Hello all!
You can catch me at various other weblinks, to chat bass, listen to bass lines and say hello!
Catch me at myspace to chat bass and music, or say hello!
www.myspace.com/andytillsessionbassplayer
Visit me at Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/andytillbassguitar
Other Bass related weblinks of interest
It would be great to see other bass players websites, if you want to post any bass websites it would be great to learn about new and other bass players!
Thanks again for reading,
Andy
Most recently I have had people who have wanted to start out on the bass guitar get in touch! Mainly people asking for advice as where, and the best place to start learning to play the bass guitar. I would say that getting a teacher is a great start, someone showing you how to play an instrument is always great, it’s good to be taught, as I was.
The messages I have received about starting out on bass were, where was the best place to start without a bass teacher?
These days there is a wealth of media to start learning bass from, the Internet is great, DVDs, video’s and Cd’s with books. I am looking at learning bass from day one without a teacher and the best place to start is looking around the books.
The best advice I have given for bass books, as I have been asked what is the best book/s and media, and I want to share it here for beginners to learn from, or give advice. The best book I have found is “The Dummies Guide to bass”(see picture below).
The dummies guide is great for starting out, It’s kind of a bass bible, from starting out from day one, to advanced players and techniques at all levels. It also gives you advice about buying your bass to taking care of your bass guitar. Packed full of tips and lessons in easy form, this is a great part of the bass world to soak up bass greatness! It also comes with a CD to go along with the lessons in the book, so you can play along and listen as well! A great place to find the dummies guide to bass is your local bookshop, on line at play.com or check it out first at your local library!
Well I hope this helps or at least gives you a guide of where to get started on bass. I have a copy and still use it for going through techniques and learning new ideas. I hope it gives you an idea and fills your mind with bass, or maybe nip out to your library and check it out first, as everyone is different and finds different books help full. Hopefully it will get you started and you can at some point get a teacher as well! Remember playing with other musicians is always the best and listening to all styles of music and learning from the media, books, Internet and other players, you never stop learning!
Thanks for reading, if you have anything to add to this?, post comments and your ideas about media for learning bass, in books or on the Internet.
Cheers, Andy
Andy Till is a Manchester based professional bass guitarist. Andy is experienced in touring, travel, live performance, studio, recording and music media.
Andy has spent the last ten years playing bass guitar, an instrument he started to play at fourteen, but took up and had a serious interest from the age of nineteen.
Before Andy’s bass career Andy was a drummer for Nine years working on a drumming career, but after taking up the bass guitar made the switch and has been playing bass and enjoying the life of been a bass player.
Starting out at nineteen on bass Andy joined various Northwest cover bands before moving on to working with an origional band gigging and writing material, looking for a record deal. After this period of time Andy joined a few bands working semi – pro and moved to playing various venues and clubs.
After a period of time working with the semi – pro bands Andy joined full time established touring bands and acts working through out the UK playing the professional venues, events, festivals and Live music venues.
From the full time touring bands Andy has carved a career working as a freelance session bass player.
Andy has toured with various live bands hired in to cover for bass players working on the road, playing recored bass lines and also performing origional music and doing promotional tours for a chart single, origional band promotions and working with the working bands.
Andy is also exeperienced in working in the studio and doing various recording sessions, recording bass on various origional CD albums and promotional CD’s.
Andy has also worked on recording bass lines already written, but also worked on sessions writing with bands and writing bass parts and arrangements.
Along with Andy’s bass playing, Andy has spent a number of years working as a Televison Background artiste and working in media.
Andy has took his media experienced and started to take his Bass playing into featuring on music videos, music photo assignments and music televison, Andy is experienced as a bass player in front of the camera for various promotional work and music features and video’s.
Andy has also been succesfull doing interviews and various music articles about his bass playing and advice for bass players starting out as a professional musician.
Andy Bass influences come from a hand full of players from Paul Mccartney of the Beatles, Bruce Foxton from The Jam, Phil H Mitchell from Dr Feelgood, James Jamers from Motown, Herbie Flowers session player and session bass player Pino Palladino.
Andy loves all music and will give various styles of music a listen, His personal taste in music comes from Motown, Paul Mccartney, The Jam, Stax, The Who, The Hollies, Oasis, The Love Affaite, The Selecter and Dr Feelgood to mention a few.
Andy’s bass playing is influenced mainley by Pop, Rock, Reggae, Ska, Swing and has a love for the famous bass lines that have been created over the years that people know and love.
The main thing is the music and making people dance!
With a great groove and feel, Andy plays for your music live and in the studio, Playing recorded bass lines live with bands of all kinds on the road, Andy has 10 years experience in bass playing and working in music.
Work credits include:
JC & THE GROOVE Touring band,
PP & the Floorshakers,
Touring Band.
