John Myung
Encyclopedia
John Ro Myung is an American
bassist
, Chapman Stick
player and a founding member of the progressive metal
group Dream Theater
. He is considered a virtuoso player who is widely recognized for his technical proficiency.
In a poll conducted by MusicRadar
in August through September 2010, he was voted the greatest bassist of all time.
to Korea
n parents, Myung grew up in Kings Park
, Long Island
, New York
. He played the violin
from the age of five until he was asked to play electric bass
in a local band when he was fifteen. He accepted, assuming the violin and bass were similar due to the number of strings. After graduating from high school he and his high school friend John Petrucci
enrolled at the Berklee College of Music
, where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy
. The three of them formed the band Majesty with another friend from high school, keyboardist Kevin Moore
and vocalist Chris Collins
. The band would later change its name to Dream Theater
.
Though Dream Theater is his primary focus musically, he has appeared in a number of other projects through his career. His first non-Dream Theater venture was in the pop-prog band Platypus
with Rod Morgenstein
, Ty Tabor
and ex-Dream Theater bandmate Derek Sherinian
. He is also a member of The Jelly Jam
, which consists of the same line-up as Platypus, but without Sherinian. Apart from his membership in these bands, he has appeared as a guest on numerous records. He also played keyboards in the spoof band Nightmare Cinema
as Juice Malouse.
Myung's main influences include Chris Squire
, Steve Harris
, Geddy Lee
and Cliff Burton
, and their respective bands Yes
, Iron Maiden
, Rush
, and Metallica
.
Myung is married to Lisa Martens Pace, the bass player in the defunct all-female heavy metal band Meanstreak. Two other members of the band, Rena Sands and Marlene Apuzz,o are married to current and former Dream Theater
members: John Petrucci
and Mike Portnoy
, respectively.
Myung is a Christian
and open about his religion in interviews—Jordan Rudess confirmed this in a post on his forum.
Up until the addition of Mike Mangini, Myung had the distinction of being the only member of Dream Theater to have never performed vocals.
, he tackled
Dream Theater singer James LaBrie
, much to the confusion and amazement of both the audience and the rest of the band; this move later became known as the "Myung Tackle." It would later be revealed in the band's biography Lifting Shadows
that he was dared to do it with "a couple hundred dollars and nobody thought that he would do it."
Myung is also famous for his practicing principles. Both Kevin Shirley
(on the Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York DVD) as well as former keyboardist Derek Sherinian
(on his website ) have said that Myung is the only musician they know who "warms down" after a show. He also has been seen to practice just minutes before the band goes on stage. In a forum post, John Petrucci
said that, when he and Myung were at Berklee, the two had an agreement to practice at least six hours every day.
to Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
; after this Myung did not contribute any lyrics until A Dramatic Turn of Events
. Mike Portnoy once commented in a chat session that this is probably because Myung's lyrics usually needed some work by the rest of the band to fit to the song. As a result, the band eventually imposed an unwritten lyric rule that required lyrics to be "properly formed, phrased, constructed, etc. to go with the melodies," and, "since then, John has kind of backed off." In April 2011, it was confirmed by Jordan Rudess
that Myung has written lyrics for the upcoming eleventh album.
. He also began to develop a unique playing style high on the neck, adding counterpoint lines and melodies to the band's material which are not typically heard in traditional "rock" music. He was also a heavy user of effects not typically heard on the bass guitar to better bring out his distinctive style.
's debut album When Dream and Day Unite
, Myung played a heavily-modified Ernie Ball/MusicMan Stingray four-string bass, as well as his four-string Fender Jazz Bass, with the Stingray seeing the vast majority of local New York City
-area live performances in this period (1988–1992). The Ernie Ball/MusicMan Stingray four-string was customized with an added front pickup sending a traditional clean bass sound to a clean amp, while the bridge signal was sent to a full-time "effected" amplifier, much like his influences Chris Squire
and Geddy Lee
and similar to "The Wife", a modified Fender
precision bass used by Billy Sheehan
, except Sheehan's bridge pickup was notch filtered to achieve a more guitar like sound.
Myung used a 4-string Spector
NS-2 for most of the recording of Images and Words
in 1992 (although he may have used a 5-string or 6-string bass for songs such as "Take the Time", which features a low-C#).
EP released in 1993. Myung continued to use Tobias basses throughout the "Images And Tour" and "Music In Progress" tours from 1992 to late 1993. He has used six string basses almost exclusively ever since.
album, Myung became the primary endorser of Tung basses, which were produced by a small company formed by ex-Tobias luthier
Nicholas Tung. Myung owned at least three of the only 100 instruments constructed, two "Wingbass II Bolt-on" six-strings (one Natural and one Sunburst, both with Figured Maple tops, Ash bodies and Maple necks with Rosewood fretboards), and one "Wingbass II Hybrid (a "half neck-through") with Spalted Maple top, Ash body, and Maple neck with Birdseye Maple fretboard). The natural-finish Wingbass II bolt-on became his main live instrument for the "Waking Up The World" and "A Change of Seasons
" tours, although he used the other two in his "Progressive Bass Concepts" instructional video. During this period, Myung also used a Hamer
acoustic bass for "unplugged" radio shows and live performances. For amplification, he was using Mesa Boogie
Strategy 400 power amps, a Mesa Boogie
Bass 400+, and a modified Mesa Boogie
Triaxis guitar preamp with several transistors swapped out for ones that would support the lower range of a bass guitar.
. A bolt-on bass with alder body with flame-maple top available in either "Ruby Red" or "Turquoise Blue" with a maple neck, ebony fretboard, gold hardware, 35" scale, and "Infinity" dot inlay on the fretboard, various Red and Blue RBX6JM models were his main studio and live instruments along with his TRB fretless from 1997–1998's Touring Into Infinity, 1998's Once In A LIVEtime
double-disc live CD and 5 Years In A LIVEtime
video, 1999's Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
, following tour and 2001's Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York
DVD and Live Scenes From New York
three CD live set. Myung's amplification and speaker endorsement changed at this time to SWR Sound Corporation, as can be seen on the Metropolis 2000 DVD. However, Internet-released "Webisodes" of the making of 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
double album showed an expansion of Myung's studio gear with the use of a Hamer
8-string bass, as well as a Music Man
Stingray
5 five-string bass. The usage of this bass on the entirety of disc 2 of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
would lead to changes to his Yamaha signature bass.
