John Petrucci chat

kfm946: 1. Has there ever been a point in your life where you lost your interest in guitar, or got discouraged from playing, and what did you do to rekindle your passion for it?

2. What song(s) do you find to be the most fun to play (from any artist, including yourself and DT)?

3. How much can you deadlift using your beard?

JohnPetrucciDT: 1. All artists struggle at some point with inspiration. In fact, it has been said inspiration is overrated. The best thing for me is to play with other people - interacting with other great musicians is always an awesome way to spark your own creativity. I suggest you get out there, do some jamming and have fun. Hope that will help you out!

2. I always have a lot of fun playing Voodoo Child

3. There are not enough weights at the gym!

InFlames235: John, I’ve been a massive fan of Dream Theater since I was 13 years old. I remember meeting you at a concert a few years back and they told us not to shake the band members’ hand. When I told you that you were my inspiration for playing guitar and the reason I still play it 15 years later, you stood up and shook my hand. I’ll never forget that moment!

My question is: I just pre-ordered your JP-2C and I think it’s going to be an incredible amp. Obviously over the years you’ve switched between a LOT of different Mesa amps. What drew you back to the 2C+ tone and how did you decide on the features set? Do you think this is an amp that will now be a permanent fixture for you moving forward now that’s customized for you? Thank you!

JohnPetrucciDT: I’ll shake your hand anytime! I am unbelievably excited about the JP-2C Boogie signature head. The IIC+ has always been my favorite in the boogie line, and certainly the holy grail for many Boogie aficionados. My new signature amp is a bonafide re-issue of the C+ - Circuit, transformer and all. The feature set is all about updating the performance capabilities of the original amp. Things like adding MIDI, a direct CabClone, having two graphic EQ’s and two lead channels really make this the only Boogie I will ever need. I’m so glad you ordered one, I have a feeling you’ll be very happy with it.

EnigmaTheater: My questions are:

1. Can you play guitar from a sheet like Jordan can on Keyboard?

2. To what extend do the things you learned in Berklee still have influence on your music? Should someone wanting to understand your music learn some Jazz-theory?

3. When soloing, for example the Hollow years solo (live at Budokan) did you had the general solo written out before or was it pure improvisation?

JohnPetrucciDT: 1. My sight reading chops are nowhere near the level of Jordan.

2. Berklee was a great influence to me in that it helped me further understand the language of music and opened up my mind to a ton of creative options. You don’t have to study Jazz-theory to understand Dream Theater Music.

3. The live Hollow Years solo improvisation developed as the tour went on, by the time we filmed the Budokan show, I was comfortable with the structure of that solo.

InsanityDefinition: Did you guys make the album thinking of Scenes From a Memory? Did you take anything you learned from that and “fixed” it in this album? Did you know there’d be the inevitable comparisons of this album to Scenes and try to address them, or even strive to be better than that record, or did you just make this album focusing solely on The Astonishing?

I know you probably have a soft spot for all of your records and wouldn’t want to compare them, but I was just wondering what the thought process was and if you tried to learn from Scenes.

JohnPetrucciDT: I really appreciate your comments/observations - Scenes is certainly an album I am proud of, however creating The Astonishing was a completely different process all together. When it came to The Astonishing, I wrote the story first and then Jordan and I created a musical score to the story. The inclusion of real orchestra and choir make this unlike anything we have ever done before.

perpetualjoe: Hey John! I really admire how you guys had this idea, and were 100% committed to it. It really shines through on the album and I love it.

I’m an intermediate level guitar player, and for some reason I’m at a total wall where I feel like I can’t compose my own music because the theory of it all is just too daunting. What advice would you give to someone like me, who’s mastered power chords and pentatonics, but doesn’t know where to begin next? Some guitar advice from JP on reddit would seriously be a DREAM come true ;)

JohnPetrucciDT: Thank you! We realize we took many risks with this album, but we followed our creative hearts and I am very glad to hear that you’re enjoying our new music.

It sounds like you may need to expand upon your knowledge of the fret board and to look beyond some of the basics. I have always found that either picking up a guitar mag or going online learning something new that is outside of your comfort zone awakens both the analytical and creative parts of your brain that could lead to further inspiration. Maybe try learning some Jazz, Country, or Classical passages and try infusing them into your style.

LudoAdrift: Hey John, following NAMM, the question most gear nerds have been asking themselves is why did you decide to go with a Floyd Rose on your JP16 rather than your usual Music Man tremolo? The JP16 looks sweet though, I would love to play one

JohnPetrucciDT: The Music Man bridge is unbelievable and has been a feature of all of the guitars in my collection. I see each one of these models as different spice in the spice rack. I concluded that non of them have a Floyd, which is not only fun for me to play sometimes but for a lot of other guitar players. So now there is a model in my collection with a Floyd and a locking nut - a really awesome guitar that offers a few new and exciting features.

XiaoyeZ: 1.Will you consider releasing a “Behind the Scenes”/”The making of ...” DVD or something like that, for the Astonishing album? 2.Will there be a live orchestra and choir on the show for the upcoming tour? 3.Which guitar(s) did you use in this album? JP15 or Majesty?

JohnPetrucciDT: Thank you so much, I’m really glad to hear that you’re enjoying our new music.