Alternative Influence,
Touring, Recording, Writing, Television & Film.
George Agan,
Singer songwriter, Studio work, recording
debut CD, filming music video’s, Photo shoots.
The Deadbeats,
Touring Band.
MamaRoux,
Touring Band.
Definitely Mightbe,
Touring Oasis Tribute.
Adorded,
Stone Roses Tribute
The Replicators,
Function Band.
The Jamm,
The Jam Tribute Touring.
The Kommitments,
Touring Commitments Tribute, Soul Band.
Groove Nation,
Touring band.
Seven Days,
Professional band.
Elbowroom,
Professional Band.
Jimmy Cricket,
Comic.
Mr Methane,
Comic.
Ronan Keating, support
The Animals, support
The Love Affaire, support
The Selecter, support
The Weather girls, support
Heatwave, support
Andy has performed at many venues from small venues and functions to festivals,
live music events and live music venues.
Andy has worked on events The Pop Party Tour’s, Festival’s of the 60’s, 70’s, Soul & Motown festivals, Live unsigned festivals, Dawen Music festival, Manchester United Football Stadium, Leister Walker stadium, Events and performances at Oxford, Manchester, Sheffield, London, Cambridge universitys, Bistro Live chain, Butlins, Warners, Chicago Rock, Jumpin Jaks, Old Trafford Cricket Club, Dublin Castle Camden, London, Lincoln Drill Hall, Manchester Hilton, Royal Victoria Sheffield, Buxton Opera House, various UK Theatres and Blues festivals, Tour of the Netherlands and Germany and many more.
Music Media credits. (As bass Guitarist)
George Agan music video’s for www.georgeagan.com
and studio tracks:
George Agan It’s my way music video 2007
George Again Running for your time video 2007
George Agan Get off your feet video 2007
Alternative Influence Live at Satans Hollow Manchester
Live DVD 2006.
Alternative Influence Take a look inside music video
2006.
PP & The Floorshakers Live at Showcall Showcase, Barry Stardust
Theatre. Live DVD 2003.
PP & The Floorshakers Blackpool 2005, Live DVD.
Alternative Influence Live at Satans Hollow Manchester
Live DVD 2006.
Alternative Influence Take a look inside music video
2006.
PP & The Floorshakers Live at Showcall Showcase, Barry Stardust
Theatre. Live DVD 2003.
PP & The Floorshakers Blackpool 2005, Live DVD.
Bubble Hits TV 2006.
Hello Magazine, Media work
George Agan photo shoot for debut CD – Album
Music photo Shoot for David Lloyd
BBC 1
ITV
Channel Four
Andy Till 2008.
Andy is working on various sessions with Origional bands working on new material for Chart release CD’s, Demo’s and Promotional Recordings. (Check news section for all recording infomation at www.andytill.com).
Andy is experienced in Recording Bass lines that are written, arranging and writing bass parts.
Andy is available for studio work through out the U.K and at present working on bands origional material and also recordings for adverts for companys.
Andy is availble to work on one off Recordings – tracks, On going recording sessions, Albums, EP’s, Bands demo’s, Singers Backing tracks, Adverts and promotional recordings.
Contact essentialbass@yahoo.co.uk or see www.andytill.com
Andy has been working with singer George Agan on his second studio CD with the guys down at L.P Studios Stockport.
Andy has recorded bass on all the EP’s four tracks:
1. In this Town
2. PC
3. Younger Then
4. Don’t Look Back
The tracks have a differn’t sound to Georges previous work, listen to the tracks on-line by visiting the link below or contact PlayloudPR@googlemail.com for all info on the EP and Georges live dates.
Listen online to the e.p @ www.myspace.com/georgeagan
Andy has been playing bass for Manchester Singer George Agan, Performing on Georges two studio recordings, Georges first CD and his second Coming home e.p. All news and relases can be found at www.georgeagan.com or you can listen online at www.myspace.com/georgeagan
George has been making a name as a performer and a songwriter around the Northwest and getting great reviews, radio plays and now George and his band are hitting the live venues.
Andy has featured on George’s Music Video’s.
See Georges website for more and all info!
George Agan music Video’s recorded @ Big Fish Manchester 2007.
For more Info on George and to get a copy of Georges CD’s Contact Play Loud Publishing @ Georges Website www.georgeagan.com
The Life of a Session Musician – By Claire Robinson
Most bands at some time or another need a session musician for a range of reasons, it could be a member of the band is sick and can’t perform, that they need a fuller sound in the studio, or that they want a bigger instrumental section on tour. Whatever the reason when they call in a session musician they want someone who can hit the ground running and do a good job at the same time. Session Musicians in effect are the contract staff of the music world. We decided to find out what makes a session musician tick so I’ve had a chat with Andy Till session musician.
