for musicians/guitarists. Thank you Justin.
Very interesting/informative. Being a hobbiest guitar player who recently moved to the nashville area, and being friends with guys who are friends with studio guys, as well as someone following session guys YT channels, its interesting to see what goes on with the business from a working persons perspective
Lot of stuff going on behind the scenes - wow! I can see how a musician new to Nashville would greatly benefit from a business course in all this as well as a knowledgeable mentor to help someone navigate this without getting eaten alive. Thanks for your channel, very interesting and informative.
Of all the similar videos that have been popping up lately about how musicians make, this is the most insightful and well done I've seen so far. As a canadian session musician, we often think and or wonder if the grass is greener south of the border. Based on this and albeit even only for Nashville, being that it's still a bigger market, yep, you guys have it better by a fair margin. Great work and thanks for the awesome content.
Fellow Canadian musician here. Our rates are similar except we get paid in our weaker currency. And there's a lot less work. I agree this is the most insightful video in this currently popular topic. cfmusicians.afm.org/uploads/file/SRLA%20-%20Canadian%20Summary%20Chart%202023_CSrev.pdf
And I think the last time I did a session on contract was in 2007. I see no reason to rejoin AFofM since I no longer tour.
Thank you SO much for sharing all this info. For those of us outside the session world, this is all super mysterious stuff.
Dunno what that progression is called, but man Justin that IS compelling. I’ve rewound and listened to it a few times and will do so again and again.
Check out Tory Slusher. The best guitarist in the world by 100 miles. Now you know.
Being able to make a living only playing guitar is amazing. To do it in Nashville is world class.
Love that you are sharing this inside knowledge. Thanks!
Thanks for the breakdown. I’ve been curious about this forever. Exited about the course!
Justin thanks for being so super candid and honest... you can hear this in your music! :)
I am a union electrician with 40 years of experience. (and am also a guitar player, for fun). Sounds like you and I make around the same per year. Even though I love my job, I think I would love your job more. :)
Great info man. Keep on rockin.
Justin, I’m a retired Tv/Film guy that basically functioned as a one-man band. Or, you could think of it as a musical veal fattening pen with Logic. Thus, I was a unicorn of sorts due to the fact that I was a corporate employee for a multi national. This makes me think no one who knew me in my rock rat daze would’ve dreamed I would eventually have health insurance and a home.
I often wondered how the “math” was happening in the 615 up here in the 865. (Tho I still have many dear friends down there you probably know and work with.) I was lucky enough to be sent down to function as producer and have some stuff tracked on occasion. They were fantastic experiences and everyone was TOTALLY pro.
Thanks again for pulling back another veil on how the machine is really run. You folks kickazz.
I need to up my session chops! Great Video man.
I subscribed to your channel also (it was at 497 subscribers at the time). Keep up the good work, your take on the profession is important! TC
Hey man! I saw yours and a couple others on this topic; thought I would post my own 🤠
Love your shares, man. Great insider info and very interesting to learn more of the goings on in Music City
Very, very informative and interesting Justin. I heartily applaud all of the session musicians like yourself who really are the makers of the music, thank you and I will be tuning into this channel more to explore what I find to be really fascinating. Peace to you and yours.
That was an eye opener. Thank you for sharing!
As a teenager in junior high school, I used to dream of doing session work. Kudos to you that you made your dream work. It is very insightful, the information that you have shared with us. Thank you very much, and may your career stay successful
This was great information, thanks Justin!
That’s a great video, really appreciate the detail and perspective. Thank you!
Can’t wait for the course to be released!
Very enlightening. Thanks Justin.
Great video man! Thanks for the info!
Thank you for that insight. I like your analogy of being like a plumber. We are skilled laborers for sure. somewhere in the 1970s I made a left turn and did not go into music full time. I'm not any better off and I still crave playing.
I must admit I was firmly in the "b2" camp. But the explaination of the #1 as coming from the major 3rd of the 6Dom7 chord makes a lot of sense. For some reason many theorists shy away from flattening or sharpening the root of the key.
I do love the movement that chord can bring though. Very popular in some older jazz standards (along with the b2...im sorry, #1 dim7 substitution)
Great content as always Justin
Yep, if it were a fully diminished chord, it would have an F instead of an E. Also common. Not fully diminishing it feels less “jazzy”
Such info for someone who just got to town. Thank you so much!🙏
Thanks for such a detailed and thorough explanation of this Justin! It's really eye opening.
I moved to Nashville in 1990 worked as an entertainer for Opryland Talent Agency until TNN and Opryland closed in 1997.
Played all the main places in Nashville met a lot of great players over my 30 years.
Rates haven't really changed too much since then. But having the internet has really been good for and helped in creating income for me.
