Conquering Petrucci's HARDEST 7 String Riff!

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Is Acid Rain by Liquid Tension Experiment John Petrucci's HARDEST 7 string riff??? I don't know, but I think it's the hardest one I've learned! It's an obstacle course of pull-offs, open strings, position shifts, and picking patterns, and I've never learned it.... until today! And Uncle Ben here is bringing YOU along for the ride and showing you all the tips and tricks that helped me NAIL IT!
This video was inspired by the BEAUTIFUL new Ernie Ball Music Man JP15 7 string that I got from Sweetwater in their EXCLUSIVE Sapphire Iris finish. It plays and sounds every bit as good as it looks!!! Playing that through the Petrucci Rig on the Fractal Axe FX III.
What's your favorite Petrucci riff from Dream Theater, LTE, or his solo career? Let me know in the comments!

[@BenEller]

What’s your favorite 7 string Petrucci riff?! Watch the full extended cut ad-free PLUS get the TABs on my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/posts/101360764?

[@Toisen]

A Change of Seasons intro

[@lyricbread]

“The Dark Eternal Night.”

[@JonManProductions]

Currently, it's between "The Dark Eternal Night" and "Temple Of Circadia", the heaviest most dirtyiest sludgy riffs from JP.

[@kathima6459]

Another Dimension...the last riff!

[@Cymbaline713]

The Mirror The Glass Prison A Change Of Seasons Caught In A Web Dark Eternal Night The Enemy Inside

[@CompleteProducer84]

It's riffs like these that make JP so good to me. People always talk about his alternate picking speed, but much less frequently about his riff writing and execution. As he said himself - 90% of the time, he is playing rhythm. Only 10% of the time is he soloing

[@kimchi2780]

Acid Rain and The Enemy Inside are insane riffs.

[@xRaid3n]

Yeah I've tried to make a dent in that opening to Enemy Inside many-a-time... so tough

[@DTbJPm]

That tone is sick! 1. The Glass Prison 2. Lie 3. The Mirror 4. The Glass Prison x2

[@Amber57499]

*Prison 🤓

[@DTbJPm]

@@Amber57499 That's true!, Ty, mate!

[@oldGnRrocks1]

i thought the first one was the shattered fortress

[@Amber57499]

Always here for your smartass needs

[@ethanreed5815]

For a seven string it has got to be The Dark Eternal Night. It's so damn catchy that every time I think about it I cannot help, but sing out the whole thing.

[@kristianm.6946]

Funny thing is that Jordan came up with that riff.

[@danielkeefe3149]

The breakdown before the solo in Caught in a Web is my favourite seven string pettruci moment. Thirty years back!

[@barry3045]

I’ve always had LIE in my playlist. Slick PH’s , groovy greasy riffs and a face melting solo. What else do you need ? TELL ME BEN , WHAT ELSE ?!??!?!

[@BenEller]

Just puppies and sunshine!

[@Ilikewhiskey2112]

A change of seasons has a million awesome riffs

[@taylorhansen9290]

Man this riff is hard! You should also do a video on that wacky section in Caught in a Web.

[@airguitar1321]

I second this

[@BenEller]

Good call!!

[@christophersimmons6492]

As always brother man,...fantastic!!!

[@allengarrow6295]

Thank you for the 7 string stuff! Just saw in one of your earlier vids that you were a 7 string guy! That makes me happy

[@chadzabloudil2402]

"It's harder than kicking water up hill" 🤣

[@paveltc]

Thanks for breaking down this riff and teaching it. I would love to see more 7 string content!

[@BenEller]

You got it!

[@VAL_HAL]

Tnx for the video, uncle Ben! I would definitely like to see more 7-string videos in future on that beauty! For sure)

[@AlbertMontinola]

That tone is insane! And your picking proficiency, just wow! Great job! 🫡

[@RiffKing719]

Love 7 string content! As a Baritone and 7 string guitar player I request more content like this, oh greatest guitar teacher on KZbin

[@TristanTarrant]

Any track from Trivium's Shogun is a masterclass in that

[@TheBfutgreg]

I'm quite partial to The Dark Eternal Night's intro riff....first thing I attempted when I snagged a 7 string

[@axelbroquet5724]

Awesome video. John's mighty riffage is the thing that made me get a 7 strings a long time ago ! His rhythm guitar and riffage abilities are often overlooked compared to his soloing. I don't comment very often but I love your content, Uncle Ben ! Greetings from France 🤘

[@thesolitarytroubadour9894]

Great stuff! I heard JP chuckle with each failure! Awesome seeing the ongoing JP struggles. Nice little support group happening lol

[@c4bb4g3]

I'm so stoked for this. Excellent video and I would be glued to more going over this song. The main theme John does (the warp speed single-string lick after the call-and-response arpeggios 😵‍💫) is one of my favorite things he's done. Gonna start working on this opening section right away.

