Dream Theater's John Petrucci Plays His Favorite Riffs

#DreamTheater legend #JohnPetrucci joins Loudwire's #GearFactor to play his favorite #riffs. John's new solo album, #TerminalVelocity, is available Aug. 28!
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#Loudwire #Interview #Guitar #Prog #Guitarist

[@jasonlieberman4606]

When he's old and grey, he will finally look exactly like the wizard that we all know he's truly been all along.

[@syfman6]

🧙‍♂️

[@tomoharuyara9908]

That would be ruddess tbh

[@astro2691]

He's already grey.

[@cameronbartlett8299]

Remindes me of the lead singer of gormathon

[@enriquerivas7292]

Correction: When he stops painting his beard and hair

[@clone_force_6952]

Imagine being the random guy that inspired John to play, and they probably don’t even know it

[@jorozco13yearsago40]

They're probably dead.

[@ijustchangedmyname]

@@jorozco13yearsago40 Woah that escalated

[@starrk7158]

@@jorozco13yearsago40 from 0 to 100 REEEALLL quick

[@yantoaldama6813]

Don't forget to mention Royal Higness Kirk Hammet.

[@siambawixtar1272]

One of them was slash.... 🥺

[@divotband-gh5yg]

He is nailing all the Dream Theater songs. He should audition for the band.

[@Chris-jd9wg]

Stolen comment from @insulini. Did you really think no one would notice?

[@E_Chap]

Love how humble John is talking about his early mistakes. The man can probably play anything now but he still remembers where he came from.

[@richardaversa7128]

Except roadhouse blues 😂

[@richardsanchez9190]

@@richardaversa7128 I was just about to say that haha

[@franki2085]

He's no Dimebag

[@bojangles6444]

He can barely play long slow bend. I have seen him botch one entirely. He is just a wanker who plays fast- slowing down is hard for him bc he plays out of compulsion. Trying to be slow and melodic is a struggle. He is no Dime…

[@bojangles6444]

@@franki2085 exactly. I saw them both live in 97-98. Dime plays the album perfect. This guy played all kinds of mistakes!!! People who haven’t seen them live are in for a huge diss appointment. And forgot about live albums- why do you think so many cover songs?????? That’s not a normal part of the show……

[@kchennessey8781]

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins; nor is he off key. He hits every note precisely as he means to!"

[@quinetastic]

Excellent comment!

[@scottslaten6664]

Agreed! 🤘😎🤘

[@benbrennan4953]

Im very impressed with this comment!!

[@AngeloXification]

Sounds like something a jazz player would say lol

[@kchennessey8781]

@@AngeloXification Very perceptive, I am a jazz player lol

[@ezernetoguitar]

6:15 "yo, Petrucci, can you play Roadhouse Blues?" Petrucci: "Damn, man, that's hard. Can we just play The Dance of Eternity?"

[@70erJahreJunge]

Sometimes it's harder to play the simple things very good I guess. I know a very good shredder who told me that AC/DC-Riffs are the hardest to play for him.

[@erenanidem3479]

@@70erJahreJunge That's what Paul Gilbert said once

[@leonardoandreoliveiracorre5286]

@pasquale cucciolo lol, wtf is this comment? Did you write this using only the spell checker's suggestions?

[@tylercoulombe4728]

Well its tough to play blues for someone who is a shredder. Its very difficult to seperate themselves from the shredding, it ends up sounding like blues rock instead of blues.

[@ezernetoguitar]

@@tylercoulombe4728 As a blues player, I totally agree with you.

[@machinegunpreacher2469]

We often think of guys like Petrucci as just being gifted and that their skill just fell into their laps. Hearing him talk about struggling to learn simpler riffs and solos (compared to the insanity he plays on DT songs) and the enormous amount of work it took to get to the level he's on kind of humanizes players like him a bit. No amount of talent can possibly replace hard work; talent is useless without labor.

[@SICKYPOPP]

underated comment!

[@drewjohnson4794]

💯 Exactly. Talent is a fake attribute, practice is the difference. Talent just means well versed, trained or practiced. Even a barely 5 foot tall dude can be in the NBA if he's practiced a lot, remember Spud Webb. Whereas most 7 foot tall folks are really clumsy and not athletic at all.

