List of Dream Theater Songs and Their Tunings

[jonny108]

Well done! Only had a quick skim through. Out of Reach is a fretless bass.

[TheCountOfNYC]

I remember hearing an interview with JMX where he said for Untethered Angel his whole bass is tuned up a half step (CFBbEbAbDb). I also think there’s Chapman Stick on Blind Faith.

[Metro]

Well done! Only had a quick skim through. Out of Reach is a fretless bass.

Thank you!

I would assume that's still down 1/2 step on the fretless?

I remember hearing an interview with JMX where he said for Untethered Angel his whole bass is tuned up a half step (CFBbEbAbDb). I also think there’s Chapman Stick on Blind Faith.

Fixed!

Do you have a source on Chapman Stick being on BF? I went back and checked the Making Of video for SDOIT, and I don't see JM playing it, nor does he play it on Chaos in Motion.
I did see him tinkering with it during the Misunderstood part of the video, maybe that's what you're thinking of?

[Metro]

Updated to the remaining AVFTTOTW songs.

Any ideas on what JM's tuning is on ATM? Standard?

[Max Kuehnau]

Updated to the remaining AVFTTOTW songs.

Any ideas on what JM's tuning is on ATM? Standard?

no, not standard on bass as he mentioned in a recent interview. He uses a capo on the second fret. I'm sure John uses the 8 string standard tuning though, since they both need the F# to play the piece.

[porcacultor]

Metropolaris, it may be a red herring, but on Sleeping Giant, when it starts going crazy at the 09:44-09:51 mark, Petrucci either pulled out the 8-string for an overdub (notice how it sounds a whole octave lower than the riff he had been playing up to that point, reaching the telltale F#1 of the 8-string in standard tuning) or he had played it for the whole song (which would be disingenuous, because he doesn't use the lower register on the song other than for those 7 seconds as far as I can tell).

Thanks again for all the work!!

[Metro]

Updated to the remaining AVFTTOTW songs.

Any ideas on what JM's tuning is on ATM? Standard?

no, not standard on bass as he mentioned in a recent interview. He uses a capo on the second fret. I'm sure John uses the 8 string standard tuning though, since they both need the F# to play the piece.

Interesting, thanks! Wonder if he’ll just tune up a whole step when they play it live.

Metropolaris, it may be a red herring, but on Sleeping Giant, when it starts going crazy at the 09:44-09:51 mark, Petrucci either pulled out the 8-string for an overdub (notice how it sounds a whole octave lower than the riff he had been playing up to that point, reaching the telltale F#1 of the 8-string in standard tuning) or he had played it for the whole song (which would be disingenuous, because he doesn't use the lower register on the song other than for those 7 seconds as far as I can tell).

Thanks again for all the work!!

I hear what you mean. It’s hard to tell, but I think it might just be the bass playing that low note.

[Metro]

Apparently I’ve hit the maximum number of characters for a post in the OP so I’ll continue it here.

A View from the Top of the World
The Alien
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Answering the Call
Guitar: B E A D G B E (Standard, 7-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Invisible Monster
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Sleeping Giant
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Transcending Time
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Awaken the Master
Guitar: F# B E A D G B E (Standard, 8-String)
Bass: C# F# B E A D (Standard, 6-string w/ capo on the 2nd Fret)

A View from the Top of the World
Guitar: B E A D G B E (Standard, 7-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

[Lax]

Apparently I’ve hit the maximum number of characters for a post in the OP so I’ll continue it here.

A View from the Top of the World
The Alien
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Answering the Call
Guitar: B E A D G B E (Standard, 7-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Invisible Monster
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Sleeping Giant
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Transcending Time
Guitar: E A D G B E (E Standard, 6-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Awaken the Master
Guitar: F# B E A D G B E (Standard, 8-String)
Bass: C# F# B E A D (Standard, 6-string w/ capo on the 2nd Fret)

A View from the Top of the World
Guitar: B E A D G B E (Standard, 7-string)
Bass: B E A D G C (Standard, 6-string)

Thanks for this great work !
Maybe you can merge songs like WDADU etc that are in the same tuning to gain 1-2 album's spaceq