How To Solo Like John Mayer (target this note...)

[@MattOlpinski]

I've watched countless guitar lesson videos on YT this year and one of the many reasons I always come back to you Ross is because of the finger positions you use for the licks. It seems so approachable and achievable. Lots of 1 & 3 fingerings (vs 2 & 4) which is so natural and comfortable for me. I'd love to see a video breaking down how you choose finger positions for certain scales or licks because you seem to get a ton of mileage out of finger positions I'm already comfortable with!

[@angrybuzzy]

As much as I enjoy your lessons, Ross I really just want to hear you play! Release more Ross music! Post vids of you gigging live! Your feel, touch, phrasing are fantastic, sir.

[@stephenhanlin2388]

I second that emotion!!!!

[@madbrowndog4887]

I don't know about John Mayer, but at 01:38 you've nailed David Gilmour's secret sauce!

[@dananthony6258]

After 36 years of playing the best thing I’d say you can do to play really good melodic riffs is by listening to melodic music. Everything filters through your brain first. Practice finding the notes you hear in your head and pulling them out of your guitar. Worry about the theory later. Theory is only really so musicians can communicate with other musicians without literally using tone.

[@stevec9972]

I found before I learnt some theory, it was like driving in a strange city with no map or street signs

[@dananthony6258]

@@stevec9972 I saw that Rick Beoto video too.nim assuming that's a quote. I know theory extremely well . The truth is some of the most famous guitarist never learned theory and have have ok mentor the most memorable riffs of all time.

[@stevec9972]

Was just my experience which others may relate to. I agree Theory is not necessary for playing. You can get by without it. I avoided it for many many yrs. I bought the ( famous person) eg. Hendrix didnt/doesn't know theory, ok good enough for me. Now I wonder do they mean they can't sight read and don't have a music degree, or have no clue about any theory at all Edit, how common are successful theory illiterate musos

[@dananthony6258]

@@stevec9972 I definitely advocate for learning theory , point I was making is more from a comping writing aspect. Listening to music is very important if you want to be good at being creative .

[@brendanbudniak2261]

Nah bullshit. Never limit yourself to learning some things but not others and always keep trying to learn and improve

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

🎸 Bulletproof Guitar Player 2.0 Volume 1 AVAILABLE NOW 👉 shop.bulletproofguitarplayer.com/

[@Mike-pv3hg]

srry ross. I am actually leaving mean comments, but continuing to watch regardless. :)

[@satchrules101]

Hi Ross , question when the chord changes and say it stays on for a few measures are u picking the note harder every time the down beat of that chord starts? Because I lose track from all the other notes ur playing .. hope that made sense. Thanks bro.

[@13thAMG]

Wait, what? Someone argues that JM is not one of the finest??? Que? This does not compute. Even Eric Clapton said, "John Mayer doesn't know just how good he really is. He's one of the best of his generation." Ross: "the lost intermediate guitar plateau." Ha ha ha ha. 😂 Fuckin lost my shit when you said that pal. Hilarious. Love it. So true. 🤣🤣🤣 Well, Ross, I have to say, after my decades in this industry, I think YOU are also one of the finest of your generation, pal. And you're a cool teacher. Even Tim Pierce rates you, and that's a mega achievement & massive nod. I can't wait to get back home and catch up with you. So much to tell you. 😉

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Thank you man! 🙏🙏

[@michaelpalumbo3799]

As always, super smooth playing, great tone, and perfectly laid out for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players (who can rip but may have no understanding of what the major 2nd is, and they ARE out there!). I'm NEVER not impressed and ALWAYS come away with something. Thanks Ross!

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Thank you 🙏🙏

[@Njserrano]

this sounds so much like david gilmore style playing

[@Rockberries]

Friends introduced me to "Where the light is" when it came out and it changed my life forever. This concert is legendary, it is simply 3h of stellar performances of each song and exceptional music overall. Even today I still can't fathom and I shake my head in disbelief thinking about the level of musicianship you must have to pull off a show of this caliber. I feel sad for bitter and jealous people who aren't able to feel, be inspired, or at the very least, acknowledge this greatness.

