Dream Theater - John Myung bass exercise

[MrEinstain]

so...he has a mouth...and he talks...omg.

[Mrkibweterer]

I am a guitar player but recently I develop new interest to playing bass guitar...can anybody tell the fundamental difference between 4 string and 6 string bass guitar...is the later better than the former or otherwise thanks

[MrJusticeDispenser07]

@Mrkibweterer I'm not too experienced in bass, but I'd assume it's basically a matter of preference. A six string bass gives you two more strings to work with, which opens up more of what you can play. I'm sure one could make due with a four string, but guys like John Myung and Les Claypool use bass guitars with more than four strings.

[22FretsIsNotEnough]

@Mrkibweterer A 6 string has a low B (like a 7 string guitar) and a high C string. It's not 'better' than having a 4 string, but some players desire more range. AsPetrucci uses a 7 a lot, Myung needs a low B to double a lot of the riffs. The added high C adds range for extended chords, scale runs, harmonics etc.

For me, a 6 string is harder to play due the bigger neck, and the smaller string spaces can make slap stuff harder too. Try one out for yourself.

[MrDreamTheater2]

THE ACE OF BASS!!!

[bloodcoveredreaper]

Ok, since his fingers are moving too fast to tell. If I'm doing a scale using three fingers and I go index, middle, ring on the way up, can I do ring, middle, index on the way down, or should I maintain index, middle, ring?

[freevsts]

Thumbs up if you thought he was actually gonna do index and pinky.

[superbass340]

he dont explain how to avoid that noise

[xMasterxRazorx]

@superbass340 which noise?

[Julio1jpg]

the penthatonic, that's sooooooooooo hard to play. r u fckin kiddin me?

[theturkishgamer1]

omg he is talking :O

[QueenToKingOfSpades]

Why is this awesome again? I don't get it. -.-

[AttitudeCastle]

@QueenToKingOfSpades Because of his accuracy at such speed and his raw talent!

[QueenToKingOfSpades]

@AttitudeCastle So speed/accuracy=awesome?..... I still don't get it... And i don't believe in talent, only hard work and dedication.

[AttitudeCastle]

@QueenToKingOfSpades He works hard is obscenely dedicated. But if you don't believe in talent that's for you to decide. But how does being skilled at his trade not make him awesome? His playing is a fabulous thing to behold and his musicality and bass part writing is top notch.

[QueenToKingOfSpades]

@AttitudeCastle Skill is one thing and being awesome another, with the latter being completely subjective. John is agreed extremely fast and accurate... but to me that doesn't make him awesome. What he does just simply isn't grooving, or at all listenable, and isn't that the point of music? This video to me pretty much sums up how far dream theater has gone from real music in their pursuit of technical excellence. And don't start referencing their songs, I know them, and I'm quite tired of them.

[AttitudeCastle]

@QueenToKingOfSpades The point of music isn't to "groove" it's to express ones self. That is what music is. His bass lines are top notch they are part of the music, not just an octave of the chord it's very orginal and takes alot of sheer musical skill. In your view then what does make a musician awesome, as clearly we don't have the same views or thoughts so this discussion is for the most point, pointless as i doubt either of us will convince the other,

[QueenToKingOfSpades]

@AttitudeCastle John isn't a real musician from my perspective.... trololololololololol *trollface.jpg*

[AttitudeCastle]

@QueenToKingOfSpades Who is a real musician then?

[AttitudeCastle]

@QueenToKingOfSpades Define a musician, would be a better question so let that be the question.

[QueenToKingOfSpades]

@AttitudeCastle Lol! xD I can't even troll you. You're just too die-hard xD Peace man and have a good one ;)

[AttitudeCastle]

@QueenToKingOfSpades I've got experience doing it too! haha :)

You too, and have a merry christmas!

[dglthomas]

@QueenToKingOfSpades Obviously this is all about technique. It's an instructional video. and it's a good way to be able to strum faster with all your fingers

[RespectDreamTheater]

I should have learned bass while I was 2. Should have went to Berkelee. Maybe then I could warm up like him...

[Basstard22]

@RespectDreamTheater Never say never mate! As long as you practice, you can become as big as your idol!

[AttitudeCastle]

@RespectDreamTheater He never finished his course there mind you!

[bassman8290]

If you like this, you should work on the song "Roundabout" by Yes. There's a section of bass following the second time they play the "intro." It happens around 6:17 in the song. This will seem like no big deal after that or vice versa.

[saivigi14]

I can't do this exercise even if I play the bass all my life.

[PGamble5]

This is why asians make me angry

[FourStringFreak]

it's the haaaair O.o

it's the source of his crazy Korean superpowers ^^

[AnouarD666]

that was an exercise :O ?! . a little bit skills of this video and i 'll start making my own band

[TheMedicMac]

I've been playing for one month, why cant I do this?