In 2002, Myung and Yamaha unveiled the RBX-JM2, an updated version of his signature bass that echoed the redesign of Yamaha's entire RBX-series of basses. Changes included a modified body shape with more "modern" lines and carvings, finishes in either "Inca Silver" or "Plum Purple" in flat as opposed to glossy paint, slightly tighter string-spacing, a maple neck/rosewood fretboard with "Yin-Yang" inlay at the 12th fret, 34" scale as opposed to the 35" scale that the RBX6JM had, and most importantly a single Seymour Duncan Music Man-type Humbucking pickup, by all accounts an influence from his usage of a Music Man Stingray to record a good portion of Dream Theater's last album as well as the Stingray that was his primary bass on the band's first album. This was used on Dream Theater's Train of Thought
and Octavarium
albums, the tours supporting them, as well as the vast majority of the Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
tour (the prototypes for the second version arrived for him to test early in the tour), the Summer 2002 tour co-headlining with Joe Satriani
, the Summer 2003 tour co-headlined with Queensrÿche
, and the Gigantour
heavy metal festival Dream Theater co-headlined with Megadeth
. Myung did not play the Production model of the RBX JM2 he had a second pickup added between the Music Man Style Pickup (custom made by Seymour Duncan) and the bridge. There were also a few controls added. He stated that also the body shape and the woods were slightly altered for the Bass he was using.
in 2006, Myung was seen using various MusicMan basses (most notably an Egyptian Smoke Bongo 5 HH as well as a Sterling H/SC
, which can be seen a few times during in-studio videos and the EPK for this new album). At the beginning of the 2007 "Chaos in Motion" tour, he was spotted playing a MusicMan Bongo 5 HS in his signature "Inca Silver" (Flat Gray) finish on stage as opposed to his signature Yamaha instrument. This was the first time since before Images and Words
that Myung had toured with MusicMan instruments. On July 23, 2007, a posting on the Music Man online forum by the owner of Music Man, Sterling Ball, http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/25761-welcome-family-john-myung.html stated with certainty that "I am speaking for both myself and the entire Music Man family in welcoming a wonderfully talented bassist and good guy, John Myung of Dream Theater. John has fallen in love with the prototypes that we made of the Bongo 6 and is now playing them exclusively. He is so in love with them that he wont let me tweak them. He is playing the first proto and has two others from the same batch. This is historic for us to have hit the nail on the head for an artist without any input, visit, or promise." He also stated that, for the first time since John was endorsed by Yamaha over 10 years ago, "It is not a signature bass it is part of the regular line." However, several years ago, Sterling Ball had stated that there was no chance of a six-string Bongo unless a "high-profile artist asked for one," so John Myung's desire for a six-string Music Man can be seen as the genesis of the six-string Bongo. Myung is currently (as of May 2008) playing the 2 original six-string prototypes on Dream Theater's "Progressive Nation 2008" tour, a Flat Silver model very close the "Inca Silver" color on his signature Yamaha and a Black model both with Humbucker/Single Coil pickup combinations, as well as a single humbucker Flat Silver. On July 26, 2007, both he and John Petrucci
visited the Music Man factory to test some new instruments that were being made for them—in this visit Myung can be http://www.ernieball.com/forums/ernie-ball-music-man-artists/25855-john-petrucci-john-myung-visit-ernie-ball-music-man-factory.html#post393185 seen with an Egyptian Smoke six-string with a H/SC pickup configuration. In an Interview in 2010 which was made due to his election for the greatest bass player of all time he states that he is working with Musicman on a modified Bongo with different types of wood which sometimes may be available for the public.
, an instrument primarily intended to be played by "tapping" the strings much as a pianist plays a keyboard, as well as strumming them or fingerpicking. To date, Myung has only used the Stick on four Dream Theater songs in the studio and live: "New Millennium", "Trial Of Tears", "Take Away My Pain" from Falling Into Infinity
, and "Misunderstood" from Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
(although it has been brought into the studio for every recording session since and was the original instrument that the "Home" bassline was performed on until being switched to bass). He did, however, use the Stick on several tracks on Sean Malone
's first Gordian Knot
including "Srikara Tal" and "Redemption's Way." Myung also used a fretless bass on the Dream Theater
song "Through Her Eyes".
magazine detailing his on-stage equipment, he used two Demeter HBP-1 preamps, a Demeter VTDB-2B mono tube direct box, Demeter HXC-1 optical compressor, Ashdown ABM RPM-1 EVO II preamp and ABM APM 1000 Evo II power amp, a Pearce BC-1 preamp, Framptone 3-Banger (for switching between preamps and their different settings) and Mesa Big Block 750 amplifier. Myung does not use speaker cabinets onstage. Instead, he uses direct boxes that feed the signal from his instruments into the front-of-house mixing board. Many fans and viewers of their live DVDs complain that his signal is distinctly quieter than the rest of the band's when playing live compared to studio recordings, sometimes causing his solo sections to be almost inaudible.
Apart from the various preamps that he uses for overdrive and distortion, the only "effect" Myung uses is an Eventide DSP4000 Ultra-Harmonizer for chorus, harmonization, and time-based effects: "I dig the Hyper Quad setting on the Eventide. It makes for a great wide, spatial effect that really brings my bass sound to life, especially live."
In 2011 he was seen in the studio using the Fractal Audio AXE FX as well as his mesa bigblock heads.
and Harmonics in his bass playing. His tapping technique is demonstrated most prominently in the bass solo in "Metropolis part 1: The Miracle and The Sleeper". He uses his chorus effect to help the harmonics to ring out in his playing and sometimes plays chords consisting mostly of harmonics. This is heard most prominently in the intro riff of "Lifting Shadows off a Dream", the beginning of "The Glass Prison" and the end of "The Shattered Fortress" (which both use exactly the same riff). He uses tapping and fingerstyle on his Chapman Stick throughout "New Millennium". He occasionally uses a pick as well, namely on "These Walls" and the ending of "The Dark Eternal Night". For the song "These Walls" he played with a pick in the studio but later used fingerstyle when playing live.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, Chapman Stick
Chapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
player and a founding member of the progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
group Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
. He is considered a virtuoso player who is widely recognized for his technical proficiency.
