Without going as far as breaking out the massage oils how do I...

[Handlestash]

...get my guitarist to relax in the studio.
He's really excellent live but the moment I hit record he plays like a kid in a music store on saturday afternoon. Last night it got so bad that I tried getting him to do a track one part at a time but this just made it worse! I'm not looking for a perfect take just enough good takes so I can pick and choose but the big red button just frightens him. Thank god we're not paying for studio time or I'd have killed him.
Any tips?

[Zukan]

Do it on the sly. Hit record when he's not aware and just keep recording.
Then edit the best take/s.

[Handlestash]

The thing is no matter how many times I tell not to stop if he makes a mistake he stops every time.

[The Red Bladder]

Set the machine to 'record' without telling him.

Go and get a couple of beers.

Come back and go and sit next to him, hand him one and say nothing, just watch him play and drink beer.

When he's more or less gone through all the parts, tell him you will now record.

Let him do the wooden thing. Cut and paste the doodling into the wooden thing when he's gone.

[Handlestash]

He can see the monitor but I could turn it off and say that it was causing noise.
Not bad Bladder, not bad at all.

[Steve Hill]

He may just not be good enough. You owe it to yourself to consider that possibility.

[Handlestash]

Ouch. Though I know what you mean and I've been down that road before but I'm happy with his abilities.
Not all of them obviously but he's a very good guitarist. It's just the record thing.

[Conny]

Any chance he could track himself while at home? I know it took me a good long while to get over the fear of the red button. If he could practice at home and find his own dynamics with the recording medium he would almost certainly be able to unleash his potential on a regular basis. If he's worth the effort, that is.

[Handlestash]

Any chance he could track himself while at home? I know it took me a good long while to get over the fear of the red button. If he could practice at home and find his own dynamics with the recording medium he would almost certainly be able to unleash his potential on a regular basis. If he's worth the effort, that is.

He doesn't have a set up at his gaff.

[Handlestash]

Hey Conny what did you feel was blocking you when you were nervous?

[Gelled_Fringe]

tell him he has only one shot at this and he HAS to get it right or you will find someone else. then hit record and stand there staring at him with your arms folded.

[Handlestash]

Or every time he makes a mistake I could hit stop really hard, shout 'wrong, do it again' and press record before he has a chance to do anything then shout 'where the f**K were you'! Then set him alight...

[Russell Myers]

Thats quite a common problem with a lot of guitar players and its not his fault. A lot of guitar players get concious when they are given a certain amount of time and a click to record something. The best way to do it is by askin him to record himself while there is no one else in the room. Take a break,leave him there on his own for some good 30-45 mins and ask him to have several takes recorded for each part when you return

Cheers
Russell

[Handlestash]

Thats quite a common problem with a lot of guitar players and its not his fault. A lot of guitar players get concious when they are given a certain amount of time and a click to record something. The best way to do it is by askin him to record himself while there is no one else in the room. Take a break,leave him there on his own for some good 30-45 mins and ask him to have several takes recorded for each part when you return

Cheers
Russell

That's excellent. I'll try that. It's so wierd though. It's not like he's guy I just met. I've known and played with him for years and the songs we're doing are by both of us. He knows them inside out and like I said, in front of a room full of strangers he rocks like rocky the rock eating rottweiler. It's my gear so there's no pressure on him. Maybe it's me...

[The_BPP]

If I know guitarists, your best bet for a relaxed recording is weed.

I am not advocating the use of drugs. Just the use of Class "C" drugs on guitarists. (Or, is it Class "B" now, I can't keep up with this government).

[Russell Myers]

lol jus one thing i wanted to ask...Does he practice with metronome on a day to day basis???

[Handlestash]

If I know guitarists, your best bet for a relaxed recording is weed.

I am not advocating the use of drugs. Just the use of Class "C" drugs on guitarists. (Or, is it Class "B" now, I can't keep up with this government).

My government still hang you for it. (Tried it, didn't help )

[Handlestash]

lol jus one thing i wanted to ask...Does he practice with metronome on a day to day basis???

No. He playes every day but not with a click.
I'm not just playing him a click though. There's drums and bass guitar down already so it's not completely rigid and he's well used to playing with a band. These feckin' songs too!

[ken long]

in front of a room full of strangers he rocks like rocky the rock eating rottweiler.

Fill the room up with strangers then.

[Handlestash]

Ha!
I meant venue when I said room.
As in:
Announcer:'live from the sands hotel it's the voice, Frank Sinatra and the music of the count basie orchestra'
(Applause)
Sinatra: 'Who let all these people into my room'
(Scary loud forced mafia sounding laughter from the crowd)

[Russell Myers]

But do try leaving him in the room on his own...make him hit record himself and have several takes while u go watch tele or sumthin

Cheers
Russell

[Yago]

Thats quite a common problem with a lot of guitar players and its not his fault. A lot of guitar players get concious when they are given a certain amount of time and a click to record something. The best way to do it is by askin him to record himself while there is no one else in the room. Take a break,leave him there on his own for some good 30-45 mins and ask him to have several takes recorded for each part when you return

Cheers
Russell

That's a real good idea , you could take this further by editing your tracks so they repeat the whole song 5 times or so .
Then , as said go and join him , tell him is a practice and not being recorded .
I always try to make people at ease , be funny and lighthearted , make him feel it is not a big deal when he gets things wrong .
Make sure you are not on edge too , as he will pick up on this and reflect the edgyness .

[Handlestash]

Thats quite a common problem with a lot of guitar players and its not his fault. A lot of guitar players get concious when they are given a certain amount of time and a click to record something. The best way to do it is by askin him to record himself while there is no one else in the room. Take a break,leave him there on his own for some good 30-45 mins and ask him to have several takes recorded for each part when you return

Cheers
Russell

That's a real good idea , you could take this further by editing your tracks so they repeat the whole song 5 times or so .
Then , as said go and join him , tell him is a practice and not being recorded .
I always try to make people at ease , be funny and lighthearted , make him feel it is not a big deal when he gets things wrong .
Make sure you are not on edge too , as he will pick up on this and reflect the edgyness .

should I stop hitting him?

[Persuazion]

Maybe best checking they dont have any pre existing mental problems before hand tho eh? Well, maybe best leave it all together

[James Perrett]

He can see the monitor but I could turn it off and say that it was causing noise.

A few slight variations on what you've already been told...

Re-arrange the room so that he can't see the monitor or what you are doing on the keys.

Don't spend ages tweaking the sound - the performance is usually more important than the sound. Make sure that he is happy with what he is hearing though - he may be hesitant because he can't hear things properly.

Loop the section that you want to record and just tell him to practice while recording every take. You'll end up with quite a few useless takes but you'll probably get one usable take in there. Twenty or more takes isn't uncommon.

Cheers

James.