[Basstard22]

@TheMedicMac cause he is playing for years, so it's easier for him too do this kind of stuff!

[OnlyKoolaid]

Cmon guys, I have only been playing for 7 years and can do this. learning the damn scale was the hard part! XD (not hard) -.- Now doing that on guitar? I cant even begin to explain how bad I am at guitar... "your music is bad and you should feel bad!" -Zoidberg@Me.

[aNdYmAtTeR]

Fuck! as a guitarist that every once in a year sits down with a bass whining about the four strings not being strings but METAL RODS haha to see JM do this on SIX strings with his freaking fingers just like that ... I'm sooooo happy to return to guitars!!! XD

[theSuperKoolaidguy]

i just lost all confidence ive ever had in bass playing

[DIRTYSANCHEZ1995]

god damn... im not even gonna try and finger pick my bass that fast

[tubedice999]

John fingered a girl once.....she died.

[art212]

@tubedice999 thats f-ing funny

[Jamsessionroom1337]

The slapping sounds like when i fap.

[GrieverKai]

and now I'll whip out my cock....

[pedrosilvaleitao]

even without fingers, he would have a method to be the greatest!

[atavia666]

he doesnt need to speak with anny enthusiasm....his fingers do it for him

[whiplash823]

One day...

[Solids2k]

Yes, his fingers move that fast... though I think the framerate is slow or something so frames are omitted and gives it that quick/skipping appearance that his fingers are moving "faster".

[ARTROXproductions]

... whoa. Myung can talk?

[337camo]

leave it to an asian to be a fucking prodigy in everything they attempt.

[kosmicwizard]

@337camo Leave it to your mom to fuck the world while they make you.

[337camo]

@kosmicwizard i didnt mean that in a bad way . also, i didnt even understand what you said so uhhhh.....yeeahhhh.....

[666fireface666xxx]

sick

[animals29842]

myung doesnt have fingers, fingers have myung

[kosmicwizard]

@animals29842 In Soviet Russia. :)

[LethalViiper]

help if i knew the scale :'(

[CulturalMyths]

@LethalViiper If you can play that fast, surely u can figure out the scale by ear

lol

[phoenix02200]

I feel honored at being born at the same date as him

[VivalaErzi]

if he ever fingered a woman , that woman would fucking die

[fillikemuz]

oooh so thats all u got to do? why didnt u say so earlier john??? FML

[AuraxyrenSol]

but i only got a 4 string bass =(

[BoboSab3121]

i play classical and bass guitar and after 1 year on classical guitar i can do that on bass its not a big deal its speed and speed builds up in time when you play it a lot slowly

[SQUlBS]

'hello John Myung here, got some exercises you never can play'

[Dcool53]

@SQUlBS loll, ownedd. that's about rightxD

[LOL11306]

@ poster did u put in fast forward...or is it just john?

[MaximumPayne12]

@LOL11306 lol it's just his awesomeness =)

[Jaikith]

@LOL11306 There's a giant time stamp in the corner...

[bulletbill50cal]

AHHHHHH JIZED MY PANTS AND MY FINGERS FELL OFF!!!!!!!!!!

[LoneAngelDown]

Hey God where u been

[illyas1]

last one sounded like some asian tune, wonder why that is haha

[BedroomBassist]

Brb while I kill myself

[MaximumPayne12]

@BedroomBassist lol??

[BedroomBassist]

@MaximumPayne12 Not really lmao, he's just so good. x_x

[snazygitrst]

this guy is nuts. wish I could meet him.

[IbanezJFS]

@snazygitrst I did last month. Got his autograph, a photo, and when I shook his hand I noticed something...That dude has a grip that could crush a walnut.

[inkwellhasrundry81]

@IbanezJFS that's what spending a life dedicated to playing fast paced pentatonic based bass will do to ya :P

[AO2509]

I want that bass sooo bad. :( too bad they don't make them anymore

[Nattligkorp]

OMJM!!!

[tkdcommando]

I like how fucking cavalier he is about it. just do this *blur of motion* haha, damn that's hard :P More props to you, Mr. Myung

[24mmirg]

omg, he can actually talk....

[HulkWhenAngry]

i just wanna go up to john and say "i hate you for being so totally amazing at the bass, would you please do me a favor and beat me to death with your guitar"

[XanaduMyHome]

He hits his strings hard man, and people yell at bass players for smacking the strings and shit, well look at john on the last 3 albums, he has been hitting that shit haaard

[FAKEHUNTER33]

how the fuck is this possible?

[JazzBassist777]

Crazy awesome!! :D Playing with four fingers can give you insane speed btw! Like T-3-2-1 (thumb, ring, middle, index).

