Presentation on John Petrucci

1. Presentation on John Petrucci By Jeffrey Parker Music 1010 Instructor: Craig Ferrin

2. The Early Years • born on July 12, 1967 in New York • Started playing at age 8 • Recognized love for music

3. Influences • Progressive Rock Bands • Rush • Yes • Guitarists • Randy Rhoads (in picture) • Steve Morse • Joe Satriani • Songwriters • Stevie Ray Vaughan

4. Commitment to music • 6 hours of practice each day • Attended BerkleeCollege of Music • Met with Drummer Mike Portnoy

5. Formation • Formation of Majesty • Changed name to Dream Theater • Few band member changes over the years • Originals of the band are John Petrucci and John Myung

6. Band Lineup History

7. Dream Theater • Petrucci contribution to the band • Dream Theater has 13th album coming out • Early progenitors of the progressive metal genre

8. Projects Outside of Dream Theater Liquid Tension Experiment The G3 Tour

9. Liquid Tension Experiment G3 Tour • Formed in 1997 by few members of Dream Theater • Instrumentals only • Tony Levin - Chapman Stick, bass guitar, double bass (electric upright bass)[8] • John Petrucci - guitar • Mike Portnoy - drums, percussion • Jordan Rudess - keyboards • What is the G3 tour? • First invite in 2001 • Benefits of doing G3 tour • Petrucci was invited to tour with G3 in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

10. Personal Projects • Rock Discipline released • Warm up exersizes • Wrote a book called “Guitar World presents John Petrucci’s Wild Stringdom • Solo Album “Suspended Animation”

11. Awards • Voted best Guitarist of the year • Voted Best metal guitarist

12. Dream Theater/Petrucci’s Style • Songs progressing • Instrumental solos • Enjoy overdramatizing • Long intros

13. Length of Songs • Songs average over ten minutes • Length of songs result to no radio time • Most popular are over 20 minutes

14. In Petrucci’s Mind • Petrucci’s vision • Having a goal and driection • Inspiration comes while practicing • Wants to blow peoples mind by his playing ability

15. Composition History Octavarium

16. Octavarium • Length of song is 24 minutes • Was released in 2005 • Came from Octavarium album

17. Breaking Down Octavarium • Song breaks into 5 parts • Someone Like Him • Medicate Awakening • Full Circle • Intervals • Razor’s Edge

18. Instruments • instruments are • Vocals • backing vocals • electric guitar • acoustic guitar • Bass • drums • continuum • Flute • lap steel guitar.

19. Listening Guide Octavarium

20. Part 1: Someone Like Him • 0:00 Introduction part 1: The introduction starts off the song with a single note on a keyboard synthesizer. Keeping in mind this song is very lengthy and the beginning and endings seem to be very slow pace. The first 30 seconds of this song has no sound then turns into a single note on the keyboard synthesizer. The note lasts throughout the whole introduction of the song which is about three minutes and 45 seconds. The note is just a background sound. • 0:30 Introduction part 2: As that intro note is still playing, the continuum starts off with a very slow paced solo. It has a very soft and quite tone to it. At this point only the keyboard synthesizer and continuum are playing • 1:03 Introduction part 3: The continuum continues to solo with a very slow pace. It gradually goes up to higher and higher notes then repeats itself. • 1:50 Introduction part 4: The continuum solo continues and after each note you hear the keyboard synthesizer solo echo every note the continuum plays. The notes that are played by both instruments are very high. The pace is still very slow. • 2:43 Introduction part 5: The Lap steel guitar solo starts and has the same melody as the previous solos. Still at a very slow pace but has a lot of echoing sound to this solo. • 3:49 Introduction part 6: Keyboard Synthesizer becomes a lot louder and drums come in. Still at a very slow pace however the melody that is playing at this part plays throughout the first part of the song. Every 4 seconds in this part the drums hits his cymbal and bass pedal. It ends with a very high note on the synthesizer. • 4:25 Introduction part 7: The synthesizer dies out at this part and the acoustic guitar comes in. The guitar picks the speed up just a little. It plays one chord but the rhythm is a bit faster. This part goes back to being on the quiet side. • 4:35 Introduction part 8: The acoustic guitar is now the background and the flute solo comes in. Still at a very slow pace but it is playing the same melody of the first verse (that has not come in yet) and the same melody as introduction part 6. • 5:15 Verse 1: Acoustic guitar starts it out with individual notes playing a chord not strumming. Has a minor sound to it. Sounds a little creepy. The singer comes in and starts off very small and quiet. The singer has a higher voice. The verse takes a while but has a very calming sound to it. It is very soothing and only the singer and guitar is playing. • 6:39 verse 2: Same melody as verse 1 but you hear drums gently hitting the symbols once every measure. The lyrics are different at this point than the first verse. He is telling a story about a dream that he is having and how he feels like it is wonderful to think that he can be more than he dreams. • 7:50 chorus: This is one of my favorite vocal parts of the song. He goes way up into high notes at the beginning of the chorus. He is singing a lot louder and sings a lot more powerful at this part. The electric guitar is playing simple chords and drums, bass are playing the rhythm behind the singer.

