Dan Donegan
Encyclopedia
Dan Donegan is an American musician
and guitarist
for heavy metal
band Disturbed. Donegan began playing guitar as a teenager and eventually formed a band called Vandal
, which was an '80s-style hair band
. Recently, Donegan was added to the guitar show "Chop Shop's" list of "Top 100 Most Complete Guitar Players of All Time" at number 76.
titled M.O.L.
, Donegan got a job with his father doing construction work. He was required to cut his hair for it, but instead opted to wear a wig to fool his dad and keep his long hair. It worked, and his dad eventually let him keep his long hair. Donegan has a daughter named Maya and a son named Justin.
in many of his solos, with pull-off
s, legato
s and hammer-on
s, also sometimes using the "flick off" technique, as used in the solo for the song "Indestructible", and in others as well. His heavy riff
s and sweep picking are seen in many music videos. He uses his DigiTech Dan Donegan, "The Weapon" for many effects in and out of his solo work. He also combines arpeggios with finger tapping and many other techniques. He is known for shredding in some songs and uses finger vibrato
on occasion. He uses the whammy bar in many songs to give it a certain sound effect.
In the video "The Making of Indestructible
", he mentions he prefers "tasteful" solos, as opposed to shredding solos that rely primarily on speed. Disturbed's frontman David Draiman
mentions "he [Donegan] can rip with the best of them". David also mentions "He's [Donegan] in my opinion you know among the best in existence, and he doesn't give himself enough credit". In the 80's, he was in a hair metal band known as Vandal
, where many of his solos were shred guitar
solos, but he would incorporate other techniques, which many consider his own style of playing.
Les Paul
Standards and SGs
. Then, he switched to play a few Paul Reed Smith
models, the Tremonti Model and a PRS Singlecut. In 2005, Washburn Guitars
built Donegan his own signature model called the Maya, named after his daughter. For 2010, Dan built a signature guitar with Schecter guitars, that is based on the ultra classic model (his being the ultra DD). Donegan is a fan of GHS
Boomer guitar strings and uses the 12-52 gauge set. He also uses Seymour Duncan
pickups in his guitars.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
for heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Disturbed. Donegan began playing guitar as a teenager and eventually formed a band called Vandal
Vandal (band)
Vandal were an American glam metal band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in the late 1980s. Vandal was founded by guitarist Dan Donegan, bassist Bob Feddersen, drummer John Sullivan, and vocalist Lance Thomason...
, which was an '80s-style hair band
Glam metal
Glam metal is a subgenre of hard rock and heavy metal that arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the United States, particularly on the Los Angeles Sunset Strip music scene...
. Recently, Donegan was added to the guitar show "Chop Shop's" list of "Top 100 Most Complete Guitar Players of All Time" at number 76.
History and personal life
Donegan had very long hair during the early days of Brawl and Disturbed. According to Disturbed's DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
titled M.O.L.
M.O.L.
M.O.L. is a home-made DVD by American rock band Disturbed, released in 2002. It is a documentary following the various activities of the band while in the studio and during touring. It also contains music videos and live performances of various songs from Disturbed's debut album, The Sickness...
, Donegan got a job with his father doing construction work. He was required to cut his hair for it, but instead opted to wear a wig to fool his dad and keep his long hair. It worked, and his dad eventually let him keep his long hair. Donegan has a daughter named Maya and a son named Justin.
Technique and style
Donegan is a self-taught guitarist. He uses one handed and two handed tappingTapping
Tapping is a guitar playing technique, where a string is fretted and set into vibration as part of a single motion of being pushed onto the fretboard, as opposed to the standard technique being fretted with one hand and picked with the other...
in many of his solos, with pull-off
Pull-off
A pull-off is a stringed instrument technique performed by plucking a string by "pulling" the string off the fingerboard with one of the fingers being used to fret the note.-Performance and effect:...
s, legato
Legato
In musical notation the Italian word legato indicates that musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected. That is, in transitioning from note to note, there should be no intervening silence...
