Who is the best musician in Dream Theater?

[hockeydude25]

I am very surprised that nobody has said JMX.

[fischermasamune]

In my opinion, JR is the best keyboardist, JP the best guitarist, MM the best drummer, JM the best bassist, and JLB the best singer.

[TheCountOfNYC]

If we're going off of how much formal training someone has, then it has to be Rudess followed by Mangini. If we're going by how well they apply their knowledge to writing music, then I would say Petrucci.

[SchecterShredder]

It's gotta be Rudess. They're all virtuoso's, but he's an actual musical prodigy on his instrument.

[Schurftkut]

i think Rudess and Mangini are robots, so that leaves the other 3. Hoping for JM to do more solo stuff so we can actually hear him again.

[Stadler]

I'm wondering if there has ever been a band with a higher average skill-level than Dream Theater. I don't think so.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

Not saying that to be argumentative, but I just think that for the time, for the state of the instruments, and the state of the music scene, those three were just simply the very best of their chosen profession, independent of the material they produced.

[Stadler]

Well, as most of you have done, we sort of have to say what the standard is before we answer.   And since all of you are mostly right (they are all amazing players at their instruments), I sort of take it in a different direction.   

I've played in enough bands to know that with appropriate time and repetition, almost anyone can get almost any piece under fingers.  I'm always amazed (not in a good way) at guys in big name bands that can basically only play THEIR material.   So for me, the real sign is, can they play outside their comfort zone, and outside their genre?  Then of course, is, can they improvise and write in other genres, or in any genre?

I don't doubt that all five can do things in other genres, and maybe even fool us into thinking it's their main genre.   But I think only one pretty much can play, write, and improvise in ANY context, and perhaps has no limitations on his instrument:  Jordan Rudess.   I can't help but think there's a genre out there that Mangini could play, but you'd be like "hey, listen to the prog guy playing that" and you could tell it wasn't his native language so to speak.  Same with the remaining three.  But I feel like Rudess really has no limitations on his ability.

[Prog Snob]

Rudess is the most talented, but Petrucci is best at using his talent for real-world application.

And Jordan doesn't?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_euEsk4Rfg

[pcs90]

I love listening to Jordan's solo material more than his stuff in DT, and that includes LTE also. It really is incomprehensible just how gifted he is and there is probably so much more that we haven't seen.

Me too. Jordan's solo stuff really is amazing, and many times I feel he plays with more passion and emotion in that context.

[SchecterShredder]

Rudess is the most talented, but Petrucci is best at using his talent for real-world application.

And Jordan doesn't?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_euEsk4Rfg

What's really awesome is that Jordan is wearing a Haken t-shirt in the video haha

[Don Judge]

As playing piano myself I am probably a litte bit "biased", but for me it's Jordan. (...and if he still was part of DT, I would say Mike is on a comparable level concerning technique and creativity with his drums...)

[jingle.boy]

I'm wondering if there has ever been a band with a higher average skill-level than Dream Theater. I don't think so.

Haven't listened to much music, have you?

[Herrick]

Myung doesn't have nearly as many opportunities to show off like Petrucci & Ruddess but I get the sense that they're all equally good on their respective instruments.

[DT_12_Octavarium]

IMO it's petrucci in a landslide. it's really not even close.

[jingle.boy]

At first I was like    But then I 

[ASacrificedSon]

IMO it's petrucci in a landslide. it's really not even close.

Actually Rudess is closer than you think. I admit that Petrucci is good, but Rudess also is extraordinary.
It's hard to compare those members and come to a conclusion of the "best musician" as they play their different instruments, but they're all talented.

[Prog Snob]

Rudess is the most talented, but Petrucci is best at using his talent for real-world application.

And Jordan doesn't?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_euEsk4Rfg

What's really awesome is that Jordan is wearing a Haken t-shirt in the video haha

Indeed, he is. 

I'm wondering if there has ever been a band with a higher average skill-level than Dream Theater. I don't think so.

Haven't listened to much music, have you?

 

I kind of know what he's trying to say, but it's extremely short-sighted.

[pdurbin22]

I think every band member, past and present, would agree that Jordan is the most prodigiously gifted musician in their ranks.

[Darkstarshades]

I think every band member, past and present, would agree that Jordan is the most prodigiously gifted musician in their ranks.

Except for himself, that's what I admire and love most of that guy, he would be the last person to say he's the best.

[KevShmev]

The answer really depends on what your definition of musician entails. I think JP is the best all-rounder since he can both write and play.

I think Rudess can write as well, but from a prolific standpoint, JP is miles ahead of him, and writing is part of being a musician, so JP is the correct answer here, I think.

Now, if you asked who is the best "player" in Dream Theater, that would be another thing... But ignoring writing when discussing comparing musicians is not something you can do, IMO.

[pcs90]

I think Rudess can write as well, but from a prolific standpoint, JP is miles ahead of him, and writing is part of being a musician, so JP is the correct answer here, I think.

Well, are we only talking about their writing within DT or do side projects also count? Because if we count other projects Jordan writes just as much I would say, and the music is arguably more detailed (check out his solo album "Feeding the Wheel" for example).

[thosava]

I'm wondering if there has ever been a band with a higher average skill-level than Dream Theater. I don't think so.

Haven't listened to much music, have you?

I was thinking in the lines of rock music for the most part, but there are of course some jazz-fusion bands with incredible skill levels. I would say DT rivals a lot of them. (Im not thinking about classical as those arent bands, but  often orchestras consisting of many more instruments

[genome]

I guess the criterion is too vague here. What are we judging on? Technical ability, compositional ability, best style, speed, phrasing, what their playing makes you feel?

There are a lot of things that go into making a good musician.

[thosava]

I guess the criterion is too vague here. What are we judging on? Technical ability, compositional ability, best style, speed, phrasing, what their playing makes you feel?

There are a lot of things that go into making a good musician.

I was thinking mostly about technical and compositional abilities. I think one can objectively say that John Petrucci is better techincally than David Gilmour, but to say wich one is a better guitarist is meaningless.

[hefdaddy42]

The safe bet is Rudess.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Lars is the best them.

Thank you. I was waiting for this but no one catched up.

[FsF]

While I reckon Mangini is probably closer to the top of his field, I just can't vote against Rudess.

[pogoowner]

I would lean toward Rudess due to his strength when it comes to theory, sight reading, etc.

[lucky7]

John Petrucci!

They are all extremely talented, but I do believe no JP no DT!

[pretorios]

Jordan, hands down. He was a childhood prodigy and attended Julliard's pre-college program when he was only 9. He's gifted. Not only that, but he's an expert on keyboard technology. Even JP says that Jordan's music reading if off the charts.

Just watch some of his instruction videos. The dude can do wonders just playing a simple major chord in different forms. Jordan is a rare, rare talent, who could play any form of music he chose to play.

[Outcrier]

Jordan for playing, Petrucci for songwriting.

[lovethedrake]

No JP, No DT.  Its that simple. 

I like Rudess but personally think the Keys were considerably better on I&W and Awake.   Kevin Moore blows Rudess out of the water on those two efforts.  With that said, SFAM is my favorite DT album so I still love Rudess I just don't think he has the vision that JP or Kevin Moore have.   He is certainly a great player though.

So the answer is JP.