ANDY JAMES Guitar solo contest. OFFICIAL VIDEO from Blackstar Amps

[jonjacquemoud1]

Pinky? If someone was listening without watching, would they know whether or not he was using his freakin pinky? NO!! How desperate. In such a hurry to find what they dont like instead of just acknowledging that this guy plays his ass off. I'm not even into metal, more into fusion and jazz. But come on, this guy plays great. WAIT!! HE USES A NOISE GATE!! WAIT!! HE HARDLY USES HIS PINKY!! See how silly that sounds? Stop listening with your eyes. Pointless criticism. This aspect of youtube sucks.

[AdamChocoSo]

28 mother fucker listen to justin bieber.

[TheHardcore4u]

the rocket science behind this is so called practice 24/7 and shred like a virgin

[Styx4evur]

Look at the pinky. See the pinky.

Now count how many times he uses it.

[evilotto77cheese]

@Styx4evur What's your point?

[6second2004gto]

@Styx4evur Where are your guitar playing videos hotshot? I can't believe all the people making negative comments about Andy when he is better than everyone who has made a negative comment to this video. Guitar playing is not a competition, but the jealousy in here is rediculous.

[Mrguitars1000]

@6second2004g that guy said in a douche bag way, but if andy started using his pinky he would become so godly everyone in the world would lay down their weapons and kneel before him is the overlord. so yea, i think he should use it, cause it would bring about world peace

[shreddster666]

PINKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY­YYYYYYYYYY

[6second2004gto]

@shreddster666 Jealous much?

[jonjacquemoud1]

Was reading some 'silly' comments about a noise gate covering up bad technique. While the guitar is being played the gate is OFF! It can't engage while playing 'unless' it is set too high, then it actually interferes or tries to stop the notes which feels like crap if you've ever experienced it. So it is set just enough to 'cut' the sound when the player stops so they don't have to keep reaching for their volume knob. Playing automatically turns the gate off.

[civicracax22]

Amazing! you know you kinda look like Seth Rogan without the jew frow

[MPresario21]

the first part sounds a bit like learning to live ending

[hohnermode11]

Andy make a Lamb of god lesson dvd please

[MatKiller1197]

can someone give me te backing track cause its saying error

[shreddster666]

use your damn pinky please and thank you!! Please no one reply saying he doesn't need to either I know he shreds already but doesn't utilizes his pinky very much.

[Nezi69]

mummy its time to go to bed now.after seeing this im brain fucked..

[Ricence]

I didn't expect to see a bowling ball playing this well...

[darkshyne69]

Andy James...so awesome that killswitch engage pays him to wear their shirt.

[irishdragon735]

2:04 is probably one of the greatest things ever written o.o

[dilzas23]

id like to see andy in a g3 tour, lets start a facebook page yol

[Parkway808]

epic shirt :D

[Keshavdwarka]

wow despite having only 3 fingers, he is good that andy!

[d0r1705]

I can hear some Petrucci influence in there :)

[Cowboys716]

Andy's ring was sent to earth by metal gods.

[JoeblowscaryO]

This guy is fuckin badass.(no need to state the obvious)

[TYthemShoes]

DIRTY

[KillswitchEngage4eva]

killswitch engage t-shirt. NICE!!!!

[SpAcEmOnKeY126]

he either made a deal with the devil or he was taught by god XD

[BeefSupreme8]

If I hit the lotto, pay the Jedi master to teach me I am.....

[halfrandom82]

i was distracted by that light on the head

[janawu]

where's the red bar? all i see i the green bar.. lots of likes!!!

[Alfieboii]

His playing is extremely clean, awesome guitarist!

[MarianOctavarium]

fucking amazing! who the fuck is this guy?

[pepectm]

@MarianOctavarium Jack Black.

[SexArtMurder]

But can he play smoke one the water

[MrChrisEngl]

@SexArtMurder But can you even spell "on" correctly?