s and hammer-on
Hammer-on
Hammer-on is a stringed instrument playing technique performed by sharply bringing a fretting-hand finger down on the fingerboard behind a fret, causing a note to sound. This technique is the opposite of the pull-off...
s, also sometimes using the "flick off" technique, as used in the solo for the song "Indestructible", and in others as well. His heavy riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
s and sweep picking are seen in many music videos. He uses his DigiTech Dan Donegan, "The Weapon" for many effects in and out of his solo work. He also combines arpeggios with finger tapping and many other techniques. He is known for shredding in some songs and uses finger vibrato
Finger vibrato
Finger vibrato is vibrato produced on a string instrument by cyclic hand movements. Despite the name, normally the entire hand moves, and sometimes the entire upper arm. It can also refer to vibrato on some woodwind instruments, achieved by lowering one or more fingers over one of the uncovered...
on occasion. He uses the whammy bar in many songs to give it a certain sound effect.
In the video "The Making of Indestructible
Indestructible (Disturbed album)
Indestructible is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. A self-produced effort, Indestructible is the first Disturbed album that did not feature Johnny K, the producer of Disturbed's previous three albums, The Sickness, Believe, and Ten Thousand Fists. Indestructible was...
", he mentions he prefers "tasteful" solos, as opposed to shredding solos that rely primarily on speed. Disturbed's frontman David Draiman
David Draiman
David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the lead singer for the metal band Disturbed. Draiman is known for his distorted voice and rhythmic singing style...
mentions "he [Donegan] can rip with the best of them". David also mentions "He's [Donegan] in my opinion you know among the best in existence, and he doesn't give himself enough credit". In the 80's, he was in a hair metal band known as Vandal
Vandal (band)
Vandal were an American glam metal band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in the late 1980s. Vandal was founded by guitarist Dan Donegan, bassist Bob Feddersen, drummer John Sullivan, and vocalist Lance Thomason...
, where many of his solos were shred guitar
Shred guitar
Shred guitar or shredding is lead electric guitar playing that relies heavily on fast guitar solos. While some critics argue that shred guitar is associated with "... sweep-picked arpeggios, diminished and harmonic minor scales, finger-tapping and ... whammy-bar abuse", several guitar...
solos, but he would incorporate other techniques, which many consider his own style of playing.
Equipment
Early on with his career with Disturbed, Donegan played GibsonGibson
Gibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
Standards and SGs
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
. Then, he switched to play a few Paul Reed Smith
Paul Reed Smith
Paul Reed Smith , is a luthier and the founder and owner of PRS Guitars.Smith is originally from Bowie, Maryland. He made his first guitar while at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and continued to build guitars after he finished college, making them one at a time, one a month...
models, the Tremonti Model and a PRS Singlecut. In 2005, Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.- History :...
built Donegan his own signature model called the Maya, named after his daughter. For 2010, Dan built a signature guitar with Schecter guitars, that is based on the ultra classic model (his being the ultra DD). Donegan is a fan of GHS
GHS (strings)
GHS Strings is a Battle Creek, Michigan based guitar and bass guitar string manufacturer. The company was founded in 1964, and in 1975 was bought by Robert McFee, who is still the CEO...
Boomer guitar strings and uses the 12-52 gauge set. He also uses Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
pickups in his guitars.
Guitars
- Current:
- SchecterSchecterSchecter may refer to:* Schecter Guitar Research, an American guitar manufacturer* Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, a landmark Supreme Court decision regarding the Commerce Clause...
Ultra Dan Donegan signature model - SchecterSchecterSchecter may refer to:* Schecter Guitar Research, an American guitar manufacturer* Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States, a landmark Supreme Court decision regarding the Commerce Clause...
Solo-6 2010 limited edition (used in the studio for Asylum)
- Past:
- WashburnWashburnWashburn is an uncommon surname of English origins.The WashburnW166pro In Blue is considered the rarest colour!!...
Maya DD81 signature model (Indestructible) - WashburnWashburnWashburn is an uncommon surname of English origins.The WashburnW166pro In Blue is considered the rarest colour!!...