I don't play out much anymore but I built a small studio in 2005 & a new studio in 2017.
I mainly do demos & records for songwriters, artist & VoiceOvers.
Flying tracks has made it easier to record tracks and send all over the world.
Good video and info!
You can make a living in Nashville if your willing to put in the effort.
Wow! wish I had this knowledge a long time ago. I'm learning a lot about Music City and how it works. Thanks!
Thanks so much, Justin.
Thank you for this well laid out explanation. Much appreciated
Cool video. The stuff nobody ever talks about.
Very interesting. Quite a bit different than I envisioned. Thanks for that insight.
New subscriber here, bud. Love your stuff!
Wow I feel lost listening to you talk about chords and how they're built and how they are made... still love to listen to gleen anything I can.
As far as the scales, great $ !!
Really enjoy watching your videos.
The course I have coming out starts at the very beginning. We start with the assumption you know basic chords and how to play a major scale. 👍
Will check in out for sure !!
This progression really showed your harmonic vocabulary! Im so jealous 😅
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Justin ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
Great video! I’ve always wondered about this topic. Now I know. Thanks for sharing!
Great info for maybe a young guy or girl considering a career in music. Very candid video Justin.
This is a great video. As a kid, after moving on from my dream of being a professional baseball player I dreamed about being a touring or session musician (drums). It’s always interesting to peek behind the curtain and see the nuts and bolts of getting paid. I think it’s interesting that as a session musician you are making a similar amount as I bring in as an attorney working as an independent contractor doing court appointed work and a little private work
Super interesting. Thank you for this video.
I think that you guys deserve the same pay as back in the 90's. I believe that it still could be that way. Follow the money.
I don't play - but you should do a video on how to structure and read a NASHVILLE session chart - that'd be interesting since you need to know how to read one whether your union or not......
There is a 3-part Nashville number chart series on my channel
@@JustinOstranderI’m going to go look for that. Thanks!
Excellent playing as usual.
Thanks for the insight, very interesting!
I'm a piano player, and I'm moving to Nashville!
Thanks for the video....looks great also, what camera are you using, looks amazing
Thanks! FX30
#1!!! I totally get it but that’s bonkers. Never would’ve considered that but I see where you’re coming from. 😅
Thanks as ever for your candor. You keep shedding good light.
Hey Justin, great video! Curious… how do you actually receive money? Do you get a check? Venmo PayPal, etc.? how does this differ for non union gigs? How do musicians keep track of all of the sessions and payments?
So follow up questions; when would you get paid double scale and why? You didn't talk about low budget. What qualifies as low budget? What are your union dues like and what benefits do they give you?
Double scale is at the discretion of the artist. Low budget has an agreement the artist/label must turn in before tracking. Details at nashvillemusicians.gov. Annual dues are around $300. Work dues are ~3% I believe.
Great info.Are you ever going to name those 15 #1's ? Thanks
$158 an hour is 3x what I make an hour as a union pipefitter. I am also a bass player wanting to get into sessions. Thanks for the info.
Cool video...was surprised by the sort of abrupt ending....Felt a little like your mom caught you in your bedroom with a Playboy magazine....!😜
I edited out a cough 🤷🏻♂️
@@JustinOstrander I am not criticizing! I just thought it was funny! 🙃
Wow. Thanks so much for your content. You are so honest and humble. It’s refreshing. Wish these kids on UA-cam from Nashville with your first name were as honest and forthcoming as you instead of bragging about their unattainable gear brag fest over and over and over again.
Hi, That's a secondary dominate: a V7 of ii, E7th to a minor is where it should resolve. Even though I've been known to be wrong I think it would be written in the Nashville Number System as 57/5 (because it's in root position) - 2
In the NNS, an E7 in the key of G would be written as 6^7. Yes it’s the 5 of the 2-; but we call the key at the top of the chart, and then all numbers are written relative to that key (unless it modulates to a new key). So here, it’s 1 6/#1 2- 5.
Glad to see that contra bass clarinetists make extra money for their cartage for all of their Nashville sessions. Such a cool instrument, but not sure how often it comes up in that scene.
Almost or even absolutely never
To my ear, the E/G# is like a five-seven of the 2-minor (Am7). It can also sound a little bit like a G#dim7 (but not quite) which has a tendency to lead into a minor chord a half-step up. What's your thought on that? Thanks for all you do. So awesome. I bought a JO coffee cup!
G#dim7 is the same as Fdim7 which is an alternate spelling of E7b9 (G# B D F) with no root. So yep, that leads well to Amin7.
“Can’t have any weird smells.” ROFL!
Sounds like an artist could be into a song 2-3K pretty quick just for tracking. Great stuff Justin!
