As a go-to session guitarist, Pete Thorn has spent the better part of his career working in the service of hit-makers like Chris Cornell, Don Henley, Melissa Etheridge and Alicia Keys. And as the rhythm guitarist in Joe Satriani and Steve Vai’s new SatchVai Band, the L.A.-based guitarist will be bringing his talents to stages this summer on the group’s Surfing With the Hydra tour.
There are plenty of reasons why A-listers like Thorn. But beyond his talent — and, in Vai’s estimation, his remarkable ability to play rhythm guitar in tune — the guitarist puts in the time required to do the job right and has the interpersonal skills to make each session a positive experience for all concerned
“I always say, ‘I’m there to be of service,’” Thorn told us when we spoke with him recently about joining the electric guitar gods in SatchVai. But that statement could apply to any of his gigs over the years.
And as these top five tips for guitarists make clear, Thorn's game is all about being at his best not only as a player but also as a person. And take note: These tips are great advice whether you're a session guitarist or play in a band.
1. Prepare
“This sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t prepare adequately for an audition or a gig. Having yourself together on all levels is huge. That means knowing the material you’re going to play, but also having your guitars and gear prepped as much as possible. Don’t think that you’re going to walk in the room and make everybody wait while you put your pedalboard together.
“I’ve seen that happen with greater frequency recently with younger players. They’re like, 'I thought the tech was going to make the sounds for me!' You should never assume something like that. It’s really simple: Be that person who isn’t a problem. Know the parts, have your sounds together, know your gear. I can’t stress this enough.”
2. Be a Good Hang
“This is so important. You want to be the kind of person that people want to have dinner with, or ride on the bus with. That’s massive. Knowing your guitar parts and playing well — those are prerequisites.
“But those skills go out the window if you’re not a good person or a good listener — somebody who can read the room. You have to remember, everybody’s got stuff they’re dealing with, and those issues can be magnified on the road.
“People have personal lives and different stresses — it’s important to tune into that. Somebody could be having a really bad day — that goes for bus drivers, guitar techs, monitor engineers and everybody else. Be kind to those people.”
3. Get Out
“Social media is great for getting your name out there and showing off your skills, but it’s no substitute for going out and actually playing. Interacting with musicians is what it’s all about — performing with human beings, networking, being on an actual stage. You won’t know how to conduct yourself in gigging situations unless you put yourself out there.
“Plus, there are aspects to social media that can be suspect. If somebody posts a video online, sure, it might sound amazing, but was that their first take or their 45th take? How do we know it wasn’t corrected in some way? There’s no faking it live — people can see what you can do. Ultimately, that’s what it will come down to when you get in a room with an artist: Can you perform live?”
4. Compose — It’s a Good Thing
“At my first meeting with Joe Satriani, he mentioned that he’d listened to my album, and he could tell from my compositions and my playing that rock and roll is intrinsic to what I do. Joe comes from that mindset — he’s a rock guitar player — so he thought I had the basis of what he was looking for.
“I love writing songs. It’s one thing to play covers and other people’s music — playing licks is always fun. But if you can put a song together and get it out there, it’s like you’re making a statement. And you never know where it’ll lead. Maybe Joe Satriani became aware of me through social media, but then he dug deeper. I'll just use that as an example. Composing is always a good thing.”
5. Take Care of Yourself
“I recommend reading the book Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual [by Tamsin Embleton]. It’s a great, one-stop shopping reference. If you’re about to hit the road, pick the book up and read it. It talks about conducting yourself with other musicians and all kinds of people skills.
“And, of course, it covers substance abuse and things of that nature. Music is a hard industry in many ways, but it’s also wonderful. I’ve traveled all over the world and have seen it all. Life on the road can be a rollercoaster, so it’s important to take care of yourself. Eat well, good sleep, and don't drink too much.
“Everybody is human, and eventually you’ll get sick on the road. This can be tricky, because one person going down can derail a show or even a tour. I once played through a Don Henley show when I had food poisoning. I’ve played shows with 103-degree fevers. It’s unavoidable, but you have to take care of yourself as best you can.”
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