[@jaymitchosky]

Genius as always. Love the Gretzky reference. Nice nods to The Glass Prison and Lie as well. 🤘🏻

[@alexarchibald5321]

Hell yes, more 7 string content for sure Uncle Ben xoxo

[@CompleteProducer84]

2:11 The Glass Prison 9:23 Lie 14:17 The Glass Prison again

[@adiecummingsshredguitar9306]

Amazing lesson amazing guitar

[@PaulWarrenMusic]

Extremely well explained!! And I love the finish on your new gitfiddle!

[@BenEller]

Thanks so much!

[@sebastiandelgado8879]

Beautiful guitar and playing

[@Scorpsie]

Please do more seven string content! Really love the tracks you choose!

[@jamescurtis6823]

Would love a rundown of how you set up your 7’s to get optimum balance of tension and clarity

[@BenEller]

I generally go pretty light for that low B. 54 for standard B tuning, like 56 for drop A.

[@tuu_nainen]

@@BenEllerWHAT. I’ve been rocking a 66 for drop A and been wondering why it sounds horrible.. 56 it is then

[@Cymbaline713]

@@BenEller I usually go 52 for the low B. (I use 8s on my 7-string.)

[@zz-.-]

3:14 lol I did literally laugh out loud at c section

[@chrisnaishguitar]

Fantastic video, and what a beautiful guitar! The other song riff references: The Glass Prison, Lie, The Mirror, The Glass Prison (again).

[@anish3183]

That's a monster riff, damn.

[@TK-we9zt]

Definitely more Seven String content, please and thank you🤘🙇🤘

[@richardjones2811]

Great tip that you mentioned. I've always played like that, when using a hammer on or pull off it simply replaces the down/upstroke but still make the motion with the righ hand to maintain the Rhythym.

[@BenEller]

This is the way!

[@jfo3000]

Yep...and then if you want to pick every note you can, just plunge in with the upstrokes.

[@Nickshreds890]

Howdy Uncle Ben !! I thank you for this video! I've been needing some inspiration. Petrucci is one of my favourites . I love the paint job on that guitar 🎸

[@Nickshreds890]

Please try some of the Contortionist 7 string riffs !! If you want 😉

[@sharpermirror396]

That was awesome. Lessons are great but watching a teacher breakdown their own practice/study is something else. Thank you. And that guitar is stellar. I’ve got a JP15 and think the 7 string version might be next 🤤

[@jbrodman]

Way to go, Uncle Ben!

[@egadzitsme]

Hell yes, thank you for this. This is one of my go-to riffs despite sludging it up everytime. Would love seeing you work through the whole thing as well as JP's other 7 string brain melters.

[@titoxprogr11]

A new riff to learn now that I bought my first seven string! Keep being awesome Ben! Also, now that this video is about Petrucci, it would be really cool if you can do a lesson for the another day solo, I’m really struggling with that fast run in that solo!

[@BenEller]

Cool, thanks! Learned that one kinda recently. Challenge accepted.

[@gavinmacfarlane7044]

Awesome video

[@erichartwell6792]

It’s beautiful and sounds fantastic 🤘🏻

[@BenEller]

Thanks a lot!

[@erichartwell6792]

You are the best uncle been I learn a lot even if I can’t play it yet I’ll get there 💯🤘🏻

[@shredking001]

The glass prison for me. Dark eternal night and the shattered fortress are killer too. I also appreciate that JP can make even you look mortal. That dude is a monster

[@MarceloFTE]

Feel free to continue getting JP's riffs, we are all struggling together, actually lol. Hope you'll soon get a Majesty 8 string so we can learn Awaken the Master together and also the new tracks on the new album. Thank you for the great, great content as always, uncle Ben!

[@DonTitoification]

One of my favourites 7s riffs are the ones from the shattered fortress. Awesome riffs

[@georgenowik7421]

More. Please and thank you.

[@TheMirrorify]

Yeah boii I'm down for the 7 string stuff! Beautiful guitar too.

[@BenEller]

Thanks dude!

[@eyeofefil]

way to go uncle Ben!