[SexArtMurder]

@MrChrisEngl No!



[xXBenjixBoyXx]

@SexArtMurder This comment needs to stop. Like all over Youtube.

[SexArtMurder]

@xXBenjixBoyXx No you need to stop and dang dang dang... dang dang dadaaaang.. dang dang dang.. da dadang!

[Eduartezian]

awesome drum beat

[ToeJamTurtle]

Andy, just wanted to tell you...you are truly one of the greatest. coming from an old school person, a great great respect. you're song Shine on Through is so intuitive and rests all doubts of your soulful playing altogether. The only thing is that you add a little too much but I don't blame ya...if all them notes were in my head, guess I would too. God bless you my friend.



[loikrox]

What cheat code are you using ? ^^

[BeefSupreme8]

@loikrox up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start.

[Tabmuryn]

@loikrox cheat is called - years of regular practise :)

[KabukuHotochi9]

@Tabmuryn That cheat code didn't work... But you were on the right track. I typed in "years of countless hours dedicated tp practicing" on my fretboard and it worked! :)

[Tabmuryn]

@KabukuHotochi9 Fuck yeah

[dmckay91]

This is so fake, clearly he has the pick of destiny.

[eikokie]

how can anyone win after he has already played??

[eddyboy409]

anyone know what scale(s) he is using

[MrM4551M0]

Mother of God O_o ....



[JordanArias205]

jesus..

[JordanArias205]

i want to listen to killswitch all the sudden..

[olert83]

@parkwaydrivetony All styles of playing are dependant on what works in relation to that specific style of music. So, perhaps metal players are using noise gates and bashing the strings harder than jazz players, but then again, that's what works! Andy and Zakk are world class, amazing guitar players. Personally I dislike it when noobs like you (seemingly) is having a rough day and taking your frustration and jeaousy out on all the good people who have come here to enjoy great music.

[Ozznize]

that was some clean playing. nice,

[YummyShorty]

This makes me want to throw my guitar out the window

[keithAAhocks]

title say's contest.... fuck that

[Soundbox50]

Kwl! Please have a listen to some of my own songs with solos over on my channel! Hope you like them! Thanks

[JCVTHESPIRIT]

This track as a whole is ='ly bad ass.

[brennj12]

I actually like his melodious licks better than the shred parts.

[ToleCrain]

i officially quit guitar.

[SuperGuitarMan987]

TABS!!!!! :D :D :D

[WSynyster]

00:53 Awesome hand coordination.

[callofjoeri]

how exspnsif is a guitar i want i guitar too

[matthieu71]

I mean Marco Sfogli guitar playing style :)

[matthieu71]

Marco sfogli guitar style!

[37Sul]

Amazing technique amazing feeling, amazing sound, impressive...

[JCVTHESPIRIT]

This super sik!!!! Dude andy ur clean and amazing ur a great guitar player man!

[illgiveyouusername]

if u hated on this guy you a fucking idiot. over.

[parkwaydrivetony]

Good guitarist, awful technique! 

[Jonbo117]

@parkwaydrivetony ur fuckin trippin

[parkwaydrivetony]

@Jonbo117 And you can't do a decent argument.

[iPR0SH0T]

@parkwaydrivetony who created the standard for technique?

[parkwaydrivetony]

@iPR0SH0T Good guitar players who don't need to use Gates on their system to hide bad left hand technique?

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony Zakk Wylde said in an interview once that he handed his guitar to great players that don't do metal and they were immediately lost because they didn't know how to control all the noise created by playing loud with alot of gain. A gate is a must if you are playing loud with alot of gain and it will not cover up mistakes. Quit making excuses for yourself just because you are jealous of Andy. Dimebag Darrell used a gate just like every other metal player.

