Bass Teacher REACTS | Dream Theater "The Glass Prison" | JOHN MYUNG is THE 6-String Bass GURU!
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2023
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➡️ The people have spoken! "The Glass Prison" won our poll for the next @dreamtheaterofficial video, and I had a blast checking out this live performance in Bucharest, Romania from 2002 shortly after their double-album "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" was released. In this reaction video, I analyze the finesse of John Myung and his incredibly full-range bass performance from one of Dream Theater's most epic tracks. I dissect the chordal bass intro and its harmonics, John's three-finger plucking technique, his use of the multi-finger raking technique, Mike Portnoy's innovative drum parts, some music theory behind John Petrucci's sweep picking solo, the song's key change patterns, and how Dream Theater just write prog metal songs so dang flawlessly. Grab a nice beverage - this one's long and heady!
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Mark Michell is an internationally-touring and recording bass player known for his work with Scale the Summit, Tony MacAlpine, Tetrafusion, Watermox, and more. Michell is a published educator and author for Hal Leonard, the world's largest music publisher, and has taught bass clinics around the globe for many years. He has played on several Billboard-charting album releases and is endorsed by Jackson Basses, EMG Pickups, and Dunlop.
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Easily a top 10 song from the band for me, they were on fire in this era
Still are, as far as I'm concerned
@@lindadpessis00p[[
?
Fun fact: Petrucci and Portnoy wrote The Glass Prison after seeing Pantera live and they said they were super inspired to write something heavy.
Wasn't that train of thought and not sdoit?
@LiesMD portnoy said it was the glass prison that they wrote after seeing pantera.
@@Richey24 no, I think Train of Thought was inspired by The Glass Prison and them performing Number of the Beast and Master of Puppets in their entirety live.
They A) noticed how much more engagement they got during heavier songs like TGP and B) wanted to write their own "classic " metal album with less emphasis on the prog. So they simply went "okay, let's write the whole album like that"
Great video. Answering some questions:
1) The first Petrucci solo was not on camera because the camera man simply didn't catch it, as they did for JR solo. It seems the Bucharest Crew wasn't ready for so many notes.
2) Petrucci Pick switch is what we do to readjust the pick in our fingers. Sometimes it moves or shifts while playing, or, depending how hard you play, bends or loses the edge. It becomes an unconscious motion after a while.
3) Yes, JM does tap the intro of the Solo Section.
4) Agreed with you about MP's musicianship
5) Labrie's tamborine is the most essential component of this song.
The pick moving in Petrucci's hand regularly through that solo is just ensuring that the pick is in the right position for how he's going to attack that particular portion of the solo. It's a habit that he has simply to make sure that his picking hand is ready for the next... sentence of the paragraph of emotional journey that he's telling through his godlike powers.
Bro, dream theater aint for everyone, but theres a reason they have such a cult following and are held in high regard by pretty much any musician. Shits sick, yo. The drums, bass and guitar are usually the core of a good band. But here, you have to add Jordan. The vocals get overshadowed a lot. Even though they're stellar, the vocals are not why people idolize this band. They're the new version of rush. And yes, i know how old they are, im old too. So crazy, so good.
Dream Theater is for Everyone...but Everyone ain't ready.
Regarding Petrucci spinning the pick, pick slanting is something virtually every proficient guitar player does, whether they know it or not. My guess is that John knew his pick was rotated slightly out of position and it would have an impact on his pick slanting for the upcoming fast run.
I imagine Petrucci was using the Dunlop Jazz III at the time (he'd later get his own signature pick based on the Jazz III), which is an single-tip, teardrop shape. I guess the spin was to get it into position. During a song, I often think it's easier to do a big spin to get it into position instead of making a small, fine adjustment, especially when trying to do it quickly between bars of a solo.
I think that he was talking about him reassuring the grip on the pick, not really on the slant thing, he lets go for a second and twiddles it between his fingers, I do that a lot with Jazz3.
@@Maras666I second this
@@Maras666 Did you even read the first paragraph of my comment or did you just stop after the first sentence?
@@KaijuAlert Where do you want me to send flowers and a balm for your butthurt?
@@Maras666 Save your money and spend it on some reading comprehension lessons for yourself 🤣
Why isn't Myung always this loud in the mix?
Tell me about it. That's the main thing that bugs me about DT. He is so damn low in the mix you can't here all the cool stuff he does.
