FAQ

Q. Has the writing of "Lethal Alchemy" been influenced by well-known bands/artists?

Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment are my big influences on the songwriting of my album. For example, most idea go to another passage trough smooth transitions. I also use some songwriting concepts such as retrogradation. For example, the outro of the song "The good and evil sides of men" is a retrogradation of the intro riff on the guitar, as if it's played backward. Yes, Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment really have influenced me on the songwriting of this album, not to mention all those countless meter changes...

Q. Do you use polymeters in your songs?

A. Yes, there are many polymeters in my album. I really like to experiment with superimposition of different meter in the same idea (e.g. guitar riff)
Next is an example to illustrate this concept of "polymeters" in the song "Angry gods". Somewhere in the intro section of this song, the drums go through a 4/4 bar played 3 times, meanwhile all others instruments, guitar included, play the following pattern : 3/4 bar played 4 times. The end result is 4/4 x 3 = 12 beats for the drum and 3/4 x 4 = 12 beats as well for the others instruments. This mathematical approach will ensure that all instruments will be synced to the same beat at the beginning of the next passage.
   
Let's take another example, there is a passage midway in the song "The good and evil sides of men" uses the same combined concept of polymeters and math, but in much more complex idea.
This passage has the following polymeter pattern:
Drums = (7/8 bar + 13/16 bar) pattern played 2 times.
7-string guitar and all instruments = (6/8 bar) + (3/8 bar) pattern played 3 times.
If you take the time to do some calculations, you will realize that all instruments are "synced" even though they go through different meters. This approach adds up to a song a particular flavour as you can realize that the drum plays "out of the beat" and all others instruments don’t. The reverse can be true:all instruments play out of the beat but the drum doesn’t. Very parodoxical! A real brain twister! This is my way to give a cool Progressive edge to my music.

Q. Which time signature do you use the most? Do you have a particular way to use them in your songs? Alain                              

A. Hi Alain thank you for droping your question ! I do like to use time signature in my songs, especially meter change. I use almost all time signature possible : x/4, x/8 and y/16 (“x” being generally any figure between 3 and 9, and “y” being 3 ,5, 15 and 17 mainly)
I often use multiple meters at the same time : say, the guitar play 7/8 and the others instruments play 4/4. This a great way to get interesting ideas.

Q. What do you think of Dunlop Jazz III picks ? (I mean for fast picking)

A. Hi!!! I don't like them so much as their small size make it difficult to hold the pick firmly, especially while playing fast runs. That's why I use 2mm Gator picks instead, among many other reasons...Thanx

Q. Why do you use 10-56 string gauge on your 7-string guitar?

A. I’ve switched to a heavier gauge to get less slackness on all strings while picking. (I can’t stand feeling the strings are slack on my right hand). This gauge also allows me to stabilize my right hand while fast picking (I never rest my palm or fingers to stabilize my right hand).Then, stabilization comes from the pick that “rests” on the string itself.

Q. What effects do you like the most?

A. Interesting question, indeed. I like Wha (Like most guitar players I guess) and volume effects to create violoning effect. But Whammy and harmonizing are my big faves !!! Especially multivoice harmonizing. Briefly, I love any effects that can add a special flavour to my tone (tremolo, flanger,...)

Q. Who are the best guitar players you like the most?-David        

A. Hello David! Thank you for dropping a question.
There are so many really great guitar players out there that it can take years to enumerate them all. Too many great guitar players, especially on the guitar playing and technique,...
However if you think of guitar players who have a unique guitar tone AND an excellent musicanship AND a terrific playing, you'll realise they aren't so many...                                                                          
Next is a list of my favourite guitar players (if a guitar genius is not on the list, please, don't blame me! I try to keep this list short)
   
Pat Metheny: Sublime guitar tone - superb musicianship - Great playing.
Al diMeola: same as Pat Metheny
Yngwie Malmsteen: unique guitar tone - Excellent playing
Allan Holdsworth: unique guitar tone - Excellent playing
Steve Vai: unique guitar tone - Excellent playing - Sheer guitar extravangaza
John Petrucci: Mindblowing guitar playing - Excellent musicianship
Jimi Hendrix: Sweet guitar tone - Soulful and "gutful" guitar playing
and some more...