In a poll conducted by MusicRadar
MusicRadar
MusicRadar is a website for musicians. It covers information pertaining to artists and music, special features, product news and reviews, music lessons and a social network service in the style of Facebook and Myspace...
in August through September 2010, he was voted the greatest bassist of all time.
Background
Born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n parents, Myung grew up in Kings Park
Kings Park, New York
Kings Park is a census-designated place in the town Smithtown, Suffolk County, New York, United States, on Long Island. The population was 17,282 as of the 2010 census....
, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He played the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
from the age of five until he was asked to play electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
in a local band when he was fifteen. He accepted, assuming the violin and bass were similar due to the number of strings. After graduating from high school he and his high school friend John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
enrolled at the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...
. The three of them formed the band Majesty with another friend from high school, keyboardist Kevin Moore
Kevin Moore
For the blues singer, see Keb' Mo'.Kevin Moore is a keyboardist, vocalist and composer and founder of the Chroma Key music project. He is also a former member of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater, co-founder of the progressive rock supergroup O.S.I. and has composed film soundtracks...
and vocalist Chris Collins
Chris Collins (singer)
Chris Collins is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as the first vocalist of the progressive metal band "Majesty" that later became Dream Theater.-The Majesty Days:...
. The band would later change its name to Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
.
Though Dream Theater is his primary focus musically, he has appeared in a number of other projects through his career. His first non-Dream Theater venture was in the pop-prog band Platypus
Platypus (band)
Platypus was a progressive rock / jazz-fusion supergroup that consisted of members from Dream Theater, King's X and Dixie Dregs. The group was formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2000.-History:...
with Rod Morgenstein
Rod Morgenstein
Rod Morgenstein is an American drummer and music educator. He is best known for his work with the late '80s Heavy metal band Winger and with the Jazz fusion band Dixie Dregs. He also played with Fiona, Platypus, The Steve Morse Band, and Jelly Jam...
, Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the progressive metal band, King's X....
and ex-Dream Theater bandmate Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
. He is also a member of The Jelly Jam
The Jelly Jam
The Jelly Jam is a three-piece progressive rock band, consisting of Ty Tabor of King's X on guitar and vocals, Rod Morgenstein of The Dixie Dregs on drums, and John Myung of Dream Theater on bass...
, which consists of the same line-up as Platypus, but without Sherinian. Apart from his membership in these bands, he has appeared as a guest on numerous records. He also played keyboards in the spoof band Nightmare Cinema
Nightmare Cinema
Nightmare Cinema was a spoof rock band whose lineup comprised members of Dream Theater playing instruments other than their usual instrument of choice. During concert encores, starting on November 1, 1997 at the House of Blues in Chicago, Nightmare Cinema began their tradition of jamming on one...
as Juice Malouse.
Myung's main influences include Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
, Steve Harris
Steve Harris (musician)
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
, Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
and Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton was an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band Metallica....
, and their respective bands Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, and Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
.
Myung is married to Lisa Martens Pace, the bass player in the defunct all-female heavy metal band Meanstreak. Two other members of the band, Rena Sands and Marlene Apuzz,o are married to current and former Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
members: John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
and Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...
, respectively.
Myung is a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and open about his religion in interviews—Jordan Rudess confirmed this in a post on his forum.
Up until the addition of Mike Mangini, Myung had the distinction of being the only member of Dream Theater to have never performed vocals.
Personality
Myung has a reputation as the "mysterious" member of Dream Theater, as he is very quiet and seldom draws attention to himself in videos or concerts. This has led some fans to joke that no one has ever heard him speak. However, he does speak in DVD commentaries and on his instructional video, as well as to fans he meets at live shows. His mysterious personality was emphasized when, at a show in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he tackled
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
Dream Theater singer James LaBrie
James LaBrie
Kevin James LaBrie is a Canadian vocalist who is best known as the lead singer of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater.-Early life:...
, much to the confusion and amazement of both the audience and the rest of the band; this move later became known as the "Myung Tackle." It would later be revealed in the band's biography Lifting Shadows
Lifting Shadows
Lifting Shadows is a biography book detailing the complete story of progressive metal band Dream Theater, written by Rich Wilson and published by Essential Works...
that he was dared to do it with "a couple hundred dollars and nobody thought that he would do it."
Myung is also famous for his practicing principles. Both Kevin Shirley
Kevin Shirley
Kevin Shirley is a music producer and mixer for many artists, such as the bands Journey, Iron Maiden, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Joe Bonamassa, Marya Roxx, Dream Theater, Tyler Bryant, Mr. Big, and Europe.-Biography:...
(on the Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York DVD) as well as former keyboardist Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
(on his website ) have said that Myung is the only musician they know who "warms down" after a show. He also has been seen to practice just minutes before the band goes on stage. In a forum post, John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
said that, when he and Myung were at Berklee, the two had an agreement to practice at least six hours every day.
Songwriting
Dream Theater has long been known for its group writing process, so it is sometimes difficult to identify which member of the band authored a particular song or song section (although, on some DVD commentaries, the band members have identified certain parts as, e.g., "a John Myung riff"). With respect to lyrics, Myung wrote the lyrics to one song per album from Images and WordsImages and Words
Images and Words is currently ranked #2 on Digital Dream Door's list of the top 100 progressive metal albums of all time. Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes the album at number 8, just after Fear Factory's Demanufacture and before Sepultura's Roots, in his classification of the best metal albums...
to Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory is the fifth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1999. It is a concept album that deals with the story of a man named Nicholas and the discovery of his past life, which involves love, murder, and infidelity as Victoria Page...
; after this Myung did not contribute any lyrics until A Dramatic Turn of Events
A Dramatic Turn of Events
A Dramatic Turn of Events is the 11th studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on September 13, 2011 through Roadrunner Records...
. Mike Portnoy once commented in a chat session that this is probably because Myung's lyrics usually needed some work by the rest of the band to fit to the song. As a result, the band eventually imposed an unwritten lyric rule that required lyrics to be "properly formed, phrased, constructed, etc. to go with the melodies," and, "since then, John has kind of backed off." In April 2011, it was confirmed by Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.-Biography:...
that Myung has written lyrics for the upcoming eleventh album.