[@rgdec74]

Truth👊🏽

[@sholland42]

It’s all practice. I’ve seen guys naturally talented at certain things but struggle with the rest. You can’t be a great guitarist without woodshedding big time.

[@rgdec74]

@@sholland42 that is so true. Imagine Petrucci doing Chet Atkins/Tommy Emmanuel. That’s why they are do many special musicians: famous and not. Music is just beautiful. So is the musicianship. 👊🏽🤘🏽

[@AceRazor]

I love how humble John is. He talks about how simple technical things were difficult for him starting out. This can really give any new player some solace as they progress, knowing that even the greats struggle.

[@quinnmitchel4075]

And he acts like such a nice guy

[@rickleblanc8900]

Everyone struggles when starting to play guitar, it doesn't happen overnight. Like John, i began learning by ear, trying to figure it out by myself with albums and repeating until i sounded decent lol. And it always helps to play with other musicians even if they're way better. You pick up a few things and learn different techniques, eventually you acquire jamming skills and instinctively recognize where to be on the fretboard. The discovery moments along the way and the end results, It's all good

[@pasta4762]

The greats are bums who kept going

[@bojangles6444]

Dude he struggles to play a quarter note. If he isn’t compulsively shredding he doesn’t know what to do with himself. The whole falling into infinity tour and album was a disaster.

[@bojangles6444]

@@pasta4762 these guys are bums that use great studio tricks to hide it. They have the worst vocalist I have ever heard in my life at a live show. Not to mention they don’t play as a band it’s a bunch of guys trying to sound louder than each other. Every stereotype about 80’s metal is embodied by their truly spinal tap of a live show. If you haven’t seen them live don’t assume you know what it sounds like. Check out the Rush tribute album- it’s a better representation than live albums.

[@stephenabbott1129]

Paranoid - Black Sabbath 0:45 Hey hey my my - Neil Young 1:25 The number of the beast - Iron Maiden 4:44 Working Man - Rush 5:27 Roadhouse blues - The Doors 6:35 Barstool warrior - Dream Theater 7:13 The mirror - Dream Theater 7:50 The dark eternal night - Dream Theater 8:20 The school song - Majesty 9:27 And off his brand new solo album! Snake in my boot - John Petrucci 10:17 Temple of circadia - John Petrucci 10:47 Thank me with like buttons :) You're welcome.

[@jeremyp245]

Stephen Abbott doing yeomans work.

[@mikecronis]

He didn't quite get Alex Lifeson's Working Man right. Shame. Well, that plus one rack distortion/chorus setting for all these songs pretty much.. so..

[@ValveReactor]

Mvp!

[@ukwonderboy]

Hero!

[@bigdaddynasty69]

hell yeah

[@samwestonpotter]

“Barstool Warrior” in my opinion, is the best culmination of Dream Theater’s best aspects. Odd times, big riffs, but also memorable, touching melodies and subject matter, and highly technical yet emotional guitar playing. If I were to tell anyone to listen to one Dream Theater song, it would be that one.

[@lu1g1rockz11]

Magnificent song to use, indeed. I have listened it for a while Now and still blows my mind. I'd try using almost that entire album. But I think a fool proof song to tell if someone can be or not into DT is Overture 1928. For the same reasons, except for, obviously, the lack of vocals.

[@mikegordon1859]

Will listen to that track now, thanks for the tip, Wits End is my fav

[@trojanhorse5906]

@@mikegordon1859 BLACK METAL TEENS HEARING PINK FLOYD

[@Faladaena]

There's no need to introduce yourself, maestro...❤

[@JaredDines_]

I love this series!

[@ayyocam1917]

I'm gonna start watching it too lol

[@maxvincy9127]

The only comment where Jared got soo many less likes. 😂. But jared is was too fuckin awesome.

[@maximustyler2250]

Yo Jared

[@ratedgsuperstar2092]

Sup Jared dines.

[@JackPlunkettMusic]

I love you

[@trl768]

I remember in a concert when Dream Theater opened with the Dark Eternal Night riff, it was raining heavily and there was thunder and lightning. The sky was blood red when lightning struck. That was the most metal moment of my life.

