Guitar student of mine wants to learn some Dream Theater... suggestions?

HumanFuseBen · 07-22-2009, 10:41 AM

I have a student who has taken lessons from me for a while. he's a pretty solid player! he could use a little more attention to accuracy and precision, but he's got a solid repertoire of techniques going.

anyway, he told me he'd like to learn some Dream Theater to boost his chops. i'm not a huge DT fan (anymore, i used to LOVE them), but i dig Petrucci's playing. plus, as a teacher, i would MUCH rather work on this stuff than some Job for a Cowboy bullshit hahaha

i think he could play most all the riffs, but probably not any of his REALLY intense solos. the more chill melodic ones, i'm sure he could do, but no Glass Prison arpeggios or anything like that.

so far i was thinking of Pull Me Under, Home, and maybe Overture 1812 (or whatever.... 1st instrumental on SFaM). any other ideas?

oh, and p.s., he plays a 6 string, although he plans on making the right choice and buying a 7 this summer!

liamh · 07-22-2009, 10:53 AM

Octavarium solo.
Long, big phrasing, slow for the most part, but with some pretty fasst picking as well.

Esp Griffyn · 07-22-2009, 10:58 AM

"Lie" - dead easy for the most part, If I remember there is some crazyness at the end, but the end of the song is just a big open progression that is ripe for some improv. Once he gets his 7 of course, it will be a nice incentive for him to buy one

willybman · 07-22-2009, 11:02 AM

yeah, pull me under is great, my teacher taught it to me when i was taking lessons.

TimSE · 07-22-2009, 11:06 AM

the count of tuscany from Black clouds and silver linings is a wicked tune and very do-able for someone whos just getting into dream theater - playing wise that it

other than that LIE is a wicked tune

shaneroo · 07-22-2009, 11:08 AM

main solo break down for erotomania.... i still teach that one....... mainly the lick in 5's.
great for timing, and for intense playing.....
hell, the whole song is a winner to me.
and definitely for the alternate picking..... the ending to this dying soul.

liamh · 07-22-2009, 11:11 AM

Scarred and voices have good solo's, it will help with his wah-control also.

Fionn · 07-22-2009, 11:24 AM

as i am (train of thought), tis a bit intense but something to aim for? you say petrucci, why not try some stuff of his solo record like Glasgow Kiss or Jaws Of Life, some serious stuff there, as well as simpler melodies.

+1 for Erotomania, such an awesome tune!!!

vontetzianos · 07-22-2009, 11:29 AM

The solo from Another Day is another awesome one to work one. The one alternate picking lick is a little intense and is something to work towards, but the rest is very melodic and challenging.

If he's getting into Dream Theater, maybe a few Liquid Tension Experiment songs will be cool to work on as well. The first that comes to mind is Biaxident, as it's really not that difficult to play and is an awesome song overall.

distressed_romeo · 07-22-2009, 11:34 AM

On top of what's been mentioned, how about the following...

'Another Day': A good one for both rhythm and lead, and the solo would be a good primer for some of Petrucci's more intense stuff.

'Surrounded': As above, and if he's into extreme delay effects (like me!

) the solo is an absolute blast!

'The Silent Man': This is a great exercise in acoustic rhythm playing, and it means he'll always have a song tailor made for open-mic nights in his repetoire (I used to play this one with a female friend back in school, with her singing and me playing guitar).

Luuk · 07-22-2009, 12:15 PM

Beyond this life.. awesome song, clean and distortion parts.. and pretty hard solo.

HumanFuseBen · 07-22-2009, 01:17 PM

awesome suggestions so far! keep em coming, thanks a lot!

renzoip · 07-22-2009, 01:53 PM

I'm surprised no oe has suggested this yet:

But yeah, "Another Day" is not such a hard song and it's great for both rhythm and lead.

Severance · 07-22-2009, 02:21 PM

Fatal Tragedy is the first I learn and i learn it front to back at like a 1 and a half.

Crometeef · 07-22-2009, 05:57 PM

i've always been a fan of the overture solos. i started on them years ago and it's still challenging to this day haha. man i need to practice more. trolling forums and youtube has totally owned my practice sessions!

Bleak · 07-22-2009, 09:08 PM

If you're looking for something rewarding, but not overly challenging, check out his solo for "Wither"
A great solo, and one of his easier ones. Good luck!

BrainArt · 07-22-2009, 09:13 PM

Damage Control and Curve off of JP's solo album. Those are sick.

AK DRAGON · 07-23-2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IbanezShredderB

Damage Control and Curve off of JP's solo album. Those are sick.

+1 to those

another day
Wither
Forsaken

Nazca · 07-23-2009, 07:54 AM

I'm suprised noone's mentioned Under a Glass Moon. Very fun song to learn and play.

There's so much awesome stuff in the John Petrucci repertoire. The list would be too long.

Check out LTE, his solo album, Explorer's Club. He's got some pretty cool stuff on Rock Discipline.