Instruments
Myung began playing bass at the age of 15 after having played violin for a number of years. His first bass was a "Memphis" brand Precision bass copy, but he quickly upgraded to a salmon-colored four-string Fender Jazz bassFender Jazz Bass
The Jazz Bass was the second model of electric bass created by Leo Fender. The bass is distinct from the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic...
. He also began to develop a unique playing style high on the neck, adding counterpoint lines and melodies to the band's material which are not typically heard in traditional "rock" music. He was also a heavy user of effects not typically heard on the bass guitar to better bring out his distinctive style.
Early Dream Theater gear
For Dream TheaterDream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
's debut album When Dream and Day Unite
When Dream and Day Unite
-The Killing Hand:The lyrics of the song describe a man who wakes up unaware of where he is. He looks around to see walls covered in names of people who have died. He wants to find out why, and travels back in time to find out...
, Myung played a heavily-modified Ernie Ball/MusicMan Stingray four-string bass, as well as his four-string Fender Jazz Bass, with the Stingray seeing the vast majority of local New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-area live performances in this period (1988–1992). The Ernie Ball/MusicMan Stingray four-string was customized with an added front pickup sending a traditional clean bass sound to a clean amp, while the bridge signal was sent to a full-time "effected" amplifier, much like his influences Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
and Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
and similar to "The Wife", a modified Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
precision bass used by Billy Sheehan
Billy Sheehan
William "Billy" Sheehan is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won the "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll from Guitar Player Magazine five times for his "lead bass" playing style...
, except Sheehan's bridge pickup was notch filtered to achieve a more guitar like sound.
Myung used a 4-string Spector
Spector
Spector is an American based company that manufacturers bass guitars. Founded in 1974 by self-taught luthier Stuart Spector, Spector's first few instruments were essentially crude experiments in instrument design and craftsmanship...
NS-2 for most of the recording of Images and Words
Images and Words
Images and Words is currently ranked #2 on Digital Dream Door's list of the top 100 progressive metal albums of all time. Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes the album at number 8, just after Fear Factory's Demanufacture and before Sepultura's Roots, in his classification of the best metal albums...
in 1992 (although he may have used a 5-string or 6-string bass for songs such as "Take the Time", which features a low-C#).
Switch to 6-string basses
He made the technically challenging switch to 6-string basses for Dream Theater's subsequent tour of America, Europe, and Japan, using several high-end Tobias "Basic"-model basses. At least two, a Cherry Sunburst (seen on the "Live In Tokyo" VHS/DVD release) and "Transparent Red" (seen in the "Take The Time" video) Maple body-and-neck with Rosewood fretboard can be seen and heard on various Dream Theater music videos and on the Live At The MarqueeLive at the Marquee
Live at the Marquee may refer to:*Live at the Marquee , an annual music festival in Cork, IrelandMusic*Live at the Marquee *Live at the Marquee *Live at the Marquee ...
EP released in 1993. Myung continued to use Tobias basses throughout the "Images And Tour" and "Music In Progress" tours from 1992 to late 1993. He has used six string basses almost exclusively ever since.
Tung endorsment
For Dream Theater's AwakeAwake (Dream Theater album)
Awake is the third studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on October 4, 1994 by East West Records. It was the last Dream Theater album to feature keyboardist Kevin Moore, who announced his decision to leave the band during the recording of the album.Much of the...
album, Myung became the primary endorser of Tung basses, which were produced by a small company formed by ex-Tobias luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
Nicholas Tung. Myung owned at least three of the only 100 instruments constructed, two "Wingbass II Bolt-on" six-strings (one Natural and one Sunburst, both with Figured Maple tops, Ash bodies and Maple necks with Rosewood fretboards), and one "Wingbass II Hybrid (a "half neck-through") with Spalted Maple top, Ash body, and Maple neck with Birdseye Maple fretboard). The natural-finish Wingbass II bolt-on became his main live instrument for the "Waking Up The World" and "A Change of Seasons
A Change of Seasons
-Credits:* James LaBrie – Vocals* John Myung – bass* John Petrucci – guitars* Mike Portnoy – drums* Derek Sherinian – keyboards-Chart performance:Billboard 200:* A Change of Seasons – #58UK Albums Chart...
" tours, although he used the other two in his "Progressive Bass Concepts" instructional video. During this period, Myung also used a Hamer
Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V...
acoustic bass for "unplugged" radio shows and live performances. For amplification, he was using 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....
Strategy 400 power amps, a 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....
Bass 400+, and a modified 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....
Triaxis guitar preamp with several transistors swapped out for ones that would support the lower range of a bass guitar.
Switch to Yamaha
After the Tung company ceased production, Myung began endorsing Yamaha instruments, using its TRB and John Patitucci six-string fretted and fretless basses live for Dream Theater's The Fix For '96 & An Evening of New Music with Dream Theater while working with Yamaha's Artist Custom Shop on what would become his signature instrument. Based on the more "rock"-oriented RBX body style, prototypes of the RBX6JM along with his TRB basses were used for the recording of 1997's Falling Into InfinityFalling into Infinity
-Personnel:* James LaBrie – vocals* John Myung – bass, Chapman Stick* John Petrucci – guitars, backing vocals* Mike Portnoy – drums, backing vocals* Derek Sherinian – keyboards, backing vocals-Chart performance:Billboard 200:* Falling Into Infinity - #52...
. A bolt-on bass with alder body with flame-maple top available in either "Ruby Red" or "Turquoise Blue" with a maple neck, ebony fretboard, gold hardware, 35" scale, and "Infinity" dot inlay on the fretboard, various Red and Blue RBX6JM models were his main studio and live instruments along with his TRB fretless from 1997–1998's Touring Into Infinity, 1998's Once In A LIVEtime
Once in a LIVEtime
-Disc two:-Covers and tributes:Dream Theater have often placed riffs or parts of other band's songs into their songs when playing live. On this album, there are several examples of this....
double-disc live CD and 5 Years In A LIVEtime
5 Years in a Livetime
5 Years in a LIVEtime is the second home video release by Dream Theater. The video contains a mix of concert footage, promotional video clips, and behind-the-scenes and interview footage from the five years in between the release of their previous home video, Images and Words: Live in Tokyo, and...
video, 1999's Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory is the fifth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1999. It is a concept album that deals with the story of a man named Nicholas and the discovery of his past life, which involves love, murder, and infidelity as Victoria Page...