[@ayushmanbhalla8737]

absolutely dude..... mayer was in a different zone back then !

[@darrenwilliams9500]

Couldn’t agree more. For me that live album blew me away and is just a masterclass of musicianship all round. The last live album that did that to me was Paul McCartneys Tripping the Live Fantastic. I was in total awe of Robbie McIntosh’s guitar playing above all. Felt like a kid at Xmas to see him featuring with Mayer.

[@VeniceKing1]

Is this a re-post? Having deja vu here.

[@darrellqueen3333]

The D# is so sweet because as the 9 of the C#m, and the serves a tension being the major 7 of the E as you complete the IV-I cadence of A to E. Especially if you are thinking that A as suspended which, spoiler alert, is the D#!

[@michaelshell331]

John Mayer is a great guitarist for sure however since he is still quite young I prefer to go back further as you can hear the heavy SRV influences in his playing for example so you wonder who he emulated and study them; playing the maj 2 isn't just a John Mayer thing.

[@lewisaveryfiler7087]

To my ears, it seems John copped this target from David Gilmour. Great lesson. Thanks!

[@HWCWTD]

Aaron Marshall of Intervals is another very tasteful, melodic guitar player. Different style of music to Mayer though.

[@leduy5876]

Extremely useful, your playing demonstration sounds very Mayor-ish just because of this factor, keep it up!

[@johnphillips752]

Oh I just watch to... #1-learn the thing you want to show me.. and #2-steal steal steal your demo licks... 😅

[@thebluesrockers]

"I've been trying to play guitar by ear for years, but the strings always make my earlobes sore!" hahaha

[@amziadi]

Marcus King also does this a lot, as well as the major 2nd’s close cousin, the major 6.

01:39 This was already invented by David Gilmour.

[@Stevestevestevestevestevesteve]

Love JM he's an amazing singer and even better guitar player.

[@justingiovanetti]

If the interval of root to major 2nd is the same semitone distance as perfect 4th to perfect 5th, why then are they named differently?

[@MaximGuitarist]

Hi Ross. Your guitar tone in this video is really killer! Which plugin did you used here?

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Thanks! It was the Tone King Imperial MKII plugin by Neural DSP. That's what I use for everything these days. It's so good.

[@MaximGuitarist]

@@RossCampbellGuitarist Thank you for an answer Ross. Did you ever tried a Line6 Helix Native plugin? I think, with your skills it will sounds really good!

[@jordangamble3515]

Thank you so much for the information man🙏this is amazing to have with me now so easy to remember too. Only two down from each root in the minor scale🤘

[@mellowado6184]

A generation with no real guitar legends, I'll agree. Trite songs, though.

[@DerFuchsJr]

i have a question does john mayer play that maj2nd only on the 1 chord?

[@RenzoTocador]

Hi Ross. I listened to the progression a few times and in my ears the tonal center is E major and not C# minor. Same notes but not the same thing.

[@friedrudibega6384]

The way I learned the fretboard is breaking down the other minor pentatonic scales that fit with C#, for instance. F#, G#, and Eb is the odd(locrian). Then I learned those pentatonic scales in the same position as C# minor. With everything being movable, if I practice this, even in my head, my improvisation skills really improved. Really good good good lesson.

[@danielconrad764]

Ross, you are an excellent communicator. I'm 36 and a decades long intermediate player looking to break through (and out of the minor pentatonic box), and have signed up for notification for your Nov 24 course release. Can't wait!!

