I've been playing guitar professionally, full-time for fifteen years, playing live and studio gigs, and composing music for TV and advertisements. Some of my composing credits are for Honda, Pizza Hut, Got Milk, Capital One, Amazon Prime, and The Young and The Restless. I'm a graduate of the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where I majored in Studio/Jazz Guitar. I am proficient at all styles: pop, rock, blues, jazz, country, and top 40. I have extensive experience playing weddings, cocktail receptions, parties, and Bar Mitzvahs.
If you'd like to find out more about me, you can check out my website: (link hidden)
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16 reviews
Tee P.
October 20, 2026We absolutely loved working with Chris! Not only is he an incredibly talented guitarist, but he’s also professional, personable, and an absolute pleasure to work with. He fit right in with our group, brought amazing energy to the performance, and truly elevated our sound to the next level. We couldn’t have been happier with the experience and would welcome the opportunity to work with him again. Highly recommend!
Hired as: Guitarist
Robert W.
September 30, 2026We hired Chris for our corporate event and he exceeded every expectation. His playing was exceptional and he read the room perfectly, setting an elegant mood while keeping the volume just right for conversation. Guests kept asking who he was. Professional, punctual, and a pleasure to work with. We will absolutely book him again.
Hired as: Guitarist
Brandon R.
September 1, 2026Hired Chris for my friend’s birthday and he nailed it. Excellent performance and easy to work with. A few guests asked for his info before the night ended. Would definitely hire again.
Hired as: Guitarist
Gillian D.
September 1, 2026Chris played for a resident birthday celebration at our community and was excellent. His song choices were spot on for our residents' generation, familiar tunes that had people singing along right away. He's clearly a skilled guitarist with real talent. Residents were smiling, singing, and genuinely enjoying themselves. We'd recommend him for any event.
Hired as: Guitarist
Xin L.
August 30, 2026Chris was fantastic from start to finish. His guitar playing was incredible, but what really stood out was his ability to read the room and play exactly what the event needed. H ecreated such a great atmosphere without ever overpowering te conversation, and several of our guests commented on how much hey loved having live guitar throughout the party.
He was also professional, personable, and completely self-sufficient with setup. Chris didn't just provide music. He genuinely made the entire event feel more special. I would absolutely hire him again!
Hired as: Guitarist
Price range: Starts at $150
Gig length: 60 - 360 minutes
Unions: AFM
Always on time to gigs, dress appropriately, and conducts himself in a professional manner.
ABOUT CHRIS
From Santa Monica, California, Chris Nordlinger has been playing music since the age of seven. He started with piano lessons, studying classical and jazz styles. While these genres were a great musical base, he was drawn toward classic rock and such artists as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. He wanted to play guitar like his musical heroes, so at thirteen, his dad bought him a Mexican Stratocaster, and from then on, he knew he wanted to do this for the rest of his life. He played in the Jazz Bands at Crossroads School for seven years. He was admitted into the prestigious Thornton School of Music at USC as a studio/jazz guitar major where he studied with their faculty of world-renowned guitarists. During his senior year at USC, Chris became very interested in songwriting. After graduation, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he immersed himself in its rich songwriting and live music scene. He spent two years there, co-writing and playing guitar sessions, mostly in the rock and country genres. He was very fortunate to have worked with Josh Leo, a producer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alabama, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes among many others. After returning to Los Angeles, he has continued to write - songs and composing for commercials. So far, he's landed spots for Honda, Pizza Hut, and Got Milk. Chris has signed licensing agreements with Score A Score and Immediate Music, both licensing companies that place composers' original music into film, tv, video games, and commercials. Along with songwriting and composing, Chris is the musical director and guitarist for the Walk Ons, a band he formed that is represented by the booking agency, Elan Artists, which books their roster of bands for exclusive events around the world.
Can play acoustic or electric, and am flexible to any request.
Sunday
Festival
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Saturday
Christmas Party
12:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Torrance, CA
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
5:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Santa Monica, CA
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Beverly Hills, CA
Saturday
Personal Occasion
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Hidden Hills, CA
Thursday
Cocktail Party
4:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Santa Monica, CA
All Along The Watchtower Jimi Hendrix
Anyone Justin Bieber
Beast of Burden Rolling Stones
Blackbird The Beatles
Brown Eyed Girl Van Morrison
Breezin’ George Benson
Bring it on Home to me Sam Cooke
Burning Love Elvis Presley
Californication Red Hot Chili Peppers
Can’t Buy me Love The Beatles
Can’t Help Falling in Love Various Artists
Cocaine Eric Clapton
Cold Shot Stevie Ray Vaughan
Come Together The Beatles
Crazy Love Van Morrison
Daughters John Mayer
Do I Wanna Know? Arctic Monkeys
Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Vince Gill
(Sitting on the) Dock of the Bay Otis Redding
Drive me Car Beatles
Everywhere Fleetwood Mac
Fast Car Tracey Chapman
Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash
Free Fallin’ Tom Petter
Give me One Reason Tracey Chapman
Gravity Jonn Mayer
Hallelujah Leonard Cohen
Half of my Heart John Mayer
Heart of Gold Neil Young
Heart of Life John Mayer
Hit me With Your Best Shot Pat Benetar
Hotel California The Eagles
How Sweet it is Marvin Gaye
Human Nature Michael Jackson
I Ain’t Worried OneRepublic
I’m on Fire Bruce Springsteen
Isn’t She Lovely Stevie Wonder
The Joker Steve Miller Band
Kiss Prince
Learning to Fly Tom Petty
Life in The Fast Lane The Eagles
Let’s Get it on Marvin Gaye
Lover Taylor Swift
Love Somebody Maroon 5
Message in a Bottle The Police
Miss You Rolling Stones
My Girl The Temptations
Off My Face Justin Bieber
On The Road Again Willie Nelson
Peaceful Easy Feeling The Eagles
Perfect Ed Sheeran
Please Please me The Beatles
Pride and Joy Stevie Ray Vaughan
Queen of California John Mayer
Riptide Vance Joy
Rockn’ me Steve Miller Band
Santeria Sublime
Say You Love me Fleetwood Mac
Sexual Healing Marvin Gaye
Shape of You Ed Sheeran
(I Can’t Get no) Satisfaction Rolling Stones
Sleepwalk Santo and Johnny
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room John Mayer
Stand by me Ben E King
Stir it up Bob Marley
Sunday Morning Maroon 5
Sunset Lover Petite Biscuit
Tennessee Whiskey Chris Stapleton
Time After Time Cyndi Lauper
Thinking out Loud Ed Sheeran
Use Me Bill Withers
Wagon Wheel Old Crowe Medicine Show
Waiting on the World to Change John Mayer
Watermelon Sugar Harry Styles
The Weight The Band
When a Man Loves a Woman Percy Sledge
Wonderful Tonight Eric Clapton
Wonderful World Sam Cooke
Won’t Back Down Tom Petty
Way You Make me Feel Michael Jackson
Guitarist
