John Petrucci Quotes

The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer.

I grew up playing classical violin and a lot of Bach and Mozart and the things that Einstein loved.

Electric guitars are an abomination, whoever heard of an electric violin? An electric cello? Or for that matter an electric singer?

I used to play violin, but I wasn't very good! I'm starting to learn guitar.

I don't want to discredit people's opinions of me, but you talk about the violin or the cello or lead guitar where you have to learn tons of chords, that's much more difficult.

You're in direct contact with the music by having the strings under your fingers. It's not mechanical like a piano.

I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.

I play in tune like a cello player and use legitimate vibrato. There are no tricks; it's just all in the hands!

A violin is tuned to a fifth. But a guitar is tuned to a fourth with a one-third middle. It is very perplexing to composers.

Piano feels soft. Violins and all different string instruments feel soft. Guitar, even electric guitar before you start adding distortion, that you can play soft.

When I practise scales I will play four notes on one string. If I'm playing a C major scale, starting on F, I'll play the F, G, A, and B on one string and the C will be on the A string, etc, etc. Because I found not only was it good for my hands but it was really good for interconnecting things.

I used my Schecter for all my rhythms and most of my solos, certainly the fast solos.

I like to play the guitar and the ukulele.

[When asked if the voice is an instrument:] Yes, of course. Some are violins, some are fountain pens and some are stethoscopes. And others are just washboards.

I have somewhat [Taylor's or Gallagher's guitars], but I like the power of the Martins.

Things like guitars and ukuleles, you should never part with it, because there will probably be good, healthy times spent, just playing and writing.

We're just musically and rhythmically retarded. We play so hard that we can't tune our guitars fast enough. People can relate to that.

I'm into playing guitars, not into figuring out what else goes on with them.

I practice more than ever ... mostly scales and arpeggios ... and anything I can't do.

The violin - that most human of all instruments.

Playing a violin is, after all, only scraping a cat's entrails with horsehair.

I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard, and floor it. Floor it. That's technical talk.

I'm more of a rhythmic player. My soloing is pretty much limited to playing slide guitar.

I want a thousand guitars . . .

When Jack Benny plays the violin, it sounds as though the strings are still in the cat.