Trial of Tears Bass Cover (Dream Theater)

My take on this awesome epic from Dream Theater's (probably) most underrated album, Falling Into Infinity. Lyrics written by John Myung, the song is divided into 3 sections, and it takes you through a rather compelling journey.
This cover is 99,73% true to the original, taken from the official bass music sheet.
Really a blast to play, although it gets difficult at times, no surprise.
Recorded at Studio-Inside (thanks, great work) through an Ampeg Micro VT & SVT Stack.
All video editing, mixing and mastering done by myself.
Yamaha RBX JM2, signed by The Man himself.
D'Addario ProSteels Regular Light Gauge
Enjoy!

[@Wadgesztenye]

If you play Dream Theater, you can play anything. Congratulations 🎊😍

[@theaterdreamer]

Mad respect, Peter. I’m a huge DT fan, myself, and not only is your playing absolutely on point, hearing this makes me respect John Myung all the more. The guy’s an absolute monster-I’ve known this since ‘92 when I got into DT (and especially in ‘94 when I first saw them live), but when one goes in focused specifically on the bass line, and it’s higher in the mix, it’s easier to get an appreciation for the complexity of what is being played. You’re fantastic, and though I’m not a bassist myself (my six strings are a tad thinner), I can really appreciate your setup. Your tone is just sick.

Wow, thank you for the feedback. You are right, one really has to dive deep to appreciate Myung's work in DT. I have never really noticed the subtlety of the bassline in Trial of Tears until I started reading the original music sheets. This is pure genius, nothing less. Anyway, thanks for checking in. Cheers!

[@6sentient]

the moment i heard that tone i pressed ,,like''.holy shit,good job

Thank you very much, always great to have some good feedback. I love JM's tone on this one, but it's very difficult to imitate. Anyways, I like it too here :) Cheers!

[@fabioalmeida4209]

great tone, indeed. Great playing, too!

[@lazeebee86]

i believed i made this request years ago for this song, but i did not realize you did it almost two years ago. Thank you soooo much! it was simply awesome!!

[@xmaverickhunterkx]

Much better than the Music Man. Good job too.

Thank you very much 🙂

[@ActualCouchPotato]

Perfect! Jealous of your bass! I idolize him and all, including using his signature JM series yamaha bass, but I'd drop all that for an autograph. Or to see them once in life lifetime.

Thank you! I had the luck of getting it autographed, but did not meet The Man myself. Anyway, awesome! Wish you good luck with that live experience!

[@lancekidwell5729]

Great tone, great job. Think I’ll learn this too.

Thanks! Go ahead, and have fun, it's a great journey!

[@rahgirferdous]

The ease of playing and passion into it is absolutely remarkable! Couldn't help rewinding a few parts. My requests if you will: 1. A Change of Seasons 2. Lifting Shadows off a Dream 3. Lines in the Sand Keep up 👍

Hey there, thanks for checking in, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! The requested songs are interesting to cover, I'll keep them in mind, I hope I can find some time to learn them.

Hi there, I have Lifting Shadows Off a Dream uploaded now :)

[@rahgirferdous]

@ Wow! Appreciate you taking time to let me know the update. So nice of you! Gonna check it out now. 😀

[@user-kq6ed7zc9k]

Моё любимое произведение, спасибо!

[@jabgibson]

Fantastic bass cover for one of DT's best songs

[@russellflynn5528]

RESPECT BRO! 1 word- Sic

[@leah9227]

Damn, you are a beast! Excellent cover! D:

Thanks for the kind words :D

[@thiagodeandradeneves4585]

This is perfect. Tone and playing. Congrats, bro.

[@duilkin]

nailed intro!! beautiful!!

Thanks! :) Of all my covers, this is the one I'm most proud of.

[@davidfechner6333]

Amazing!

Thanks!

[@raulibarra7194]

Great cover Péter! Really enjoyed it

Thanks Raul :D

[@abhijeetsingh9450]

Man that's awesome keep up the good work!! Absolutely smashed it

Thanks mate!

[@moeberrn8363]

Dude thank you so much for this, amazing!!

Many thanks!

[@blastgrinder7024]

Lovely!!

[@jaywells5283]

Great job!!!

Thank you!

[@lugoinvicto1656]

Amazing job man, excellent!

Thank you very much!

[@leandroalveschannel]

uou! this bass is very beautiful!

[@robertoiorio390]

Awesome! One of the best dt songs for me!

[@musicdailyBALI]

New fan from bali

[@Log_rithms]

i'm seriously only now finding this!? this is incredible!! i have to ask what strings you're using, i absolutely LOVE how they sound !!

[@Michael-kx2bn]

Absolutely tops my list of DT songs along with Learning to Live. I love the bass line and you play with such skill! I have only one request; I have been looking for a bass cover for Odyssey (Dixy Dregs cover) from Black Clouds and Silver Linings. I haven't been able to find one on here and haven't been able to figure it out, just can't hear it well enough (old ears lol). John Myung is the best there is.

Thank you for your kind words! I can't really promise anything on Odyssey, I have listened to it, but I feel it is out of my reach at the moment, however i might take it up in the future. As you might be aware, this very cover was also a request from years back.

[@fernandouresti2464]

la verdad, le quedo conmadre la ecualizacion, desde que empeso si dije "a la madre" saludos desde Mexico

[@lisiaszanoni845]

Great tone! Excellent work!! Congrats!

Lísias Zanoni Thank you very much!

