Although he frequently smiles, Ryan plays sad songs on his ukuele. Some songs are happy, some angry, but most are sad, though, sad in a way that make you smile just like he does.
His first instrument was the harmonica and when he's not playing his own songs, he's playing and recording harmonica for many acts such as Crystal Bowersox, Ty Maxon, A Wu Li Conspiracy, Brian Walker, Devin & The Straights, Jessica Robbins and Adam Hitchell.