HumanFuseBen · 07-23-2009, 09:50 AM

oh yeah man, glass moon is awesome! good idea...

liquidtensionJP · 10-22-2009, 06:10 PM

Under A Glass Moon, 4 String Sweeps, Some Double Stops, Bends, tapping Trem work, its a great solo, there is a really good video of JP playing that solo by himself on youtube.com I would say thats one of his hardest solo's to play along with erotomania's last solo, and the sweeps in glass prison, thats what I found the hardest!

Good Medium / hard solos are As I Am, Caught In A Web, Peruvian Skies (bit easier) Endless Sac, umm. trying to think Another days a good one! Home

Good Luck man

Maybe run through some of petruccis chord stuff, its really interesting!

All the Best!

Xaios · 10-22-2009, 06:57 PM

Ytse Jam?

Some others I'd recommend are Trial of Tears, The Silent Man (dead easy and sounds great), These Walls, Sacrificed Sons and Scarred.

cyril v · 10-22-2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IbanezShredderB

Damage Control and Curve off of JP's solo album. Those are sick.

+1 for this, exactly what i was going to post.

pink freud · 10-22-2009, 09:12 PM

Ytse Jam
Erotomania
Scenes from a Memory Pt 1: Metropolis

Back when I liked playing that sort of music, those are the ones that I learned.

Xiphos68 · 10-22-2009, 09:14 PM

+1 to Under a Glass Moon

Metropolis Part: 1
Take the Time the whole song. Great tune for cleans, rhythm, and solo is great as well.

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07-22-2009, 10:41 AM	#1
HumanFuseBen SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,824 Thanked: 76 $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 6 reviews	Guitar student of mine wants to learn some Dream Theater... suggestions? I have a student who has taken lessons from me for a while. he's a pretty solid player! he could use a little more attention to accuracy and precision, but he's got a solid repertoire of techniques going. anyway, he told me he'd like to learn some Dream Theater to boost his chops. i'm not a huge DT fan (anymore, i used to LOVE them), but i dig Petrucci's playing. plus, as a teacher, i would MUCH rather work on this stuff than some Job for a Cowboy bullshit hahaha i think he could play most all the riffs, but probably not any of his REALLY intense solos. the more chill melodic ones, i'm sure he could do, but no Glass Prison arpeggios or anything like that. so far i was thinking of Pull Me Under, Home, and maybe Overture 1812 (or whatever.... 1st instrumental on SFaM). any other ideas? oh, and p.s., he plays a 6 string, although he plans on making the right choice and buying a 7 this summer!

07-22-2009, 11:06 AM	#5
TimSE SS Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 4,158 Thanked: 139 Feedback Score: 7 reviews	the count of tuscany from Black clouds and silver linings is a wicked tune and very do-able for someone whos just getting into dream theater - playing wise that it other than that LIE is a wicked tune www.facebook.com/tempusfusionband http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/to-...ll/id507292058

07-22-2009, 11:08 AM	#6
shaneroo Oh, herrrrro...... Join Date: May 2007 Location: LA Posts: 781 Thanked: 72 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	main solo break down for erotomania.... i still teach that one....... mainly the lick in 5's. great for timing, and for intense playing..... hell, the whole song is a winner to me. and definitely for the alternate picking..... the ending to this dying soul. http://stOrk.bigcartel.com http://Schwarzenator.bigcartel.com www.myspace.com/officialstork www.schwarzenator.com www.shaneguitar.com www.korn.com www.myspace.com/shaneshred

07-22-2009, 11:24 AM	#8
Fionn SS.org Regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Plymouth, Devon, UK Posts: 1,415 Thanked: 18 Feedback Score: 4 reviews	as i am (train of thought), tis a bit intense but something to aim for? you say petrucci, why not try some stuff of his solo record like Glasgow Kiss or Jaws Of Life, some serious stuff there, as well as simpler melodies. +1 for Erotomania, such an awesome tune!!! Perfection at Blistering Speeds! TM

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07-22-2009, 10:53 AM	#2
liamh Geek-chic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England Posts: 2,121 Thanked: 13 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Octavarium solo. Long, big phrasing, slow for the most part, but with some pretty fasst picking as well.

07-22-2009, 10:58 AM	#3
Esp Griffyn APEX Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SEVEN Posts: 3,617 Thanked: 23 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	"Lie" - dead easy for the most part, If I remember there is some crazyness at the end, but the end of the song is just a big open progression that is ripe for some improv. Once he gets his 7 of course, it will be a nice incentive for him to buy one

07-22-2009, 11:02 AM	#4
willybman Willard Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Lake Worth, Fl Posts: 408 Thanked: 14 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah, pull me under is great, my teacher taught it to me when i was taking lessons.

07-22-2009, 11:11 AM	#7
liamh Geek-chic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England Posts: 2,121 Thanked: 13 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Scarred and voices have good solo's, it will help with his wah-control also.

07-22-2009, 11:29 AM	#9
vontetzianos ss.org Regular Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Joburg, SA Posts: 2,916 Thanked: 55 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	The solo from Another Day is another awesome one to work one. The one alternate picking lick is a little intense and is something to work towards, but the rest is very melodic and challenging. If he's getting into Dream Theater, maybe a few Liquid Tension Experiment songs will be cool to work on as well. The first that comes to mind is Biaxident, as it's really not that difficult to play and is an awesome song overall.

