Everybody knows John Petrucci for his God-like shredding abilities, but the Dream Theater virtuoso’s next-level rhythm playing deserves more attention

Against a backdrop of celestial stage lights, John Petrucci plays a riff on his signature Ernie Ball Music Man JP15 7-string.

When it comes to rhythm guitar, Dream Theater’s amazing six and seven-stringer John Petrucci moves between ‘wall of sound’ powerchords to fast, thrash-inspired phrases, intricate melodic motifs, and lush, clean, arpeggiated chord progressions.

With progressive rock bands Rush and Yes being a significant influence on the members of Dream Theater, time signature changes are never far away. This often results in rhythm patterns and riffs becoming extended or shortened as they explore thematic variations.