Chad Martin on SoundBetter

I would love to collaborate with you! I have over 15 years of studio experience and hundreds of successful projects and happy clients here on this platform. Using industry-leading gear and effective communication, I will help you capture that sound you have in your head, record it with authentic instruments and return commercial quality tracks.

GUITARS - PEDAL STEEL - BASS - DRUMS
I record electric and acoustic guitar, pedal steel, bass guitar, and authentic live drums, for anything from singles to full albums, ambient soundscapes, film score, etc. Typically, we will discuss song direction, vibe, and guitar concepts. I will track remotely and send tracks via internet. In most cases, I record uniquely different, left and right tracks to create a wide stereo spread, enhanced by mixing/matching different microphones. The signal-chain is everything! I record everything through discrete, class-A, all-tube channel strips, to create commercial-quality tracks for your songs. I use a full pallet of guitars and amps to find just the right tone. I am confident you will love the quality of the tracks when the project is completed. On request, I can record a dry direct line, if you aren't ready to commit to a specific tone, which can be "re-amped" to find your ideal tone. The key to a great track is capturing the best quality audio at the source. I use industry-leading preamps to capture the purest of tone, and add the right amount of color, vibe, and glue through world-class compressors. I excel in pop, rock, folk, and country styles of music! If you prefer to collaborate and work at a local studio, I am happy to discuss details.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

Credits

472 Reviews - 107 Repeat Clients

Endorse Chad Martin

by Ty
Verified
Chad is one of the most highly rated and reviewed guitarists on SoundBetter for a reason. I love working with this guy - the electric guitars he just put on my track were PERFECT and while I know he is happy to take revisions, in this case they simply weren't needed. THANK YOU Chad!!
by Dmay
Verified
Talented and easy to work with. Great guitarist comfortable in many genres.
by DM_Electronic
Verified
Chad is a one take wonder. And super versatile. I’m hooked and will be back again and again!
by mark n.
Verified
It’s awesome to work again with Chad as he add the wow factor to the song. He always know which parts to play
Great work Chad
by Magnus Lundberg
Verified
Chad contributed in an excellent way and was very helpful and collaborative when recording electric guitars for my song. Highly recommended.
by song
Verified
like it very much
by Kevin K.
Verified
I gave Chad a two word vision along with a tone reference and he knocked it out of the park! No revisions required. Excellent playing and tone, great communication. I will be back.
by Tyler Z.
Verified
Chad is a fantastic guitarist and musician, will absolutely be working with him again in the future.
by Rudiger Vocals
Verified
Awesome guitar Wow !!! One of the best .Thank you so much .
by Paul L.
Verified
Great.
by Stephanie B Vocals
Verified (Client)
I’ve been working with Chad for years, and he is always so great to work with! He gives clear instructions as to what he’s looking for, while also allowing creative freedom. Great communication & follow up. I look forward to our next project together! Thanks Chad!
by Adam Marcos
Verified
Chad was awesome to work with! Very efficient, communicative, and did an awesome job recording the guitar parts for an idea I had, definitely bought it to life! Would highly recommend him for future projects
by Mark Siegel
Verified
Always a great experience with Chad!
by Dmay
Verified
Chad is an excellent guitarist but this is the first time I have used him for a full production and the results were super. He ‘got’ the feel of the song and added added awesome sounding drums. Highly recommended.
by Rob C.
Verified
Chad always goes above and beyond. He elevates my tracks immensely. And in this particular case, I was up against a tight deadline. He re-jiggered his schedule to make it work. What a talent and what a pro.
by david m.
Verified
Chad was very professional and did great work on my song. He even put in some extra guitar work for the same price which was extremely kind. Will definitely work with him again in the future.
by Dmay
Verified
Simply awesome. Excellent guitarist but can also provide full production. I will work with Chad again.
by John R.
Verified
Chad nailed it the first time. I wouldn't change a thing. He gave me several tracks - ambient, electric, and acoustic - and they worked together like an ensemble. It changed my whole approach to the song now in production. They
were exactly what I needed and more. Chad is creative, versatile, communicative, tasteful, and talented - a real pro. I wouldn’t hesitate use him my for next project.
by Barry Russo
Verified
I've worked on many projects with Chad now, and he never ceases to amaze me with his incredible playing, musical instinct, talent, and taste. He's also super cool and a great communicator. I highly recommend him!
by Rob C.
Verified
Chad is consistent and talented! He can play any genre I throw at him and always turns out additive parts. 450+ reviews can't be wrong!

Interview with Chad Martin

Q: What's your typical work process?
A: When I record electric or acoustic guitar for a song, the first step in my process is a very basic one (but often easy to breeze right through): Listen. When a client brings a song to the table, I make a concerted effort to listen to the song, in it's entirety, outside of the studio. To me, there's a difference between "hearing" the song (i.e. figuring out the key, learning the progressions, coming up with cool hooks, etc.) and truly "listening" to the song. The latter is for understanding what the song is about, the vibe, the color, the mood, energy, space, etc. When I listen outside the studio, I am not tempted to pick up a guitar and start hacking away at the tune. Once I feel like I have a good grasp of the song's direction, vibe, and energy, I begin thinking about what particular tools the song is calls for. This is everything from type of guitar, pickups, the amp, overdrives, delays, 'verbs, and other effects to create the right tone for the song. For me, this step is summed up in a word: Commit. As a guitarist, it is so easy to get caught tumbling down the proverbial "rabbit hole," in search of the "exact" and "perfect" tone for a given song and project. I have expended a lot of time and energy exploring different tones, trying to find just the right balance of "chimey," "beefy," "warm," "glassy," and "rich." The truth is, most clients hire a session player because they trust the player to following their instincts. Getting hung up on two slightly different tones probably means they would both work out just fine. I learned to trust my ear and commit. Finally, the most exciting part of the work process: Create. When I approach a song with either an electric or acoustic guitar in my hands, I am always thinking Left v. Right. The stereo spread is one of the most important elements to a mix, and as a session guitarist, you can't just think like a guitarist. You have to think like a producer. When I track guitar, I ask myself 1) how I can best compliment the song? and 2) how can the guitar tracks best compliment each other? In some instances, it's thick, stereo rhythm tracks, sometimes it's wide, soaring lead lines, and sometimes it's a guitar in one ear and not in the other ear. Regardless, it comes back to thinking left and right complimentary guitar tracking. It is easily the most challenging and reward step of the process. Listen. Commit. Create. Thanks for reading! -Chad