, following tour and 2001's Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York
Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York
Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York is a VHS/DVD release by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released on April 21, 2001 by Elektra Records...
DVD and Live Scenes From New York
Live Scenes from New York
-Disc two:-Disc three:-Personnel:* James LaBrie – vocals and percussion* John Myung – bass guitars* John Petrucci – guitars and backing vocals* Mike Portnoy – drums and backing vocals* Jordan Rudess – keyboards-Additional Personnel:...
three CD live set. Myung's amplification and speaker endorsement changed at this time to SWR Sound Corporation, as can be seen on the Metropolis 2000 DVD. However, Internet-released "Webisodes" of the making of 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the sixth full-length studio album by progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released as a double-disc album on January 29, 2002 by Elektra Records...
double album showed an expansion of Myung's studio gear with the use of a Hamer
Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V...
8-string bass, as well as a Music Man
Music Man (company)
Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
Stingray
Music Man StingRay
Music Man StingRay is an electric bass guitar by Music Man, introduced in 1976.- History :In 1971, Fender employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, unhappy with the way CBS was managing the company, left their positions with Fender to start their own venture. First known as Tri-Sonic and then later...
5 five-string bass. The usage of this bass on the entirety of disc 2 of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the sixth full-length studio album by progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released as a double-disc album on January 29, 2002 by Elektra Records...
would lead to changes to his Yamaha signature bass.
In 2002, Myung and Yamaha unveiled the RBX-JM2, an updated version of his signature bass that echoed the redesign of Yamaha's entire RBX-series of basses. Changes included a modified body shape with more "modern" lines and carvings, finishes in either "Inca Silver" or "Plum Purple" in flat as opposed to glossy paint, slightly tighter string-spacing, a maple neck/rosewood fretboard with "Yin-Yang" inlay at the 12th fret, 34" scale as opposed to the 35" scale that the RBX6JM had, and most importantly a single Seymour Duncan Music Man-type Humbucking pickup, by all accounts an influence from his usage of a Music Man Stingray to record a good portion of Dream Theater's last album as well as the Stingray that was his primary bass on the band's first album. This was used on Dream Theater's Train of Thought
Train of Thought (Dream Theater album)
-Chart performance:* Billboard 200: Train of Thought - #53* Billboard Top Internet Albums: Train of Thought - #53* UK Album Charts: Train of Thought - #146* Norwegian Album Charts: Train of Thought - #9-Personnel:* James LaBrie – lead vocals...
and Octavarium
Octavarium (album)
Octavarium is the eighth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 7, 2005, it was the band's final release with Atlantic Records. Recorded between September 2004 and February 2005, the album holds the distinction of being the last album ever recorded at The...
albums, the tours supporting them, as well as the vast majority of the Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the sixth full-length studio album by progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released as a double-disc album on January 29, 2002 by Elektra Records...
tour (the prototypes for the second version arrived for him to test early in the tour), the Summer 2002 tour co-headlining with Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, the Summer 2003 tour co-headlined with Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
, and the Gigantour
Gigantour
Gigantour is the name of a sporadically organised traveling heavy metal music festival organized by Megadeth's Dave Mustaine. The tour was founded in 2005 with dates across North America, and the 2006 and 2007 line-ups also traveled to Australia...
heavy metal festival Dream Theater co-headlined with Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. Myung did not play the Production model of the RBX JM2 he had a second pickup added between the Music Man Style Pickup (custom made by Seymour Duncan) and the bridge. There were also a few controls added. He stated that also the body shape and the woods were slightly altered for the Bass he was using.
Switch to Music Man
During the recording of Systematic ChaosSystematic Chaos
Systematic Chaos is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007 in the United States, Systematic Chaos was the band's first release through Roadrunner Records, which was sold to their previous label...
in 2006, Myung was seen using various MusicMan basses (most notably an Egyptian Smoke Bongo 5 HH as well as a Sterling H/SC
Music Man Sterling
The Music Man Sterling is a model of bass guitar designed by the Music Man company. It was named after Sterling Ball, son of Ernie Ball, the founder of the parent company....
, which can be seen a few times during in-studio videos and the EPK for this new album). At the beginning of the 2007 "Chaos in Motion" tour, he was spotted playing a MusicMan Bongo 5 HS in his signature "Inca Silver" (Flat Gray) finish on stage as opposed to his signature Yamaha instrument. This was the first time since before Images and Words
Images and Words
Images and Words is currently ranked #2 on Digital Dream Door's list of the top 100 progressive metal albums of all time. Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes the album at number 8, just after Fear Factory's Demanufacture and before Sepultura's Roots, in his classification of the best metal albums...
that Myung had toured with MusicMan instruments. On July 23, 2007, a posting on the Music Man online forum by the owner of Music Man, Sterling Ball, http://www.ernieball.com/forums/music-man-basses/25761-welcome-family-john-myung.html stated with certainty that "I am speaking for both myself and the entire Music Man family in welcoming a wonderfully talented bassist and good guy, John Myung of Dream Theater. John has fallen in love with the prototypes that we made of the Bongo 6 and is now playing them exclusively. He is so in love with them that he wont let me tweak them. He is playing the first proto and has two others from the same batch. This is historic for us to have hit the nail on the head for an artist without any input, visit, or promise." He also stated that, for the first time since John was endorsed by Yamaha over 10 years ago, "It is not a signature bass it is part of the regular line." However, several years ago, Sterling Ball had stated that there was no chance of a six-string Bongo unless a "high-profile artist asked for one," so John Myung's desire for a six-string Music Man can be seen as the genesis of the six-string Bongo. Myung is currently (as of May 2008) playing the 2 original six-string prototypes on Dream Theater's "Progressive Nation 2008" tour, a Flat Silver model very close the "Inca Silver" color on his signature Yamaha and a Black model both with Humbucker/Single Coil pickup combinations, as well as a single humbucker Flat Silver. On July 26, 2007, both he and John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
visited the Music Man factory to test some new instruments that were being made for them—in this visit Myung can be http://www.ernieball.com/forums/ernie-ball-music-man-artists/25855-john-petrucci-john-myung-visit-ernie-ball-music-man-factory.html#post393185 seen with an Egyptian Smoke six-string with a H/SC pickup configuration. In an Interview in 2010 which was made due to his election for the greatest bass player of all time he states that he is working with Musicman on a modified Bongo with different types of wood which sometimes may be available for the public.