[@IbervilleMusic]

What I did to break through the pentatonic rut was to learn arpeggios for all basic chords (Minor, Major, Augmented, diminished, Minor 7th, Major 7th and 7b5) and spell them all over the neck. This was mandatory to learn in my college course and It's what served me the most. Second most useful things for me has been learning chord analysis and modes to learn all possible extensions for any given chords in context of a song. (9ths, 11ths, 13ths). The former is the bread and butter to know basic notes to target and literally how to play in an ensemble, the latter was to get a color palette to target even better notes like the one shown in this video! Great explanation btw!

[@Jazzcabbage710]

I love that second exercise!! Got any practice examples? Id love to be able to start using more extensions!!

[@cazziebb1707]

He's good - not great - sorry. Oh target the major 7th - wow!

[@Garrett9339]

Congrats on 200k my friend! Longtime subscriber here.

[@patandmacmusic]

This has big Gilmour vibes too

[@gorimus]

Nice lesson, thanks. Just a "minor" comment. Isn't the song in the key of E major? According to John Mayer, this seems to be the case (see 0:42 in kzbin.info/www/bejne/pITGgptpet-XY68&ab_channel=PowMusic). While playing, I too gravitate to the E note rather than the C# note. Therefore, the targeted note (D#/Eb) would be a major 7th interval. I know the C# minor scale is the relative minor of the E major scale, so what you say as a concept holds, but it's just a technicality, i.e. the nomenclature would be different.

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Interesting to hear his own thoughts on it! I made a similar lesson years ago and chose to view it as E major back then. It 'feels' more minor to me because of the amount of time spent on that C#m and the overall sad vibe of the song.

[@gorimus]

@@RossCampbellGuitarist Thanks for your response, appreciate you taking the time out. I get your point, but somehow I have found myself resolving on the E note rather than the C# note (when playing over this song's backing track). Well, that is the beauty of music - we can all have different interpretations, all of which are valid in a given context. However, it's possible that before jamming on this song, if I have been playing in the C# minor key, then it's possible that the brain will interpret it as C# minor rather than E major. This has happened to me on a few backing tracks, where I don't agree with the original key on a backing track as mentioned in the name of the backing track.

[@Steve-si8hx]

He is an amazing guitar player and singer in regards to all times

[@AdrianFarrell]

classic Gilmour trait too.

[@Ronno4691]

Mean comment time! I don't quite see what the appeal is of John Mayer's playing or his celebrity persona. He doesn't play anything new that we've not heard before from people like Eric Johnson or Joe Bonamassa, for example. It's nice that John can have high profile relationships with Hollywood starlets and make oafish comments about them but his songs aren't that particularly exciting so, what's the appeal of John Mayer again? Do middle-aged musicians who also write for UK/US guitar magazines have unrequited gay crushes on the tall, slim and handsome new young guitarist? Is Johnny Marr getting too old and wrinkly now for elderly Smiths fans to idolise so they turn to John Mayer??? 😂 😂😂 However, this was yet another excellent tutorial from Ross 🎉

[@GerryBlue]

John is great, those that diss him are mostly Eruometal Shredders, but before your Finland-born shredders, there was the blues, and rock, and melodic guitar

[@renatodiiorio691]

Is Bulletproof Guitar Player different to Beyond Pentatonics? If so how? I have Beyond Pentatonics and the licks, I highly recommend them. Regards and all the best

[@nathanlardi4789]

I'm learning

[@PedroPrando]

You are the best, Ross! And probrably, if i had to choose, i'd pick you as my favorite instead JM 😂 you play like a big combination of my favs guitar players lol

[@Wayangitaran]

Sure,auto subscribe

[@tommcgahon7464]

Sounds like Chris Buck playing Slow Dancing in a burning room. Great vid Ross

[@ckjjclan]

When you did the first demonstration over that C#m drone, it sounded VERY David Gilmore’ish…. Am guessing that’s something he does too?

[@mattbrandao598]

The solo at 1:38 was money

[@jimgrisham6054]

Yes I did, thanks.

