Ron Jarzombek - 'Cretaceous Chasm' in 12-Tone Fragments

[1O6C9LWOU]

Thank you for the inspiration, Ron!

[Ryu12543]

How can someone remember all of this, let alone write it?

[Bebopopotamus]

And on the topic of meshuggah, those guys are total badasses. They use the same techniques as Ron does to write, but they do it their way. They are much more focused on trying to put complex rhythmic ideas (or as you so eloquently put it, "chugging") over common time signatures. Usually just 4. They are rhythmically driven. Ron is harmonically driven (also, he's nuts.) I'm sure they both are fans of each other though. Frederik thordendahl is a really intelligent guitarist.

[Bebopopotamus]

I don't know what you guys are talking about. I studied theory to expose my ears to sounds I wouldn't normally hear, not to give myself limits on what I think sounds good. Because I know theory, more things sound good to me. I don't sit around listening to music thinking "hes not allowed to write that." I think about why things sound a certain way and how I can recreate it. Say you're going to study abroad in Germany. Certainly you have to learn the language or you couldn't communicate.

[scalassaraprando]

Adorno and Schoenberg would appreciate this.

[joeylodes]

Very interesting

[chiefindisguise]

This is genious,lots of brain cells sacrificed to make this jajaja

[shazerian]

must say im gonna take this on board and love it's complex yet simpleness

[TheFleshrip]

I swear Einstein's theory is easier than this!

[Calquin123321]

wtf just happened....

[WeveGotNoTimeToLose]

Try and type the notes as he plays them in the different sections, thumbs up if you can't haha.

[zedchuva]

Theory is great, and I truly admire guys who are theory nuts, but there is only one method I use for writing tunes...

If it sounds good, it works... theory be damned.

Yes, I know, there is still theory there, but to go, "Well, I'm using an Ebm/dim/Aug7th chord here, so it MUST be a B#min/Trig/Dot/Sus8th chord next.", to me it just silly.

There are no "rules" to music as far as I'm concerned. Use theory, or don't... good tunes are good tunes.

[Jamsessionroom1337]

@zed That's usually said by people who want complexity but stay in mediocre environments.

Theory may not be for you "Cool Guys" who can make the best sounding music from the pretentiousness of guesswork I.E what most guitarists refer to as "soul". But if you care enough to want to know what you do, other ways to do it, and how to improve on what your doing, Learn your theory. It's not for you? fine. But don't act like knowing colors how to add/mix them doesn't help you paint a better picture.

[WeveGotNoTimeToLose]

@Jamsessionroom1337 Very true, and a great point indeed, but what do you say about twits like Meshuggah who focus solely on chugging and crappy signatures instead of melody and or note importance/variety. Bleed is awesome but..... .well........ if the focus and emphasis on writing is chugging, I can do that myself while warming up... people put so much emphasis on 7 string guitarist!!! 8 string guitarist!!!! When most only use 4, it's just insulting to us that actually play.

[jeezuschryst]

@WeveGotNoTimeToLose well aren't you a pretentious fuck!

[WeveGotNoTimeToLose]

@jeezuschryst No way man, sorry if I offended you, check my vids, comment, subscribe

[MrRobsworld6]

@flibo You have to admit though. this has much more emotion than Oscillation Cycles, which also used the 12 tone system.

[billiamreynolds]

this idea seems fairly easy, just take 6 notes and call it a "tone" (or how ever many notes you want) arrange them accordingly to how you want to group them, then add your rhythm and vary the time signature depending on the note groupings. *the beauty of this is how all of that is done*

[Unveiled26]

@billiamreynolds There are plenty more rules..

for example:

Normal triad chords are not allowed.

Scaleish movements are not allowed, which means you are not play D-C#-D or D-E-F#.

Usually you would take 12, not 6 tones (as it is twelve tone technique). Dividing theese into smaller parts and rotate theese is allowed, as long as the row is finished before a new one starts.

[epicubby]

fake



[LukeSniper]

Love the track! I've done a few things using this same 12-tone system myself. I can't imagine trying to use it when writing to visuals (especially with all the mickey-mousing)

[lovescarguitar]

@Sploogenburg- yeah when he's not playing in bands he's giving lessons. Last I checked

[LazyMcDoesnothing]

Way better than those cheesy holiday light decorations synced up to not-very-good music. Mind = pleased.

[MrTOKUKITA]

aha i see my sun sign!

