Musicians on DTF

[ubit]

I have a feeling that the people who enjoy the brand of music DT has to offer tend to be musicians.  I'm curious to what extent this is true. 

My hypothesis comes from the simple fact that to appreciate the complexity of something, you must know it well.  So to truly enjoy the complexity that is DT to the fullest, you would need to have a strong background in musical theory.  Or maybe not? 

If you are not a musician, I am curious to what draws you to DT.  Also, does their technical prowess impress you? 

[Vajra]

I have a feeling that the people who enjoy the brand of music DT has to offer tend to be musicians.  I'm curious to what extent this is true. 

My hypothesis comes from the simple fact that to appreciate the complexity of something, you must know it well.  So to truly enjoy the complexity that is DT to the fullest, you would need to have a strong background in musical theory.  Or maybe not? 

If you are not a musician, I am curious to what draws you to DT.  Also, does their technical prowess impress you? 

Well, I started liking DT before I ever wrote my own music. What drew me to the band was simply that they wrote great, unique, journey-like songs.

Today I still write music, but very rarely. I have a keyboard and guitar, but I'm very bad at both of them, and since I don't play often, I don't consider myself as being a musician, I simply play music from time to time.

[Implode]

I've been playing piano for almost my whole life, and I love music theory. The thing that drew memo Dream Theater was their virtuosic style of playing. Some people are put off because they DT is just showing off all the time. I'm not.

[Elaitch]

I feel like the thread subject is somewhat misguiding as to what you're actually asking...

I used to play brass instruments (trombone etc.) for several years, before I had to quit because of braces. I plan on taking it up again though once they're gone... I also sing, so yes, I would say I'm a musician. However I wouldn't say musical theory has ever been my strongest side x)

I think what draws me into DT is the fact that I love rhythms; variations of such, odd time signatures, complex drum patterns, rhythm driven riffs, polyrhythms etc., and DT offer much enjoyment in that department throughout their catalog. Also their musical diversity; they seem to have a song for every mood you might be in. Technical prowess is definitely a factor, but I can as much enjoy a mostly non-technically based song as a very technically based one, so I wouldn't say it's the determining factor.

[Jaffa]

I'm not a musician.  Tried to played drums for a while, but was an absolute miserable failure at it.  

Not to disrespect your theory (the poll results would seem to support your theory thus far), but as far as I'm concerned, one does not need to be skilled to appreciate skill.  I am impressed by their prowess as musicians, and by their songwriting, and by their composition.  And above all else, I just like the way the final product sounds.  

[ricky]

I have a feeling that the people who enjoy the brand of music DT has to offer tend to be musicians.  I'm curious to what extent this is true. 

My hypothesis comes from the simple fact that to appreciate the complexity of something, you must know it well.  So to truly enjoy the complexity that is DT to the fullest, you would need to have a strong background in musical theory.  Or maybe not? 

If you are not a musician, I am curious to what draws you to DT.  Also, does their technical prowess impress you? 

What drew me to the band was simply that they wrote great, unique, journey-like songs.

um

wut?

[Jaffa]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking they meant songs which take you on a journey, not songs in the style of Journey.

[D_Halco]

Im in school right now for music theory and composition, also sight singing.  I also drum and am hoping to start playing gigs in the near future where I live. 

[Vajra]

I have a feeling that the people who enjoy the brand of music DT has to offer tend to be musicians.  I'm curious to what extent this is true. 

My hypothesis comes from the simple fact that to appreciate the complexity of something, you must know it well.  So to truly enjoy the complexity that is DT to the fullest, you would need to have a strong background in musical theory.  Or maybe not? 

If you are not a musician, I am curious to what draws you to DT.  Also, does their technical prowess impress you? 

What drew me to the band was simply that they wrote great, unique, journey-like songs.

um

wut?

As in, when you listen to A Change of Seasons, it's like embarking on a musical journey.

[ricky]

I have a feeling that the people who enjoy the brand of music DT has to offer tend to be musicians.  I'm curious to what extent this is true. 

My hypothesis comes from the simple fact that to appreciate the complexity of something, you must know it well.  So to truly enjoy the complexity that is DT to the fullest, you would need to have a strong background in musical theory.  Or maybe not? 

If you are not a musician, I am curious to what draws you to DT.  Also, does their technical prowess impress you? 

What drew me to the band was simply that they wrote great, unique, journey-like songs.

um

wut?

As in, when you listen to A Change of Seasons, it's like embarking on a musical journey.

then you are indeed allowed to pass.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

DT was a large inspiration for me as a musician, but I played guitar beforehand.

[glaurung]

You are absolutely not required to be a musician to appreciate DT. It might give you something else to enjoy about the music, but I and several people I know love the band without having ever played much of anything.

[Jamesman42]

Maybe being a musician will make you appreciate DT in a way that you otherwise wouldn't.

I play guitar, bass, keyboards and sing.

[FlyingBIZKIT]

I am a drummer. Only been playing about 2 years. DT has been a big inspiration.