[@bojangles6444]

Apparently you never saw Pantera this isn’t metal at all dude. Hell I saw them at a bar.. the other side was open for dancing and more crowded than their lousy show. LaCheese couldn’t hit one right note. Worst concert of my life, never listened to them again after. I bet you are talking about a damn dvd.

[@trl768]

@@bojangles6444 It was a live concert, I was there. I meant that the moment when lightning struck with the blood red sky while they opened with the Dark Eternal Night riff was metal. Of course Pantera is much heavier than Dream Theater.

[@bojangles6444]

@@trl768 not just heavier they sound exactly like they do on the albums. DT is underwhelming- their live show just isn’t all together. James is a weak frontman he stands around facing the wrong way half the time. He used to stair at Portnoy and have his back to you half the time no joke. And Dime had tone that cut through. DT everyone is trying to sound louder than each other they act like it’s a completion not a band. Myung especially- the guy doesn’t even look around he dances around headbanging like an idiot with his volume too loud. I dunno if he can talk I never heard him do an interview. It’s like they obviously never had any real training and live you see it. Neil Peart said the Rush tribute album was full of bar bands- DT members played on almost every track. I don’t think he knew who they were bc he later apologized. The album is terrible though- no one talks about it it’s so bad. That’s what they sound like live imo. And I saw them play at a dance club- half the place was open for dancing and more crowded than the concert. I think a bar is more metal than a dance club. I would have much rather seen Petrucci do a guitar clinic he would have been easier to hear without Myung and Portnoy overplaying with bass and bass drums at ear stabbing levels. The vocals were so bad all wrong notes and no vibrato- I guess he was trying to sound trendy and less 80’s for that tour. I dunno how you guys don’t notice their vocals are a nightmare.

[@RohannvanRensburg]

Goodness, ignore the tirade. That's super metal, DT are phenomenal live and great entertainers.

[@bojangles6444]

@@RohannvanRensburg did you see the falling into Infinity tour where James decided to sing with no vibrato to sound “contemporary?” Much like Metallica they were trying to escape from metal only to return immediately once it was good for album sales. I just hope you have seen them live. Blue Ray and live album are not sufficient. It was around 1998, I would hope since you know so much you were born yet. They rarely appeal to people for longer than periods of 5 years typically in their teens and early 20’s when they admire technique but have no concept of musicality. Great entertainers?? That’s why instead of looking at the audience Briefs would face Portnoy with his back to the audience- amazing stage presence. Especially the way he hides behind the microphone like he is uncomfortable in his own skin during solos, not to mention can go a whole show without hitting one right note. Drummer and keyboard auditions. WHY not Singer Auditions????? Are the tedious 80’s glam rock vocals really the best prog can muster? I don’t think so.. at least get someone who doesn’t make faces wincing in pain with each high note.

[@Mister_Liam]

John is not only a disciplined Master, he is a lovely, humble man. Love this Dude! 🤘🏻

[@hunterjumper5892]

He’s the sum total of his playing experience. A guitarist who respects and plays all genres from heavy medal to classic blues to modern interpretations of blues by bands like Zep, SRV, is the hallmark of the best players, as he surely is.

[@siccbastard4580]

"One of my favorite DT riffs......" *Petrucci putting medal on Petrucci*

[@keplerarpeggios3215]

my fav riff is the silver thinkers: the 17 million damn its EPIC !!!

[@julioluiz]

There's no such thing as enough medals for Petrucci

[@siccbastard4580]

@@julioluiz true

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

He's proud of it and loves playing it. Nothing wrong with that.

[@pascalg16]

He's quite humble actually.

[@billythesentinel1164]

“Really loved Iron Maiden and Rush” How could I tell

[@Ehrmann_Gregsson]

I swear, every time I watch an interview with John I feel like I'm sitting home with my good old friend, drinking tea and talking about music. It's so nice!

[@SheaRecordmetal]

John is from another planet, when we says he learned all "the number of the beast" songs, he means it. Note for fucking note, not one riff here ,one riff there, a solo or two.All the songs.

[@brunomartinssantos4947]

Damn dude, john is such a cool and talented dude, I hope he never stop making music with dream theater.

[@snehashisparashar2414]

"...so when I discovered bending..."- John Petrucci, the first Guitarbender.

[@EetFuk8]

He didn't say he invented it.