You’re not wrong! Helps if you put a few of em on one session though
Very informative
Please do more overdub sessions.
Great info Justin! Just curious, I'm a session guitarist living in LA, any thoughts on how to get remote work for clients in Nashville? I have quite a lot of years in the business and played with several big names. But session work in LA is quite slow. Seems most people have moved to Nashville. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
There’s a quote here in town that I think rings true for a lot of people: “nobody cares about what you’ve done; they only care about the last thing you did”. I think you have to be physically here. You have to work with people in person and have a continual list of things you do that is interesting to others in order to expand your client base. It’s VERY hard to start and slightly less difficult to keep it going.
Also, there are just so many people here trying to do the same thing, it is difficult to imagine getting any momentum going if you’re not here hustling up every single thing you can. Hope this helps!
Justin, I own a Super Twin Reverb amp and would like to have your opinion on the settings. I've owned this amp since 1979ish and have played it in many bars and HonkyTonks. But if you have any advice on getting the best sound I'd greatly appreciate it. My guitars are the James Burton Tele and a Strat with the Vince Gill active pickups. Feel free to email me.
Thanks
Rick
Great information ,I was just wondering if anyone gets pissed when you show the real deal .
Not sure I understand the question
Cool video..Thanks
Hi Justin
If there is an off the card session player who is the default leader/playing producer, and you are the only on the card player hired, are you paid as leader because you are the only on on the card subcontractor on the call?
Thanks for the video
✌️
It’s weird. You guys are the best players in the world. Those numbers aren’t terrible. But they seem low given the talent involved.
Several factors: we continue to make products that we don’t sell (records). That might be the biggest factor. The only thing that REALLY pays in the streaming world is ownership of the master recordings. That’s the labels. All of it runs according to out-of-date intellectual property laws. Lots of people fight any change (as in, with lawyers) to protect the platforms’ bottom line. Labels aren’t super incentivized to fight for writers/musicians/artists; they’re doing better than they ever have.
The supply for session players also severely outpaces demand. Thousands of players want to be doing what we’re doing. People will take low paying gigs as long as there’s a big festival on the calendar where they can repost a picture during their artist’s set that makes them look like a big deal. In some ways, we’re still working for exposure lol
6/#1 is really how you write that in Nashville number? There isn’t a way to write first inversion? Thanks for sharing
The number system is less complicated than people make it out to be. In “normal” chord symbols, the progression is G E7/G# Am7 D7.
In numbers, it’s 1 6/#1 2-7 5. And I would write the 7s as exponents.
I’m a drummer, and I’m looking to get more session work. Do you have any advice for working my way to being a full-time session musician?
I spent 20 years playing clubs and recording sessions around Nashville, I feel sorry for the guys trying to make living playing music in Nashville
Thanks for the info.. preciate you…( DanLannings line)
I imagine "limited pressing" was for radio station promo copies in the old days?
At 4:24, it’s cool because it’s Crazy… 😂
This is off topic but from this angle it looks like you might have a cable plugged into the echo output of your TTE?
If this is the case, that could cause a flat spot in the pinch roller and they are hard to come by now.
It’s plugged into output 2. I should remove it anyway
That E is the 5 of the ii, so a secondary dominant function, right? So, I - V of ii - ii - V- 1
Yep. Notating it that way on a number chart is cumbersome. In the Nashville number system, everything is relative to the 1. If the song mods for an entire section, we call the mod and notate relative to the new 1.
It’s cleaner to write G E/G# Am D as 1 6/#1 2- 5. I would add the 7s as “exponents”
Who/how are benefits like health/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement, etc paid for? I saw something about the pension fund. Does the union provide all those bennies at some kind of pro-rated cost based on how many card dates you work? I'm looking to go self-employed (software engineer) and the cost of benefits and the extra SS tax and whatnot is huge compared to my gig at a big corporation. I guess you are considered self-employed/LLC?
I pay my family’s health insurance on a group plan offered through the union. It is expensive. We’re due for our annual look at other options.
The pension fund was so horribly mismanaged, it’s now up to congress to prop it up. I am investing on my own and not counting on it at all.
That was very interesting, thank you
Get pay good now. Tax's
It's true unique skills
Know read and understand music
And being professional open mind
They said computers do music don't need The performer the artists A musician. . It is a soul that makes this happen. Computers just tool, now Al . Will you power run that . Singer & musician & writer all he needs is acoustic guitar no power. Acquired .
What is a good estimate of the number of full time session players (guitar) there are in Nashville? I assume the number is very surprising.
There are more people doing it (while wearing other hats, too) than ever before. But full time only recording guitar as their sole source of income? Probably none! I mean, I’m making a bit of money on UA-cam, other guys have online lessons and courses, etc.