So we can listen to LaWhine scream
@@jasonpoland5507 yooo 😂
I agree. He does get buried under everything else sometimes
Because JP once let him be drowned out in BUDOKAN mix by JM. Never again😂
I totally agree about everything you said about Mike Portnoy. This guy is absolutely unbelievable. Every drums part is perfectly done!
Rudess wrote the arpeggios. At first the original part was when there is vocals a little latter in the song. Petrucci learned them and recorded them for the intro solo.
My only problem Myung's sound, is when we solos, that is the only time I have trouble hearing him live. His rhythms are awesome.
Whole band is top tier. Even the vocalist has great crowd and vocal control. What a performance.
Your comment about Portnoy's drumming is absolutely spot on. I've tried getting that point across many times but was never able to articulate it as well as you did here.
I remember the first time I heard this song and just thought to myself, "Man, the bass intro is beautiful"
Constant Motion would be another good react video.
The Warwick! Instant tone uplift ❤
😎
Myung is on fire! ❤🔥You mentioned "a lot of wasted motion." No doubt, but that style is how he gets his sound. His tech says his string action is higher than anyone he's seen, because he plays so hard. That open D in the main riff is all about tone- a tighter string to accent that note that you wouldn't get if you fingered the D on the A string. Almost sounds pulled. Brilliant analysis, Subscribed!
I love when JM uses the open notes in fast runs. The open notes jump out like a spring. They have such stride but he crams them into such a short time. Like crshing and muting a cymbal. Truly awesome band!
Myung is my idol. Definitely the reason I play today.
He definitely looks badass also! 🙌🏻
Ooooh tihs version is mixed with sooo much bass, love it.
EDIT: While Petrucci probably did overdub this way at one point or another (He has expressed issues playing some songs out of this album live in the past) I've seen it pull this one off live and pretty damn close to this. The only time I've heard that solo part being a little off is because at times he's played it with *full alternate picking* instead of sweeping which if you ever tried that kind of riff alternate picked then you know just how insane was that he would even attempt it let alone almost pull it off live.
It’s CRANKED! 😍
The fast arpeggios at beginning were played with alternate picking in studio, but in live he at least played them by sweeping. Maybe at some other concerts he has playing it with alternate picking like in studio which is hard and what Steve Morse does who is one of Petrucci's influences. Yeah, that's hard part to play by alternate picking.
Wow, James was a beast that night!
Loved this video! The Glass Prison is my favorite song of all time and it was so awesome to hear you talk about this epic song Mark! ill never forget the first time i heard this song, it literally changed the trajectory of my life!
Thanks again for doing DT man - this is so cool from the perspective of a bass player. And whenever you play examples, your tone sounds amazing!
I think parts like this song are why John's signature bass with Music Man has a much more narrow neck, he's talked about the fatigue he'd get after tours playing the wide six string necks. They specifically went for a 5 string neck size on it to combat how challenging 6 string basses can be to manage.
I believe it. Personally, I’m dying to get one of his new basses in my hands to try. I am a huge fan of tighter string spacing on basses - never got the appeal for this broad neck stuff. In my mind, it sounds so comfortable!
@@LowEndUniversity I'd love to get one of them, not sure I could justify one, that said. Bass isn't my primary instrument, though I've been wanting to get out and play bass in bands for a bit. Just most of the stuff I tend to play doesn't call for a 6 string bass.
@@LowEndUniversity same!!!
The Yamaha signature bass has a 5 string neck converted to a 6 string bass.. he does the same thing with his bongo signature 6
I converted one of my five string basses to six string, love it. Now I've got a wide neck six string and it's tough, but I'm also enjoying it. It's kind of a different instrument, playing differently on each instrument
Fantastic video my guy. And I love the Conner Green shout out. He's the man.
I remember seeing the Myung-only video for "Instrumedley"... epic
6DOIT is just a freaking ultimate masterpiece :)
Their best album.
Never heard someone describing MP drumming and musicianship so accurately.
This video gives me a new respect for JM. I’ve always loved his playing, seeing other bass players explain what’s going on makes me appreciate what he’s doin more. You kept saying that the stamina to get through this song is a lot, but in his world this is the first song of a 3.5 hour show of craziness. Then when they were doing this song into this dying soul.. 😳😳
the whole story of how they wrote this song the day after they all went to see pantera, and portnoy wrote the lyrics about getting sober. this song has so many awesome things about it.
