Emppu Vuorinen
Encyclopedia
Erno "Emppu" Matti Juhani Vuorinen (born 24 June 1978 in Kitee
, Finland
) is a Finnish guitarist
, most famous for being a founding member and occasional songwriter of the symphonic metal
band Nightwish
. He started to play guitar
as a private study at the age of 12 and since then has played in various bands including Nightwish
, Brother Firetribe, Barilari
, Almah
, and Altaria
.
Emppu is primarily a rhythm player, often supporting the keyboard or orchestral parts of Nightwish songs. However, he plays lead melodies and solos as well. Vuorinen's solo techniques usually include alternate picking, tapping, sliding, legato, and minor to extreme whammy bar use; he also employs sweep picking, although very rarely. His solos are more melodic than those of most metal bands, but he sometimes shred
s (notably in "Nightquest," "The Pharaoh Sails to Orion," "Romanticide," and "Gethsemane" by Nightwish, and also in "Traitor" by Tarot, for which he provided a solo). Nightwish's first three albums feature a larger amount of lead guitar work from Emppu than their later albums. Vuorinen has tuned his studio guitars in D tuning
since the release of Century Child
- until then, his guitars were tuned in standard
. During concerts, he has two guitars - one for each tuning.
Vuorinen is also a minor creative force in Nightwish, having co-written songs with Tuomas Holopainen
on every album except for Angels Fall First
. The song Whoever Brings The Night on Dark Passion Play
is written by Vuorinen alone.
Emppu recorded guitar parts for Almah
, a Brazilian metal band, order to help his friend and vocalist Edu Falaschi (also singer of Angra
). Emppu did not stay in the band because of his obligations to Nightwish. He is also involved with Brother Firetribe, an AOR band, which as of 2008 had released two albums worldwide: "False Metal" (re-released as "Break Out") and "Heart Full Of Fire".
Vuorinen is often referred to as "the short one" or "the hobbit" when among band members or fans, as he stands at just 5'3" (160 cm) in height. Interestingly, he is the only member of Nightwish's current lineup never to have contributed any vocals.
up through the recording of Once
, relying for years on Washburn CS-780s, but he has recently endorsed ESP guitars
. He currently uses purple and sometimes white versions of a custom-made ESP Horizon model, officially named the EV-1 after Emppu's initials. The EV-1 has Seymour Duncan
pickups (a TB-5 in the bridge, an SHR-1n in the middle, and an SH-2n in the neck) and a Floyd Rose tremolo. His current main amplifiers are Mesa Boogie
Dual Rectifiers with Marshall
JCM 800 4x12 speaker cabinets.
Vuorinen used an ESP Eclipse in Vintage Black for the Dark Passion Play
music videos. After seeing that the distinctive purple guitar had suddenly gone, fans voiced their concerns; Vuorinen answered this question via Nightmail:
:
With Darkwoods My Betrothed
:
With Almah
:
With Brother Firetribe
Kitee
Kitee is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Karelia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is a Finnish 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...
, most famous for being a founding member and occasional songwriter of the symphonic metal
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
. He started to play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
as a private study at the age of 12 and since then has played in various bands including Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
, Brother Firetribe, Barilari
Barilari
Barilari is a project band from Argentina fronted by the Rata Blanca vocalist Adrián Barilari. The band formed in 2001 due to Adrian's wishes to form a solo project away from the demands of his other bands. In 2003 he invited his friends from Nightwish and Jens Johansson from Stratovarius to become...
, Almah
Almah (band)
Almah was initially established in 2006 as a side project of Angra’s singer Edu Falaschi. Since 2006 Almah has released two albums and has turned from a solo-project into a band with regular activities...
, and Altaria
Altaria (band)
Altaria is a power metal band from Jakobstad, Finland, who have released four albums on the record label Metal Heaven and a fifth on Escape Music.In January 2008, the band decided to part ways with their record label Metal Heaven for undisclosed reasons...
.
Emppu is primarily a rhythm player, often supporting the keyboard or orchestral parts of Nightwish songs. However, he plays lead melodies and solos as well. Vuorinen's solo techniques usually include alternate picking, tapping, sliding, legato, and minor to extreme whammy bar use; he also employs sweep picking, although very rarely. His solos are more melodic than those of most metal bands, but he sometimes shred
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...
s (notably in "Nightquest," "The Pharaoh Sails to Orion," "Romanticide," and "Gethsemane" by Nightwish, and also in "Traitor" by Tarot, for which he provided a solo). Nightwish's first three albums feature a larger amount of lead guitar work from Emppu than their later albums. Vuorinen has tuned his studio guitars in D tuning
D tuning
D Tuning, also called One Step Lower, Whole Step Down, or D Standard, is an alternate tuning for guitar. Each string is lowered by a whole tone or two semitones resulting in D-G-C-F-A-D It is used mostly by heavy metal bands to achieve a heavier, deeper sound and by blues guitarists, who use it to...
since the release of Century Child
Century Child
Century Child is the fourth studio album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2002 by Spinefarm Records. It is the first album with current bassist and male vocalist Marco Hietala....
- until then, his guitars were tuned in standard
Standard tuning
In music, standard tuning refers to the typical tuning of a string instrument. This notion is contrary to that of scordatura, i.e. an alternate tuning designated to modify either the timbre or technical capabilities of the desired instrument.-Bowed strings:...
. During concerts, he has two guitars - one for each tuning.
Vuorinen is also a minor creative force in Nightwish, having co-written songs with Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
on every album except for Angels Fall First
Angels Fall First
Angels Fall First is the debut album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. The original limited edition of which only 500 copies were released features seven tracks, two of which are not on the regular edition.- Musical style :...