21. Part 2: Medicate Awakening • 8:46 Introduction to part 2 of the song: The bass player is now playing a bridge/solo. At this part he is playing a completely different melody than before and is changing the tone of the song. It is a very cool bridge. The pace is a lot faster and has a cool sound to it. The piano then follows the bass after about 10 seconds of the bass introduction. • 9:15 Verse 1 to part 2 of the song: The singer begins again as the bass and piano continues to play. His melody is different from the first part of the song. The completely change the tone of the song. However still calm but is a lot louder and faster pace than part 1 of the song. This verse has a different melody than the verses in part 1 of the song. • 10:10 Verse 2 to part 2 of the song: Same tempo has verse of 1 of part 2 of the song however more backing vocals are heard. Tempo still slow. • 10:40 Bridge: A part where there is a pause in vocals and the bass, piano, and drums are still playing the melody. • 10:53 verse 3 to part 2 of the song: Melody is the same as previous verse’s but the vocals are more powerful and louder. As he sings backup vocals sing behind him. The backup vocals at this part are the original singer’s voices. • 12:15 Instrumental part 1: One of the best parts of the song. The verse is done and the vocals die out and the keyboard synthesizer comes in and completely changes the melody of the song. He goes into a really cool sounding riff and the notes that are playing are pretty high then he goes up an octave and plays that same melody. • 12:34 Instrumental part 2: Keyboard synthesizer is still playing but now the electric guitar is playing its own riff that sounds very cool with the synthesizer. It sounds so cool and it is very upbeat at this point. • 13:00 Instrumental part 3: The synthesizer is still playing but is really having a good solo now. He is changing the tone into a minor scale and then guitar is playing a different riff to accompany the synthesizer.

22. Part 3: Full Circle • 13:50 Introduction to part 3 of the song: The riff from instrumental 3 leads right to a very cool sounding riff that starts off the melody of part 3 of the song. At the beginning of this part it’s just the electric guitar then the keyboard accompanies with the guitar. This still sounds like the minor scale. It is creepier sounding. • 14:00 Verse 1 of part 3 of the song: Vocals come in and has a very intense sound. This verse is very powerful and louder. Each verse from this whole song so far has picked up its paced and to this point the pace is a lot faster. The melody is different from the other melodies so far. At the end of every two measures the guitar has a cool bridge at the end accompanied with the keyboard. • 14:28 Second part of verse 1 of part 3 of the song: Now backup vocals are echoing what the singer is singing. Same melody and same pace as the previous current verse. • 14:58 Verse 2 of part 3 of the song: Same melody as previous verse. Song is still intense and is at a fast pace. There are backup vocals still echoing the parts the original singer is singing. • 15:40 Bridge: Vocals are not present now. Just instrumentals such as the keyboard, electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums. Pace is gradually getting faster. • 16:08 Instrumental part 4: Guitar is playing a different riff, very cool sounding. After two measures of this riff the keyboard accompanies that riff only a octave higher. At the end of this part the keyboard and guitar gets loud and higher up the scale. • 16:28 Instrumental part 5: Guitar and keyboard are playing down the scale then repeats. After a few measure they stop playing and you only hear the drums still playing with the guitar chord dying out. • 16:45 Instrumental solo part 1: Guitar solo starts off. Guitar is being played very fast with it being muffled. Then guitar is going up and down the scale. The rhythm (bass and drums) are at a fast tempo. • 16:57 Instrumental solo part 2: Guitar solo is playing the same solo very fast however now the keyboard is playing the exact same notes up and down the scale with the guitar. This part is very cool sounding. The guitar and keyboard are playing perfect with each other. • 17:30 Instrumental solo part 3: Guitar and keyboard are still soloing but they are playing a different melody now but they are still playing the same notes as each other. • 17:40 Instrumental solo part 4: No guitar at this part just a keyboard sound and drums. Still cool sounding but changing the melody a bit. • 17:51 Instrumental solo part 5: Very cool part! After the short keyboard only part the acoustic guitar plays a very cool short melody. This melody sounds awesome and very happy sounding. • 17:56 Instrumental solo part 6: After the acoustic guitar solo the electric comes in and plays a different melody. The keyboard is mimicking the electric guitar again. • 18:06 Instrumental part 7: Now the electric guitar plays what the acoustic solo played in instrumental part 5. The electric guitar plays it two measures then goes an octave higher and the keyboard accompanies the guitar. • 18:07 Bridge: The bass guitar, guitar, and keyboard are all mimicking each other while it transitions to the next part of the song.

