Ernie Ball: String Theory featuring Dustin Kensrue of Thrice

String Theory is a web series from Ernie Ball that explores the sonic origins of some of music's most innovative players. In this episode Dustin Kensrue from Thrice discusses his history and relationship with playing guitar, songwriting, and his Ernie Ball strings.
Watch additional episodes of Ernie Ball: String Theory here: ernieb.al/1QtdTx9
Dustin Kensrue plays Ernie Ball Cobalt electric guitar strings: ernieb.al/1svb8rJ

[@DareBear2099]

I changed the way I play because of Dustin and Thrice. A true musical heroic force in my life as a guitar player.

[@sbentsen2714]

yes, very underrated

[@naradamusic]

Please do one of these with Teppei!

[@alfianbanjaransari4096]

YES

[@ClassicalPan]

Unfortunately, as brilliant as Teppei is, he's not a great speaker. An interview like this, with him, would be awkward.

[@dustinameer4343]

not sure if anyone gives a shit but if you guys are stoned like me atm then you can stream all of the new movies and series on Instaflixxer. I've been streaming with my gf these days xD

[@camilobrady5494]

@Dustin Ameer Yup, been using InstaFlixxer for months myself :D

[@christophsteiner9970]

Love the "Fear and Trembling" sticker on his guitar as a hint to "The Messenger"

[@squatchmaster5000]

Or more accurately a hint to Philippians 2:12 ;)

[@awrely]

That's a book by Søren Kierkegaard about the existential substance of the religious believe The Messenger is about it

[@dildojizzbaggins6969]

and here he seems to be, finaly having arrived in the real world and letting go of that bible-bullshit. happy for him, should it actualy be true (:

[@abandofme1350]

These videos are some of the most inspiring content available. Well done.

[@alancastellon9225]

Very very cool, different style. Love these videos. Dont ever stop creating them please

[@mikeomaly]

One of my favorite bands all time! They've covered soo many textures and sounds through their career and I've enjoyed every step! Thank you Thrice!!!!

[@Jt7166]

"I don't consider myself a real technical guitar player" .....(listens the the first 4 thrice albums that were absolute shredfests) 🤣

[@rebuildingrocketships]

😂

[@georgewashington4094]

1:52 2:12 3:31 4:49 5:18 6:28 6:53 I could listen to these a day.

[@Whitehawkvisionfilms]

Humble Genius! I think he is even better on acoustic!

[@DusterBuglas]

It’s insane that none of thrice has any background in music theory.

[@joshuadelacruz6617]

Love their catalogue. Especially Dustin's voice evolution. Reminds me of how worsnop began sounding more like a man later on

[@Libra-star-creator]

Dustin's voice is the main reason I love Thrice, it's so powerful and honest. The song writing is incredible.

[@whentheoceankissesthesand1461]

Freaken THRICE!!! =) get em Dustin!!! much Love!!!

[@sbentsen2714]

woohoo!! loved them since High school when Artist in the ambulance came out, so so amazing band. Vheissu is my favorite album of theirs

[@fearlessstudios1]

Great band

[@mikhailardhito1024]

Please do one with Slash

[@ogpapiguwap8260]

Ive only know thrice through sound since 2006. Today i found out the lead singer wasnt layne staley (alice in chains) skinny like i expected

[@xytrouble07]

I was in a band once and we called 4 or 8 measure phrases Jimmys. Example: The Intro has 2 Jimmys (8Bars) then you to the verse and the verse as 4 Jimmys (16bars) lol mainly because we always found the drummer counted everything in half time, the guitarist counted everything in double time so we were like lets just call them jimmys. lol

[@judsonruddick5240]

Kevin Chavez and this is relevant to the video how?😂

[@thedankswordsmantm]

What is each song he's playing? this is the first I've heard of thrice and it's really good, want to find what he's playing here.

[@patchycb]

End song is black honey for defo but I can't really hear the others they may just be riffs or I dunno it's been a while since I've listened to their old stuff so could be that :P

[@icandrivelikejehu]

'Wake Up', 'Salt and Shadow', then I think just messing around with pedals, then yeah 'Black Honey' at end. It's all from the newest album, but if you like that record check out Vheissu as well, it's amazing.

[@MrZnel52]

Come All you Weary is in there.

[@Casey_J96]

Sam yeah seriously every album is a masterpiece in its own right. They are a phenomenal band.

[@Jhikonico]

image of the invisible is my favorite song from them

[@dakotawilsonmusic2013]

Elixer polywebs are my fave out here in Hawaii.