[@NoJobRob]

yes definitely more 7-string content pls

[@Double_0_7_Strings]

Lie was the first riff I learned on 7 string haha. Love the Petruccinator.

[@NelderGuitar]

Uncle Ben with the Great one reference from the top ropes.

[@wyattfreihon4048]

If you feel like it, can you do a lesson on Future Breed Machine or Corridor of Chameleons? I could get the riffs but the rhythms never clicked the way they should. Thanks for the lesson Uncle Ben

[@kathima6459]

Thank you for getting me back onto an album that I used to wear out in the early aughts. It's a technical masterpiece yet murderous from the "I want to play this".😂

[@blakerunyon8523]

lol was just talking about Acid Rain and how it’s been a good while since listening to it. And then…Uncle Ben shows us how badass it really is…

[@moustache-metal]

I caught The Glass Prison, Lie, The Mirror. Some fun Acid Rain trivia: later in the song it sounds like JP appropriates an Al DiMeola riff from Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway. It's a bit different but you can hear the influence. Actually there are a few moments in the song that illustrate how much of an inspiration Al D was on JP. Excellent tone, guitar, and lesson!

[@noamkakashy5592]

Only 1 view? Uncle Ben so underrated

[@chucksaeger7500]

That 7 string sounds terrific! I’ll have to stick with my 6 string and try at half speed!

[@jsk8et]

It’s great to see you break this down. You have to get nerdy if you want to get gnarly.

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

That's one of my favorite albums. I think JPs playing is absolutely stellar on the album in general!! LTE (or as I call them, DT-LiTE lol) is an awesome combo of musicians.

[@thekeefer690]

Killer lesson! The A section reminds me of the main riff from Grace by Lamb of God.

[@jasonjuneau2948]

😂 the c section joke actually made me lol. And I kinda think John and jeff loomis are in the same boat in regard that their rythum playing gets over shadowed by their leads. People forget that they write awesome riffs too.

[@GillBoldberg]

A Change of Seasons has some great riffs and a lot of beautiful clean parts. That's one thing that's never talked about when it comes to JP's playing - his chord choices and amazing clean parts in so many songs.

[@ryanschindler923]

Breaking down the opening riffs to 'Dark Eternal Night" would be great, i think that's some of the best 7-string stuff John did with DT. And it's a real workout for both hands too.

[@BenEller]

Love it! Will do.

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

Uncle Ben, that JP is gorgeous. I FAR prefer these over the Majesty. My Sterling JP150 still blows me away

[@JoshuaLTRyan]

Sweetwater does the color thing with pedals too, which is sort of cool. Well done Uncle Ben.

[@AdamDallas]

Dude that JP15 is sick. I have the JPX 7 string in the majestic barolo finish. My favorite 7 string Petrucci riff is probably the instrumental section in Caught in a web. Acid rain is sick too.

[@salmathe8bitSamurai]

More 7 string content! 🙏

[@shaharbar]

The entangled necklaces triggered my OCD in a bad way… LOL!

[@BenEller]

hahahaha

[@moundofsound4768]

Good luck with the long form riff-lick at 1min50. It's a beast!!

[@JonManProductions]

The funny thing is that I can play this song... on drums. Not guitar. XD When I was actively practicing drums, Acid Rain was my warm-up.

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

Howdy, Unc. I’m not a 7-string player but I think I should be. JP is my OG guitar hero and Aaron Marshall is new on my scene - perhaps you could cover some Intervals for more 7-string content? As well as more JP, obvs!

[@wm-nu1yf]

Would definitely like to see more 7 string goodness. I played one of those JP 7 strings a while back and that was one of the nicest guitars I have ever played.

[@BenEller]

They’re amazing!!! I’m always looking for more excuses to do 7 string stuff.

[@Laevus2321]

@@BenEller Then get on some Nevermore riff/solo. Born and This Godless Endeavor should keep you busy for at least 5 minutes :D

[@sirtogii5216]

Go for it! Any more reasons to force me to get a 7 string very welcome! The Mrs surely had to accept at least a second hand Stirling version if uncle Ben says so?

[@ciao_knives7604]

2:12 The Glass Prison, 9:23 Lie/The Mirror/Puppies on Acid, 14:18 The Glass Prison again.

[@pagl3120]

Man, I like your style. New video new guitar

[@mikesmith1290]

In the presence of Enemies still blows me away after all these years. That shit is nuts!!

