Acoustic guitar for the ceremony, the drinks and the party
A guitarist for hire is one player - acoustic, classical or electric, playing instrumentals or singing too - for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, dinners and parties. Hear them first, agree the songs and sign one contract.
Updated 7 November 2026
A guitarist is one player - acoustic, classical or electric - playing instrumental arrangements, or singing as a singer-guitarist. An instrumental guitarist is the quiet choice for a ceremony - no vocals over the vows, and a classical guitar needs little or no amplification - and a singer-guitarist carries a pub evening or a party at home on their own. For other solo players see solo acts; for a full evening dancefloor see wedding bands.
Weddings · Ceremonies · Drinks receptions · Dinners · Pubs and parties. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one. Each card covers one decision: when to book, what format works and the mistakes that cost bookers money.
| When to BookSummer Saturdays and December go first - book 6 to 12 months ahead for a summer wedding, 3 to 6 for a corporate event, a few weeks for a party or a weeknight. See how far ahead to book. |
| What Format WorksTypical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 30 to 45 minutes - the ceremony pieces, background sets through the drinks and dinner, and a livelier set to finish. Agree whether you want instrumentals or vocals too, who brings the PA, the space and power, and any requests. |
| Mistakes to Avoid1. Instrumental or vocals? Say which you want. 2. No songs agreed. Send the ceremony and must-play songs early. 3. Too loud for dinner. Agree the volume. 4. No power checked. Ask what the guitarist brings. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one. |
What each kind of guitarist is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below, so you can match the size of the act to your budget and your room.
| Singer-guitaristSings and plays acoustic guitar - a full set of songs from one performer. Suits: Drinks receptions, pubs and parties. |
| Instrumental acoustic guitaristArrangements of popular songs with no vocals. Suits: Ceremonies and dinners. |
| Classical or Spanish guitaristNylon-string classical and Spanish repertoire. Suits: Ceremonies, dinners and hotel lounges. |
| Guitar duoA guitarist with a singer or a second player. Suits: Weddings and bigger rooms. |
Tell the act the room, the guest numbers and what the music is for - drinks, dinner or dancing - and they will suggest a line-up. Post your date free on GIGXCHANGE and guitarists of every size can apply.
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day. Use it as the checklist for your first call with the act.
| Wedding ceremonyThe walk-in, a piece for the signing and the walk-out. Agree: The pieces, the timings and what the registrar allows. |
| Drinks and dinnerBackground sets between the ceremony and the speeches. Agree: Instrumental or vocals, and the volume. |
| Pub or bar eveningTwo sets of sing-along songs. Agree: Volume and finish - see live music for pubs. |
| Birthday or garden partyOne or two sets of favourites. Agree: The songs and a finish time - see party bands for a dancefloor. |
Whatever the occasion, agree the times, the sets and the fee in the chat - every booking on GIGXCHANGE comes with a contract you both sign.
Real UK fee ranges from 5,063 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Pub / barFull band · Solo £162–£330 · Duo £250–£500 | £275–£1,003 |
| WeddingFull band · Solo £271–£500 · Duo £463–£810 | £812–£2,206 |
| CorporateFull band · Solo £281–£474 · Duo £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private partyFull band · Solo £250–£542 · Duo £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min)Full band · Solo TBC · Duo TBC | £200–£1,783 |
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples. Use it to check the act covers the moments that matter to you before you ask for a quote.
| Canon in D — Pachelbel |
| A Thousand Years — Christina Perri |
| Can't Help Falling in Love — Elvis Presley |
| Perfect — Ed Sheeran |
| Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles |
| Make You Feel My Love — Adele |
| Cavatina — Stanley Myers |
| Romance (Spanish Romance) — traditional |
| Asturias — Isaac Albéniz |
| Recuerdos de la Alhambra — Francisco Tárrega |
| Lágrima — Francisco Tárrega |
| Wonderwall — Oasis |
| Fast Car — Tracy Chapman |
| Dreams — Fleetwood Mac |
| Banana Pancakes — Jack Johnson |
| Tears in Heaven — Eric Clapton |
| Mr Brightside — The Killers |
| Sweet Caroline — Neil Diamond |
| Galway Girl — Ed Sheeran |
| Brown Eyed Girl — Van Morrison |
| Don't Look Back in Anger — Oasis |
Most acts will learn a request or two if you ask early - a first dance, a family favourite or a walk-on song. Ask in the chat on GIGXCHANGE before you book, so the act confirms it in writing, and listen to the tracks and setlists many acts publish on their profile first.