Other instruments
Myung also has used a 12 string Grand Chapman StickChapman Stick
The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and has been used on music recordings to play bass lines, melody lines, chords or textures...
, an instrument primarily intended to be played by "tapping" the strings much as a pianist plays a keyboard, as well as strumming them or fingerpicking. To date, Myung has only used the Stick on four Dream Theater songs in the studio and live: "New Millennium", "Trial Of Tears", "Take Away My Pain" from Falling Into Infinity
Falling into Infinity
-Personnel:* James LaBrie – vocals* John Myung – bass, Chapman Stick* John Petrucci – guitars, backing vocals* Mike Portnoy – drums, backing vocals* Derek Sherinian – keyboards, backing vocals-Chart performance:Billboard 200:* Falling Into Infinity - #52...
, and "Misunderstood" from Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the sixth full-length studio album by progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released as a double-disc album on January 29, 2002 by Elektra Records...
(although it has been brought into the studio for every recording session since and was the original instrument that the "Home" bassline was performed on until being switched to bass). He did, however, use the Stick on several tracks on Sean Malone
Sean Malone
Sean Malone is an American musician who plays primarily fretless bass guitar and Chapman stick. However, Malone also plays piano, keyboards, and guitar. He is most well known as a member of the progressive band Cynic.- Biography :...
's first Gordian Knot
Gordian Knot (band)
Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
including "Srikara Tal" and "Redemption's Way." Myung also used a fretless bass on the Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
song "Through Her Eyes".
Amplification
Currently (as of May 2008) onstage, Myung uses all rackmount units for his sounds. As of the August 2005 issue of Bass PlayerBass Player (magazine)
Bass Player is a popular magazine for bassists. Each issue offers a variety of artist interviews, lessons, equipment reviews, and a complete transcribed bass line from a popular song...
magazine detailing his on-stage equipment, he used two Demeter HBP-1 preamps, a Demeter VTDB-2B mono tube direct box, Demeter HXC-1 optical compressor, Ashdown ABM RPM-1 EVO II preamp and ABM APM 1000 Evo II power amp, a Pearce BC-1 preamp, Framptone 3-Banger (for switching between preamps and their different settings) and Mesa Big Block 750 amplifier. Myung does not use speaker cabinets onstage. Instead, he uses direct boxes that feed the signal from his instruments into the front-of-house mixing board. Many fans and viewers of their live DVDs complain that his signal is distinctly quieter than the rest of the band's when playing live compared to studio recordings, sometimes causing his solo sections to be almost inaudible.
Effects
On the Chaos in Motion Tour he used a Demeter VTDB-2B mono tube direct box, a Demeter HXC-1 Compressor and a Demeter HBP-1 Preamp for his direct signal. He also used two Mesa Bigblock 750 amplifiers and a Mesa Bigblock Titan V12 amplifier connected to a Mesa 2x12 cabinet and a Mesa 4x12 cabinet. All this is controlled by a Mesa high gain amp switcher. Furthermore he used a DBX 166xl compressor as well as some Furman units and a Shure wireless system. The only rackmount effect unit he used was a Eventide DSP 4000. In All this can be seen on a picture which is shown on the Mesa homepage. In addition you can see a MXR Phase 90 and a MXR double shot distortion pedal on his pedalboard. A Framptone AB Box as well as a Korg Racktuner and his Midi Footcontroller which is made by Custom Audio Electronics are also mounted on his pedalboard. Myung used to use a 4x10 Mesa Cabinet and 2x12 Mesa Cabinet. On some pictures you can see two Mesa Roadking heads next right to his cabinets. These might be also used to create his sound.Apart from the various preamps that he uses for overdrive and distortion, the only "effect" Myung uses is an Eventide DSP4000 Ultra-Harmonizer for chorus, harmonization, and time-based effects: "I dig the Hyper Quad setting on the Eventide. It makes for a great wide, spatial effect that really brings my bass sound to life, especially live."
In 2011 he was seen in the studio using the Fractal Audio AXE FX as well as his mesa bigblock heads.
Equipment over the years
- 1998: Custom Build Noisegate, Rocktron Rack interface, Voltage Controlled Amplifier, Steward 4 Channel DI, Mesa Boogie Amp Switcher, modified Mesa Triaxis. Mesa M2000, Mesa Bass 400+, Mesa Abacus, Mesa Strategy 500, Mesa 2x10 wedge monitors, Mesa 1x15+4x10 Cabs, DBX 166, Yamaha spx900
- 2002: SWR SM900 Heads, Demeter Isocabs, two Pearce BC1 Preamps
- 2005: Ashdown RPM1 Preamp, Pearce BC1 Preamp, Mesa Bigblock 750, Ashdown PM1000 Poweramp, Eventide DSP4000, Demeter HBP-1 preamps, a Demeter VTDB-2B mono tube direct box, Demeter HXC-1 optical compressor
- 2007: Two Mesa Bigblock 750, Mesa Bigblock Titan V12, Eventide DSP4000, DBX 166XL, Demeter HBP-1 preamps, a Demeter VTDB-2B mono tube direct box, Demeter HXC-1 optical compressor, Mesa Powerhouse 4x10 and 2x12 Mesa Amp Switcher, Mesa Rectifiers
- 2010: Smaller setup for the tour with iron maiden an in south America. Eventide DSP4000, Demeter HBP-1 Preamp, Mesa Bigblock 750, Mesa M9, DBX 166XL, Mesa Amp Switcher
- 2011: In the studio Axe Fx, Bigblock 750
Technique
Myung mainly uses a two or three finger picking style in his playing. He also uses slapping and popping on some songs and also uses 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...
and Harmonics in his bass playing. His tapping technique is demonstrated most prominently in the bass solo in "Metropolis part 1: The Miracle and The Sleeper". He uses his chorus effect to help the harmonics to ring out in his playing and sometimes plays chords consisting mostly of harmonics. This is heard most prominently in the intro riff of "Lifting Shadows off a Dream", the beginning of "The Glass Prison" and the end of "The Shattered Fortress" (which both use exactly the same riff). He uses tapping and fingerstyle on his Chapman Stick throughout "New Millennium". He occasionally uses a pick as well, namely on "These Walls" and the ending of "The Dark Eternal Night". For the song "These Walls" he played with a pick in the studio but later used fingerstyle when playing live.
