Captain Bass

New Video Uploaded This is track #13 "VESSEL" taken from my solo bass album 'Evolution Of The Thumb" This is track #6 "TURRICAN" taken from my solo bass album 'Evolution Of The Thumb" Preview all 13 tracks

New video up of me playing along to a new idea for the solo album. P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm a 29 year old Bass Teacher located N/W London in Watford. I am a official Endorsee of Warwick, Mark Bass and Elixir Strings. All ages welcome (I'm CRB checked) Any level playing ability welcome. I teach from home or I can drive (I charge for travel expense) I also teach a few students abroad online via SKYPE! I have gained qualifications in music performance, theory and music technology. I specialise in teaching the more difficult Techniques; Finger Style Slap Palm Muting Slap Double Thumbing Two Hand Tapping Slap Strumming Open Tap Harmonics +Fast Transitions between them. My first instrument was bass guitar unlike a lot of these Guitar/Bass teachers who can also play the bass with a pick! (eveyone can) I can provide a CV/List of all the gigs and sessions I have done - I most recently opened for Bon Jovi at O2 Arena! more videos here - [url="http://www.andysaxton.com/#/solo-bass-videos/4544606514"]http://www.andysaxton.com/#/solo-bass-videos/4544606514[/url] or here - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=47732&pid=1029227&st=60&#entry1029227"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;#entry1029227[/url] I also teach guitar & music production to students in my home recording studio. Here are some of my production examples - [url="http://www.andysaxton.com/#/music-production/4544606512"]http://www.andysaxton.com/#/music-production/4544606512[/url] Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07805 260 852 Web: www.andysaxton.com

I Added a new video. The music in the video is the Rock and Metal ideas for my solo album. Please bare in mind that the whole album is not gonna sound like this. I understand it would not be to everyones taste! I do like some of these ideas because I feel they can communicate the polyrythms and time signatures I use more obviously and besides I have learnt a majority of these weird timings from listening to Progressive/Tech Metal.

[quote name='silddx' post='1021213' date='Nov 12 2010, 11:46 AM']That's interesting man. I think you've got a perfectly valid approach to making your music, but it would seem to me that you need a singer, good lyrics and real musicians if you want to give your album a broad appeal and validate your approach to the bass being melodic instrument. In fact, I would say that it is one of the few ways that a bass could work as one of the focal points of a band. You certainl;y have the sound, style and chops to pull that off. And if you do it well, I think it will tick most of your objectives boxes. BUT, at the moment, it kind of sounds like a skint great bassist putting together some tracks in his home studio to highlight his compositional and bass playing skills. I totally think you need to up that a few levels. What you should possibly think about is doing an ep instead of an album and getting a band together to do it. The songs themselves need to stand up to the competition and prove that a great metal band with up front melodic solo bass is viable as anything else. Now all you need are some people and some cash.[/quote] The funny thing is one of my first ever bands was exactly like that, I used to sing and slap. We were called "TANJENT" with a 'J', cool I know ha ha! I'm gonna dig out an old song or two and put it up for a laugh! We supported Lost Prophets a couple of times when they were starting out, Ah the old days!

I have found some great basses on here and sold some too! It's great selling on here because you know your beloved bass is moving on to a good home!

[quote name='silddx' post='1020181' date='Nov 11 2010, 02:57 PM']Why do you want to record an album that features bass as the main instrument? This is meant as a serious question. What are you trying to say with it? For example, as a publicity tool for your skills to get you hired by a big band, making some extra cash touching normal people with your heartfelt and beautiful music, impressing the bass playing fraternity, to get people to ask you for lessons? Sponsorship deals? What?[/quote] With these particular ideas I was focusing on my background being a bass player within the metal scene for 8 years. I had met a lot of brilliant players along the road who were in bands that were at a similar level to my band (cry for silence). Something I found was the way that the bass players (although very good) were often turned down in the mix both live and on record. I understand that Metal music is the Guitarists area but when I saw guitarists using 7 or 8 string guitars I felt that was stepping on our territory even more. I set out with these song ideas to create a sound where the guitar is the rythm instrument and the bass is the lead instrument, and where the rythms are interesting. But like I said before I was never thinking of creating a whole album like this as I had a feeling it would not be everyones cup of tea. I guess the guys who listen to metal bands like Meshuggah, Dillinger, Dream Theatre, Periphery, Sikth may appreciate this but that is a small majority in the whole music spectrum. And I do wanna appeal to a broad audience of Bass players and hopefully get my name past around as a decent player and to inspire young bass players. Oh and extra cash selling CDs and Lessons as I am soo skint atm!

[quote name='silddx' post='1020020' date='Nov 11 2010, 01:26 PM']Wow, what a trip! And thanks for the insight. I'm so sorry to say I didn't like the soundtrack either, sorry mate. I'm not your target audience though. It sort of came across as lift music for bassists if you see what I mean. I think, for it to work, the compositions need to be of the quality of the last track (which is excellent - see below) on the clip, and all the instruments need to be played by real people who can inject energy, sophistication and personality into the tracks. I can see where you're going, but it needs to appeal to a wider audience if you want success from it. The last track on the clip was really good, a very tasty tune and it held my attention, but I wanted to hear some Lifeson guitar and a vocal on it Seriously good luck though man, you are so talented![/quote] Maybe if I had tracks that were just bass on its own? or layers of my bass tracked? Im really glad I posted this up as I have got some valuable feedback from you guys!