Even Uncle Larry makes decent UA-cam money. Some guys have day jobs and record guitar on an occasional indie project they produce. But as for session players you would see “on campus” as we call it in the studio scene, probably 8 total. That’s just off the top of my head. And there are more than that who make appearances on a less-frequent basis. But it feels like the pool of “I only play guitar on records” players is all but vanished.
As a producer let me add that 1) union sessions are rare these days 2) rates are mainly set by negotiation 3) session rates are competitive. You can price yourself out of a job. If your rate demand is too high, I just go to the next guy because, specially in Nashville, for every great player there are a dozen more waiting for a call. Having said that, who you know, your musicianship and your personality will be major factors in your success. Good luck to all.
I thought your shirt said “Overdue Sessions” which would have been appropriate for this video on how/when we get paid.
You guys should be paid well! All one needs to do is get their own recording rig and give it a try to see just how dang hard it is just to play in tune, in time, in the pocket and come up with memorable hooks and solos, and give arrangement ideas.....
Hopefully it's enough to pay your bills and support a family
Is there still a system whee producers charge for gear rental on things like preamps or mastering gear? If so, do you pay any of that or is that on the artist/label?
I’ve never rented gear for a session.
I think you mean the studio renting gear to the producer/band artist or the producer renting gear from an outside company like Studio Instrument Rentals.
@@jaycareaga9929 yep that's what I meant. I was thinking of producers who own the studio
Good info
Tommy Tedesco said the measure of a studio musician is not how much work he does, but how much he has to turn down.
The 10P-1A scale could also be named "the Lukather scale"
You need to send me that guitar. I'll cover the shipping costs. Thanks in advance! 😄
Justin - sure, some people might be able to work the 15 sessions or more per week. I would think that your creativity might be diminished working that many sessions. What is the most that you have worked and what was the effect on the quality of your output? Maybe you have a different experience. Thanks, good video!
Yeah I’ve done that much. I’ve also done 4 in one day. You get into a rhythm, and you can still deliver. But you can burn out if you’re not careful
Always wondered how this worked
Why not see E7 to am as a V7 of ii
You always stay relative to the 1 (G). You wouldn’t change the number relative to another chord in the key. If the song was in Am the V7 would be correct. Also I think most would write a song in Am as CMaj so E7 would be the III7
@@ericmarlow4915 secondary dominant chords function exactly in that manner. You in fact do change the number relative to what follows. It's common in jazz, classical, and pop music genres.
That’s exactly it. For one chord, it’s just cleaner to not call a modulation. And the melody of this song stays strongly in G. So I would write 1 6/#1 2- 5.
And I would put 7s as exponents
The question now is, how many spots are open still for new session guitarists?
I would say there are already more players than work. There are only a handful of us who do it full time. And even then, many are writing and producing on top of it. It’s a different game these days where one probably shouldn’t be ultra-specialized any more. What you offer and how compelling it is to others will determine how much you work.
21:08 I mean a trades person in the uk earns max £250 a day . From 7,30,am to 4,30 pm . Hard graft . So it's not bad what sesion musician earns
But it's not what I thought they'd get . I thought thay would get thousands for sessions . Maybe the top boys do
On the biggest records you can make 1500/day, 3k if you’re leading. And that’s just single scale
Are you not able to charge an equipment rental fee too?
I don’t rent out my equipment. Some studios have a rate to use the room and then another rate to use whatever gear (mics, pres, etc) they have.
@@JustinOstrander I work as a videographer and I charge a labor fee and then a seperate fee for my equipment. I am surprised that studio musicians don't charge seperately for equipment since they are brining crazy expensive vintage guitars and what not. Regardless, it looks like y'all are making a good living doing it the way you do it now
A one chord then just basically raising it to the sharp one, isn’t that basically a diminished?
Yes, but we’re not just raising the 1. The second chord is an E7: E-G#-B-D. It contains that diminished triad in it, but it is a simply a dom7 chord in 1st inversion. If fully diminished, that E would be an F.
@@JustinOstrander I agree with your explanation. Sure sounds like it functions the same though. Point taken. Thanks Justin.
@@denmar355 I agree, it does function the same as a G#dim7...it just sounds less jazzy. Think of G#dim7 as an altered E7...you have the b9 (F) in there instead of the root (E).
E7 in first inversion: G# B D E
G#dim7: G# B D F
I emailed you a song to get your opinion on it and possibly get it professionally recorded and never received an email back. It was between one and two weeks ago when I sent it to you.
Hmmm, I’ll look again. Sometimes these things go to spam for no apparent reason
@@JustinOstrander it was the only email I could find for you