[@connerkerrison2579]

@@EetFuk8 😐

[@lewismx8815]

He means when he personally discovered it for himself, and learnt how to do it

[@user-hk7hz9cn7v]

John is a super nice and down to earth guy and one beast of a guitar player! A top 10 for anyone who knows their virtuosos. Thanks for all the amazing music over the decades!

[@trojanhorse5906]

BLACK METAL TEENS HEARING PINK FLOYD

[@deans.4705]

the sound on this is just killer. Thanks for taking the time John.

[@arsonne]

He's right about The Mirror. I couldn't even hear that first little section without headbanging and playing the rest of the intro in my head.

[@KamilKisiel]

So simple, yet so effective. Shows you don’t have to write something super complicated for it to be good.

[@TheIzaam]

So, Rasputin also dominates the art of shredding.

[@suk4ed]

yo!

[@daltonkemp7955]

Petrucci looks like Rasputin

[@iamjakepaul944]

Such an amazing and humble guy. I just love how none of the fame has gone to his head. And he’s a guitar legend now. Absolutely the pinnacle of what a human being should strive to be.

[@JH-qy8no]

My dad inspired me to play. I have surpassed him in playing. I teach him songs now. It's my way of saying thank you for being such an awesome dad and for teaching me so much more.

[@robertisrotten]

Awww, that's so sweet

[@-RJ-hw6qq]

I bet he is super proud of you!

[@Stash1978]

Even though you don't know it he used you. He taught you to teach him faster.

[@Cheximus]

@@Stash1978 lmfao.

[@Stash1978]

@@Cheximus lol

[@Take-the-Ticket]

Everything he plays is so clean, so tight. No sloppiness at all. Amazing technique.

[@neipas02]

Made me feel all warm and nice.. Thank you John and Loudwire.

[@bounty1402]

I love DT because they incarnate all the music I like: Deep Purple, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Queen, etc. Plus, they are so fast and precise. I've attended three concerts here in Italy and they were great each time.

[@ianbarcelos]

I'm a simple man. I see Petrucci and I instantly hit the like button. What a great guy.

[@ianbarcelos]

@@matteo-nf1kv His political views are not my concern. His music and his character are. And as it should be for every other artist alive. We should respect their views.

[@devilcookie9924]

im so glad to hear John playing Dark Eternal Night's guitar riff on the video

[@theinstruman40]

Simply, BEST GUITARIST OF ALL TIME

[@guitargeek4208]

John Petrucci is so monumentally important to the fabric of my musical being, the purest culmination of friendliness, humbleness, musicianship, and approach to the instrument.

[@JohnPCady]

John is A god with human personality

[@rowancurran3881]

Jesus

[@oppermanfitness]

🤣🤣🤣

[@personman2957]

A Dying god coming into human flesh

[@911copcar]

John Phrist

[@americanmetalhead7318]

joe satriani and?

[@SanjayMenon]

*If he comes to India, sit under a banyan tree and start sharing his knowledge........they will build a temple around him 🙌*

[@dr.imtiazchaudhry4469]

Amen brother.

[@SpookyStorkRunningWild]

cringe

[@rajeshbista2690]

Sahi baat Bhai!

[@samarramiresz7005]

He won't.

[@maxvincy9127]

Oh bhai finally I got some Indians, normally I feel like iam the only guy in my whole town who knows western music.

[@PureJadeKid]

Hurray for his new solo album. Glad this video showed up in my recommended videos so I could learn about the album. Thanks KZbin, thanks Loudwire, and thanks John Petrucci, giver of musical gifts!

[@craigspicer4296]

Thank you John for sharing these memories. Drags me back to when i was first learning how to bend and how a new door opens to make soles feel so much defined. Love the music that you and the band have formed over the years.

[@alonzosmith1843]

I’m a big Dream Theater fan. John Petrucci is an incredible guitar player and is criminally underrated in my opinion.

[@simonealbertini5580]

I agree

[@oppermanfitness]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@GeoffreySplaneChannel]

He's regarded as one the best in the world. If u mean commercially then maybe u r right. But i believe the best musicians on earth usually dont make commercial music.

[@malawigw]

Petrucci has been considered one of the best guitar players the last 20 years, how can he be underrated? :P

[@bucsfan2565]

I don’t think he’s underrated. Every person who has listened to him thinks he’s the best of all time, if not, in the elite of the elite guitarists.

