# “For a band to work, you have to fall in line and realise what your part is”: Can’t hear John Myung’s bass in Dream Theater? He says it’s a “minor detail”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/for-a-band-to-work-you-have-to-fall-in-line-and-realise-what-your-part-is-cant-hear-john-myungs-bass-in-dream-theater-he-says-its-a-minor-detai/
- Published: 2026-07-21T07:43:23+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-21T08:04:32+00:00
- Original publisher: Louder
- Original article: https://www.loudersound.com/music/albums/john-myung-dream-theater-jelly-jam
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- John Myung says his quiet Dream Theater bass mix is a "minor detail"
- He prioritises band cohesion over individual instrumental prominence
- Comments made around The Jelly Jam's 2016 album Profit release

## Summary

Dream Theater bassist John Myung has addressed criticism that his bass playing is often difficult to hear in the band's mix, dismissing it as a "minor detail" compared to the importance of serving the overall sound of the group. Known for keeping a low public profile and rarely giving interviews, Myung used the release of his supergroup The Jelly Jam's fourth album, Profit, in 2016 to reflect on his role within a band setting, contrasting his more prominent presence in the trio with his sometimes understated contribution to Dream Theater's dense progressive metal arrangements.

Myung explained that being part of a successful band requires musicians to subordinate individual recognition to the collective sound, saying that "for a band to work, you have to fall in line and realise what your part is." The Jelly Jam, formed with Ty Tabor of King's X and Rod Morgenstein of Winger and Dixie Dregs, gave Myung a different musical outlet as a three-piece, highlighting the contrast with Dream Theater's more layered, six-member sound where his bass parts can be less prominent in the final mix.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.