Major Lazer & DJ Snake

Diplo, the mastermind behind Major Lazer, actually plays guitar and studied at Rice University, but deliberately chose to remove guitars from Major Lazer's sound to create a production identity separate from his other work and personal musicianship.

'Lean On' was produced using Serum, a wavetable synthesizer, and custom sound design rather than sampled instruments, showing how modern production tools allow a single person to orchestrate what once required a full band of musicians.

The reggaeton and dancehall influences in Major Lazer's production require guitarists to understand Latin rhythmic frameworks, even though guitars aren't present on the track itself; this knowledge translates directly to playing reggaeton guitar parts elsewhere.

DJ Snake's production techniques involve heavy use of modulation and filtering on synthesizers, creating movement and texture that guitarists often achieve through effects like chorus, flanger, or vibrato; the concepts are similar even if the tools differ.

For guitarists interested in production, Major Lazer tracks like 'Lean On' demonstrate the importance of silence and space in arrangement; the track's sparse structure means every element is audible, a lesson applicable to any instrument-heavy mix.

The global success of 'Lean On' occurred despite zero traditional rock or guitar elements, representing a major cultural shift in pop music production that required guitarists to adapt or risk irrelevance in certain genres and platforms.

Diplo has collaborated with countless guitarists and bands through his career, suggesting that his avoidance of guitar in Major Lazer is a deliberate artistic choice about genre definition rather than inability to incorporate the instrument.