[@punkambassador848]

Humble dude

[@themogave]

I can see he really likes that hat and jacket. He appears all the video with that.

[@peted450]

김진후 He did all the videos the same day😁...

[@_keegs]

I've never listened to thrice but his guitar tone and his riffs makes me want to get into them. Any song recommendations?

[@Mysterios0]

Keegan Hill I began my Thrice journey with the Beggars album. It's raw, and isn't really their most accessible work, but it's genius. The newest album is more accessible without sacrificing any of what makes Thrice brilliant. Maybe just start with To Be Everywhere is to Be Nowhere and work your way back. If you're into amazing experimental stuff you'll dig The Alchemy Index.

[@albarleta2511]

The title of the song @ 3:30 is Come All You Weary kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3PHpGWNaZ6MoKM It belongs to their Alchemy Album (track 23 on the description): kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKXUl3mQhsuGp5Y

[@Fromagreatheight]

Like Mysterioso suggested, I'd suggest backtracking through their albums. Each album has a sound of it's own and each album does that sound very well. If I had to go by a song list, I'd say this though: The Long Defeat The Window Yellow Belly Daedalus Anthology The Earth Isn't Humming Black Honey Firebreather The Earth Will Shake Image Of The Invisible Of Dust And Nations All The World Is Mad Beggars Paper Tigers Deadbolt Digital Sea

[@_keegs]

Thank you everyone!

[@A1pineclimber303]

Deadbolt first is always the best!

[@PrimeReclaimer]

I had no idea Salt and Shadow's intro was actually played on guitar...I really thought that it was piano.

[@AaronVlogggs]

That's the beautiful thing about pedals

[@alvarovs89]

do you know what pedal did he use for that?

[@pedalfiles4441]

It seems like he uses a lot of Empress, JHS, and EHX. He's got a POG in there and a few pretty serious Empress pedals. I was just going to say this guys board is legit. The more I'm watching the more I'm like the future of guitar is technology.

[@hikinghistorywithstephen6824]

Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, I especially Love 💕 the comments about The Beatles

[@zaazazza6555]

The first riff he plays sounds exactly like the song Nomad by Death from Above 1975

[@georgethepockyjedi]

How does he get that effect at 2:15? I need to know!

[@peanutismint]

I would guess it's something like an EHX B9 organ machine plus maybe a vibrato/shimmer delay/mod reverb... At 4:45 you get a semi-decent shot of the pedal board so maybe you can work it out. I see a few Strymons (a Time Line, a Möbius and a Big Sky), an EHX POG 2 and Line 6 M5, amongst other stuff, so it could well be a combination....

[@guiltylenny]

I want to say he is using an EHX Pog 2

[@jmelara324]

georgethepockyjedi Its the POG, you should check our the rig rundown

[@scizzryo]

Humble dudes

[@ZitiPatrol]

Teppei and Kensrue taught me how to play guitar by listening to Thrice. No joke.

[@peanutismint]

Yo Ernie Ball nice video! Any chance of a list of the gear used?

[@jmelara324]

Peanut Turner check to Thrice Rig Rundown on Premier Guitar

[@chairsmissing]

Does anyone know if he plays a specific song in 1:40?

[@jaredmarshall9439]

+Dimitris Vasileias I was thinking the same thing. I'm hoping it's something new. He played Black Honey so I'm thinking he might be playing some actual songs off the new album.

[@chairsmissing]

Jared Marshall My thought exactly, was kinda going through the Thrice and his solo catalog but I knew it wasn't something familiar. So excited for the new record!!

[@jaredmarshall9439]

Dimitris Vasileias i have a feeling this new album is going to be something special

[@chairsmissing]

Jared Marshall As with all of Thrice's records, at least since The Artist in the Ambulance

[@DwayneCreates]

I believe this is the melody off of the instrumental track on the album.

[@TheExplosiveKitten]

is that a fender jaguar?

[@jmelara324]

Bubbles Its a Nash

[@elephantricity]

wow fan of kierkegaard's fear and trembling. Believe in religion even the face of no evidence.

[@pimpdaddyx9728]

This guy has no idea what he's doing with those pedals lmao

[@lodougherty]

Actually he does.

[@patchycb]

Errr yeah he really does

[@johndoe-mn2zs]

pimpdaddy x yeah he does.....

[@livesongs82]

this guy will have people know who he is years from now. You in the other hand will just be another typical troll.

[@Fromagreatheight]

I like how you assume he has no clue what he's doing with the pedals because you think pedals have to be used in a conventional guitarist's way, instead of using pedals to create soundscapes or walls of sound. I mean honestly, this is shoegaze 101 knowledge.