Biography HERMAN LI ( Dragon Force )

The influence of Li music comes from Rock music, all sub genres of Metal as well as music from video games. For example, Li has made some Pac-man Sound on " Through The Fire And Flames " on Inhuman Rampage's album. His guitar game contains the fast Legato and Staccato licks, an exotic scale, making extensive use of the Harmonic Minor and Phrygian Dominant scales. Extreme use of Whamy Bar, ascending and descending sweep picking arpeggios are fast, alternate picking and typing (especially two handed) in the higher fret as well as the use of other shred styles. Li is a left-handed person but learns to play with his right hand. Recently he used a tool called Hot Hand in his right hand like a ring, resulting in an extreme vibrato when shaken, this gives him more ability to mengemulate sound-sound from video games. Li stated that John Petrucci's fast guitar game has inspired him.

Guitar:

Li used the Ibanez E-Gen guitar, which is his Ibanez Signature guitar, based on Ibanez's predecessor Ibanez S Series, which retired on stage at the end of the Inhuman Rampage tour. E-GEN 18 has a Transparent Violet Flat finish, and E-GEN8 has 'Platinum Blonde' Finish (natural wood finish with flamed-maple top). Both have rosewood fingerboard and gold hardware. This E-Gen model has many unique features and improvements from standard S, including a versatile tone selection with coil tap switching for pick up bridge and pick up neck. Edge Zero bridge (E-Gen8 has Edge III), custom DiMarzio HLM pick up (E-Gen8 has Ibanez Pick up) and wide scopes on the lower body horn, as well as "Kung fu Grip" on the horn of the upper body made by Li's own hands.

On May 9, 2010, Li announced via Facebook that he had just received a 7-string custom-made guitar. Before using Ibanez E-Gen he has been wearing Ibanez S Prestige. Ibanez S470SOL (made in Japan in 1995), Ibanez 7 strings 540S7 (made in Japan in 1991), Ibanez S540FMTTS (made in Japan in 1995). He has also been seen wearing Ibanez S2170FB and Ibanez S2170FW. He also has the Ibanez JEM7BSB, which is always in use for recording the Dragon Force album to fill Rhythm sessions, an Ibanez J Custom RG, Ibanez RG2228 (8 Senar models), and a modern PRS Eagle, which is received as a gift from Paul Reed Smith and can be seen in the studio.

Amplifier and Effect

Li always put his Amplifier and Effect in one rack, as which is stated in its official website.

Furman Power Conditioner 220V
Korg DTR-2000 Guitar Tuner
Rocktron All Access Edition LTD (installed in slide-out tray behind, in control by Guitar Tech)
Source Audio - Hot Hand MIDI-EXP controller
Source Audio - Hot Hand Wah Filter (with Wireless Adapter (worn like a ring) Daisy chained to MIDI-EXP)
Samson Synth 5 UHF Dual Wireless System
Rocktron Patch Mate Loop 8 (for patching parallel pedal to Prophesy II loop)
Rocktron Prophesy II (x2)
Dunlop Cry Baby DCR-2SR
Rocktron Hush Pro
Digitech GSP1101 (Used only for Extra Effect Paired to Hot Hand MIDI-EXP)
Mesa Boogie Stereo 2: Fifty Power Amp (x2)
Peavey JSX Speaker Cabinets
Pedal:

Source Audio Hot Hand Wireless Adapter
Digitech Whammy 2 (linked to Rocktron Patch mate for true Bypass)
Dunlop Cry Baby controller
Rocktron All Access
Rocktron MIDI Mate (Controlled By Guitar Tech)
Achievement:

Li has won and is included in the following awards:

Metal hammer Golden Gods 2009 - Best Shredder Award
Grammy Award 2008 - Best Metal performance "Dragon Force" Nomination
Guitar World Reader's Poll 2007 - Best New Talent
Guitar World Reader's Poll 2007 - Best Metal
Guitar World Reader's Poll 2007 - Best Riff
Total Guitar Reader's Poll 2007 - Best Solo "Through The Fire And Flames"
Terrorizer Reader's Poll 2006 - Best Band "Dragon Force"
Terrorizer Reader's Poll 2006 - Best Musician "Herman Li"
Terrorizer Reader's Poll 2006 - Best Live Act "Dragon Force"
Metal Hammer Golden Gods 2005 - Best Shredder Award.

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