This caught my eye, because this is my favorite song.
Petrucci reminded me of Barney Greenway during the backup vocals. Love it! That was a fun reaction. ☮🤘
Always loved the outro; the part that I was jokingly calling the one played by two drummers
So glad you are bringing back the Thumb man! 🤘
That drum fill at 1:45 is so fun to play. Took me forever to learn, but so good.
this songs just goes and never stops
Wow i love your style of reaction. I can tell you're a fan first and I respect that.
Thanks! And I wanted to throw in a tip for the reaction I’ve been hounding you for lol. The Omnific, Antecedent! I know you know, just figured a tip would help you along! 🙏😅
20:50 - JP is readjusting his pick so he doesn't lose it mid song 😄
One of my favorite DT songs ever - it's what got me hooked on them to begin with. Analysis extremely well done, man!
Nice commentary, man. Nice balance of commentary vs music! (I thought I'd let you know that i checked this video out like i said i would! 😁) By the way, everyone, as someone who has studied music in college and for years after, i can tell you, Mark is legit! He knows his music theory and definitely has a great ear!
Very nice video! Your way to comment on playing is always smart and right to the point... This DT album was that of my first time seeing them live in Belgium. Pain of Salvation was opening for them. It was such a great show!
About recommendations... Would you consider to review a Meshuggah song? Dick Lovgren's playing is really great, with nasty bass lines fully entangled in the whole thick Meshuggah tone. The Abysmal Eye from their last album would be a good catch, with fast bass licks, nasty breakdown, unconventional song structure... I also think Dick wrote that one.
Enjoyed that for a watch. Great song. I love your little takes. All spot on. You look like Petrucci but playing the bass parts ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it! Really appreciate the kind words.
14:54 The exact thing I've been saying for ~17 years about why MP is my favorite. Everything he plays feels like the perfect choice.
Definitely top 10 DT for me. Incredible song. Incredible
So happy To see this!! Yes best era of DT for sure!! I had a friend try to argue with me that this intro wasn’t bass lol I’m sure harmonic came first Myung using his Jelly Jam bass tone there, he’s very heavy handed
I used to think it was guitar too. Brilliant intro
@@irena7777777 oh really? Glad you know the truth now tho 🤘😎
@@bassimprovjams3772 I’m not a musician though which probably explains it! Tone deaf!
the pick swap, is because pretrucci is so good, that he has develop diferent techniques of holding the pick , based is what he needs to play, fast, shred, strumming, etc
when he plays fast shreds, he uses a 3 finger holding pick technique, more holding points more stability and attack, the pick wont go flying, if the needs more control feeling, less attack the can use a two finger picking technique, the dances from posture to posture as he needs, he is technically amazing
I love this era of DT.
DT also played this song on Gigantour 2006 and as I remember, Myung "did" tap only at the 1st part before the long solo section..
Precisely, it's how he does it, both live and in the original studio version. Just the first part is tapped.
During the Gigantour they also played this much faster than here.
For the John guitar pick movement, he does do it quite often. Never really thought, but I'd guess (as a guitarist) to perhaps to change the attack angle of it - more angled / sideways to help skip strings faster, especially on the high strings. I've found when I use my pick more parallel to the strings / head on, it has a slightly chunkier sound so good for playing riffs vs solos. Or he just does it as a tick lol kinda like how Kirk Hammett tends to plays with his middle finger straight out. Finally, made me remember how amazing this album is. Love the vid. Thanks!
I've learned over the 33 years I have been playing John Myung's riffs, that he makes the riff meaty at the expense of comfort. He will play things in odd locations, making them heavier, but also more of a workout. Open riffs will be closed, and the opposite alike. His scale patterns are very complex and heady, but after years of playing his stuff, you develop a knack for figuring out what he is doing. A View From the Top of the World is a very solid album, and his complexity was somewhat toned back for more solid parts. But damn it's just awesome to dig in and learn his parts. Excellent video!
17:08. I'm gonna runt through a wall!!! This LIVE version is unreal!!!!!!
You should react to the hole entire six degrees of inner turbulence from the score
Thank you for reminding me how good JM actually is. The stuff in this song is insanely hard to play without even taking into consideration that the song is 13 minutes long. JM, what a legend.