[@lisiaszanoni845]

I can't get enough watching. It's too good. Especially the "finalle". Beautifull bass line

Thanks for the kind words again... Yes, that may be my favorite part too. Actually, that outro inspired me to learn this song. Awesome!

[@jor2416]

how did you manage to get the tone so spot on? simply amazing job and an awesome cover! i am trying to nail down this tone, but i have not had much luck yet, any advice you could maybe spare me?

Hi, thanks, first of all - I don't really recall the mixing process, however I can tell I had almost fresh strings on (D'Addario ProSteels), and I had two signals - some VSTs were used for the unaffected line signal (like TSE B.O.D.). The second signal went through an Ampeg Micro VR Stack and a mic. I balanced these two signals and this is the result. Also, my picking was quite controlled for this cover, I tried to really articulate everything, and make as little noise as possible. Also, the studio guy knew what he was doing while recording. So please experiment - fresh strings and clean technique really helps!

[@yusuke85]

Who's Autograph written on your bass? John Myung?

yusuke85 Exactly, autographed by John Myung 😀

[@yusuke85]

Péter Pásku Holly, I didn't check your description! This gear is filled with your love for JM and DT. I own YAMAHA attitude ltd2, hope to be autographed by Billy Sheehan someday.

Well, good luck with that! :D I had the luck of seeing Billy during the PSMS tour. First row. Awesome show. But yes, I really admire JM, he was the one to inspire me to choose bass.

[@Desto13]

😍

[@RafaTallicaBR]

Killer tone / Killer mix! 6:10 - Is what about all humbuckers should sound

Thanks! Yes, this bass indeed can churn out great tones.

[@sunnyscreamer123]

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

Hah! Thanks!!!

[@tiborpapp9199]

Nekem nagyon tetszik ez a munka :)

[@antonkarpov4262]

You super cool.

[@FidiasTorres]

Hey bro, nice job, we are bass buddies, have the RBX as well, just to know did you change the volume knobs and the bridge???

Hey, thanks! As far as I know, they are original, I think the coating on mine has come off a little. Watching your videos, it seems that the bridge is the same, it is possible that the knobs had been changed by a previous owner. Keep up the good work, cheers mate!

[@TheTravertaneous]

When you say it's taken from the official bass music sheet, do you mean the Hal Leonard's Dream Theater Bass Anthology? And if so, is it any good?

Hi! Yes, that's the one, and it is very accurate I think. So I can only recommend it :)

[@TheTravertaneous]

@ Thanks, will have to check it out. Great cover, by the way, I occasionally use it for reference while trying to get this song down myself.

@@TheTravertaneous Thank you 👍 also, you can find an isolated bass track for this song here on youtube

[@beaumanikoth9142]

Great tone! It's too bad Myung didn't stick with Yamaha or the Tung basses.

[@altmaxv]

The studio version recoded with Myung's Stingray ))

[@beaumanikoth9142]

Max, the CD booklet says Yamaha. Myung was endorsing their RBX model basses at that time.

[@altmaxv]

@@beaumanikoth9142 It's just a question of the sponsorship terms) I hear EB Stigray 5 in few tracks of that album - Trial of Tears, Lines in the Sand, Hell's Kitchen, Burning My Soul). Peruvian Skies and Hollow Years are recorded with fretless TRB. And it's not only my opinion - just search this info))

[@beaumanikoth9142]

@max, I guess you got betters ears. I don't hear the Stingray at all on FII except the Yamaha and Chapman Stick. I guess my Ibanez SR is behind the times.

[@altmaxv]

@@beaumanikoth9142 Well, I guess you're right, man. I'll try to find more info about RBXJM. Never thought that it can sound so similar to Stingrays in studio records. Maybe I was confused because of appearing Stingray in few songs of SDOT. Thanks for the discussion ) p.s. I've played RBXJM2 by myself just once and I was not so inspired with that bass. Hmm, maybe because I played through the guitar amp))

[@paullabarbera1829]

was any compression used on the bass in this recording? or just straight into the amp? It actually sounds like there is a compressor somewhere in the chain.

I did use some kind of compressor during mixing, it was applied to the raw line signal. I believe the mic track was left without compression

[@joshmyers4338]

Where did you get the bass from?

Bought it locally, they are not in production anymore.

[@bjornedvardsson5510]

18 mm string spacing?

[@joshmyers4338]

What kind of strings do you use?

Hey there, I use D'Addario ProSteels Light Gauge (EPS170-6) - I think they keep their tone for quite a long time. Recommended!

[@TwinCitiesOxygen]

What’s quality of this bass like? How’s the weight?

Great build quality, plays really nice - neck not too thin, but very comfortable nonetheless. Holds tuning just fine, sustain is nice. I don't know the weight, but it's quite light (alder body) especially compared to my Warwick thumb.

[@KE-pf8cd]

perfect tone. how to make this sound??

Hi, Thanks! First of all, fresh strings (D'Addario, ProSteels light) through an Ampeg Micro VR & SVT (with mic) + Universal Audio 6176 for the line signal. I think full mid boost on my bass EQ, and I used an Ignite Amps Emissasry VST for the raw signal. Something like that :)

[@KE-pf8cd]

@ wow thank you very much for the detailed reply!!

@@KE-pf8cd You're welcome. And this time, the usual Myung heavy attack on the strings does not really work, I had to be very precise with the right hand to have this clarity.

[@bassman494]

Awesome playing. Sorry, your tone sounds better than JM. 👍🏼

Wow, thank you sir :) Much appreciated!!!