[@QOTSA2307]

This is gold🤘❤️🔥

[@failer091]

Tattoo looks familiar

[@szilardszabo7135]

Lovely content, it helped me a lot to see things in context. Thanks so much, Ross! What’s about that Budapest photo on your wall? Any relation to Hungary?

[@Leseju]

너 말이 맞다

[@waynegram8907]

Ross, David Gilmour also targets the major 2nd or 9th. You should make a lesson about Mark Knopfler Adding in notes to the pentatonic scale.

[@TaterCreator]

Great video!

[@grahamarthur1201]

Great lesson, Ross. Check back to 1969/70 and you'll hear Ritchie Blackmore's opening licks from the Child in Time solo are root note bent up to major 2nd. Always wondered why it sounded so good!

[@Tatted-ne7tu]

Ok I’m subbed.

[@tgmurph8511]

Every once in a while Mayer will rip out his Clapton “Old Love” type licks. Amazing player. Good stuff and all the best from Toronto.

[@Reapertips]

Subscribed. Lets goooo 200k 🚀

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

🙏🙏

[@j.m.demoor1156]

Good as always, Ross. Hendrix liked to use that same "money note," as you call it, e.g., in All Along the Watchtower.

[@angelaellis3452]

Incredible, playing, incredible lesson, incredible knowledge. I wish I wasn’t lost but I’m lost. One day maybe 😊💯🎶🎸

[@ColdCanadian911]

So if you were to look at this from a Major standpoint and not Minor, would there be an equivalent note in the major scale to get the same result?

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Yes, if you were looking at it in the relative major key of E major, this note would be the major 7th of E.

[@ColdCanadian911]

@@RossCampbellGuitarist awesome. That’s good news because I know exactly that the major 7th is a 1/2 step before the root. This should work out great. Thank you.

[@wiltherebmusic3726]

Probability not the best to use maj & min for intervals in replacement of flats and sharps. There is no maj or min 2, its either a 2 or a b2. But i guess up yall on how ya want to remember it.

[@troyxthomas]

That was an awesome explanation, and it led to something clicking in my head, and I'm wondering if you (or anyone else) can let me know if I'm on the right track with this. From the little bit that I know about music theory and chord composition, that D# note is a leading tone to E. And since the next 2 chords in the progression are Amaj and Emaj, which each have an E in their respective triads (it's the major third in Amaj, and the root in Emaj), are we getting nice tension and resolution from playing that D# and then resolving to the E when we hit the Amaj and Emaj? eg: is that why it sounds so good and satisfying?

[@thomasgoode7322]

major 2nds are also big Mark Knopfler energy. great vid, thank you!

[@JudgeFredd]

Gilmour...

[@ddugan64]

Joe Bonamassa does this in Bb in I will take care of you. I appreciate you taking the time to explain things from a musicians point of view, not just pointing out strings and fret numbers

[@karmadave]

One can argue that some of Mayer's Pop songs are a bit sappy, but there is simply no denying his talent as a guitarist. I personally prefer his work in Dead & Company, as it's a bit more varied mainly due to the material, but he's also a damn good straight ahead Blues guitarist. Thanks for another great lesson Ross. Hope you are doing well 😃

[@ayushmanbhalla8737]

i learned major 2nd from this session !

[@commanderdawson3773]

Wieder einmal ein hervorragender Beitrag. Grüße aus Germany...Thanks Ross...

[@RobTai]

loving it as always.. awesome charisma and teaching ross 🙏🙏

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Thank you!

[@hilla42]

...cool, yes, learned something! Cheers, Lars

[@HanisHazwan]

Thanks man!! Your explanation, demonstration and execution of application was lovely!! I really enjoyed the way you phrased them! I'm gonna try and experiment around it. Cheers!

[@oscarm4154]

thx

[@Stevie130]

Dude. I’ve been playing a very long time never could grasp music theory. I’m self taught and developed my own relative theory . You’re one hell of a teacher. Finally someone on here that made it make some sense.

