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Live guitar · Coto de Caza and South Orange County

Elegant guitar for the dinner. More when the room wants it.

Chad Kulengosky plays live, mostly instrumental guitar for dinner nights, cocktail parties, weddings and private homes. The lead line carries the melody of songs your guests already know, so it feels familiar without getting in the way of the conversation. When people want to dance or listen, he builds it up.

Check your date See the sets

Thursday to Saturday nights · Own pro sound · Song requests welcome

What a night with Chad feels like

He reads the room, then plays to it.

Most of the evening, the guitar is a warm layer under good food and easy talk. Recognizable melodies, played on the guitar instead of sung, at a level where nobody has to raise their voice. When the room turns, so does the set.

  1. Arrival

    Sets the tone

    Guests walk in to live music already going. Relaxed, familiar, a little classy.

  2. Dinner

    Stays in the background

    Elegant and steady. The lead line plays the vocal melody of songs people know, so tables catch themselves humming along.

  3. Later

    Comes alive when it's time

    If people want to dance or gather around and listen, Chad turns it up. Surf tunes and other instrumentals people know, plus the songs everyone recognizes by the first few notes.

Illustration: guests with drinks around a kitchen island while a guitarist plays in the corner

Sets by occasion

A set for every kind of night.

A few songs from each set. Every night is tailored to the room, mixed and paced to your crowd, and requests are welcome.

Dinner

Warm, familiar melodies that sit under the conversation and never compete with it.

  • Wicked Game, Chris Isaak
  • Don't Dream It's Over, Crowded House
  • Every Breath You Take, The Police
  • Free Fallin', Tom Petty
  • Mad World, Tears for Fears

Cocktail hour

Easy, a little stylish, and just recognizable enough that people smile mid-sentence.

  • Rhiannon, Fleetwood Mac
  • Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Message in a Bottle, The Police
  • La Vie en Rose, Édith Piaf
  • Billie Jean, Michael Jackson

Wedding ceremony and first dance

The walk down the aisle and the first dance, played with care.

  • Canon in D, Pachelbel
  • Clair de Lune, Debussy
  • Can't Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley
  • Unchained Melody, The Righteous Brothers
  • Perfect, Ed Sheeran

Party lift and dance

When the plates are cleared and the room wants more, the set turns up.

  • Take On Me, a-ha
  • Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac
  • Hey Ya, OutKast
  • Beat It, Michael Jackson
  • Blinding Lights, The Weeknd

Trance and house with guitar lead

Club classics with the guitar carrying the hook, for a late-night lift.

  • Children, Robert Miles
  • Lady (Hear Me Tonight), Modjo
  • Music Sounds Better with You, Stardust
  • Better Off Alone, Alice Deejay
  • L'Amour Toujours, Gigi D'Agostino

Persian party

Persian party favorites with the lead guitar over a beat, built to get the whole family dancing.

Surf tunes and other instrumentals people know

Twangy, bright and fun. Born for a South OC backyard.

  • Walk, Don't Run, The Ventures
  • Pipeline, The Chantays
  • Sleep Walk, Santo & Johnny
  • Misirlou, Dick Dale
  • Hawaii Five-O, The Ventures

Holiday

Warm seasonal favorites for December parties and New Year's Eve.

  • Christmas Time Is Here, Vince Guaraldi
  • The Christmas Song
  • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
  • Feliz Navidad, José Feliciano
  • Auld Lang Syne

Family and kids

Fun, recognizable and good for every age at the party.

  • Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me
  • Linus and Lucy, Vince Guaraldi
  • Take On Me, a-ha
  • Thriller, Michael Jackson
  • I Want to Hold Your Hand, The Beatles

Iconic game and movie themes

The themes everyone knows by the first three notes.

  • Star Wars Main Title, John Williams
  • Super Mario Bros. Theme, Koji Kondo
  • The Legend of Zelda Theme, Koji Kondo
  • Hedwig's Theme, John Williams
  • Concerning Hobbits, Howard Shore

Printable set menu for planners

Events

Built for evenings in South OC.

Cocktail and private parties

Backyards, patios and living rooms. Low and easy early, more lift as the night goes.

Private parties →

Weddings and ceremonies

Instrumental guitar for the ceremony, cocktail hour and dinner. Familiar melodies without lyrics competing with the moment.

Weddings →

Dinner nights

Club dining rooms, restaurants and wine bars. Music that makes people stay for one more glass.

Dinner nights →

How booking works

Four steps, no runaround.

  1. 1

    Send the details

    Date, location, guest count, the kind of night and any song requests. The form takes a minute.

  2. 2

    Get a quote

    Chad replies with availability, set length and a quote based on your event, location and setup.

  3. 3

    Lock it in

    Confirm the time, the space and any must-play moments like a first dance or a toast.

  4. 4

    Enjoy your night

    Chad arrives early with his own pro sound, sets up and plays. You get to be a guest at your own event.

Chad Kulengosky with his guitar in his studio

About

Chad Kulengosky

A songwriter and producer for 15 years, whose credits include I Am Ghost, Jason Cruz and Howl, and Above the Noise.

Coto Music is his live guitar for local evenings. He lives in Coto de Caza and plays the kind of set he would want at his own party: tasteful when the table is talking, fun when the room is ready. Years of playing bigger rooms taught him when to stay under the room and when to give it a lift.

An original piece: We Walk Together

Pricing. Every event is different, so it's by quote. Request a quote.

FAQ

Good questions.

What nights is Chad available?

Thursday through Saturday nights. Send your date in the form and he'll confirm.

Do we need to provide sound?

No. Chad brings his own pro sound for any room, indoor or outdoor, and sets it to the space.

What does it actually sound like?

Mostly instrumental lead guitar playing the melodies of songs people know. Background at dinner, then he builds energy when people want to dance or gather and listen.

Can we request songs?

Yes. Song requests are welcome. Add them to the form, including a first dance or a must-play moment.

How long does he play, and how far does he travel?

Set length and travel area are shared with your quote, since they depend on your event.

Where is Coto Music based?

Coto de Caza, serving South Orange County, including Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and nearby.

How much does it cost?

Every event is different, so pricing is by quote. Send the details and Chad replies with availability and a quote.

Book

Tell Chad about your night.

Chad plays Thursday through Saturday nights. Send the basics and he'll reply with availability and a quote.

Rather email? hi@cotomusic.com

Form not working? Email hi@cotomusic.com instead.