[quote name='derrenleepoole' post='1019932' date='Nov 11 2010, 12:28 PM']Man, that looked like an ace trip. You lucky thing you I have to congratulate you on some great bass playing mate. You're obviously very talented. Reminds me a bit of Jonas Hellborg etc. I would repeat some of the other comments about the drum programming on some of the tracks. It's all a bit too rigid for me, and feels very static as a result. I know that getting a musician capable of playing that type of very tight multi time signature stuff is very difficult, but a real drummer would bring this music alive in my opinion. If a real drummer is not an option, maybe have a look at how Squarepusher uses drum sequencing. Maybe making the drums more Squarepusher-esq might work better as it will feel more deliberate, rather than someone trying to sequence realistic drums in the absence of a real drummer? Does that make sense? All kudos though matey [/quote] I would love to get a real drummer and I totally agree they would add so much to the tracks but I don't have the money :-( or the studio, or the money to pay for a studio lol! I think I need to checkout some squarepusher, what would you recommend?

I appreciate your constructive feedback Nothings really set in stone with the album as yet, I was kinda testing the water with these new tunes to see what people think. I was hoping of having at the most 3 tracks like this spread out on the album and the rest be more like my other youtube ideas, which will be finished songs on there too. It is hard to accompany solo bass without it sounding cheesy sometimes

This video features pictures and footage from an all expenses paid trip to Germany courtesy of Warwick Bass. This video features samples taken from my solo bass album which will be entitled "Bassically" I hope you guys enjoy it Regards, Andy WWW.ANDYSAXTON.COM P.S. if anyone is interested in picking up a copy of my album when it is done then please email me and I will contact you when it is all finished - andycfs@msn

This video features pictures and footage from an all expenses paid trip to Germany courtesy of Warwick Bass. This video features samples taken from my solo bass album which will be entitled "Bassically" I hope you guys enjoy it Regards, Andy WWW.ANDYSAXTON.COM P.S. if anyone is interested in picking up a copy of my album when it is done then please email me and I will contact you when it is all finished - andycfs@msn

[quote name='ped' post='1002177' date='Oct 27 2010, 10:59 AM']Extra points for dropping the 'lol' bomb on your endorsement page!! Cheers ped[/quote] Yeh that makes me look 15, what was I thinking!

[quote name='silddx' post='1002150' date='Oct 27 2010, 10:40 AM']Superb! Well done mate, great achievement. But then you are a great player too [/quote] Cheers Buddy

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='1002073' date='Oct 27 2010, 09:39 AM']Good Stuff! Better change your Avatar before the boys in Germany see it.. Just photoshop a Warwick over the 'Ray5![/quote] I have tried changing it but it wont let me for some reason!! DOH!

[quote name='ingenius' post='1002010' date='Oct 27 2010, 08:29 AM']And because of this I got to buy your lovely stingray ( which is awesome) Well done Andy, really pleased for you good luck and let me know when you are Northern bound with the Band regards Keith M[/quote] I shall let you know Keith, sad to let that beauty go but Warwick would kick my ass if I played her again live! Andy

[quote name='TRadford' post='1003062' date='Oct 27 2010, 09:48 PM']Congrats!!!.. Firstly, can you get me a free bass please?? And second.. I love that Dirty Blonde video clip. I was watching it last week and was taken in by it...[/quote] Yeh it's in the post! Ha! I haven't had a free bass yet!!

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1001776' date='Oct 26 2010, 09:42 PM']Awesome... I was confused at first... Trying to figure out of you were Adam Clayton or Stuart Zender... But I got there in the end Well done dude, something to be uber proud of![/quote] Ha ha! i'm the little guy on the bottom left but it's definately cool to be sharing the page with those guys

Look - www.warwickbass.com - www.warwick.de Also here is my endorsement page- [url="http://www.warwick.de/modules/endorser/endorser.php?endorserID=1149&mtpl=show_endorser&cl=EN"]http://www.warwick.de/modules/endorser/end...orser&cl=EN[/url] Oh and my new website with all my solo bass videos on - [url="http://www.andysaxton.com/#/solo-bass-videos/4544606514"]http://www.andysaxton.com/#/solo-bass-videos/4544606514[/url] Solo Bass Album coming real soon.......... [attachment=62263:warwick_...ont_page.jpg]

Does anyone know any good Agencies for doing TV work i.e. like the musicians they use on shows like X-Factor? Also does anyone have any experience of doing this kind of work, or know of anyone that has? Are there any dedicated Agencies for Musicians looking for work like this? does this fall into session musician agencies?? Cheers, Andy

Hey Guys, I was a big fan of Incubus when they had Dirk Lance on bass, not so much now with the new guy :-P Anyway Dirk has a new band and they have an album out. This band is interesting because the album has a real mix of styles and even more interesting the lead singer/guitarist is infact the guy who taught Dirk to play bass. Web: [url="http://www.myspace.com/463770721"]http://www.myspace.com/463770721[/url] Checkout the tasty slap passage at 01:58 on the song "Sing Like You're Dangerous" Buy: [url="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/WilliesNerveClinic"]http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/WilliesNerveClinic[/url] ALSO I have a new website up - [url="http://www.andysaxton.com/#/solo-bass-videos/4544606514"]http://www.andysaxton.com/#/solo-bass-videos/4544606514[/url] and a solo bass album coming real soon (shameless self promotional plug there) Andy x