[parkwaydrivetony]

@6second2004gto I'm sorry but the fact you brought Zakk Wylde up just shows you don't know a lot about guitar playing! All these 'metal' guitarist that you keep naming sound great yes but i guarantee you if Andy James, Zakk Wylde or Dimebag (RIP) played clean on the bridge pickup all you would hear is the the immense slapping of the pick on the strings and extra string buzz created by their technique. I'm not jealous of Andy, the money he has made from what he does yes very jealous! Technique no

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony Post up the vids of your playing hot shot if you are better than Zakk Wylde and Andy James. I've seen your type plenty...no uploads, but goes around making negative comments on everyone else's video's.

I suppose you are also one of those guys that are to good for pentatonic scales so that automatically makes you better than Zakk...lol...You are still a fool for thinking that a gate covers up mistakes. If you are sloppy a gate can't fix that.

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony How about you worry about your own playing and support the players you do like instead of going on everyone else's videos and making negative comments. I can tell you will never be a great player because you are close minded and think everyone that doesn't play your genre sucks. All the worlds greatest players are open minded to all types of music.

[parkwaydrivetony]

@6second2004gto im a session musician ;) pick a genre ill play it!

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony Ok cover the solo in this video that we are commenting on and upload a video of it on youtube. Lets see if you can back up what you say.

[parkwaydrivetony]

@6second2004gto i quite like that challenge tbh, after i finish doing the practice for my exam coming up in a week i shall make this my priority! I do love a good metal solo!

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony Good I will be waiting for the video. I will say I have serious doubts that any top notch session player would be on youtube making negative comments about Andy James because players of that caliber generally don't talk that way about other players especially on youtube...lol...but I will wait for the video if it ever actually gets posted.

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony Ok it's been two weeks how is your progress on covering this solo coming along mr session player? Also to anyone else talking sh*t about Andy post up your guitar playing video's please lets see what you got!

[iPR0SH0T]

@parkwaydrivetony many players also control noise with their right hand, such as guthrie govan. if all you have to say about guthrie is that his technique is bad, i don't know what else to say lol

[natrat51]

@parkwaydrivetony I am not a Zakk at all, but to say a person knows nothing about guitar playing just because they like metal/hard rock music, is just ignorant. It also something I don't think you have right to say, especially when you don't know the real function of a noise gate. Its simply allows the guitar through, or stops it so you don't get feed back. Personally, I use a soft gate setting, no matter what level of distortion. Except for clean playing.

[natrat51]

@natrat51 Zakk fan*

[iPR0SH0T]

@parkwaydrivetony that wasn't a valid point, a gate silences hum and noise when you aren't playing. it is a crucial piece of equipment for even the best of amps, considering they all hum. also, check blackstar's channel to watch andy james play with many different setups, few of which (if any) involve any noise gate pedals at all. and comparing this guy to eric johnson, di meola, and satriani is stupid, considering they don't even share a vaguely similar playing style with him

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony Say what!?!?! I would almost deal with the devil for Andy James alternate picking technique.

When the time comes for me to buy a tube head and four by twelve cabinet a Blackstar series one with the 6L6 tubes in the power section is definately one I will be trying out. Not because I want to sound like Andy because he would sound good through any amp, but because Blackstar amps seem like quality and have some unique and interesting things in their design.

[parkwaydrivetony]

@6second2004gto yeh his right hand technique is awesome, left hand is 'show off' really, watch his little finger. If you watch carefully when he's doing the sweeps he's bashing the other strings, why cant we hear that, his system is using a gate. Great mainstream show off guitarist, but technique wise compared to someone such as Eric Johnson, Al Di Meola and Satriani? ill let you decide. He is a good Guitarist though dont get me wrong.

[6second2004gto]

@parkwaydrivetony You obviously have no idea how a gate works it's either open or not. The guys you mentioned don't use the level of gain that metal players use you obviously aren't going to need a gate when playing clean. Nearly every metal player uses a gate, but you wouldn't understand why if you've never played at band volume with alot of gain. Andy's playing is very clean and if it wasn't a gate wouldn't help him at all.