23. Part 4: Intervals • 18:28 Introduction to part 4 of the song: Just the drums and keyboard are playing. The beat, melody, and rhythm have changed. The sound is creepy sounding and is just setting the tone for the next few verses • 18:41 Verse 1 of part 4 of the song: The electric guitar is playing the rhythm with a muffled tone and the singer is singing in a darker tone. More raspy but he is still singing/talking. • 19:07 verse 2 of part 4 of the song: The singer is now getting louder and the guitar is not being muffled anymore. This part is building up getting louder and more powerful. The singer is kind of speaking with authority at this point, not singing as much. • 19:20 part 2 of verse 2 of part 4 of the song: The singer is now singing but with a raspy sound to his voice, sounding kind of darker and more intense. He starts singing higher and louder while the rhythm section matches the singer’s rhythm

24. Part 5: Razor’s Edge • 19:51 Introduction to part 5 of the song: Kind of sounds like the song is ending (even thought it isn’t). The keyboard comes in and the tone and melody change to the start of the song. The keyboard synthesizer and guitar are playing. The tempo slowed down a lot but it’s not as slow as the start of the song • 20:38 Verse 1 of part 5 of the song: Singer comes in and starts his verse. He is not dark sounding anymore, he is back to his original voice. He builds up and starts singing pretty high. The instruments are playing the background while the vocals are taking the lead of the song right now. He then sings his last line of the song “ This story ends where it begins” • 21:27 Conclusion part 1: The electric guitar plays the introduction from the very beginning of the song. He plays the notes and melody that was played by the continuum. The melody is a lot prettier and more soulful. However it is loud, it’s not as quiet as the beginning of the song even though it’s the same melody. • 22:30 Conclusion part 2: The guitar is playing the melodies throughout the first 2 parts of the song. The keyboard and drums are playing as the background to the guitar. • 23:06 Conclusion part 3: The guitar solo dies out and the song begins to get slower and slower. The keyboard and drums are playing and the beat slows down until the last note • 23:35 Conclusion part 4: Only one note by the synthesizer is playing and it dies out for about 30 seconds.

25. Works Cited • Gasson, Adam. “Interview: John Petrucci's 7 Steps to Prog Guitar Greatness” http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-john-petruccis-7-steps-to-prog-guitar-greatness-541409 . 26 April, 2012. Web. 30 June 2013 • Ochino, Lisa. “Interview: Why Their Songs are so Long, Music, Industry, Advice, and How He Knew Mike Mangini Was the One”. http://www.berkleegroove.com/2011/11/20/exclusive-interview-with-dream-theater%e2%80%99s-john-petrucci-why-their-songs-are-so-long-music-industry-advice-and-how-he-knew-mike-mangini-was-the-one/. Road Runner Records. 20 November, 2011. Web. June 30, 2013 • No author. “Octavarium Analysis”. http://dt.spatang.com/octavarium.php. n.d. Web. 28 June, 2013 • Prato, Greg. “Biography”. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-petrucci-mn0000812741 . n.d. web. 28 June. 2013 • Warren, Paul. “John Petrucci Biography”. http://www.johnpetrucci.com/. n.d. Web. 28 June. 2013