Playing solo guitar at a wedding

Sure I would love to play a concert as well.  But there is more to music than playing concerts.  

What about at the beach or the deserted parking lot at midnight or for your grandmother?

Gear

Here’s a few gear ideas that come to mind that I think would help one have a great experience playing at a wedding.  There’s definitely a lot of different ways to approach the situation of course.

Gear List

Here’s some gear that I use with an acoustic-electric guitar:

1. The Crate battery-powered 50 watt bass amp.  It’s called the TXB50.  It isn’t manufactured anymore but it’s great to have.  Its sound is more full than the Crate Limo. (The Crates are great, especially the bass amp, but I need to replace the battery but 2021 update: I usually now use the Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Amp Review (Busking, Guitar, Bass, Violin, Battery-Powered it’s actually not as good as the Crate Limo, but it’s lighter and does the job)
2. A battery-powered preamp that can process a stereo or mono 1/4″ or an xlr input.
3. JBL 14″ PA and mixer if you need more power than the Crate, unless you want to get a second Crate/extension cords/surge protector
4. Speaker stands for projection if it’s a bigger area
5. Mic stand
6. AKG 1000/mic holder/xlr cable if you don’t have an acoustic-electric
7. a short cable to connect the preamp to the amp
8. a medium cable with a on/off switch like the planet waves cable for guitar to amp
9. 9 volt batteries & back up batteries 🙂
10. guitar stand
11. music stand
12. page clips (if you’re outside or even inside there might be wind)
13. tuner (if you’re somewhere that it’s so quiet that you can’t tune your guitar easily)
14. an xlr to 1/4″ converter in case your preamp doesn’t have an xlr input
15. Something to put everything in – 2019-2020 I’ve been using a big roller-style luggage that fits pretty much everything (including the amp) except for the music stand.

Battery-Powered Amps Help (imho)

The main idea (for amplification) is to have a battery-powered amp and preamp so you don’t have to worry about too many cables & finding electricity.  

Since so many weddings are outdoors, battery-powered gear is safer and more practical anyways.

Though it’s a long list, most everything could be carried in one trip – I just have a big bag or some luggage like the type you’d carry-on for flying.

I put everything on a roller cart (look for a cart with bigger wheels!)

Acoustic-Electric and/or mic

If your guitar doesn’t have pickups, you can get a battery-powered mic like the AKG 1000 or maybe the shure 57 works(?).  

Ideas for Amp Placement

Put the amp very far in front, EQ the mic and try to get a mix between the acoustic sound and the amp.  

Keep the preamp near you so you can adjust EQ and volume whenever you’d like.  

If the wedding is for less than 100-150 people, you should be fine.

Acoustic vs Amp Volume

You don’t have to be loud.  

Folks’ ears should think that you are playing acoustic but that they can hear you well.  

I like my sound mixed with the natural environment so that it unobtrusive but apparent.  

People can effortless talk and you can still hear birds and wind in the leaves.  Not quite like Freddie Green (where you feel it but don’t really “hear it”) but somewhere in the middle!

Changing Locations during the Wedding

The most common locations are:

1. Where the wedding ceremony occurs
2. The reception
3. The dinner

The most common location for a solo guitarist at a wedding will be between the ceremony and reception.

Moving Gear between 2 Locations at a Wedding

Ideally someone will help you move your stuff – but this doesn’t always happen. And the person who said they will help you move stuff may forget at the last moment.

Also, you need to take into account that all the people are moving from one location to another.

Ultimately, I would have both places set up as much as possible, and the plan on taking 1-3 trips, depending on how much gear you have.

Duplicate Gear for 2 Locations

The other option would be to have both locations set up, if you have duplicate gear, etc.

So this would mean 2 amps, 2 music stands, 2 chairs, etc. If you’re planning a really “high-end” wedding, this might be a good option to investigate!

Note: I wrote this section in 2021.

Music

Pick your songs for the processional and recessional before the event, if possible.  Also, the morning of the wedding and the day before, review the songs your are going to play.

Musical Intentions & Mindset for Wedding

You aren’t there to prove anything.  

You are there to create an even better vibe for the bride and groom and to help the families relax before the wedding.  

There’s no need to play anything you consider overly technical. Instead focus on music that creates a good mood and that relates to the event.  

I like to leave a lot of space in the music.  There’s no need to pick tempos that are too fast.  

Let the notes breath and use the tone of your guitar to create wonderful music.

Memorization?

It’s more to enjoyable to memorize all the music so you can focus on creating the music instead of reading the music.

But I do bring a stand with music. I put the stand so it’s low to the ground and use it as reference depending on the song/piece I’m playing. 

• Memorizing Classical (Guitar) Music: 26 Ideas for Deeper Mastery

Ideas for Solo Guitar

Also, sometimes for events where I am playing solo guitar I like to create extended intros or song medleys with extended improvised between the songs, especially before and after the ceremony, like in the reception.  

• Playing Solo Jazz Guitar (8 Ideas & 8 Exercises)

Complete silence is a good contrast to music, too.  It better to leave silence than to play a continuous stream of notes for an hour!

And to rest from listening to music.  It’s like courses in a meal – the palate needs to pause so that it can better enjoy each dish.

Practice Makes Progress!

Best wishes!