This is the best metal song of all time ❤❤❤❤
I agree - This lineup was the best lineup by far, all the albums and live matarial from this period is the DT 'Golden Age' if you ask me haha - When Portnoy left they did loose alot of 'groove' unfortunately... Luckily i saw them back in 2009/10 or so on the last tour Portnoy did, and it was epic...
Agreed, 99-2009 DT is the best.
On 20:48 he was just fitting better his pick on his fingers again after it got a bit out while he was raking the previous note.
Great video. Also it's absolutely insane and disrespectful that they didn't show the guitar solo in that video, wow. It was also almost perfectly executed and we will never get to see it. (I am a guitar player)
Those Yamaha signature basses rock .. most comfortable 6 string bass I've ever played.
RE: Pick adjusting. If you anchor your hand in a specific place of the guitar body you need a different angle to hit the high strings compared to the bottom strings especially for different techniques e.g chug v shred. Sometimes it also just slips a bit in your hand and needs moving back.
I literally did not know it was a bass in the intro until now.
Hey Mark! It would be super cool if in a next video if you could break down one of your own basslines from Tetrafusion or Scale the Summit! You too have some very interesting basslines that would be very cool to analyse! Especially for thoses who never heard the bands you played in yet!
As a bass player it was so inspiring to listen to thoses just like listening to Dream Theater and Tool ahah! :)
Mark would be like, “this bassist has been one of the most influential players since my first time to ever pick up a bass!”
@@JoneyJefe Ahahahahahah!! That would be epic!! 🤣👌
This is the song that made me fall in love with Dream Theater and get a 7 string
Hearing Petrucci struggle with the arpeggios is a good reminder that he is human
I believe Petrucci was using the standard Jazz III picks back in the day, and they have a raised Jim Dunlop logo on one side and "Jazz III" text on the other. I flip the pick like he does every now and then, because the text kind of starts to dig into the side of your finger after a while and it can get uncomfortable. Switching to the other side of the pick helps with that. That's my guess as to why he'd be doing that.
Sorry for the 2nd comment, Would luv to see “this dying soul” I could talk DY all darn day!! I never noticed the outro was tied to the intro💪😎 I feel like they don’t do that kinda stuff since MP left tho seen this live in 03 and it was absolutely amazing!!
i highly recommend band Watchtower and album Control and Resistance (this is prog metal band from 80s-90s), mix is great and bass sounds 👌🤤
Not a single shot of Petrucci doing those amazing arpeggios. Guitar players in shambles.
When I got my Emerald Green Sparkle Bongo 6 HS, this was the fist riff I learned.
I bought the first Yamaha, the Green one, and the JM2 Plum Pearl Metallic, and I tell ya, neither one comes close to the Bongo bass!
Really? I still want one for posterity, haha. I want that red one! Just love the inlay design, too.
God I hope they play this song live when I see them this summer.. You gotta do some Between The Buried and Me! Dan Briggs is amazing.
I’m seeing them in 1 week! Excited for the setlist 🤑 - and BTBAM is also coming soon! Just can’t decide which track to do yet.
@@LowEndUniversity hell yeah! I’m seeing them in Portland on July 12th! Can’t wait.. tho I’m not exactly ecstatic about staying in Portland.
@@LowEndUniversitysilent flight parliament maybe?
Fuck i forgot how good this is. Gonna learn it
It's hard AF lol
Does your bass have LEDs, or was it the lighting in your studio? Either way, epic!
Thanks! It does have LEDs in the fretboard and on the headstock logo.
They have a lot of hard songs to play in the catalog but I'd say this one takes the cake just because of the combo of speed and stamina you need... like yeah others have lots of time changes etc. but for the most part it's all mental. On this one you really have to be an athlete
Another song that tests your stamina is "Only the Good Die Young" by Iron Maiden. He uses a 2 finger gallop, too! It can barely be done with 3 fingers!
Someone must be very happy with today's news 😆
Everything you said about portnoy is true 👏
MP makes anything sound good.. DT hasn't been the same for me without him. His groove and feel is missed. Very good video BTW. JM is just a monster. !! Amazing bassist.
He’s back!!!
Oh, and hes not spinning the pick or anything, hes simply moving it into a more comfortable position for himself. We all have kind of a "sweet spot" where we like to feel the pick, and John is just making sure the pick is where he wants it, especially for the more demanding parts.
However, JP has been doing that his whole career, and you can see it in every single live video of his playing.
