Andy James Notes.pdf

ANDY JAMES

CUSTOM METAL SERIES 1

Let me just say its been a pleasure to be welcomed aboard the

Jamtrack Central team. Im humbled by the talent among the artists

and im proud to be one of them. My particular interest has always

been heavier music even back when i irst picked up the

instrument. My goal here is to try and fuse melodic, but technical

playing with a heavier backdrop to create epic sounds and

landscapes. hese backing tracks ive written are there to help try

to inspire people to construct more solo ideas that low from section to section and help bring out the melodic side

of Rock/Metal guitar playing

BREAkIng ThROUgh:

his track is very in your face and at a great tempo, especially if you wanted to practice your alternate picking at

200bpm for example. here is also great oppurtunity to get your groove on in certain parts of the song that i hope

will encourage more emphasis on melody and phrasing, especially over what would be typically referred to as “A

Chorus” in vocal terms. his song is in the key of D minor.

CIRCLES In ThE SAnD:

Much like most of the way I write, I try and give myself the optimum amount of space for me to express myself. In

this track there is plenty of space for you to improvise and really get some great melodies going. his song is in one

of my favourite keys to jam in which is F# Minor.

TORn In TwO:

Even the heaviest of metal players has a soter side and here it is, the oppurtunity to explore your own. his track is

very laid back and gives a very welcoming chord progression you just get addicted to playing over. It starts slow and

gradually builds and thats how I approached my solo over this track, moving with the music. his track is in the key

of B minor.

SECOnD wAvE:

here are a few diferent moods i wanted to explore with this track. Some dark, some light and some aggressive. he

dark is more represented in the use of harmonic minor (in the rif even though I play straight minor in my

performance) then a change of mood ater. I like to combine light and dark to create good tension and release in a

song. he aggression comes more with the heavy rhythm section for the breakdown which gives you enough room

to explore the more technically melodic side of your playing. Main solo starts with B then A then E (that’s how my

mind works but theoryites out there might be more technical with their thought process :) )

ULTIMATE FORCE:

I wanted to write more of a loop with this track, one that constantly battles with good and evil. he rif is pretty heavy

all the way down in drop A, and drives quite nicely. here, I do use more of a harmonic minor tonality when soloing

to get a real aggressive feel and also move with the track. hen it resolves to good where the playing can become more

lowing and tuneful, restoring balance. he BT starts in A then progresses to B lat C and D, your typical natural

minor progression.

AJ FEB 2012