[paparoach130]

i have not tried playing with 3 fingers and that is a sweet 6 string

[RageicaNiels]

when i play with 3 fingers i play like he does.. 132 132 while i count to 4 in my head. its a good way of practising it and remove the triplet hapit

[Nielso]

Why not play with four fingers though? (Index, middle, ring and pink)

[DiamondUrine]

your pinky is generally speaking a lot shorter than your other fingers, its also weaker and has much less dexterity. some people do use their pinky, and some use their thumb. this is a three fingered technique. those are 4 fingered. they are quite different.

[Nielso]

Well that explains. I've always played with four fingers because I think that works best. However I use it only to play 16th on the root note (if that's the correct name in English). The thing is, when you play 16th you only have to use your pink once every beat, so it doesn't matter if it's slow. However I can imagine it being difficult to play more complex 16th patterns with your pink so perhaps I should begin learning the three fingered technique as well.

[RageicaNiels]

because i´m not that good yet ;) i startet with one, then two and now three fingers. then when im ready i perhaps could move on and play with 4 finggers

[nycbassist76]

@RageicaNiels i use a lot of variations with my fingers..just my opinion but don't stick to just one...i feel 321 321 321 is great for triplets...but i like using 321 232 123 212 etc for 16ths on 32nd notes and i use different variations depending on the style and groove i might stick with alternating fingering and then throw in a quik 321 gallop etc...it's always good to practice all options you never know when they might come handy....good luck

[guitarmhm]

Did he play a slower version of this?? I'm in the midst of learning to play with 3 fingers.. John Myung rules!!

[camelspottergr]

hey guys. it's more like 32123.... try this one! ithink that's what Sheehan does too. and definitely Steve Bailey!

[Pendokone]

camelspottergr its good and easy way, but if you learn the 321321 style, you will be able to play faster than 32123

your ringfinger is faster ready after indexfinger than middlefinger :P and your middle finger will get more work if you do 32123 than others.

[camelspottergr]

maybe you're right! i'd love to practice 3 finger technique sometime but don't have the time right now..

as for the middlefinger i get it to work a different way! LOL :P

[auxiliar79]

es mas rapido que yo.. :p

[aceofspades02]

HE SPEEEEEEAAAAAKS!!!!

:O

[666inquisition666]

@aceofspades02 bwhahahahahahaha

[inkwellhasrundry81]

@aceofspades02 i find he only speaks when its bass related :P

[quadrupleplay]

@aceofspades02: This is LITERALLY the first time I've ever heard John Myung speak :)

[mariguaenana]

@aceofspades02  hahahahahah!

[gangsterthomas1000]

lol

that's fast

[castleshade13]

what order is using his fingers?

1st = index

2nd = middle

3rd = ring

is it 312????

thanks

[fnuggie]

321 is the way you put them.

[l0rdjimmy]

i think it's just 1 2 1 2 1 2

your other fingers are linked to the other ones

[castleshade13]

but he plays with all three fingers like billy sheehan =S but can't if its the same order

[Radwalls]

321

[jibber102]

Probably, either that or 321. Playing 123 is downright impossible, idk how anybody can do that or if anybody even does.

[castleshade13]

i think so,

as thats how billy sheehan plays

and him and john myung both play amazingly fast with 3 fingers =D

thanks!

[cheesendfeltips]

3121 i think and if not then it works for me

[bucketruck]

when he does the three finger one is he going a-i-m?

[BobSaggot666]

yeah hes fucking nuts. every single member of Dream Theater is a god at what they do

[CommBreakDown]

@BobSaggot666 mike portnoy cant play jazz...... ive heard him say so

[xsvmaster]

@BobSaggot666 Not anymore, Portnoy left. He was, in my mind, what held it all together, Now I'm afraid that DreamTheater will end up like Guns n Roses.

Mike was to Dream Theatre what Slash was to GNR

[agugugachu]

@xsvmaster john petrucci is to dream theater what slash was to GNR.

[korch06]

is his bass strung with flats? i swear those look and sound like flats to me.

[BassEnsemble]

I don't like dream theater but he's a great musician

[PhilCollins93]

not who, how, sry

[PhilCollins93]

Who are his strings tuned? (stupid question)

[Jakekko]

For most songs, like a regular 6 string, BEADGC (like this this video), but for some material CEADGC and even C#EADGC.

[BassGK]

I like exercises of John Myung, he`s really fantastic bass player

[6y298]

guy's a freakin' robot!

[outtriggers]

damn this guy is awesome

[JoeyPistol]

3 fingers is fuckin hard

[fretlessbass26]

the great ones make it look easy

[6Thun6deR6]

Yeahhhhh! Great!

[parklife101]

awesome.