[richay718]

I once challenged Andy James to a guitar duel...I am now an unlicensed sewage scuba diver in Somalia missing 3 of my left fingers.

[xPurpleDrinkx9001]

@richay718 Does everyone who can shred and sweep have to put on such a high pedestal to the point that they are worshiped? You should be this good after 5-10 years of playing. Maybe less.

[daeerion]

@xPurpleDrinkx9001 If guitarists should be this good after 5-10 years of playing, according to you the world would be full of Guthrie Govans at hyper-speed. Seriously, if you weren't joking on that comment, no offense, but that means you have no f*cking idea of guitar. 5-10 years? Try maybe around 20 years of constant playing and gigging and you'd get close. Very few pros (in fact, I can count them with my fingers, and still have a few to spare) were at this level after such a short time.

[TheObviousTruths]

@daeerion a guitarist cant become amazing in 5-10 years you say? rusty cooley started at age 15 and toured with his band billy x at age 18... theres a video of him on here at that age, look up "billy x rusty cooley" and than please take back your comment:)

[daeerion]

@TheObviousTruths So? It's not the norm. He said that everyone should play like this after 5-10 years, and that's not true in 99% of cases, so I don't take back a word of what I said.

[TheObviousTruths]

@daeerion anyone cant get that good in 5-10 years EASILY! if one practiced exercises straight for at least 3 hours a day everyday you can easily get this good. its all in dedication buddy.

[abZorber]

@richay718

I used to beat Andy in guitar duels, but then i took an arrow in the knee..

[WittingJoker]

Oh, this video IS from blackstar. Surely didn't see that coming :D

[sasukeuchihalb]

normally when it's a guitar contest the video tells you what the requirements are, not make a solo that makes you realize you suck too bad to enter!

[Vergucci]

I AM 20 SECONDS AWAY FORM FINISHING THE WHOLE SONG!!!! F*CK YEAH!!!!!!! _\m/

[rockAndmetal765789]

anyone have tabs for this??.

[bwalt246]

Love how you play on your right knee, fuck keeping it in a classical position which most guitar teachers tell you to do! If your standing up where does the guitar position itself...to the side your playing. your awesome and you have a great tone!

[pepegarciac]

sickkk motherfucker nice playing

[waylar54]

Freaken awesome! But when I try to enter I get error 404?

[egrady5555]

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE SHIRT. THIS GUY KNOWS WHATS UP!

[Shawn3129]

that was incredibly bad ass. I'll just go back to playing scales slowly now lol.

[StopRunningKid]

What brand amps are you using?

[HostileHST]

@StopRunningKid Kraco, top of the line audio, hahhahahaha

[ThinkBackNever]

fucking sick! :D

[igor190985]

is this LTD EC-1000 VB ?

[BrokenCapo]

damn, love the Jason Beckerish melodic style.

[tmgerard]

Damn!!!

[AssaneRue]

andy mckees rebeleous son

[emblazedskater]

Are you all kidding me? Andy James is insane, and deserves his credit because it's certainly due. Guthrie already got his. Does this video have Guthrie's name in the title? No. Didn't think so. Now shut up, sit back, and enjoy Andy's badass playing.

[biloxi1314]

this sounds like a john petrucci inspired solo. even the tone kinda sounds like it aha. I love it :D

[SMOTH1289]

This is the awesome guitarist on Lick Library.

[PeyotePaul]

In my opinion as far as being an amazing guitarist he is 80% there.... He is missing the most important part, the raw creativity, orginality and soul of somebody like Guthrie. Don't get me wrong though, technically this guy is cleaner than your 6 year old sisters pussy.

[sprinkler5802]

@PeyotePaul he aint missing shit so go some more research and listen to some other stuff. You always make the soul come through when the idea is shred it up as fast as possible

[MGkings]

Great playing again...