07-22-2009, 11:34 AM	#10
distressed_romeo F'king ............ Join Date: May 2005 Location: Melnibone (duh!) Posts: 10,717 Thanked: 233 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	On top of what's been mentioned, how about the following... 'Another Day': A good one for both rhythm and lead, and the solo would be a good primer for some of Petrucci's more intense stuff. 'Surrounded': As above, and if he's into extreme delay effects (like me!) the solo is an absolute blast! 'The Silent Man': This is a great exercise in acoustic rhythm playing, and it means he'll always have a song tailor made for open-mic nights in his repetoire (I used to play this one with a female friend back in school, with her singing and me playing guitar). Define 'well-adjusted'... http://farsideguitars.blogspot.com/

07-22-2009, 12:15 PM	#11
Luuk ss.org Regular Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 510 Thanked: 18 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Beyond this life.. awesome song, clean and distortion parts.. and pretty hard solo.

07-22-2009, 01:17 PM	#12
HumanFuseBen SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,824 Thanked: 76 $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 6 reviews	awesome suggestions so far! keep em coming, thanks a lot!

07-22-2009, 01:53 PM	#13
renzoip I Am the Table Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Ihate, FL, US. Posts: 2,468 Thanked: 19 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm surprised no oe has suggested this yet: But yeah, "Another Day" is not such a hard song and it's great for both rhythm and lead. DARK LEGACY - Progressive Power Metal from South FL!

07-22-2009, 09:13 PM	#17
BrainArt Deftones Guru. Join Date: May 2009 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 7,667 Thanked: 25 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Damage Control and Curve off of JP's solo album. Those are sick. Member of the Injustice League with Pooluke41, Jakke and -42. I am Poi; The Ipu pounding, Ukulele shredding rapey clown, who ruins childhood dreams of balloon animals!

07-22-2009, 02:21 PM	#14
Severance The Cockhammer Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: lewisville texas Posts: 562 Thanked: 24 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Fatal Tragedy is the first I learn and i learn it front to back at like a 1 and a half.

07-22-2009, 05:57 PM	#15
Crometeef SS.org Regular Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 282 Thanked: 9 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i've always been a fan of the overture solos. i started on them years ago and it's still challenging to this day haha. man i need to practice more. trolling forums and youtube has totally owned my practice sessions!

07-22-2009, 09:08 PM	#16
Bleak SS.org Regular Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 628 Thanked: 11 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you're looking for something rewarding, but not overly challenging, check out his solo for "Wither" A great solo, and one of his easier ones. Good luck!

07-23-2009, 07:54 AM	#19
Nazca SS.org Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cheshire Posts: 204 Thanked: 6 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I'm suprised noone's mentioned Under a Glass Moon. Very fun song to learn and play. There's so much awesome stuff in the John Petrucci repertoire. The list would be too long. Check out LTE, his solo album, Explorer's Club. He's got some pretty cool stuff on Rock Discipline.

07-23-2009, 09:50 AM	#20
HumanFuseBen SS.org Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,824 Thanked: 76 $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $HumanFuseBen is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 6 reviews	oh yeah man, glass moon is awesome! good idea...

10-22-2009, 06:10 PM	#21
liquidtensionJP ss.org Regular Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: PERTH Posts: 7 Thanked: 0 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Under A Glass Moon, 4 String Sweeps, Some Double Stops, Bends, tapping Trem work, its a great solo, there is a really good video of JP playing that solo by himself on youtube.com I would say thats one of his hardest solo's to play along with erotomania's last solo, and the sweeps in glass prison, thats what I found the hardest! Good Medium / hard solos are As I Am, Caught In A Web, Peruvian Skies (bit easier) Endless Sac, umm. trying to think Another days a good one! Home Good Luck man Maybe run through some of petruccis chord stuff, its really interesting! All the Best!

10-22-2009, 06:57 PM	#22
Xaios Foolish Mortal Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nimbus III Posts: 6,570 Thanked: 128 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ytse Jam? Some others I'd recommend are Trial of Tears, The Silent Man (dead easy and sounds great), These Walls, Sacrificed Sons and Scarred.

10-22-2009, 09:12 PM	#24
pink freud SS.org Regular Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,469 Thanked: 53 $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ $pink freud is rather kvlt and tr00. \m/$ Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ytse Jam Erotomania Scenes from a Memory Pt 1: Metropolis Back when I liked playing that sort of music, those are the ones that I learned.

10-22-2009, 09:14 PM	#25
Xiphos68 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Earth Posts: 6,555 Thanked: 187 Feedback Score: 0 reviews	+1 to Under a Glass Moon Metropolis Part: 1 Take the Time the whole song. Great tune for cleans, rhythm, and solo is great as well. Have a question about The Gospel or prayer request, PM me. Happy to help and God Bless! Band: www.facebook.com/whisperfromheaven For fans of Melodic-Metal. "Once you have entered the Ocean... You have entered the food chain." - Dad

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