[@markdawsonziglar9436]

I have Sterling by Music Man, JP signature series 7-string. I love it.🤘

[@behamiltonsrful]

The Enemy Inside is a pretty bad ass riff. The opening Riff melts faces

[@sotirios6882]

Hey Ben, is the Arteerightous kicking in yet Lol. 🥵 Go ice that hand. Btw nice axe love the color. 🤘

[@ROOKTABULA]

Seeing someone with your chops struggling and fugging up gives me some perspective, that maybe I don't achieve the impossible* every time I play. Thanks for that, duder. ✌️ *(Suck & blow simultaneously)

[@impoopnrightnow906]

*UNCLE BEN!*

[@BenEller]

HI!

[@adamkahn8645]

I know this is gonna sound stupid but I really like seeing that someone even as good as you, you still have to slow shit down and gradually bring it up to speed. Makes me feel not so dumb when I have to do the same

[@PastirellaGuitar]

-Glass Prison -Acid Rain slowed x100 -John Petrucci playing Acid Rain -Acid Rain slowed x50 -Glass Prison -Acid Rain (guitar center rendition) -Acid Rain encore (100% speed) 10/10 would see live

[@lukasgraesslin]

ok gotta admit, I laughed at the c section joke.

[@gtr362012]

Am I the only one who clapped when he got it at tempo? And shouted yay! 😂… good job Uncle Ben!

[@travisgularte4792]

u da man uncle #ben 😎🤘🏻

[@beneltonturkeyslap]

that guitar looks amazing

[@handsofdoubt31]

Hell yeah! More 7 string content will be devoured gratefully.

[@tornoutlaw]

I just started learning Acid Rain yesterday, by coincident and without seeing your vid. I am through sections A, B, C at around 50% speed now 😅

[@randallhaney7909]

Yes'eree Uncle Benny Bob.. Learning new technical stuff on guitar; can be a daunting task & A complex undertaking to say the least. But as you say, practice, patience & perseverance. (and a metronome) One can meet that challenge and overcome it. I remember one such complex endeavor I endured, When learning the chords to "Horse with no name" Wow'zers And yes after a few sort months of, practice, patience & perseverance. (and a metronome) I had that S#!^ down.. .LOL Seriously though. Thanks Uncle Benny Bob For, Always bringing us cool and fun stuff. You are apricated.

[@sepiarain]

Would love to see you attack some Nevermore... the Born chorus is almost as beautiful as step-mom.

[@BenEller]

That’s some quality 7 string action

[@ryanreed380]

Yes PLEASE. Nevermore is so underrated.

[@sepiarain]

@@BenEller It's great because it uses the full range, the verse and pre chorus riff using lower register widdle and chug and then the pure alternate picked chorus arpeggios just sound hellishly epic. 🫵 got this Uncle Ben.

[@Momentvm]

More 7 string content, uncle Ben!

[@StuPedassol]

I think it was Carcass and Arch Enemy that got me into 7 strings, but not long after, of course, it was John and Dream Theater. I used to have an Ibanez 7, but traded it for a Dean Dave Mustaine V because I just wasn't writing riffs on it, as much as I practiced leads on it. So like Scott Ian says "Why do it on 7 if you can't do it on 6?" LOL Thanks, Uncy Bang!

[@johnbillson3767]

The paintjob on that guitar is sick

[@TinkMcGathy]

Man if you could do a breakdown of more Dream Theater 7 string madness I’m in.

[@BenEller]

Gimme suggestions! Always down for more.

[@TinkMcGathy]

@@BenEllerI always have a difficult time with the way he moves through octaves on A Change of Seasons (2:48) time marker. He’s essentially playing the same patterns but shifts octaves and it boggles me.

[@graysonhester2955]

The Dance of Eternity!

[@Dropshock20XX]

Sick

[@behamiltonsrful]

I have the FM3, are those Petrucci patches in there as well? What are the names? I appreciate your work, brother

[@maqam_guitar]

The Enemy Inside was one of the first 7 string songs I learned. The riffs are super fun and the solo is relatively do-able for a JP solo

[@andrewsmall4865]

I already knew what the song was going to be before clicking

[@Mangos390]

I know you don’t really do covers but I’d love to see you do a cover of the song after you’ve finally learnt it

[@JaredTheGrayson]

Man, this is my first watch here, Very informative and entertaining. But, I have to ask... Where's Chip Foose?

[@melloman8210]

camera focus. that's all the constructive feedback i have :). thanks for the incredible content. i still laugh about the meshuggah "mushroom burger" line LOL