Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
"How do I get into playing sessions?" I get this question a lot. The truth is, there are 5 things you CANNOT ignore. Not everyone who does these things will make it, but you definitely won't if you don't do them.
My new course THE SIDEMAN'S HANDBOOK: brettpapa.com/the-sidemans-handbook-justin-ostrander
For beginner, intermediate, and advanced musicians alike.
Pair it with my first course "Tools For The Creative Guitarist" HERE: brettpapa.com/tools-for-the-creative-guitarist-justin-ostrander
FREE tone coaching course by yours truly: 5-sounds-free-course.grwebsite.com
FREE practice tracks: practice-with-the-pros-jam-track.gr-site.com
MERCH: the-jo-store-2.creator-spring.com
GUITAR AND HOME RECORDING GEAR:
**I will make a small amount of money if you order through the links below, at no extra cost to you**
Nashville High Strung string set: sweetwater.sjv.io/OezgWZ
My main home recording amp, the Marshall JTM Studio: sweetwater.sjv.io/Z6qaoz
Favorite acoustic mic: Chandler TG Type L sweetwater.sjv.io/kO4XJV
Throbak Overdrive Boost:
shop.throbak.com/ODBJO
Throbak 55/56 SB MXV P90s:
shop.throbak.com/5556JO
GREAT mics for speaker cabs:
Heil PR30: amzn.to/3R3u0Mm
Shure SM57: sweetwater.sjv.io/AW5D4N
Sennheiser e609 Silver: sweetwater.sjv.io/oqJWrE
Acoustic mics small diaphragm condenser, matched. Miktek C5: sweetwater.sjv.io/NkEVZb
Mic cables (mic to pre, pre to interface OR mic to interface):
15 ft: sweetwater.sjv.io/LXEG9o
20 ft: sweetwater.sjv.io/9gq3Kj
50 ft: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0AXx3
Audio interface:
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Duo: sweetwater.sjv.io/xkoP7R
Monitor cables TRS-XLR male
-5ft - sweetwater.sjv.io/KjEAQe
-10ft - sweetwater.sjv.io/q4oqPg
Monitors:
Yamaha Powered 5" Monitors HS5: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0AXm3
Yamaha Powered 8" Monitors HS8: sweetwater.sjv.io/AW5DbN
HS8 bundle with stands and a sub: sweetwater.sjv.io/m51BAa
If you do want to go ALL OUT, here's my mic pre:
Chandler TG2 Abbey Road edition: sweetwater.sjv.io/QyEgox
requisite PSU-1 power supply: sweetwater.sjv.io/eKjG9X
Revv D20 sweetwater.sjv.io/6eAaLQ
UA OX Amp Top Box sweetwater.sjv.io/vNyLk3
PolyTune headstock tuner sweetwater.sjv.io/k0znKV
D’Addario NYXL 10-46 sweetwater.sjv.io/daLXW2
D’Addario NYXL 11-49 sweetwater.sjv.io/Nkzdx1
D’Addario 10.5-48 (VERY COOL) sweetwater.sjv.io/y2yDKG
D’Addiaro Baritone 13-62 sweetwater.sjv.io
Dunlop Large glass slide 213 sweetwater.sjv.io/k0zndV
Revv Shawn Tubbs Tilt Overdrive sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZmraE
Nobels ODR-1 Natural Overdrive sweetwater.sjv.io/oqz2ME
Jackson Audio Hourglass Dual Compressor sweetwater.sjv.io/R5YY1y
Line6 HX Effects sweetwater.sjv.io/g1DznX
Eventide H9 MAX sweetwater.sjv.io/EK9n6D
Strymon Mobius Modulation sweetwater.sjv.io/75yAg5
Strymon Timeline delay sweetwater.sjv.io/LXnvk0
Meris Mercury7 Reverb sweetwater.sjv.io/q4ARdg
Meris Polymoon Delay sweetwater.sjv.io/rQGvdD
Revv D20 sweetwater.sjv.io/6eAaLQ
UA OX Amp Top Box sweetwater.sjv.io/vNyLk3
Blackstar HT Stage 100 Mk III sweetwater.sjv.io/k0JbJd
Support the channel:
Paypal tip jar: ostrandermusic@gmail.com
Venmo tip jar: @justinostrander
My guitar setup guy:
macmillanguitars.com
My favorite studio headphones:
gk-music.com
0:00 Welcome!
0:25 STEP 1: learn records
2:10 STEP 2: be a lifelong student of your instrument
4:21 STEP 3: your playing has to make other people’s music sound better TO THEM
8:34 STEP 4: be a team player
12:45 you’re not in control of the artistic or commercial goals of the people who hire you.
14:32 STEP 5: you need to wear a lot of hats, at least in the beginning
21:00 In summary…PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
"How do I get into playing sessions?" I get this question a lot. The truth is, there are 5 things you CANNOT ignore. Not everyone who does these things will make it, but you definitely won't if you don't do them.
