Dream Theater - Hollow Years Solo (40ème Live in Paris 2024) + Chord Charts + Isolated Tracks
Chord Breakdown + Playthrough
The solo section of Hollow Years is one of the most recognizable moments in Dream Theater’s live performances. Under John Petrucci’s lead, the harmony cycles through a progression built around D minor that gives the solo its emotional direction.
For this post I reconstructed the progression used during the Paris show from the 40th Anniversary tour (November 2024) and recorded a full keyboard playthrough of the section.
In the video above you can follow the entire sequence with:
• keyboard note overlay
• chord names synchronized with the progression
Below you’ll find the full reference material used in the video.
What’s Inside This Lesson
Chord Progression Overview – quick look at the harmonic movement
Full Chord Chart + Keyboard References – progression with screenshots of the chords
Isolated Tracks – separate layers for detailed listening
1. Chord Progression Overview
First Section
Dm Dm7/C Gm7 A Dm
Dm Dm7/C Gm7-add9 Asus4 Dm
Dm Dm7/C Gm7-add9 Asus4 Dm
Dm Dm7/C Gm7 A Dm
Second Section
In this section I slightly extend the C and Am chords by adding upper tones and moving through different inversions.
The variations used here include:
Cadd9 — root position
C6 — first inversion
Am add9 — root position
Am11 — first inversion
Am7 — second inversion
These appear as passing harmonic colors while the progression moves through the section.
Dm B♭ C Am
Dm B♭maj7 C Am
Dm B♭ C Am
B♭ B♭ C C
Dm B♭ C Am
Dm B♭maj7 C Am
Dm B♭ C Am
B♭ B♭ C C
Third Section
Dm B♭ C Am
Dm B♭ C Am
Dm B♭ C Am
Dm B♭ C Am
B♭ B♭ C C
2. Full Chord Chart + Keyboard References
Below are the chords used in the section.
Each chord appears with a screenshot the first time it shows up.
Practice Material (and how to use it)
You’re getting full isolated multitracks of the band — drums, bass, guitars and keyboards.
This allows you to work directly with the full arrangement and understand how the harmony supports the solo, what defines the progression, and how the different layers interact throughout the section.
Best way to study it
Start by watching the performance once, following the chord progression and the video overlay.
Then loop the section and switch between instruments:
guitars and bass to track the harmonic movement under the solo
keyboards to understand how voicings and sustain shape the progression
Finally, bring everything together and play along, using the chord charts and visual references to stay aligned with the structure.
Full isolated multitracks for Hollow Years by Dream Theater, based on the Paris 2024 performance during the 40th Anniversary tour.
This pack includes separated drums, bass, guitars, and keyboards across the full song, allowing you to study the complete arrangement, follow the harmonic movement in context, and understand how each instrument contributes to the overall sound.
Designed for musicians working on progressive rock and progressive metal, these multitracks provide a precise environment for practicing timing, articulation, and interaction between layers. Use them to isolate specific sections, analyze transitions, and rebuild the piece with full control over the arrangement.
This material is intended as a practical tool to support in-depth study, accurate performance, and a deeper understanding of one of Dream Theater’s most expressive live interpretations.
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