[@giginthesky9039]

00:45 Paranoid - Black Sabbath 01:26 Hey hey my my - Neil Young 04:45 The number of the beast - Iron Maiden 05:30 Working Man - Rush 06:36 Roadhouse blues - The Doors 07:14 Barstool warrior - Dream Theater 07:52 The mirror - Dream Theater 08:28 The dark eternal night - Dream Theater 09:28 The school song - Majesty 10:22 Snake in my boot - From his last album 10:54 Temple of Circadia - From his last album too!

[@911copcar]

The Dark Eternal Night - DT

[@giginthesky9039]

@@911copcar i skipped that! Thanks ;)

[@VeganO_MexicanO]

Sofi Osman put time stamps and you are a “true hero” ;)

[@giginthesky9039]

@@VeganO_MexicanO jaja gracias :D

[@giginthesky9039]

@Enrique Lizárraga i know right!? ;D

[@capzisediam5845]

He is my guitar hero ... never forget the feeling when i listen to "Images and Words" the first time !! In my opinion it is the best album ever !!!

[@TrollHunterxXx]

it’s amazing .. and probably their best album

[@capzisediam5845]

@@TrollHunterxXx and probably their best album ... yeah, i think so ;-)

[@user-el2xz3ol1d]

Keep rockin' John! You've been composing awesome music man! It was extreme pleasure and privilege to listen to you guys live in National Palace of Culture, Sofia in 2019.

[@burakakbulut3352]

i see petrucci i click

[@agustingiraldo7385]

the most polite, modest and kind man on earth

[@oppermanfitness]

He’s such a badass

[@Mikau-gb8uo]

it's part of his job to be like that, especially near cameras.. :-)

[@laurentfargues8113]

I don't agree. Steve Morse is even more humble. Paul Gilbert too.

[@ArielGTAcS]

After Andre Matos.

[@patbateman8116]

Confirmed. I met him with DT a couple of years ago and he’s one of the nicest dudes around. So much respect for him 🤘🤘

[@juaneorlandi]

Man. How humble you are as you share your early struggles. :) Thank you for so much amazing music. I'm a life-long DT fan.

[@aladams684]

John's tone Has ALWAYS been HUGE. And I love his playing. Great musician. His early experiences are so similar to mine it's scary. We had a lot of older guys in the neighborhood who had bands and were always willing to show w newb some stuff. Good times.

[@HM-io1mk]

I've heard his arm is illegal in 11 countries.

[@adeangelo6871]

😁

[@keplerarpeggios3215]

my fav riff is the silver thinkers: the 17 million damn its EPIC !!!

[@tiberiusclaudiusnerogermanicis]

His fingers have been banned in all Arab states

[@renzmetal6158]

what??? lol

[@elhijodelriff]

AJJAJAJAJ OMG

[@Kpap82]

Systematic chaos is a criminally underrated album even from the fans of the band. This and train of thought the heaviest !

[@matheusibanez]

I HATE RELIGION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey look, a catholic playing guitar, i'll worship him.

[@Art-Stream]

In the presence of enemies part1 and 2 are both amazing. I love Systematic Chaos, but Train of thought is still probably my favourite album as it was my first DT album. Train of thought is quite possibly my favourite song ever.

[@OscarGarcia-un3gn]

Systematic Chaos kicks so much ass. In the presence of my enemies gives me chills every time.

[@Kpap82]

@@matheusibanez first of all I don't worship him I just like the band, second i like many bands and people who are Christians it's completely irrelevant the one with the other. You tried to be funny but failed

[@hipnofago2102]

Constant Motion may be one of the best Dream Theater' songs.

[@Age_of_Apocalypse]

Many Thanks for the video (👍👍👏👏) with one of my favorite guitarists, the extraordinary John Petrucci! You just gave me the idea to rewatch the Blu-ray of 'Live at Luna Park' with Dream Theater.

[@gertjanboot5535]

Such a talented friendly person , a hell of a Guitarplayer but still modest and gentle , love his Music

[@umitanonymous3400]

I really love that Guitar Legends get old and become much more humble and giving advices and memories about simple topics. Very down to earth virtuoso.

