University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Contemporary Studio Guitarist: Practices and Adaptability

Rodrigues Gomes da Silva, Luis Alberto

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/133222

Description

Title
The Contemporary Studio Guitarist: Practices and Adaptability
Author(s)
Rodrigues Gomes da Silva, Luis Alberto
Issue Date
2026
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
McNeil, Charles
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
McNeil, Charles
Committee Member(s)
  • Pugh, James
  • Sanchez-Portuguez, Guido
  • Taylor, Stephen
Department of Study
School of Music
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
A.Mus.D. (doctoral)
Date of Ingest
2026-05-11T13:58:57-05:00
Keyword(s)
  • Studio guitarist
  • Session musicians
  • Music industry
  • Recording studio practices
  • Guitar performance
  • Musical versatility
  • Larry Carlton
  • Steve Lukather
Language
eng
Abstract
In this study I explore the role of the studio guitarist through a critical and contextual perspective, focusing on the professional, musical, and practical realities that shape this line of work beyond traditional genre-based boundaries. Rather than relying solely on stylistic analysis, it approaches the studio guitarist as a multifaceted musical practitioner whose effectiveness depends on versatility, adaptability, technological fluency, and an awareness of collaborative dynamics within the studio environment. By drawing on both historical context and present-day professional practices, the study examines how studio guitarists respond to changing aesthetic expectations, production demands, and increasingly complex recording technologies. A central component of this research is a series of interviews with prominent contemporary studio guitarists, including Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Kraig McCreary, JD Simo, and Andrew Synowiec. Their views offer a sense of how studio work unfolds—stressing not only the skills involved, but also the ways decisions are made and how musicians position themselves within professional settings. Taken together, these viewpoints help clarify what it means to work as a studio guitarist in music industry. Ultimately, the study positions this role not only as an artistic endeavor but also as a professional practice that requires constant adjustment, awareness, and reinvention in response to an ever-evolving musical landscape.
Type of Resource
text
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2026 Luis Alberto Rodrigues Gomes Da Silva

Owning Collections

Doctoral Project Papers [Option 3] - Music PRIMARY