. The song Whoever Brings The Night on Dark Passion Play
Dark Passion Play
Dark Passion Play is the sixth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 26 September, 2007 in Finland, 28 September in Europe and 2 October 2007 in the United States. It was the first Nightwish album with the band's current lead singer, Anette Olzon, and the first album...
is written by Vuorinen alone.
Emppu recorded guitar parts for Almah
Almah
The Hebrew term almah or plural: alamot is a Hebrew feminine noun, for a girl who has reached puberty but is still under the shielding protection of her family; she is a young, marriageable girl. In Bibles, almah is typically translated as virgin, maiden, young woman, damsel or girl...
, a Brazilian metal band, order to help his friend and vocalist Edu Falaschi (also singer of Angra
Angra (band)
Angra is a Brazilian metal band from São Paulo, Brazil known for its symphonic interludes, highly technical instrumental playing and Brazilian regional elements.- Biography :...
). Emppu did not stay in the band because of his obligations to Nightwish. He is also involved with Brother Firetribe, an AOR band, which as of 2008 had released two albums worldwide: "False Metal" (re-released as "Break Out") and "Heart Full Of Fire".
Vuorinen is often referred to as "the short one" or "the hobbit" when among band members or fans, as he stands at just 5'3" (160 cm) in height. Interestingly, he is the only member of Nightwish's current lineup never to have contributed any vocals.
Equipment
Vuorinen used brown, white, and purple Washburn guitarsWashburn 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 :...
up through the recording of Once
Once
Once may refer to:Music* Once * Once * Once * Once * Once * Once , an Indonesian singerOther uses* Once...
, relying for years on Washburn CS-780s, but he has recently endorsed ESP guitars
ESP Guitars
, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...
. He currently uses purple and sometimes white versions of a custom-made ESP Horizon model, officially named the EV-1 after Emppu's initials. The EV-1 has 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 (a TB-5 in the bridge, an SHR-1n in the middle, and an SH-2n in the neck) and a Floyd Rose tremolo. His current main amplifiers are Mesa Boogie
Mesa Boogie
Mesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
Dual Rectifiers with Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall 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...
JCM 800 4x12 speaker cabinets.
Vuorinen used an ESP Eclipse in Vintage Black for the Dark Passion Play
Dark Passion Play
Dark Passion Play is the sixth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 26 September, 2007 in Finland, 28 September in Europe and 2 October 2007 in the United States. It was the first Nightwish album with the band's current lead singer, Anette Olzon, and the first album...
music videos. After seeing that the distinctive purple guitar had suddenly gone, fans voiced their concerns; Vuorinen answered this question via Nightmail:
Discography
With NightwishNightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
:
- Angels Fall FirstAngels Fall FirstAngels Fall First is the debut album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. The original limited edition of which only 500 copies were released features seven tracks, two of which are not on the regular edition.- Musical style :...
- 1997 (also bass guitar) - OceanbornOceanborn-Personnel:Credits for Oceanborn adapted from liner notes.The band*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards*Emppu Vuorinen - Lead guitar*Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums and PercussionMain Crew...
- 1998 - WishmasterWishmaster (album)Wishmaster is the third album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on May 19, 2000 by Spinefarm Records.Wishmaster's sound continues the bombastic symphonic power metal approach originally featured on Oceanborn, albeit with more emphasis on atmosphere and melody versus powerful speed...
- 2000 - Over the Hills and Far AwayOver the Hills and Far Away (album)Over the Hills and Far Away is the first EP by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2001 by both Spinefarm Records and Drakkar Records...
EP - 2001 - Century ChildCentury ChildCentury Child is the fourth studio album of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2002 by Spinefarm Records. It is the first album with current bassist and male vocalist Marco Hietala....
- 2002 - OnceOnce (Nightwish album)Once is the fifth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on June 7, 2004 by Nuclear Blast and on November 24 by Spinefarm, with the US release on October 5 by Roadrunner Records. In an interview, Tuomas Holopainen said that it is up to the listener to find out the meaning...
- 2004 - Dark Passion PlayDark Passion PlayDark Passion Play is the sixth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 26 September, 2007 in Finland, 28 September in Europe and 2 October 2007 in the United States. It was the first Nightwish album with the band's current lead singer, Anette Olzon, and the first album...
- 2007 - Imaginaerum - 2011
With Darkwoods My Betrothed
Darkwoods My Betrothed
Darkwoods My Betrothed are a black metal band from Kitee, Finland.Formed in 1992 as Virgin Cunt, they set out to be the "most blasphemous black metal band in Europe", in a rather tongue-in-cheek sense. After recording a couple demos under this name, the band started to take themselves a lot more...
:
- Witch-Hunts - 1998
With Almah
Almah (band)
Almah was initially established in 2006 as a side project of Angra’s singer Edu Falaschi. Since 2006 Almah has released two albums and has turned from a solo-project into a band with regular activities...
:
- AlmahAlmah (album)Almah is the first solo project of Brazilian heavy metal singer and Angra frontman Edu Falaschi. The lyrics are about the different feelings of the human being and the title phonetically means "soul" in the Portuguese language...
- 2006 - Fragile EqualityAlmahThe Hebrew term almah or plural: alamot is a Hebrew feminine noun, for a girl who has reached puberty but is still under the shielding protection of her family; she is a young, marriageable girl. In Bibles, almah is typically translated as virgin, maiden, young woman, damsel or girl...
- 2008
With Brother Firetribe
- False MetalFalse MetalBrother Firetribe is an Album Oriented Rock band formed in 2002 in Finland. They describe their music as easy going rock. The band was originally called False Metal, but they changed their name to Brother Firetribe; however, their first album is called ‘False Metal’.They take their name from an...
- Heart Full of Fire