[@Christian-eq7uh]

Sadly some become more arrogant

[@zzodysseuszz]

@@Christian-eq7uh “some” a lot especially in rock

[@zamkowicz]

Of course The Dark Eternal Night is one of his favorites. All riffs in that song are incredible

[@legitaly]

Hell yeah dude

[@arkmist3270]

so humble 💥 gotta love Petrucci ❤‍🔥a childhood hero

[@SpaceKadetMegaStar]

Refreshing glad I saw this!

[@sandipbiswas766]

Lol so Black Sabbath literally influenced everyone playing their favourite riffs on Loudwire? That's great! They certainly influenced me and made me a happy man \m/

[@shredtildeath777]

Black Sabbath pretty much was the first ever metal band and the first band to really have that crushing sound so yeah

[@shredtildeath777]

Sabbath is life

[@Kytchos]

Sabbath is the greatest band of all time

[@george-geedeevee9054]

Lmao literally influenced entire genre and multiple genres, thrash, stoner, doom, prog metal wow first 6 albums man I just listened to all of them and it just completely just wow nothing like that had ever been done and really no one else was doing it While or even far after they had done and know one has ever done better maybe the same but not better not with as much impact as sabbath did leaving the blues scale they focused more on just idek what kind of different scales they progressed on, not to mention Ozzy's eerie vocals, geezer butlers bass tones and playing with the groove but also making it unique contributing to most of the lyrics too, I'd never buy my first guitar if it hadn't been for Tony's thundering riffs fighting through, having 2 chopped finger tips and being A LEFT HANDED PLAYER!! Not to forget Bill ward's heavy loud drumming, jazz influenced like they all were back then haha, they just killed it and they're all so humble and understanding abt it too really down to earth band at first misunderstood pioneers :) \M/

[@kewinabea5439]

@@shredtildeath777 led zeppelin influenced alot of metal because of their live shows especially when playing dazed and confused those versions were heavy and dark

[@shadesofgold24]

John: here’s one of my favorite riffs Also John: MUST END ON ROOT NOTE MAJOR CHORD

[@JimmyBags69]

Lol I've noticed this lately watching a lot of different guitarists. EVERYONE powerslides down to the root note when they're done noodling . It's like they can't not do it 😂

[@madnessoflight]

I love the series, actually I love all of the content that this channel brings up. Thank you for all the work.

[@athenianheretic3395]

I saw John perform with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai in a G3 concert in Santa Fe New Mexico long time ago, I believe it was 2003 or so. Words not needed. Three hours of pure guitar nirvana..

[@jimmygillard]

So THAT'S why my bends are never very accurate. FFS, literally being playing for 5 years and never realised.

[@CompleteProducer84]

Yeah, the additional support fingers help a LOT for bends. I think I'd been playing for around 7 years before I learned that. It's crazy because it seems like such a simple thing, but it had never crossed my mind for some reason

[@iamacharliest]

This is a good example of why having a guitar teacher is quite valuable :) They pick up on these things straight away and it helps you progress much faster

[@YouArentValid]

I play with lighter gauge strings now, I find that bending and vibrato with one finger works for me. It’s more about listening and being familiar with pitch. Guthrie Govan has a great lesson on bending you should check out.

[@paulkline3011]

I've been playing for 29 years now but it took me 10 years of playing to figure that out because I've never taken lessons.

[@CompleteProducer84]

YouArentValid Yeah that Guthrie lesson is fantastic. Not many other guitar lessons focus so deeply on bending, and it’s such an important skill. The part where he has you bend each note of the pentatonic scale up to its next note is really great. Some of those bends make for a great workout

[@Quantumface]

Kevin Moore is a Psychiatrist now that was just brought on at the hospital I work at. My coworker said that his introduction mentioned he was in a successful rock band before going to medical school. Couldnt believe my eyes when I read that it was Dream Theater haha.

[@KingOrpheus]

He graduated from Des Moines University.

[@adams2531]

That's cool to hear. His stuff with OSI was awesome.

[@KingOrpheus]

@@adams2531 Hell yeah it was. I still crank that up every now and then.

[@lamey99]

Seriously?

[@Quantumface]

@@lamey99 yep!!

[@Bwiser63]

John has the perfect tone for all these riffs he’s playing.