1. There is some recorded footage of the album process from the studio, but right now there are no plans for a “Making of...DVD’

2. Re-creating the live orchestra and choir we used on The Astonishing would mean adding about 60-80 more people to the tour and unfortunately that is unrealistic. However, all of the orchestra and choir recorded by David Campbell will be playing back as part of the live video show that accompanies the stage performance.

3. On the album I used my Music Man Majesty 6 and 7 string guitars on all songs except for ‘The Path That Divides’ where I used the JP15 7 string.

ivorpad: I love this album, it is truly magnificent. But my questions are in regards a couple of interpretations that got a few people confused.

1. The Path That Divides: Why a Sword fight if the story happen in 2285?

2. The Tempting Offer: There’s a hearable glitch (?) (not sure if it’s the correct word) at the very end of this song when James says: “Take the evening to deci[glitch]de” is this intentional?

3. The NOMACs are almost invisible in this album, almost like they’re not part of the story. Can you help us understand?

JohnPetrucciDT: Wow! That is so incredible to hear thank you!

1. In this story i wanted to create a future that wasn’t like the typical high tech space exploring vision of some sci-fi stories, but rather show a societal collapse led to things looking a lot more like they did in the past. This sort of dystopian setting that joins future and past environments to me is perfect for story telling.

2. Listening to this right now (HOLD ON)...as far as a glitch I am not sure what you are hearing. It could be a drum or orchestral transient.

3. Didn’t you know that the NOMACs are the lovable mascots of The Astonishing? They are part of the reason for the breakdown in this future world as they are the only source of music to be heard. They are an artificial intelligence of sorts who automate a soulless cacophony. On the album the story is focused more on the human characters and their struggles, however the NOMAC story will be explored further in future novelization.

Thoopa: If you were forced to retire today, would you be able look back and say you accomplished everything you wanted to as a musician? Anything not checked-off on your “Musical Bucket List”?

JohnPetrucciDT: I’m extremely proud of all that I have been given the opportunity to do in pursuing a career as a professional musician. I am thankful every day for it. I do always feel like anything is possible and like to dream big, so I think there is a lot more in store not only for me but for DT in the future.

crearias: Hi John. I think that Rush’s 2112 (story) and Pink Floyd’s The Wall (structure) had a big influence in The Astonishing. Is there any another album that has inspired you for writing this Rock Opera? Thanks.

JohnPetrucciDT: I took inspiration from many things outside of the rock album genre. Everything from Tolkien to Star Wars to Jesus Christ Superstar as inspiration on how to approach something of this scope. Of course I am a huge fan of both of the albums you mentioned and The Wall is one of my all time favorites.

brunaoDT: Dream theater will keep doing concept albums?

JohnPetrucciDT: The process of creating this concept album was very rewarding as well as a lot of work. Although, I could see doing this again in the future - it’s not something that could really happen with every new release.

blackout0424: The question I have for you is related to touring... How come you guys have never come to India and many parts of Asia before? I live in India and I can tell you what an absolutely enormous fan base DT have here. Plenty of other very popular and talented metal bands have come before (Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth to list a few). Do you think there’s a chance that you will ever do an India/Asia tour?

JohnPetrucciDT: That is a very good question. There aren’t many countries that we haven’t visited yet, but India happens to be one of them. I too am surprised that we never played in your country and I’m hoping that with The Astonishing tour we can change that.

ThomasUV777: John, if you wouldn’t have become a professional musician, what other career would you pursue? Thanks!

JohnPetrucciDT: Definitely something in the arts. When I was younger I was really into illustrating and painting, and could have easily seen myself taking that path professionally.

KingS1X: What kind of workout do you do on a day to day basis? I saw an interview where you said that you enjoy bodybuilding when you’re not making music, so I wanted to know what kind of routine you follow, when at home & on tour.

JohnPetrucciDT: I do pretty much a traditional body building routine. Usually in either a 4 or 5 day split.

Shakadinki: Hey John! What is the best advice you ever received in the beginnings of your career? And what’s the best advice you can give to an aspiring guitarist? Thanks!

JohnPetrucciDT: The best advice I received was written by Steve Morse to me on one of his 8 X 10 photos. He simply said “Practice”. There are so many of us out there, try to find your own voice on the instrument and spend as much time being creative as you do working on the craft of the instrument.

6Alfrevil6Kinevil6: Dear John, what’s it like seeing the world through your bionic T-800 scanners? I KNOW you’re one of the machines. You can’t fool us all.

JohnPetrucciDT: I have more fun than the NSA

[deleted]: I know you’re an Ernie Ball Music Man guy for electric, but what’s your go to acoustic when just chilling at home?

JohnPetrucciDT: I’ve been playing Taylor acoustic guitars for many many years. On The Astonishing I used a beautiful 916ce six string as well as a Taylor twelve string and have a few models in my home that are all a pleasure to pick up an play.

Wavesolo10: Hey John, revive Liquid tension! Those Cd’s were beast!

JohnPetrucciDT: Thanks, they were both a lot of fun to make. Glad you like them!

TimelessEer: My question though, is in an AMA with the Brian Ball last year, he teased that a JP8 was in development but nothing since then. Any updates on that? I’d love to add one to my collection!

JohnPetrucciDT: Since the AMA with Brian there has been no further development of the JP8, however there is a design that is in the works and it is something that we are talking about as a possibility for the future.

ad0lfhipster: Is your beard true bypass?

JohnPetrucciDT: Yes, but it also has a buffered out option