Herman Li

Herman Li
Background information
Birth name Herman Li
Born (1976-10-03) October 3, 1976
Hong Kong
Genres Power metal, speed metal, neoclassical metal
Occupation(s) Musician, producer
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1993–present
Labels Sanctuary, Noise, Roadrunner, JVC
Associated acts DragonForce, Babymetal, Shadow Warriors, Demoniac, Labrat
Website hermanli.com
Notable instruments
Ibanez E-Gen – Herman Li Signature Model

Herman Li (Chinese: 李康敏; born October 3, 1976) is a Hong Kong-born, British Chinese musician and record producer. He is one of two lead guitarists for the power metal band DragonForce.

Early life

Herman Li was born on October 3, 1976, in Hong Kong, and moved to England during his teenage years.[1]

Playing style

Li draws influences from rock, all subgenres of metal as well as video game music and often mimics sounds from popular retro games from the late 80s, early-90s arcade, and PC games. For example, Li has been known for making several Pac-Man-like noises in the song "Through the Fire and Flames" on Inhuman Rampage. His playing style consists of fast descending and ascending legato and staccato licks, exotic scale runs, making extensive use of the harmonic minor and Phrygian dominant scale, extreme use of his whammy bar, quick full ascending and descending sweep picking arpeggios, alternate picking and tapping (especially two-handed) on the higher frets as well as incorporating many other shred guitar style techniques.[2] Li is left-handed but learned to play right-handed. Recently, he has started to use a device called the Hot Hand that sits on his right hand like a ring, which causes extreme vibrato when shaken, giving him greater capacity to emulate certain video game sounds. Li has stated Michael Romeo's fast guitar playing heavily inspired his own style.[3]

Equipment

Guitars

Herman Li performing live with his signature Ibanez E-Gen guitar

Li uses Ibanez E-Gen guitars, his signature Ibanez models based on his old Ibanez S Series, which was retired from stage at the end of the Inhuman Rampage tour. The EGEN18 has a 'Transparent Violet Flat' finish (transparent purple on a flamed-maple top), and the EGEN8 has a 'Platinum Blonde' finish (natural wood finish with a flamed-maple top). Both have a rosewood fingerboard and gold hardware. The E-Gen model has many unique features and improvements over a standard S, including its versatile tone selection with coil tap switching for both the bridge and neck pickups, Edge Zero bridge (the EGEN8 has Edge III), custom DiMarzio HLM pickups (the EGEN8 has Ibanez pickups) and an extended scoop on the lower horn of the body, as well as a 'Kung-Fu grip' on the upper horn shaped by Li's hand. It is currently Ibanez's flagship model for S body style guitars.

On May 9, 2010, Li announced via Facebook that he had received a custom-made Ibanez 7-string guitar.[4] No details are known yet about this guitar, other than it has seven strings, and it is unknown whether it will be mass-produced for his E-Gen signature line.

Before the E-Gen, he had been known to play Ibanez S Prestige guitars. An Ibanez S470SOL (Japanese build 1995), a seven string Ibanez 540S7 (Japanese build 1991) (used in Revolution Deathsquad, Storming the Burning Fields, before the second verse and in the outro of Heartbreak Armageddon and the bridge section of Operation Ground and Pound), and an Ibanez S540FMTTS (Japanese build 1995). He has also been seen playing an Ibanez S2170FB and an Ibanez S2170FW. He also owns an Ibanez Jem7BSB, which has been used on every DragonForce album for recording rhythm guitar parts, an Ibanez J Custom RG, an Ibanez RG2228 (8-string model), and a PRS Modern Eagle, which he received as a gift from Paul Reed Smith and can be seen in the studio.[5]

Amplifiers and effects

Li keeps his effects and amplifiers in a rack, as stated on his official website:[6]

Pedals:

Notable awards and achievements

Li has won and featured in the following awards:[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Pinnegar, Shane. INTERVIEW – Herman Li, Dragonforce, August 2014, 100% Rock Magazine, August 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Herman Li and Sam Totman youtube guitar techniques and instructional". Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  3. ↑ "Herman Li and Brian Posehn Video". Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  4. ↑ "Facebook – Picked up my new...". Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  5. ↑ "YouTube – In the Studio with... DragonForce". Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  6. ↑ "Herman Li – Band area of DragonForce Official Site".
  7. ↑ "Steal Theis Sound: Herman Li (Dragonforce) - Total Guitar Magazine - MusicRadar.com". Retrieved 2010-06-25.
  8. ↑ "Herman Li – DragonForce". Retrieved 2010-04-10.
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