Maya signature model (Ten Thousand Fists) - PRSPRS GuitarsPRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
Singlecut (Believe) - PRSPRS GuitarsPRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
Mark Tremonti (Believe) - GibsonGibsonGibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
Les Paul Standards (The Sickness) - GibsonGibsonGibson may refer to:* Gibson Amphitheatre* Gibson Appliance* Gibson Girl* Gibson Guitar Corporation* Gibson * Gibson Generating Station-Places:In the United States:* Gibson, Arkansas* Gibson, Georgia* Gibson, Iowa* Gibson, Louisiana...
SGs (The Sickness) - IbanezIbanezis a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
Iceman (used in the early days of Disturbed)
Amplifiers
- RandallRandall-Places:United Kingdom*Randall Carr, stream in Derbyshire, EnglandUnited States:*Randall, California, former name of White Hall, California*Randall House , numerous locations*Randall, Indiana*Randall, Iowa*Randall, Kansas*Randall, Minnesota...
RM4 preamp with 1 "Clean" and 3 "1086" modules into a RT2/50 Power Amp. Has used Randall Cyclone and V-Max heads in the past since 2001, when Dan received an endorsement. Uses Randall R412XLT cabs - Mesa/Boogie Dual and Triple Rectifier amps with Mesa/Boogie Rectifier 4x12 cabs. Used until his Randall endorsement
- BognerBognerBogner is an American guitar amplifier manufacturing company founded by Reinhold Bogner in 1989 in Los Angeles, California, best known for the Shiva, Ecstasy, and Überschall guitar amplifiers.-Models:*Ecstasy 100A and 100B:...
Ecstasy heads - MarshallMarshall AmplificationMarshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
Heads and 4x12 cabinets in the early days
Effects
Note: All controlled by a Voodoo Lab Ground Control, except for the Whammy and Wah- 2 Digitech Dan Donegan "The Weapon" overdrive/effects pedals
- Digitech GSP1101 Preamp
- DigiTech WhammyDigitech Whammy-Overview:The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, first engineered and manufactured in 1989 by IVL Technologies and discontinued in 1993, remains the most sought-after.-Controls:...
- BossBoss CorporationBoss is a manufacturer of effects pedals for electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a division of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer that specializes in musical equipment and accessories...
MT-2 Metal Zone (for a lo-fi effect) - KorgKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
Toneworks 411FX - DunlopDunlop ManufacturingDunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
Custom Shop Rackmount Crybaby with wireless foot control - 2 Boss NS-2s and 2 ISP Decimators in tandem
Disturbed
- The SicknessThe SicknessThe track "Stupify" actually lasts 4:07, but skipping to the track or ripping it produces a song that's 4:33. There's a 0:26 backwards-played instrumental part hidden in the pregap between tracks 3 and 4 that can only be heard by rewinding / playing straight through.-Chart...
(2000) - BelieveBelieve (Disturbed album)Believe is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released on September 17, 2002. Believe debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making it Disturbed's first #1 debut, shipping over 284,000 copies in its first week...
(2002) - Ten Thousand FistsTen Thousand FistsTen Thousand Fists is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released on September 20, 2005 and became Disturbed's second consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard 200 in the United States, shipping around 239,000 copies in its opening week. It has been certified Platinum...
(2005) - IndestructibleIndestructible (Disturbed album)Indestructible is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. A self-produced effort, Indestructible is the first Disturbed album that did not feature Johnny K, the producer of Disturbed's previous three albums, The Sickness, Believe, and Ten Thousand Fists. Indestructible was...
(2008) - AsylumAsylum (Disturbed album)Asylum is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. Taking inspiration from aspects of lead singer David Draiman's life, Asylum is meant to take a fresh direction in the band's music career, while remaining consistent with the band's previous albums. The album was released on...
(2010) - The Lost ChildrenThe Lost Children (album)-Personnel:Disturbed*David Draiman – lead vocals*Dan Donegan – guitar, electronics*John Moyer – bass guitar, backing vocals*Mike Wengren – drums, percussions*Steve Kmak – bass guitar Production...
(2011)