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works, and what each kind of room tends to put on. Use it to see where your kind of booking fits.
| Ceremony rooms and register offices — instrumental guitar for the walk-in and signing |
| Country house hotels and barns — acoustic sets through the drinks |
| Marquees and gardens — a guitarist with a battery amp outdoors |
| Pub evenings and acoustic nights — see live music for pubs |
| Restaurants and hotel bars — background sets (see live music for hotels) |
| Birthdays, anniversaries and garden parties — a set or two of favourites |
Every room is different. Tell the act the venue, the room size, the power and the load-in time, and agree the finish - then put it all in the contract you both sign on GIGXCHANGE.
Three steps, about five minutes from signup to your first booking: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you like, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
| 01 | FindFind acts or post your gigBrowse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network. |
| 02 | ShortlistReview applicationsArtists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing. |
| 03 | BookingBook and pay securelyOnce the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete. |
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
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Hire Guitarists
A guitarist for hire is one player - acoustic, classical or electric, playing instrumentals or singing too - for wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions, dinners and parties. Hear them first, agree the songs and sign one contract.
Last updated: 7 November 2026
Where to Book Guitarists
GIGXCHANGE is where you book guitarists direct in the UK. 37 guitarists are on the platform, booked for weddings, ceremonies, drinks receptions, dinners and pubs and parties. Listen to each act on their profile, message them before you commit, and every booking comes with a contract you both sign. GigXchange takes 0% of the artist's booking fee, and the booking fee is 5% on top only when you pay through GigXchange – 0% when you settle privately.
A guitarist is one player - acoustic, classical or electric - playing instrumental arrangements, or singing as a singer-guitarist. An instrumental guitarist is the quiet choice for a ceremony - no vocals over the vows, and a classical guitar needs little or no amplification - and a singer-guitarist carries a pub evening or a party at home on their own. For other solo players see solo acts; for a full evening dancefloor see wedding bands.
Meet the Acts
Real member profiles you can listen to, message and book direct. Each card shows the act's line-up, where they are based and how to start a conversation.
Browse Guitarists
All 37 guitarists on GigXchange. Filter by line-up and region, then open a profile to listen and message. Every profile has a message button, and most carry music to play and a fee range.
Pick Your Guitarist
What each kind of guitarist is, and what it suits. Fees for each line-up are in the live table below, so you can match the size of the act to your budget and your room.
- Singer-guitaristSings and plays acoustic guitar - a full set of songs from one performer.Suits: Drinks receptions, pubs and parties.
- Instrumental acoustic guitaristArrangements of popular songs with no vocals.Suits: Ceremonies and dinners.
- Classical or Spanish guitaristNylon-string classical and Spanish repertoire.Suits: Ceremonies, dinners and hotel lounges.
- Guitar duoA guitarist with a singer or a second player.Suits: Weddings and bigger rooms.
Not sure which to pick?
Tell the act the room, the guest numbers and what the music is for - drinks, dinner or dancing - and they will suggest a line-up. Post your date free on GIGXCHANGE and guitarists of every size can apply.
Guitarists by Occasion
A set plan for each kind of booking, and what to agree with the act before the day. Use it as the checklist for your first call with the act.
- Wedding ceremonyThe walk-in, a piece for the signing and the walk-out.Agree: The pieces, the timings and what the registrar allows.
- Drinks and dinnerBackground sets between the ceremony and the speeches.Agree: Instrumental or vocals, and the volume.
- Pub or bar eveningTwo sets of sing-along songs.Agree: Volume and finish - see live music for pubs.
- Birthday or garden partyOne or two sets of favourites.Agree: The songs and a finish time - see party bands for a dancefloor.
Put it in writing
Whatever the occasion, agree the times, the sets and the fee in the chat - every booking on GIGXCHANGE comes with a contract you both sign.
Booking Playbook
Weddings · Ceremonies · Drinks receptions · Dinners · Pubs and parties. Here’s the practical version, not the marketing one. Each card covers one decision: when to book, what format works and the mistakes that cost bookers money.
