- Los Angeles, CA
- Guitarist
- Contact for rates
Linda N. said
“Beautiful music and very good experience all around. ”
Chris Nordlinger
Overview
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)
Thanks!
Reviews
10 reviews
Elise J.
November 5, 2025Ultra-talented and professional!
We hired Chris for a client's wedding and he was wonderful to work with from start to finish. He accommodated client song requests and performed beautifully. Would hire him again for sure!
Hired as: Guitarist
Chris Nordlinger
Thanks so much Elise!
Monica R.
April 10, 2025Surpassed Expectations!
An absolute dream to work with, Chris was easy to contract, arrived in advance to our corporate function, and provided a stellar performance. Many in attendance complimented Chris! We will certainly hire him again. Thank you, Chris for the wonderful experience.
Hired as: Guitarist
Chris Nordlinger
Thank you for having me Monica! I absolutely loved playing your event, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Madison B.
December 8, 2022FANTASTIC
Best musician I have hired in a while. Professional, played for 7 hours, kind and personable with guests, beautiful playing and perfect transitions from one song to the next. The best of the best!
Hired as: Guitarist
Maddie
November 13, 2021Highly recommend!
I hired Chris to perform at a Celebration of Life service for my 31 year old son. I wanted to have nice background music for the sunset event overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica. Considering it was quite short notice, I feel very fortunate that I was able to book him. He is an exceptional guitarist and his music was a perfect fit for the occasion and ambiance I was aiming for. Chris was very professional and communicated very well with me prior to the event. Considering the nature of the gig, I felt he did a great job of reading the room so to speak and playing the right kind of tunes at different points throughout the evening. He provided a playlist from which we could have chosen certain songs. But that proved to be too much for me at the time, so I left it to his discretion and could not have been more pleased. Thank you Chris for making an awful situation and somber occasion decidedly less so. Everyone complimented the music. Would definitely hire again.
Hired as: Guitarist
Jill K.
September 29, 2021Professional and Easy Going!
Chris played acoustic guitar for our intimate wedding and was a breeze to work with! He had great communication, was timely, easy going, a wonderful performer, well mannered, and fun! He made our event something special. Would definitely recommend!
Hired as: Guitarist
Booking information
Price range: $150 and up
Gig length: 60 - 360 minutes
Unions: AFM
What to expect
Always on time to gigs, dress appropriately, and conducts himself in a professional manner.
About
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.
Additional booking notes
Can play acoustic or electric, and am flexible to any request.
Services offered
Past booked events
December 2022
03
Saturday
Christmas Party
12:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Torrance, CA
October 2021
23
Saturday
Funeral/Memorial Service
5:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Santa Monica, CA
September 2021
25
Saturday
Wedding Ceremony
4:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Beverly Hills, CA
June 2017
10
Saturday
Personal Occasion
4:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Hidden Hills, CA
April 2017
27
Thursday
Cocktail Party
4:30pm - 6:30pm
•
Santa Monica, CA
Set list
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
Report Chris Nordlinger
Guitarist
Check out these featured profiles
- South Pasadena, CA
- Guitarist
- $300 - $4000
Anita C. said
“We had Victor for the 2nd times is still as good as the 1st performance. ”
- Los Angeles, CA
- Guitarist
- $850-$5,000
Nicole D. said
“Rafi was sooo amazing, nicest guy, and so professional! He arrived on time, set up seamlessly and played the most beautiful music. He truly set the vibe and played the perfect songs at the right... ”
- Culver City, CA
- Guitarist
- $100 and up
Ronald H. said
“Gaku Murata Solo Guitar/String Duo & Trio performed at our open house event, and it was nothing short of spectacular! Gaku’s incredible talent on the guitar, coupled with the harmonious string duo and... ”