Setup and tuning
Until his switch to Music Man John was using d'Addario XL roundwounds later he switched to the d'Addario Prosteels. He used gauges .032, .045, .065, .085, .105, .130. Live he likes to set his strings higher to "be more physical". In the Studio he likes the strings to be lower. Most of the songs are in standard 6 string tuning but for some songs he uses different tunings (according to a forum post in John Petrucci's Forum):| Tunings | Songs |
|---|---|
| BEADGC | Standard tuning for most songs |
| CEADGC | As I Am, Honor Thy Father, In the Name of God, A Nightmare to Remember |
| DEADGC | Endless Sacrifice, A Rite of Passage |
| Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-B | The Root of All Evil |
| AEADGC | These Walls |
| AEACGC | Panic Attack (on the album 3rd string was at C only for the intro, and the 6th string may have been Bb) |
Discography
- Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
- The Majesty Demos (1985) - Dream Theater – When Dream and Day UniteWhen Dream and Day Unite-The Killing Hand:The lyrics of the song describe a man who wakes up unaware of where he is. He looks around to see walls covered in names of people who have died. He wants to find out why, and travels back in time to find out...
(1989) - Dream Theater – Images and WordsImages and WordsImages and Words is currently ranked #2 on Digital Dream Door's list of the top 100 progressive metal albums of all time. Music critic Piero Scaruffi includes the album at number 8, just after Fear Factory's Demanufacture and before Sepultura's Roots, in his classification of the best metal albums...
(1992) - Dream Theater – Live At The MarqueeLive at the MarqueeLive at the Marquee may refer to:*Live at the Marquee , an annual music festival in Cork, IrelandMusic*Live at the Marquee *Live at the Marquee *Live at the Marquee ...
(1993) - Dream Theater – AwakeAwake (Dream Theater album)Awake is the third studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on October 4, 1994 by East West Records. It was the last Dream Theater album to feature keyboardist Kevin Moore, who announced his decision to leave the band during the recording of the album.Much of the...
(1994) - Dream Theater – A Change of SeasonsA Change of Seasons-Credits:* James LaBrie – Vocals* John Myung – bass* John Petrucci – guitars* Mike Portnoy – drums* Derek Sherinian – keyboards-Chart performance:Billboard 200:* A Change of Seasons – #58UK Albums Chart...
(1995) - Dream Theater – Falling Into InfinityFalling into Infinity-Personnel:* James LaBrie – vocals* John Myung – bass, Chapman Stick* John Petrucci – guitars, backing vocals* Mike Portnoy – drums, backing vocals* Derek Sherinian – keyboards, backing vocals-Chart performance:Billboard 200:* Falling Into Infinity - #52...
(1997) - Dream Theater – Once In A LIVEtimeOnce in a LIVEtime-Disc two:-Covers and tributes:Dream Theater have often placed riffs or parts of other band's songs into their songs when playing live. On this album, there are several examples of this....
(1998) - PlatypusPlatypus (band)Platypus was a progressive rock / jazz-fusion supergroup that consisted of members from Dream Theater, King's X and Dixie Dregs. The group was formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2000.-History:...
– When Pus Comes to ShoveWhen Pus Comes to ShoveWhen Pus Comes to Shove is the debut album of the band Platypus.- Track listing :# Standing In Line - # Nothing To Say - # Rock Balls/Destination Unknown - # Platt Opus - # I'm With You - # Blue Plate Special -...
(1999) - Dream Theater – Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a MemoryMetropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a MemoryMetropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory is the fifth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1999. It is a concept album that deals with the story of a man named Nicholas and the discovery of his past life, which involves love, murder, and infidelity as Victoria Page...
(1999) - PlatypusPlatypus (band)Platypus was a progressive rock / jazz-fusion supergroup that consisted of members from Dream Theater, King's X and Dixie Dregs. The group was formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2000.-History:...
– Ice CyclesIce CyclesIce Cycles is the second album by the progressive metal group Platypus, released in 2000.-Track listing:# Oh God – 4:16# Better Left Unsaid – 5:24# The Tower – 3:30# Cry – 6:15# I Need You – 4:17# 25 – 5:09# Gone – 6:42...
(2000) - Gordian KnotGordian Knot (band)Gordian Knot is an American progressive rock/metal band directed by bass guitarist Sean Malone. At times its shifting lineup has included Steve Hackett of Genesis, Bill Bruford of King Crimson and Yes, Ron Jarzombek from Watchtower and Spastic Ink as well as Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, several of...
– Gordian Knot (album)Gordian Knot (album)Gordian Knot was the debut album of Sean Malone's progressive rock project of the same name.-Track listing:#"Galois" - Malone#"Code/Anticode" - Malone, Reinert, Gunn, Jarzombek...
(2000) - Dream Theater – Live Scenes From New YorkLive Scenes from New York-Disc two:-Disc three:-Personnel:* James LaBrie – vocals and percussion* John Myung – bass guitars* John Petrucci – guitars and backing vocals* Mike Portnoy – drums and backing vocals* Jordan Rudess – keyboards-Additional Personnel:...
(2001) - The Jelly JamThe Jelly JamThe Jelly Jam is a three-piece progressive rock band, consisting of Ty Tabor of King's X on guitar and vocals, Rod Morgenstein of The Dixie Dregs on drums, and John Myung of Dream Theater on bass...