When to Book
Summer Saturdays and December go first - book 6 to 12 months ahead for a summer wedding, 3 to 6 for a corporate event, a few weeks for a party or a weeknight. See how far ahead to book.
What Format Works
Typical shape: 2 or 3 sets of 30 to 45 minutes - the ceremony pieces, background sets through the drinks and dinner, and a livelier set to finish. Agree whether you want instrumentals or vocals too, who brings the PA, the space and power, and any requests.
Mistakes to Avoid
1. Instrumental or vocals? Say which you want. 2. No songs agreed. Send the ceremony and must-play songs early. 3. Too loud for dinner. Agree the volume. 4. No power checked. Ask what the guitarist brings. 5. No contract. Every GigXchange booking has one.
What Do UK Gigs Actually Pay?
Real UK fee ranges from 5,063 recorded fees in the GX Index
| Solo | Duo | Full Band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pub / bar | £162–£330 | £250–£500 | £275–£1,003 |
| Wedding | £271–£500 | £463–£810 | £812–£2,206 |
| Corporate | £281–£474 | £446–£1,275 | £669–£1,708 |
| Private party | £250–£542 | £250–£500 | £583–£1,353 |
| Festival (30–45 min) | TBC | TBC | £200–£1,783 |
Repertoire & Format
What this performer type actually delivers — by category, with real examples. Use it to check the act covers the moments that matter to you before you ask for a quote.
Wedding ceremony (instrumental)
- Canon in DPachelbel
- A Thousand YearsChristina Perri
- Can't Help Falling in LoveElvis Presley
- PerfectEd Sheeran
- Here Comes the SunThe Beatles
- Make You Feel My LoveAdele
Classical and Spanish guitar
- CavatinaStanley Myers
- Romance (Spanish Romance)traditional
- AsturiasIsaac Albéniz
- Recuerdos de la AlhambraFrancisco Tárrega
- LágrimaFrancisco Tárrega
Drinks and dinner (acoustic)
- WonderwallOasis
- Fast CarTracy Chapman
- DreamsFleetwood Mac
- Banana PancakesJack Johnson
- Tears in HeavenEric Clapton
Party set (sing-along)
- Mr BrightsideThe Killers
- Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond
- Galway GirlEd Sheeran
- Brown Eyed GirlVan Morrison
- Don't Look Back in AngerOasis
Requests, first dances and setlists
Most acts will learn a request or two if you ask early - a first dance, a family favourite or a walk-on song. Ask in the chat on GIGXCHANGE before you book, so the act confirms it in writing, and listen to the tracks and setlists many acts publish on their profile first.
Where Guitarists Get Booked
UK venues, events, and occasions where this format consistently works, and what each kind of room tends to put on. Use it to see where your kind of booking fits.
Weddings
- Ceremony rooms and register officesinstrumental guitar for the walk-in and signing
- Country house hotels and barnsacoustic sets through the drinks
- Marquees and gardensa guitarist with a battery amp outdoors
Pubs, bars and restaurants
- Pub evenings and acoustic nightssee live music for pubs
- Restaurants and hotel barsbackground sets (see live music for hotels)
Parties
- Birthdays, anniversaries and garden partiesa set or two of favourites
Booking for one of these rooms?
Every room is different. Tell the act the venue, the room size, the power and the load-in time, and agree the finish - then put it all in the contract you both sign on GIGXCHANGE.
How to Book on GIGXCHANGE
Three steps, about five minutes from signup to your first booking: post the date and budget, compare the acts who reply or invite one you like, then confirm with a contract and a held deposit.
Find acts or post your gig
Browse acts by sound, line-up and area, or post your date free - date, venue, genre, budget and set length - and acts apply. The listing is live immediately, visible to every artist in the GigXchange network.
Review applications
Artists apply with profile, tracks, reviews and availability all visible. Start a direct chat with shortlisted acts to confirm details before committing.
Book and pay securely
Once the fee's signed off, a digital contract is auto-generated for both parties. Funds are held securely via Stripe until the gig is complete.
Booking for a private party rather than a venue? Start with GigXchange for organisers.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 9 questions answered below run from “How much does it cost to hire a guitarist in the UK (2026)?” to “We book guitarists regularly. How do venues find new ones?”.
Ready to Book a guitarist?
Post a gig for free, no card on file. Membership is free, and we are keeping it free permanently for the first 250 sign-ups. Acts reply in the app, and you choose who to book.