Conquering Petrucci's HARDEST 7 String Riff!

[@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

[@ooo_Kim_Chi_ooo]

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

[@Ilikewhiskey2112]

A change of seasons has a million awesome riffs

[@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!

[@warrenwalker2665]

Mats Haugen of Circus Maximus has some pretty interesting musical feats. JP is pretty awesome indeed. Thanks Uncle Ben...great job as always Cuzn...

[@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!

[@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.

[@ThunderVice]

Thanks for this video Ben. Normally you make things look easy. It's always great (from my perspective) to see excellent players have to work hard to get something like the rest of us. It's actually very motivating!

[@Scorpsie]

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

[@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

[@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!!

[@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.

[@jsk8et]

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

[@TheBfutgreg]

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

[@paveltc]

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

[@BenEller]

You got it!

[@willbohland3698]

The pentatonic box lick around 10 minutes in...That's the glory section. We can all do that one. That where we feel like we might have a chance at playing this.

[@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

[@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

[@got2rock4]

My favorite is A Nightmare to Remember and Change of Seasons.

[@anish3183]

That's a monster riff, damn.

[@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 🤘

[@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.)

[@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)

[@DonTitoification]

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

[@AlbertMontinola]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@alexarchibald5321]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@chadzabloudil2402]

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

[@Tchelo49]

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!

[@JoshuaLTRyan]

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

[@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 😅

[@Double_0_7_Strings]

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

[@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…

[@TheMirrorify]

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

[@BenEller]

Thanks dude!

[@NelderGuitar]

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

[@chucksaeger7500]

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

[@technicaldeathmetalhead]

Acid Rain was the first Petrucci song I've heard and loved.

[@thesolitarytroubadour9894]

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

[@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!

[@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".😂

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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 🤤

[@chrisnaishguitar]

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

[@mikesmith1290]

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

[@moundofsound4768]

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

[@NoJobRob]

yes definitely more 7-string content pls

[@handsofdoubt31]

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

[@adiecummingsshredguitar9306]

Amazing lesson amazing guitar

[@sebastiandelgado8879]

Beautiful guitar and playing

[@christophersimmons6492]

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

[@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.

[@noamkakashy5592]

Only 1 view? Uncle Ben so underrated

[@robertfisher4689]

I'm originally from Long Island. My stepfather used to deliver John's mail... My buddy took 2 guitar lessons from him in 1988, and he never went back. It was too hard. Lolol. I daw one of the very first Dream Theater Shows at a bar on Long Island called Frank Cariolas Sundance, Bay Shore, NY. DT was opening for Zebra and fired their singer, Dominici (RIP), during the show for repeatedly yelling "Scream for me, Long Beach!!" Ala- Iron Maiden, Live After Death Album. He could have yelled Scream for me Long Island, and he might not have been fired that night. Love acid rain and the live video from LA is bad ass. Tony Levin on the Chapman Stick going off.... .awesome, UncleBen. Now I can figure out this riff.

[@PaulWarrenMusic]

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

[@BenEller]

Thanks so much!

[@ciao_knives7604]

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

[@Turtleman-ef4qh]

Can you to a lesson on the solitary shell acoustic solo please

[@jaymitchosky]

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

[@behamiltonsrful]

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

[@TK-we9zt]

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

[@thekeefer690]

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

[@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

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

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

[@CompleteProducer84]

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

[@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 💯🤘🏻

[@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

[@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 😉

[@shaharbar]

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

[@BenEller]

hahahaha

[@scottbubb2946]

Thanks to you guys who donate to the cause on Patreon. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to watch this video.

[@georgenowik7421]

More. Please and thank you.

[@jbrodman]

Way to go, Uncle Ben!

[@Celari]

Petrucci's own tips from his early instructional videos on trying to get up to speed. He goes up 8 bpm once he got a riff down perfect. If +8 feels a bit sloppy. He goes down 4, then try again. Once that is good, he goes back up the 4. So he's essentially going +8, -4, +4, +8 and so on.

[@zz-.-]

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

[@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.

[@lukasgraesslin]

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

[@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

[@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

[@markdawsonziglar9436]

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

[@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!

[@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)

[@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

[@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.

[@johnbillson3767]

The paintjob on that guitar is sick

[@Guithulhu]

That's just what I was thinking. "Holy fu.....I mean oh my goodness gracious...."

[@salmathe8bitSamurai]

More 7 string content! 🙏

[@eyeofefil]

way to go uncle Ben!

[@pagl3120]

Man, I like your style. New video new guitar

[@phutureproof]

Uncle Ben looking like auntie Sheila with that beautiful lacquer work

[@theshapeexists]

Acid rain was a last minute song they pulled out with only a couple hours of studio time left. Its my favorite LTE song of all time.

[@Traul1983]

The song kind of makes more sense if you picture them squeezing as many notes as possible while the janitor is trying to kick them out.

[@theshapeexists]

@@Traul1983 exactly

[@beneltonturkeyslap]

that guitar looks amazing

[@ISDTony]

Pull off on the 5th fret on the B string instead of picking the open E for an easier time in that opening riff. ❤️

[@JaredTheGrayson]

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