Andy James

**straycat113** · 12-26-2009, 06:23 AM

Azazael dont take it the wrong way bro.lol I was just shocked as I thought the kid was pretty big over there and probably cashed up. So when you said he came around looking to sell his ax I just thought it odd. Yes everyone bleeds red I am totally with you on that and I talk straight up and there was no intention to offend and I would just like to make that clear.

**conan02919** · 12-26-2009, 01:16 PM

yes Stuart Bull does own the comapny but I agree he is pretty bad when he interviews people. Licklibary is a good site I like Danny Gill as an instructor

**straycat113** · 12-26-2009, 11:06 PM

Conan2919 I agree 100% with you. I never had a formal lesson in my life and in the 90s I came upon some really advanced books from MI that were done by Danny who used to be a student of Satriani. So when I came across Licklibrary and saw he was on the site that is what made me become a member.

I have so many DVDs by him I feel I know the guy.lol As a teacher he is unequaled. I love the way that he always runs the chord progression so you know why what lines, scales, arpeggios and the like work and fit over what your playing.I wish I could take live lessons with the guy as he would be my first choice followed by Gilbert and Petrucci. As all three have that knack for being great players and teachers. Some guys are great players but horrible teachers like Yngwie,lol

**Adamr** · 12-27-2009, 04:01 AM

my personal favourite is jamie humphries. who is a mm endorsee. and also post on the forums ocassionally. awesome talent. and brilliant teacher. his dvd's are fantastic and he always give u insight into the gear he would use and a bit of background about the artist.

anyway back to andy here is his band [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_b-mtSOAZM"]YouTube- Sacred Mother Tongue - Two Thousand Eight Hundred[/ame]

and this is what im pulling my short hair out trying to learn . man he makes it look stupidly easy. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Vuc3YSowo"]YouTube- Andy James E lydian (in the style of Steve Vai)[/ame]

**colinboy** · 12-27-2009, 07:59 AM

Licklibrary is a great site and is well worth the money to be honest.you get great advice on the forum and as adam R has already said we both post on their forum regularly but its pretty quiet compared to here.
mike casswell is a great instructor and player and all round nice guy.

**Oh3AreSicks** · 12-27-2009, 11:56 AM

That E lydian vid is one of my favs. Andy is a phenomenal player!

**Trev** · 12-27-2009, 12:06 PM

He is an astounding guitarist.

You guys should pick up his CD "In the Wake of Chaos" - as well as having some out and out shred, there are some really well written melodic tunes too!

Trev

**straycat113** · 12-28-2009, 05:14 PM

Adamr thanks for posting both videos. I was like oh no when the vocalist started off with the vocals where it sounds like he swallowed a microphone and is taking a sh!t at the same time , as this is one of the problems I have with metal is when the vocals are like that.

But then he settled in and had a pretty good voice and I really liked the song and the playing was excellent. Hey I know you guys are younger than me. I am 48 but I dont look it lol but I think that style of vocals have been done to death and I could never stand them besides wondering how you could do a whole show like that and not shred your vocal chords. But I was glad he could sing and will check out the CD.

Adam you probably know this already but the best way with any piece is to take it in sections. This is how I do it. If I was learning that piece I would break it into sections and just put the licks that are giving me the hardest time on a small cassette player if it winds up being more than three. Then if I have the whole piece down or wherever I might be-a quarter or halfway through just isolate and play the licks that are giving me a problem over and over till I can nail them. I see a lot of guys actually play a solo from the start to hit the part that is giving them a hard time over and over again as it drives me nuts. Why play the parts you have no problem with, just isolate and play the problems. I hope maybe this can help you out. But just think it will all come together one day and you will get that rush of nailing it that will last till you start the next project that will cause you to lose your mind.lol

**ScoobySteve** · 12-28-2009, 05:20 PM

Yeah I check out a lot of Andy's lessons on shredding and arpeggio tapping on Lick Library.

Phenomenal player.

Jamie Humphries is more up my route though.

Love em both.

**Adamr** · 12-29-2009, 04:41 AM

i agree with you 100% on the shouty shouty stuff that makes your throat hurt just listening to it. but the guy can definatley sing. and although that shouty stuff does nothing for me and i dont listen to it usually when its only in small sections. and you have great music behind it its bareable.

yeah i do already do a similar thing stray cat. i can play all the licks. its just fitting them together with the correct timing and speed. this sort of stuff is really beyond my level but i love to get my teeth stuck into the real difficult stuff . it really improves my overall playing . and in doing so a lot of the stuff ive looked at and thought ill never be able to play that . i found relatively easy in the end once its broken into bitesize peices. i think to many people look at things and just think thats way beyond me . and they go back to basic basic stuff that doesnt challenge them.

yeah jamie humphries is the dogs bollox. his dvds are my favourite by a mile. he can play just like andy if he wants though. very versatile. he just transcribed jason beckers alltitudes. in guitar techniques magazine over here. and thats a very neo-classical speed metal track, and he absolutley nailed it.

**Dave56** · 02-27-2010, 01:59 AM

Think he's getting better known now - just seen this:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suroPx90LyI"]YouTube- Andy James Guitar Solo Contest[/ame]

**straycat113** · 02-27-2010, 02:57 AM

If you ask me I definetly like the UK guitar scene over the US one. I have noticed lately I only buy UK guitar magazines though they cost an arm and a leg here and the only guitar DVDs I buy are the technique ones from Licklibrary. I even think I am getting an accent.lol

That crew they have over at the library is as talented as it gets. To be honest do any of you guys feel like you know them personally from watching them so much.lol

**Spudmurphy** · 02-27-2010, 04:46 AM

Originally Posted by colinboy

Yeah Andy is great player,met him at LIMS last year in 2008 as he was working for S&t promoting EBMM products but as david stockden said he is gone from playing muiscman now as far as i know.

That's right - his playing was "monster".

My personal favourite tutors on Lick Library are
Michael Casswell - he does an amazing Learn to Play Free and Jeff Beck tutorials- for all you "feel" players

Steve Trovatto - does a great Albert Lee tutorial
Danny Gill is very good too as is our Jamie Humphries.

Steve Trovatto is constantly recapping which is great
Some of the others? - well after you have "played the 14th fret on the e string then the 12th followed by the 8th on the b string then the 9th 3rd 21st then the 16th on the g string followed by the24th pulling off to the 22nd blah blah blah blah"
..... you've kinda lost what you are trying to play - in others words they don't recap as much as they should!