Claire: How did you get into session work?
Andy: I started out as the bassist in a soul & Motown / party band called PP & The Floorshakers touring professionally around the U.K. After three or so years I made te move to do more freelance work, doing live sessions with various professional touring bands. I made quite a few contacts meeting other musicians/bands and I’ve been contacted when they need a session bass player and approached for a lot of the work live touring, studio and writing work.
Before becoming professional I was semi-pro doing pubs and clubs, I knew I wanted to become a session player and freelance playing with various different bands and playing lot’s of different styles of music when I was starting out as a bass player.
Claire: Would you say it is lucrative work?
Andy: Yes, it is lucrative work, depending on who you play with, at what level and if you’re a session musician who writes and gets royalties. I make enough at the level I session at within the professional bands, tribute bands, function and working bands.
Sometimes it varies from session to session and what bands can afford to pay. I’m happy making enough and feel very fortunate and lucky to make music my full time living. Although I’m always working on getting the more lucrative work all the time, that kind of work is normally with the big name players.
Claire: You must have made some famous contacts, can you tell us about one or two of them?
Andy: I’ve made contacts and worked with great musicians who have session-ed with some great names from popular music John Lennon, Brian Ferry, The Nolan’s, Freddie and the dreamers, The Love Affaire, Jimmy James and others.
Claire: Do you find yourself working with the same musicians time and again?
Andy: I do work with a lot of the same musicians, I have also made some great friends along the way! There is a pool of session musicians I tend to work with a lot, although there are a lot of different musicians turning up and playing all the time. It changes though, I can work with the same musicians a lot and others I’ll work with on a one off session then not work with them again.
Claire: How about funny/memorable moments? Any you would like to share?
Andy: The most funny and memorable… doing session work in a live backing band doing a UK tour in an old Ford transit van one winter. It was freezing sleeping in this transit van going around the country with a backing band. I find it funny as people think being a musician and working in show business is glamorous, if only they experienced those four weeks in a transit! I will always find that a memorable time!
Another funny moment walking on stage and falling in the pit, it hurt, but was a funny one for the other musicians!
Looking back there is always something to make you smile in this job.
Claire: There must be bad things about it though?
Andy: Breaking down on the motorway at six in the morning on the way to a session/gig, although I got to the gig on time in the end!
The worst things are mainly things like late nights followed by early mornings and when things go wrong on the road!
Claire: One for the budding session players out there…what sort of person suits your line of work?
Andy: A people person is good at this type of work who gets on well with everyone as you meet a lot of different people, someone who turns up on time, plays well and plays what is asked; basically an all round great player. If it’s doing live session work and touring someone who can travel long hours, handle late nights and early mornings. Someone with a good professional attitude and manner and doesn’t mind staying away from home from time to time.
So there we have it, a bit of insight into the world of being a session musician! Thanks to Andy for taking time out to speak with me. If you want to know more about the life of a session player Andy’s website is a good place to start www.andytill.com.
26 Apr 2008 20:00
Butlins Skegness
2 May 2008 20:00
Brannigans, Blackpool
3 May 2008 20:00
Pontins Somerset
10 May 2008 20:00
Trecco Bay Holiday Park Wales, Wales
17 May 2008 20:00
St Helens, Event
24 May 2008 20:00
Brynowen Holiday Park Wales, Wales
31 May 2008 20:00
Private Function UK
6 Jun 2008 20:00
Blackpool Brannigans Blackpool
7 Jun 2008 20:00
wmc UK
14 Jun 2008 20:00
Ford Sports & Social Club UK
20 Jun 2008 20:00
White Horse Caravan Park Selsey Bill, South
28 Jun 2008 20:00
Private Function UK
11 Jul 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Milton Keynes Milton Keynes
12 Jul 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Milton Keynes Milton Keynes
18 Jul 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Nottingham Nottingham
19 Jul 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Nottingham Nottingham
1 Aug 2008 20:00
Blackpool Brannigans Blackpool
2 Aug 2008 20:00
New England Club & Institute UK
16 Aug 2008 20:00
Trecco Bay Holiday Park Wales, Wales
22 Aug 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Nottingham Nottingham
23 Aug 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Nottingham Nottingham
12 Sep 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Leicester Leicester
13 Sep 2008 20:00
Bistro Live Leicester Leicester
26 Sep 2008 20:00
Home Farm Holiday Park Burnham On Sea
27 Sep 2008 20:00
wmc North West
14 Oct 2008 20:00
Mullion Holiday Park Cornwall
24 Oct 2008 20:00
Blackpool Brannigans Blackpool
13 Dec 2008 20:00
Hilton Hotel Coventry Coventry
20 Dec 2008 20:00 St Helens Private event
31 Dec 2008 20:00
Manchester
