What to Send a Session Musician

Remote session playing works remarkably well - but only when the brief is clear. A session musician working remotely needs everything they would normally pick up from being in the room with you: the tempo, the feel, the key, the reference, and a sense of what you actually want emotionally.

Here's what to prepare.

A Click Track or Tempo Map

This is non-negotiable. The session player needs to lock to your grid. Export a stereo audio file with your full mix - or at minimum the relevant instruments - alongside a click track or metronome. Make sure the tempo is steady throughout, or if it changes, communicate those changes clearly.

If your session has tempo variations or a live-recorded guide track that drifts, mention it. A good session player can work around it, but they need to know in advance.

A Reference Mix

Send a rough mix of the full track - or the section you want the part recorded on - so the player can hear the context. What's already there, how full the arrangement is, where there's space. This is more useful than a chord chart alone.

If you have an idea of the kind of part you want, record it - even badly, even on a phone. A rough demo of the feel or rhythm you have in mind communicates more than a written description.

Chord Charts or Written Notes

A chord chart is helpful. Full notation isn't always necessary - many session players work faster from a chart with some written direction than from a formal score. But if the part is complex, detailed, or requires precise notation, provide it.

At minimum, include the key, the chord progression for each section, and any sections where the harmony changes in a non-obvious way. Label sections clearly: intro, verse, chorus, bridge, outro.

The Feel You're After

This is where most briefs fall short. Chord charts tell a session player what to play. They don't tell them how to play it.

Try to describe the feel in terms of energy, density, and character. Is the part minimal or busy? Aggressive or laid-back? Are you after something that sits in the background or cuts through? A reference track that captures the right vibe is worth more than a paragraph of description.

• Energy level: driving and rhythmic, or spacious and held-back?
• Density: single melodic line, full chords, or somewhere between?
• Texture: clean, distorted, processed, acoustic?
• Rhythmic feel: on the beat, slightly behind, syncopated?
• Any specific techniques: slides, harmonics, vibrato style, picking vs fingers?

File Format and Delivery

Specify what you need back. Typically:

• WAV, 24-bit, matching your session sample rate (44.1kHz or 48kHz)
• Starting from bar 1 of your session - so the file drops into your DAW timeline at zero with no offset
• Dry signal unless you specifically want the player's own effects
• Multiple takes if you want options

Turnaround and Communication

Be upfront about your deadline. Most session players book work in advance and a reasonable lead time is 48-72 hours for a standard part. Rush jobs are usually possible but may incur an additional fee.

Check in once after sending the brief if you haven't heard back within 24 hours. Communication upfront prevents confusion at delivery.

James as a Session Player

James has been playing session work remotely for artists in Australia, the UK, the US, and Japan for years - across a wide range of genres and instrumentation. The brief format described above is exactly what makes those sessions run without friction. The more context you provide upfront, the more time gets spent on the actual playing rather than clarifying questions.

If you need session instruments on your project - guitar, keys, bass, or anything else in the JNP wheelhouse - get in touch with a rough brief and we can talk through what would serve the track. Have a listen to the examples on the Session Playing page to get a sense of the range.