My new course THE SIDEMAN'S HANDBOOK: brettpapa.com/the-sidemans-handbook-justin-ostrander
For beginner, intermediate, and advanced musicians alike.
Pair it with my first course "Tools For The Creative Guitarist" HERE: brettpapa.com/tools-for-the-creative-guitarist-justin-ostrander
FREE tone coaching course by yours truly: 5-sounds-free-course.grwebsite.com
FREE practice tracks: practice-with-the-pros-jam-track.gr-site.com
MERCH: the-jo-store-2.creator-spring.com
GUITAR AND HOME RECORDING GEAR:
**I will make a small amount of money if you order through the links below, at no extra cost to you**
Nashville High Strung string set: sweetwater.sjv.io/OezgWZ
My main home recording amp, the Marshall JTM Studio: sweetwater.sjv.io/Z6qaoz
Favorite acoustic mic: Chandler TG Type L sweetwater.sjv.io/kO4XJV
Throbak Overdrive Boost:
shop.throbak.com/ODBJO
Throbak 55/56 SB MXV P90s:
shop.throbak.com/5556JO
GREAT mics for speaker cabs:
Heil PR30: amzn.to/3R3u0Mm
Shure SM57: sweetwater.sjv.io/AW5D4N
Sennheiser e609 Silver: sweetwater.sjv.io/oqJWrE
Acoustic mics small diaphragm condenser, matched. Miktek C5: sweetwater.sjv.io/NkEVZb
Mic cables (mic to pre, pre to interface OR mic to interface):
15 ft: sweetwater.sjv.io/LXEG9o
20 ft: sweetwater.sjv.io/9gq3Kj
50 ft: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0AXx3
Audio interface:
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X Duo: sweetwater.sjv.io/xkoP7R
Monitor cables TRS-XLR male
-5ft - sweetwater.sjv.io/KjEAQe
-10ft - sweetwater.sjv.io/q4oqPg
Monitors:
Yamaha Powered 5" Monitors HS5: sweetwater.sjv.io/k0AXm3
Yamaha Powered 8" Monitors HS8: sweetwater.sjv.io/AW5DbN
HS8 bundle with stands and a sub: sweetwater.sjv.io/m51BAa
If you do want to go ALL OUT, here's my mic pre:
Chandler TG2 Abbey Road edition: sweetwater.sjv.io/QyEgox
requisite PSU-1 power supply: sweetwater.sjv.io/eKjG9X
Revv D20 sweetwater.sjv.io/6eAaLQ
UA OX Amp Top Box sweetwater.sjv.io/vNyLk3
PolyTune headstock tuner sweetwater.sjv.io/k0znKV
D’Addario NYXL 10-46 sweetwater.sjv.io/daLXW2
D’Addario NYXL 11-49 sweetwater.sjv.io/Nkzdx1
D’Addario 10.5-48 (VERY COOL) sweetwater.sjv.io/y2yDKG
D’Addiaro Baritone 13-62 sweetwater.sjv.io
Dunlop Large glass slide 213 sweetwater.sjv.io/k0zndV
Revv Shawn Tubbs Tilt Overdrive sweetwater.sjv.io/0ZmraE
Nobels ODR-1 Natural Overdrive sweetwater.sjv.io/oqz2ME
Jackson Audio Hourglass Dual Compressor sweetwater.sjv.io/R5YY1y
Line6 HX Effects sweetwater.sjv.io/g1DznX
Eventide H9 MAX sweetwater.sjv.io/EK9n6D
Strymon Mobius Modulation sweetwater.sjv.io/75yAg5
Strymon Timeline delay sweetwater.sjv.io/LXnvk0
Meris Mercury7 Reverb sweetwater.sjv.io/q4ARdg
Meris Polymoon Delay sweetwater.sjv.io/rQGvdD
Revv D20 sweetwater.sjv.io/6eAaLQ
UA OX Amp Top Box sweetwater.sjv.io/vNyLk3
Blackstar HT Stage 100 Mk III sweetwater.sjv.io/k0JbJd
Support the channel:
Paypal tip jar: ostrandermusic@gmail.com
Venmo tip jar: @justinostrander
My guitar setup guy:
macmillanguitars.com
My favorite studio headphones:
gk-music.com
0:00 Welcome!
0:25 STEP 1: learn records
2:10 STEP 2: be a lifelong student of your instrument
4:21 STEP 3: your playing has to make other people’s music sound better TO THEM
8:34 STEP 4: be a team player
12:45 you’re not in control of the artistic or commercial goals of the people who hire you.
14:32 STEP 5: you need to wear a lot of hats, at least in the beginning
21:00 In summary…PLEASE SUBSCRIBE