[@stephenbedford1395]

Thanks mate, fully agree with you.

[@badalicemusic]

So much to learn in this video. How (and why) hitting the Major 2nd sounds awesome in blues solos. And that Movember is officially go... 😎👊👏

[@MikeArwineGuitar]

Bro. What are using for your tone? That sounds amazing!

[@tokk3n-hj4xg]

Your solo sounds more like David Gilmour. Beautiful tone.

[@garydean777]

One of the most tasteful solos from Mayer for me is his solo in Born Under a Bad Sign with Gary Clark Junior.

[@americusdomesticus8176]

i actually like your playing more than I do JM. 😇

[@PureMadMetal]

Great video Ross - after zillions of instructional videos this makes sense and you explain it really well, = i didn't have to pause the video half a dozen times to get it either. Keep up the good work.

[@brandonisdumb324]

Can someone tab this? It helps me learn by visualization

[@Annunaki_0517]

Well, I already subscribed a while back, so today I made my wife subscribe to help you hit that next big round number. 200k is only days away!

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Thank you guys! 🙏

[@stevesimpson688]

great lesson, thanks Ross.....major 2nd really gives a mayer sound to a solo. Beautifully explained as always.

[@zackleister6769]

Super helpful and clear theory explanations as usual. Also, agree with you re: JM. I never get tired of listening to him play.

[@gianninadalutti1607]

Very nice lesson. Your playing is fantastic. And the sound of the guitar is also very beautiful. Did you use your own tone king preset?

[@StrikerBurns]

Ross is great and I’ve seen him become a great guitar player

[@j.rozman7016]

Ross, what about us who bought V 1 via Udemy? Thanks for answer! Cheers!

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Hey man, if you have V1 you really don't need this course. It's the same curriculum with updated production quality

[@michaelcloos5577]

So, disregarding sus chords, if you are soloing over a minor chord, it's a 2. If you're soloing over a major chord it's a 9?

[@stevec9972]

2 & 9 are same note. 9 is just an octave or upper extension from the root of the scale. It would be called something else over the major chords in that key. Eg in c# m the 2 / 9 becomes maj7 of the E chord

[@elieserjr]

I really like to use the major 2nd!!!

[@israelpascua1166]

Is it subscription per month fees?

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Nope! One time payment for lifetime access :)

[@israelpascua1166]

@@RossCampbellGuitarist it consist of all the lesson, or theres a premium separate fee for that of every lesson?

[@TheDuke7997]

Great video. This and his bending the major 7 to the 1 like in Edge of Desire always gets me.

[@declanludick3022]

how much is the course, I can not find the price

[@aminahmed2220]

What a great video have a good weekend ❤😅😊😊

[@JKChiaro]

You explained this so incredibly well. Thank you!

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks!

[@frannyp46]

The sax solo on careless whispers uses that interval for that same effect.Great lesson Ross!

[@Terry_Dale]

Great lesson, love your playing Ross. Thanks

[@iromosan]

Hey Ross, it’s always a delight to watch your videos, listen to your wonderful playing and dive into the theory that explains all the magic behind. By the way, your guitar sounds amazing. I know that a few years back you swapped the original pickups for some noiseless ones. Are the current ones still noiseless?

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

These are the original ones I put them back in a few years ago.

[@PeterHill-u6p]

Perfect (no pun intended) timing! I'm in the middle of looking at some "Mayer style" playing and lessons like this really speed up your learning and, more importantly, your application of your learning. Thanks Ross.

[@abl9087]

Thanks for the lesson, always learning new things in your videos.

[@lornecui4967]

I call this Gilmour note

[@arlo2203]

yes. mayer is guitar genius. period.

[@Quintamine]

Thanks Ross, you explain this so well. Its finally beginning to sink in, you've made this alot more accessible and easier to understand.

[@RossCampbellGuitarist]

Great to hear! Thank you