[@richnorris1061]

Dude you don’t have to say who you play for , you are so humble , thanks for every riff you give to us :-)

[@ArtbyPaulPetro]

such a great player and down to earth unpretentious guy.

[@ditrempo8795]

You're an inspiration, John!

[@thorne62]

Man!!! You're a genius John...👍🍻

[@SnackPack913]

He seems like such a nice guy

[@maffooo2040]

This man is the Chuck Norris of music

[@aliensounds1576]

Or a Heavy Metal Santa Claus.

[@scoishvelociraptormaloish22]

@@aliensounds1576 Santa is Tom Araya 😂😂

[@oppermanfitness]

100% haha

[@oppermanfitness]

Berry Harbour him and Mike Orlando!

[@oppermanfitness]

Nate Hodge what do you mean?

[@thewitchfindergeneral]

Can't wait to listen to the new solo album, absolute legend and he always seems like a humble and down to heart dude

[@oppermanfitness]

Couldn’t agree more

[@rhapsodybitung2714]

He is my favorite among many of rock guitaris , Thank you Mr Jhon, for your mentoring and teach us,

[@ttttxxiii]

This guy knocks me out with his fabulous chops,creativity....what a genius.

[@justin..s3820]

Love lines in the sand solo..

[@simonealbertini5580]

Very awesome guitar solo

[@maurostrachwitz747]

Awesome song as well

[@MattMatti3]

Can’t wait for his album especially that list riff he played!! Sounds sick

[@charlzthehuman6550]

Thank you for your true & humble approach to music. 🤘✌️🎸

[@bordenatorx]

nice to hear this interview!! Almost self-taught, literally, learned part of stairway from my Dad and progressed from there, Later he got mad at me for showing him how to play Stairway the right way. 30 years later I play a song different just to add some flair ;D

[@thomasradford9830]

alternate title: John plays things we can't play

[@julioluiz]

Or: John plays

[@jadenspeirs345]

Systematic chaos is my favorite dream theater album. I think that’s partly because I’m a huge riff guy and there are so many amazing riffs on that album🤘🏽

[@simonealbertini5580]

Yeah man, SC it's a great and underrated album

[@shabblabbat]

It’s the one I always play when I think of DT..

[@atranfanatic]

It's an awesome album, but nothing will top the album that got me into Dream Theater and my favorite.....Images And Words!

[@simonealbertini5580]

Top 3 Dream Theater albums: 3 Images and words / 2 Awake / 1 Scenes from a memory

[@dronairbrasil8555]

Beautiful texture, master!

[@joaoreis1612]

So glad you mentioned the first Rush album!

[@BerkayVatansever]

The Dark Eternal Night literally made me buy a 7 string.

[@malawigw]

I love the ending riffs in that song.

[@mirkecWii]

John: "The first riff I learned was from Hey Hey My My" Me:"GEENEEERATIONS HOME AGAIN!"

[@daniylo]

Hahahahaha i get it

[@ann_jee]

Hah..Octavarium ,I see.

[@JulesCalella]

JP is such a good player and creates so many great riffs and melodies. Terminal Velocity came out pretty late in the year and yet it was my most listened to album of the year.

[@miraclespiritmusic2521]

Love John's guitar sound and speech

[@mustafamrouweh7873]

Your rock diceplen course changed my life man

[@dimitriwahyudiputra7876]

7:21 The ability to alter 6 strings into a 7 strings in a split second. He's not a human

[@howardgillingham4763]

Thanks for your humility 🙏 👍

[@gregharing2967]

That tone is crushing!!!

[@inahaze76]

I love how one of his favorite Dream Theater riffs is the intro to "The Mirror". I love that song.

[@thetriumphofthethrill2457]

Good stuff, nice to see Petrucci still going strong. Good concept Loudwire, have riffmasters like Tony Iommi and James Hetfield next. Keep 'em coming.

[@jarbyvid]

What an awesome sound!

[@steveg7368]

John, a legend and real inspiration, thanks !

[@BlueCollarBanger]

I really just love this guy. He's all about the craft and the love of it. His music has never been about selling records and catering to demographics.