[MADmemphis564]

Nice : O ive been watching andies videos for couple of years and i mean i never found anyone play cleanier than him amazing guy...

[thebeasmaester]

He's still no Guthrie sorry

[IsaacDeanMusic]

@thebeasmaester Don't compare very different guitarists

[ardellgough]

Wow, I never knew he was this good

[ParanoidPaal]

Whoa..

[HiPPoKryPtiC]

YEAHHHH.....now lets try us some Paul Waggoner!

[Brutalhair]

its so hard to play this. but it isn't sounds.

[IsaacDeanMusic]

Which cab should I take?

[tricky12321]

Syn gates is better.... LOL only joking

[lolroflstomp]

Love his solo work. I'm not really into his band though.

[TranceRSM]

01:20 to 01:30 = Joe Satriani's Crystal Planet's ending

[Jamsessionroom1337]

Andy james sucks like primus sucks.

[exposethecorrupt]

WOW!!! Graft your skills to me! PLEASE!

[TheBanyanEmperor]

Cleanest metal player I've ever heard, no joke.

[FoLuciousAnimus]

ANDY I WOULD BE VERY GLAD AND GRATEFUL IF YOU UPLOADED A VIDEO WITH BREAKING THE SOLO DOWN...IT WOULD HELP ME FOR MY STUDIES A LOT...THANK YOU VERY MUCH...HUGE FAN!!!

[ByR1x]

very nice!

[Thebjorknes]

:O



[manhthang]

wow he just played so fucking smoothly!

[brainfed]

Good lord.

[Jeepjones85]

Well let me pick my melted face up off the floor :D

[axeiston]

i can't decide if its the speed, the technicality, or the cleanliness of both that is making me wipe shit off my seat right now

[Deanosius]

My jaw just dropped to the ground O-O

[TheMathMog93]

And by the way... Anyone got a download link for the backingtrack. The old one is expired cause the competition were a couble of years ago.

[TheMathMog93]

Im officially blown away...! That was incredible. Favorit part must have been at 2:14, even sounds like he is using a effect there, which he obviously doesn't!

[tygolf11]

holy shit tits

[Vergucci]

I want this song

[Georgiemoe3]

My face officialy melted!

[DrunKid]

1:16

did he really have time to put a vibrato there? X_X

[TallWhiteGuy5000]

O_O

[KrazyKali69]

sick chops!

[megaladon73]

Sweet lord.

[OneDownServer]

dude's got some sick skill

[inflameslp311]

23 people are jealous that even with his fingers jumping 3 inches off the fretboard, his are faster than theirs will ever be.

[TTGSynysterGFX]

I feel proud to own that guitar now :3

[roodjacklija]

The most perfect shred technique I've ever seen... also a bunch of great chops, simply brilliant!

[tibbaryspitvale]

Forsaken :)

[xN4THxTH3xDEM0Nx]

that was insane!! not even using the bobble to help mute the open strings and he plays it perfectly clean!

[valdivia562]

saw this dude at namm

[Massey2308]

Killswitch Shirt + Andy James = Win

[MrMarcMalouf]

umm...holy crap balls!

[blinkysg]

And the winner of the contest goes to...

[jarekisking]

This is guitar solo is like the child of Jacky Vincent (Falling In Reverse) and Jason Hook (Five Finger Death Punch)

[LartenCreapsly]

@jarekisking Falling in Reverse HAHAHAHAHHA you make me laugh

[MrKrushmore]

Holy frejoles! What just happened?!?

[menfalling]

i think he s sponsored by blackstar no?

[karnivorus]

I hope that guitar was 18.

[therojas121]

HOLY SHIT!

[NoInnerKind]

As I watch this video, I hold my guitar in my arms and cry knowing that I'll never be able to please it like Andy can.

you know whenever my room is dirty i think of andy james, because he can sweep.. cleanly, you get it ? :D my room needs a CLEAN SWEEP :D

fuck you all im hilarious -_-