Couple of Bars of Dream Theater.

Fong · #1 July 8th, 2007

As some of you may know, this type of music isn't the usual stuff I play. So was looking to get some advice on technique.

Ignore the mistakes, I only been playing it a day or so and the mistakes are not repeated, ie its just learning pains.

YouTube - GFB DT

Any advice on technique or sound?

eddiez152 · #2 July 8th, 2007

Fong,

You make it look easy. I'd say that was pretty cool.

Fong · #3 July 8th, 2007

Cheers Ed, thats some hard stuff, bit far from what I am used to, my poor fingers been working overdrive the last few days.

Worst part is, 3 days in, and I learnt the first two riffs to a song that goes on for like 8 minutes, and each riff is like learning an entirely new song.

Must admit I do enjoy playing this sort of thing tho, been ten years since I played metal and I definitely think I have improved due to the classical playing. Lot of wasted right hand technique, but left hand is a lot stronger then it was.

Tho I don't remember my wrist hurting so much from all the alternative picking back in the day.

testekleez · #4 July 8th, 2007

Good stuff man! Wish I could offer you advice, but I'm still learning some metal techniques myself so I can't be of much help. Only thing I could say would be to add a little palm muting in it. There is no shortage of Dream Theatre enthusiasts out there that could likely advise.

They have an almost cult-like following, kinda like Metallica back in the 80's. My favorite tune by them is Pull Me Under. Not as heavy as some of their other stuff but those guys are straight up technicians! Very professional sound.

knight46 · #5 July 9th, 2007

Very cool stuff Fong, very cool.

GT · #6 July 9th, 2007

"The Dark Eternal Night"

Looks like your getting fun trying to pull out that song. The was good to my ears. As every Dream Theater guitarist that ask for an advice: buy a metronome. If you already have one, then use it. I think the riff is a little slower than the original tune. But the fingering looks good, you look controled and your playing is clean and tight way to go

Fong · #7 July 9th, 2007

Oh definitely slower, DT is about 112, mine is about 90, I can play along at 112 for the first couple of riffs, tho its very untidy, but it goes right down to about 80 on the next riff too which I find is a really uncomfortable riff to play.

Course starts getting harder in the chorus when you realise you missing a string, but I think i managed a tuning around that.

mattz196 · #8 July 9th, 2007

As Eddie said you make it look easy , considering what your playing and that your being recorded and videoed you look and sound incredibly relaxed , super playing.

Fong · #9 July 9th, 2007

Thanks i was quite relaxed as it wasn't really a performance more of a practice session filmed.

For metronome GT, I use Powertab, free tab prog, you can write your own but DT's Dark Eternal Night was available so I got that. It is very handy for this sort of thing because as you know DT like to play with timing a lot. There are several sections where it moves from 6/8 to 4/4 for a bar or two.

So having it all set out with a metronome that you can put at any speed you like is very nice, I usually start at around 70 just to memorise a bit then notch it up to 90 to force my hands to work.

Tends to work, I can play the first 4 mins, to the first instrumental part now all at 90. Messy in the latest parts i learnt, but practice will fix that.

It is odd, I am sure I couldn't have played this a few years ago

cshude · #10 July 10th, 2007

That was pretty cool- you make it look easy. Also checked out your video of Leyenda- nice job on that.

Fong · #11 July 12th, 2007

Hit a riff in this tune last night that I never really fancied being able to hit. Such a fast and wierd little riff I didn't really think my fingers would be able to hit it.

Hit it perfect last night for the first time and hit it a couple of times today, really pretty much amazed myself.

Fong · #12 July 12th, 2007

Just played along with the song at full speed. I somewhat hurt a bit after that, and it was very messy. It was full speed and it felt good playing along to the record.

Tho my hands and my forearms both hurt quite a bit.

Kirk Lorange · #13 July 15th, 2007

Very cool, Fong. I'm not familiar with DT, but it sounded great.

coldethyl · #14 July 15th, 2007

Sorry I missed out. It' since been removed, so wasn't able to see it.

Fong · #15 July 15th, 2007

Yeah I was just about to upload another one and post it, but realise I need to edit it and don't have any software

Will post again in a bit.