Makes sense - just looked really deliberate when he does it twice. I do see this a lot and it reminded me to mention it when I saw it!
It could also be rotating to a "less pointy" part of the pick for the speed-picking parts where you need good support and you don't want too much flex?
@Eric Sproul For sure. Kind of what I meant by "making sure the pick is where he wants it." But yeah, absolutely.
20:40
Here's my $0.02 on why Petrucci is adjusting his pick; Right before he adjusts the pick he hits a pinch harmonic which may have affected his grip on the plectrum. When you're going into fast and precise alternate picking you want to make sure you have just the right amount of the pick sticking out from your grip.
Rudess wrote those arpeggios for Petrucci.
Considering the amount of sharp and flat notes in petruccis live performance here, it definitely wasnt overdubbed.
Makes sense - the other lesser quality live video of this from Japan does show him, but he fumbled quite a lot. This one sounds better but wasn’t shown - always usually an overdub situation.
Don't forget Henrik Linder, he rules too
I did a video on him and Dirty Loops a few months ago! Hold you can check it out!
Is that ‘Wick a broad neck? Looks and sounds killer!
Thank you! It's just a regular, with the 16mm string spacing. Broad necks are too weird for me, personally! Just feels gigantic.
Awesome vid you look like Kevin Ratajczak from electric callboy i was thinking "he looks familiar"
I wish I was that cool 😅🤓
To the strange pick thing - Petrucci simply reassures his grip on the pick. All that is, I do that the same sometimes, especially after big bends with string mutes as he is doing here.
petrucci has said whenever u see him put his leg on the monitor...it means he is playing thru a passage he deems difficult to play smoothly so putting his leg on the monitor helps somehow...lol!
love your tribute to portnoy.... I was prejudiced against mangini through no fault of his own just for replacing portnoy.... legends boths of them.
About Petrucci's pick - he's probably using a Jazz III at this point in his career. What makes these picks great in my opinion is that they are so small that there is essentially only 1 correct and efficient way to hold them. With intense performances like this, he's probably sweating a bit and his pick is sliding from that optimal position so he has to constantly readjust it.
Myung’s bass mix always cut through in the old days whether live mixed or studio Album wise. It got buried as time went on for the most part until their last album it has came out a little more but still not like it used to be
Petrucci is just regripping the pick at 20:24. They get slippery somethings with finger grease and sweat. Is entirely subconscious.
Top de mais
Is there anyway we can get “Nyetflix and Chill” by Nuclear Power Trio!? Nick Schendzielos is easily my favorite bassist 🤘🏽
20:52 is petrucci rearranging the position of his pick, with enough playing the pick moves and it needs to be readjusted
I've always wondered why the 4th fret harmonic at the beginning isn't done on the 9th fret. Wouldn't that be the same note? Perhaps the clarity isn't as good, that's the only reason I can think of.
Yeah! It rings a lot clearer closer to the nut since the string tension is lower. The 9th fret resonates more and the other unwanted overtones compete more for the fundamental F# pitch.
Have you dug into Karnivool yet??? John Stockman is a monster player!!
Wasn't the alcho suite kicked off with one of the later tracks on Awake?
The Mirror is kind of a spiritual prequel to the 12 step suite. Portnoy wrote that song about his struggles with alcoholism and decided to do the 12 step suite long after The Mirror was created. There is a reference to the lyrics in two different songs in the 12 step suite IIRC
Petrucchi is replacing the pick in his hand to play pinch harmonics. He needs to hit the string with his thumb in order to make that high pitched squealing sound and normally you dont want to hit your string with a finger cause it creates the harmonic
I always wondered why Myung didn’t grab the harmonic on the 9th fret instead of the 4th fret? It’s the same note but you don’t have to move your hand as far.
Typically, harmonics ring much clearer the closer you are to the nut. The less tension there is on the string (closer to the middle of the neck), the other overtones become a little louder and can compete with the fundamental pitch. It’s a tonal thing, mostly - that F# note is just a lot clearer on the 4th fret position.
do: Blue Mu*de* - Valley of the Kings
13:24 can you help us learning this beast of a riff? it would be awesome!
you are great anyway!
6:24
B Minor
You should do Evan Brewer or Nick Schendzielos
Didn’t Evan recommend Mark to audition for STS?
You should check out Peace sells by Megadeth, it's what got me started on the bass!
His bass should always be that loud.