[HillaryHitler]

Ron's playing is for those damn sick of the same old shit!

[itowedin]

Ok so I think I'm understanding the principal. So now how do you create using this system without sounding like Ron J? I guess that will be my next task. I love the concept.

[Damienelite]

That was SICK!

[TheThrasherd]

Hey guys anyone know what brand and model guitar Ron plays? Just wondering because that looks to me like a super sexy guitar :-)

[BAD3GG]

@TheThrasherd he makes them all himself

[bonuzround]

@TheThrasherd Custom axes, built by himself :)

[TheThrasherd]

@bonuzround Wow that's amazing! love your videos man!!! You are the only guitarist I've seen cover cereal mouse. That song is so technically complex! I look forward to your future covers and originals! I've always wondered whats the best way to record guitar? And I was wondering how you do yours (perhaps do a gear guide as your next video :D). Ha you're awesome man and inspire me to make guitar videos as well (I sound like such a fan boy cause I am!) I wish you good luck and also METAL ON \M/

[bonuzround]

@TheThrasherd Hahaha what a coincidence! Yeah, who knows, maybe i throw a tutorial someday!

[Megamaniac610]

I am dead serious when I say Ron Jarzombek is one of the most innovative guitarists in all of metal. And nobody has heard of him. Damn.

[remm55]

hey Ron awesome playing and video! any news on when the DVD will be released?

[JonathanFuentes91]

Still have no idea what's going on haha

[mdfk667]

Seriously Ron....speechless.

Thanks a lot for putting this up!

[54NT14G0]

...no lead guitar track :(

[Sploogenburg]

I almost choked on my milk when I noticed this new video, Ron is a genius!

He also looks like he doesn't get much sleep...

[Megamaniac610]

@Sploogenburg he can't speak. He spends all his time creating new metal song writing techniques.

[Megamaniac610]

@Sploogenburg wait I meant sleep. Dear god I think I need sleep.

[mailedbypostman]

@Sploogenburg Ron doesn't sleep. He composes.

[legatoshred]

weird and genious

[bortier]

This rocks! Great visualisation Ron!

[SHREDDER222X]

i didn't know that Ellefson was a very good shredder!! lol

[paddymoep]

Kind of sad that the most popular musicians don't even know anything about this.

[flibo]

@paddymoep no it's not. complexity like this isn't required to make good music. for me, these twelve tone rows are used for the sake of experimentation and creating something new and interesting. don't get me wrong, I admire Ron Jarzombek, but this and popular music aren't comparable.

[Megamaniac610]

Why do the B, F#, and B notes light up weird?

[phadedlife]

@flibo This has nothing to do with complexity. And it is sad that modern musicians don't implore musical devices like this. This is for making music more interesting, not "complex."

Pop music uses simple shit because that's what the masses can easily understand. Most people don't like to think about their music. They just want to drone out to nonsense.

[RiversOfGore1]

@flibo It's called progressive. This is guitar nerd music. More than that, it's awesome.

[Sphereal]

Well, this is very strange

[brtmont]

this has really opened up my playing abilities...

[menteencoma]

nice...

kinda...schoenberg-ish

[LukeSniper]

@menteencoma Only in the sense that it's a 12 tone system, otherwise it has very little in common with Schoenberg's methods.

[menteencoma]

@LukeSniper

LOL I know, I just thought the word "schoenberg-ish" sounded funny haha

[guitarDouchebaggery]

soooooooo awesome

[brando18guitarplyr]

@guitarDouchebaggery Fuck yes!

[hatemalicerevenge123]

WANT LESSONS!

[KykvPL]

can you tell me what is blotted science tuning on your 7 string?

[geganobo]

@KykvPL Its in one of his other videos I think. Dont remember which one

[stevedaikovai]

@KykvPL A E A D G B E

[myDemonicArts]

impressive.

[ktyczynski]

good to see you again Ron :)

[Jamsessionroom1337]

I was just learning about the circle of fiths and your showing me this.

:(

[smurftojohn]

OMFG! djust wow freakin wow

[BelialAndar]

That was amazing. I like how you got other great musicians involved as well.

[MetalFee666]

YES that was great

[petepachio]

Freakin INTENSE MAN!

[diewut247]

\m/

[GianniStunato]

Awesome approach to guitar!

[natiljjc]

need the dvd!

[xdeathwalkingterrorx]

You're a beast, Ron.