– The Jelly JamThe Jelly Jam (album)The Jelly Jam is the eponymous debut album by progressive rock band The Jelly Jam. It was released on March 18, 2002 by InsideOut Music.-Track listing:#"I Can't Help You" – 3:01#"No Remedy" – 4:05#"Nature" – 0:58#"Nature's Girl" – 5:12...
(2002) - Explorers ClubExplorers Club (artist)Explorers Club was a progressive metal/rock supergroup headed by the Gardner brothers of Magellan featuring, among others, James LaBrie, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and Derek Sherinian , Billy Sheehan , James Murphy and Steve Howe of Yes.Their first album, Age of Impact was released in 1998, and...
– Raising the MammothRaising the Mammoth-Personnel:*Steve Walsh – lead vocals*James LaBrie – lead vocals*Kerry Livgren – guitar*Marty Friedman – guitar*Gary Wehrkamp – guitar*Jeff Curtis – additional guitar*Trent Gardner - keyboards*Mark Robertson - keyboards*John Myung - bass...
(2002) - Dream Theater – Six Degrees of Inner TurbulenceSix Degrees of Inner TurbulenceSix Degrees of Inner Turbulence is the sixth full-length studio album by progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released as a double-disc album on January 29, 2002 by Elektra Records...
(2002) - Dream Theater – Train Of ThoughtTrain of Thought (Dream Theater album)-Chart performance:* Billboard 200: Train of Thought - #53* Billboard Top Internet Albums: Train of Thought - #53* UK Album Charts: Train of Thought - #146* Norwegian Album Charts: Train of Thought - #9-Personnel:* James LaBrie – lead vocals...
(2003) - The Jelly JamThe Jelly JamThe Jelly Jam is a three-piece progressive rock band, consisting of Ty Tabor of King's X on guitar and vocals, Rod Morgenstein of The Dixie Dregs on drums, and John Myung of Dream Theater on bass...
– The Jelly Jam 2The Jelly Jam 2The Jelly Jam 2 is the second album released by progressive rock band The Jelly Jam. It was released on September 13th, 2004 by InsideOut Music.-Track listing:#"Not Today" – 3:23#"Coming Round" – 3:39#"Empty" – 5:26#"Drop the Gun" – 3:04...
(2004) - Dream Theater – Live At BudokanLive at Budokan (Dream Theater album)Live at Budokan is a live recording released by progressive metal band Dream Theater on October 5, 2004, available on either 3 CDs, 2 DVDs, or 1 Blu-ray Disc...
(2004) - Dream Theater – OctavariumOctavarium (album)Octavarium is the eighth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 7, 2005, it was the band's final release with Atlantic Records. Recorded between September 2004 and February 2005, the album holds the distinction of being the last album ever recorded at The...
(2005) - Dream Theater – SCOREScore (album)-Disc two:-Disc three:-DVD:Tracks 1 through 8 feature Dream Theater alone. Tracks 9 through 14 feature Dream Theater and The Octavarium Orchestra.-Disc one:#"The Root of All Evil" – 9:32#"I Walk Beside You" – 4:10#"Another Won" – 5:40#"Afterlife" – 7:28...
(2006) - Dream Theater – Systematic ChaosSystematic ChaosSystematic Chaos is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007 in the United States, Systematic Chaos was the band's first release through Roadrunner Records, which was sold to their previous label...
(2007) - Dream Theater - Chaos in Motion (2007–2008)
- Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver LiningsBlack Clouds & Silver LiningsBlack Clouds & Silver Linings is the tenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on June 23, 2009 through Roadrunner Records. It is the band's last album to feature drummer and founding member Mike Portnoy before his departure on September 8, 2010. The album was...
(2009) - Dream Theater – WitherWither (EP)Wither is a single and EP by progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on September 15, 2009, it was their first EP since A Change of Seasons...
(2009) - Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of EventsA Dramatic Turn of EventsA Dramatic Turn of Events is the 11th studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on September 13, 2011 through Roadrunner Records...
(2011) - The Jelly JamThe Jelly JamThe Jelly Jam is a three-piece progressive rock band, consisting of Ty Tabor of King's X on guitar and vocals, Rod Morgenstein of The Dixie Dregs on drums, and John Myung of Dream Theater on bass...
– Shall We Descend? (2011)
Videography
- Dream Theater – Images And Words: Live In TokyoImages and Words: Live in TokyoImages and Words: Live in Tokyo is the first home video release from American progressive metal band Dream Theater. It contains most of the band's performance from their August 26, 1993 show at Nakano Sun Plaza in Tokyo, Japan...
(1993) - Dream Theater – Awake In Japan (1995)
- John Myung – Progressive Bass Concepts (1996)
- Dream Theater – 5 Years In A LIVEtime5 Years in a Livetime5 Years in a LIVEtime is the second home video release by Dream Theater. The video contains a mix of concert footage, promotional video clips, and behind-the-scenes and interview footage from the five years in between the release of their previous home video, Images and Words: Live in Tokyo, and...
(1998) - Dream Theater – Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New YorkMetropolis 2000: Scenes from New YorkMetropolis 2000: Scenes from New York is a VHS/DVD release by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. It was released on April 21, 2001 by Elektra Records...
(2001) - Dream Theater – Live At BudokanLive at Budokan (Dream Theater album)Live at Budokan is a live recording released by progressive metal band Dream Theater on October 5, 2004, available on either 3 CDs, 2 DVDs, or 1 Blu-ray Disc...
(2004) - Dream Theater – When Dream And Day Reunite (2004)
- Dream Theater – SCOREScore (album)-Disc two:-Disc three:-DVD:Tracks 1 through 8 feature Dream Theater alone. Tracks 9 through 14 feature Dream Theater and The Octavarium Orchestra.-Disc one:#"The Root of All Evil" – 9:32#"I Walk Beside You" – 4:10#"Another Won" – 5:40#"Afterlife" – 7:28...
(2006) - Dream Theater – Chaos in Progress: The Making Of Systematic ChaosSystematic ChaosSystematic Chaos is the ninth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Released on June 4, 2007 in the United Kingdom and June 5, 2007 in the United States, Systematic Chaos was the band's first release through Roadrunner Records, which was sold to their previous label...
(2007) - Dream Theater – Chaos in Motion (2008)
- Dream Theater – A Rite Of Passage (2009)