[Global Laziness]

Maybe being a musician will make you appreciate DT in a way that you otherwise wouldn't.

Seems logical. I play guitar and sing (mostly guitar though).

[ricky]

Maybe being a musician will make you appreciate DT in a way that you otherwise wouldn't.

I play guitar, bass, keyboards and sing.

jimbo <3

[Jamesman42]

Haha why the tard face?

[Jamesman42]

And why is everyone calling me Jimbo lately (in real life too).

[psychdoc]

I am a hobby guitarist and bass guitarist. I played bass in a band in high school, and I played violin in elementary school and junior high.

That said, I first heard Dream Theater before I knew how to really play lead or bass guitar. To me, it was never so much about the technicality of Dream Theater per se as the compositions and the ability for the songs on "Images And Words" to take me on a sonic journey.

[ubit]

Maybe I should clarify.

I suppose the definition of musician may not support what my brain was actually thinking of when I made this hypothesis.  I think that what I mean is that you need to have a good sense of music and how it works.  Whether you classify yourself as a musician or not is not important - but I see comments regarding to polyrhythms, time signatures, etc.  Those things are not complex to understand, but the basic non-musical person has no comprehension or appreciation for a person playing drums (incredibly) in 15/8 time.  If there is no basis of musical knowledge, even fundamental knowledge, there is going to be much less appreciation for their talent.  

I can't even explain the number of people I've discussed music with who tell me things such as, "oh, listen to this sick guitar part," and it is just some simple 4/4 tune with a little speed added to it.  People often mistake speed for skill and technicality (see Dragonforce fans for more details).  I am not saying that it is easy to play something incredibly fast, but certainly there is more to technicality than speed.  

I've also seen many people who have listened to a Dream Theater song, and have no idea that what they've just heard was nothing short of BRILLIANT and takes virtuoso-like skills to be able to play, nevermind CREATE.  I don't blame them, I just realize that the lack of music knowledge is what is hurting their enjoyment and appreciation.  Having played an instrument helps a lot though, because that tends to come coupled with knowing things about music theory, even if at a minimum.  

Hopefully this clarification makes sense.  I apologize for my initially unclear question.

[tri.ad]

I play bass, keyboard and sing (the latter quite horribly). DT has definitely influenced me in some ways, but they're not the only band who have done that.

[Dellers]

I do of course play a few instruments. The main as of now is bass, greatest instrument there is. I play a little guitar as well, mostly for recording my own stuff. Oh, and I've been playing saxophone since 1995 I think.
Can't compare any of my playing to DT though, I'm not very skilled technically (my fingers are slow, always been), and tend to lean more towards groovy stuff like funk when I play myself. I still like to play (and come up with something like) some DT on my bass from time to time though, a Musicman Stingray 5 HH is perfect for any genre I've ever tried playing.

[?]

I have played keyboards for years and I've played guitar since last year. I'm quite sure I couldn't have become a DT fan if I didn't play any instrument.

[EstyMaJ]

I have played Drums and guitar for a good 30 years , I have always been into Prog rock / metal / jazz and all other realms of music except Rap , started off a huge Rush Iron Maiden fan but I think Dream Theater sealed the deal for me to lean towards the Prog metal/ rock side . 

[skydivingninja]

I play bass, the chiptunes, and do some singing.  Since I can only play "The Spirit Carries On," "Wither," and "Sacrificed Sons" on bass being a musician hasn't made me see DT in a whole new light.  I mean, I appreciated the heck out of them before I picked up the bass anyways. 

[ZirconBlue]

I play tuba (well, contrabass bugle actually).  But my wife also loves DT, and she has no musical background whatsoever.

[alirocker08]

I used to learn piano, and I sing. I'm hardly skilled in either area, and yet I can still appreciate the technicality and beauty of their songs.

[Zydar]

I play the guitar and the bass, but I don't think it has had much impact on my music preferences. And I know squat about music theory.

[m0hawk]

I play with myself.

[Xanthul]

I "play" guitar, and I quote it because I know nothing about music theory and I really just know how to play certain songs and how to improvise in a couple of scales. Not much of a musician here so I don't think it impacts my appreciation of music.

[TheSilentHam]

So to truly enjoy the complexity that is DT to the fullest, you would need to have a strong background in musical theory.  Or maybe not? 

Like many art forms and performance art forms, DT music can be appreciated on different levels.  I'm a musician, but If I'm not appreciating something about DT to the fullest, there is no way I could be aware that I'm missing out on something. Possibly only DT can enjoy DT music to the absolute fullest.

I think it is a feat within itself to produce something that is appreciated on different levels (Like Phineas and Ferb - ha).

[nikatapi]

I play the guitar, bass and drums, but to be honest i dont know so much about music theory.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Yup. Musian here.

[Nefyn]

Not yet, I want to buy a drum kit soon though. I want to play drums mainly because of DT 

[hefdaddy42]

I am a musician, and I think that helps me to appreciate certain things more, but they blew me away before I became a musician.