[@bojangles6444]

See falling to Infinity. That was not a prog album it was an attempt to break into alternative radio- a failed one at that. James even had no vibrato the whole tour and album to sound less “metal”. A year or two later it was metro pt 2 though back to normal. I saw Petrucci struggle to play slow solos, these guys are so used to playing fast they were nervous and making mistakes for no reason. Saw Petrucci lose the string in a long bend. Then he shook his head like a kid would, you don’t broadcast mistakes. I was really surprised he didn’t have that ingrained like most musicians. If you don’t let people know it’s a mistake by body language you can trick them over half the time by playing a dif note. Or just play the mistake over with confidence.

[@rickleblanc8900]

@@bojangles6444 Well, even the best can make mistakes. An off-night happens to anyone, especially in a live situation. I've seen/heard a few obvious mind farts by great players over the years and being surprised it even happened. I saw DT on their last tour and Petrucci was perfectly bang-on and confident on everything he played that night. If he made one tiny fraction of a mistake, i never heard it, he's just awesome

[@bojangles6444]

@@rickleblanc8900 this was a long time ago. I think this was one of the worst shows of the tour from what I was told. I think there was a lot of problems with the monitors I don’t think they could hear each other that well. The bass was way too loud overpowering everything from the audience. My friends wearing custom ear plugs for musicians that cut out low end seemed to enjoy it more. I was 16 now I am 40 lol. I would imagine that things have changed- honestly though the singing was really off and no vibrato. He was trying to change his style to sound more commercial or something at that point was just odd. That’s always been my main problem with this band- and I have heard the same from others. Trying too hard to impress instead of focusing on pitch. I liked liquid tension and the instrumental aspects of this band the most- wouldn’t mind if that was the focus. I think that whole vocal style is just very dated and already was from the start- I suppose the first album even more so with Dominici. I really liked that album though based on the instrumental songs from what I remember- although the cd could have used a remastering I haven’t heard it since the 90’s not aware if it has been. As I have gotten older I am more into musicians who demonstrate their talents in a bit more subtle ways. I try to play leads that are more melodic so I tend to gravitate towards those types of players. Plus I got into the shredder guys before I knew about Holdsworth, Al Di Meola, etc. That’s where I go if I want to hear something fast- it’s also more sophisticated as far as the rhythms and chord progressions, improvisation, etc. I also think DT was a little too eager to relieve their keyboard players- always pissed me off bc I felt like It was never an improvement. Sherinian may not be on the same level as Rudess, but I think he was a better fit over all. And the first guy was the best by far.

[@mydogismyprofilepicture8435]

He’s a riff writing god like Mustaine, Hetfield, and Chuck Shuldiner.

[@aliensounds1576]

The fact that you compare Schuldiner with Petrucci holds great sentimental value to me. I just got acquanted with DT during the phase when Death got more progressive. Both of them had a massive influence on the development of my musical taste and I'm ever so grateful for it to this very day!

[@jorozco13yearsago40]

Dave Mustaine is nothing compared to those two.

[@reficul1984]

Chuck was and is the man.

[@klaus8456]

But not quite Tony Iommi level.

[@matheuslobato9212]

Jorozco • 13 years ago oh yeah they’re better

[@seancurtin5131]

Many thanks to the Great Mr Petrucci for sharing these with us. How I wished I could have gotten along to the Guitar clinic he held with the the great Al De Meola. Always enjoy this great guitar work.

[@silasmorgestern3834]

i'm a lead guitarist- i, too, use two fingers to achieve the 2 and a half step bend page nails in whole lot of love. but to hear Petrucci's influences, to hear him speak so casually about his skill (i saw you play live, dear- you SLAYED); sabbath, maiden. OH STOP. if you have a friend who wants to play lead, share this with him or her. it's killler. truly, this is not just educational, but inspirational. THANK YOU.

[@MatheusManzano]

Love that raising forearm jutsu he always do when finishes the playing. That's the magic secret of his mastery.

[@llongone2]

Got to admit, I've always loved that chugging riff in "The Mirror".

[@keplerarpeggios3215]

my fav riff is the silver thinkers: the 17 million damn its EPIC !!!

[@echice]

An absolute legend!!! - brilliant!! 🎸🤘🙌🙌

[@joepineski5562]

Met him and spoke with in Glasgow DT live. Such a nice and humble guitar Gandalf. I love him!!!

[@pedraportuguesa7373]

He's a 14 th century orthodox priest wizard that traveled through the long years to play in that amazing band!!