The 10 Riffs That TAUGHT ME John Mayer

[@reidharris8838]

Can we just all appreciate the quality of Mike's videos

[@JordanKyle]

The effort he puts in is ridiculous. Amazing stuff

[@judahunderwood8433]

We can

[@loganprice3291]

😅ttuu🎉🎉😊😊😊I u

[@russellives6069]

They keep getting better. I once commented that I didn’t really enjoy them, but for some reason kept watching them, so he was doing something inexplicably right. Now I truly enjoy them.

[@blindsleep]

Mike always makes me feel like I'm sitting there with him having a conversation. He has a wonderful presentation style.

[@JoshGUITARofolo]

John Mayer was a huge part of my development as a guitarist and musician too, man. Room For Squares, The Great Indoors and Continuum were my favorite albums. Love the content.

[@niekvanwensen]

The great indoors is a song on room for squares, you mean inside wants out? Or heavier things?

[@JoshGUITARofolo]

@@niekvanwensen you’re right. Heavier Things is a great album, I think that’s what I meant

[@jimmyclements6226]

John Mayer is the whole reason I started playing guitar. His creativity and passion shine through all his music.

[@NickJardine]

John Mayer is like a greatest hits of all my favourite guitarist. Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, Knopfler…. Cant get enough of his music and playing

[@blueshour]

Here are my choices: 1. Man on the side This song contains so much, it's like Mayer's Little Wing, with a Stevie Ray Vaughan intro and a tricky verse to get right. This one teaches a hell of a lot. Plus exotic chords. 2. Wild blue Deceptively simple with a lovely nod to Mark Knopfler and the dire straits. The riff is pure ear candy. 3. Slow dancing in a burning room Just a lush piece of music and teaches you how to leave space and create tension and release in your music. 4. Gravity This song is so well structured it just oozes music know-how. This was created with intent and learning it will teach you how to go about building the parts of a song.

[@judahunderwood8433]

Glad to see someone giving Wild Blue some love👏🏼👏🏼

[@clintmiller23]

I'm 37 so Mayers first album dropped when I was probably 14-15 years old. I remember enjoying the album but moved on pretty quick as I wasn't a huge pop music guy. I wrote him off for YEARS because I only ever heard the pop stuff on the radio. Then when I was probably in my late 20s my brother in law made me watch Where the Light Is. That changed everything for me as I was already a massive fan of Hendrix, SRV, etc. It was like finding a treasure that had been buried for years and I got to enjoy discovering all this music that had been "hidden" from me for 10+ years. I've been a huge fan ever since

[@NutchanonC]

John became a huge inspiration to me somehow. Edge of Desire is one of the songs that taught me quite a lot. I love that it repeats itself but it teaches you to be consistent.

[@LeoPerantoni]

3x5 is such a great song. Loved playing that on guitar

[@JoeWall157]

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room taught me so many things, from solidifying my chords, to learning the riffs, to teaching me how to pick a real guitar solo. Lots of fun back when I learned it, and today too

[@ian_strachs]

Queen of California is the first Mayer song where I thought "Damn. Maybe I got this guy wrong, I need to dig a bit deeper", and here I am on a video dissecting his songwriting 9 years later haha Great video as always Mike!

[@deusexmachina211]

Edge of desire taught me to persevere. The first time I nAiled the whole riff while singing I felt like I leveled up or something. The song is a masterclass in creating complexity in a simple harmonic structure. Why Georgia taught me the importance of ergonomics and strong right hand technique. His crossroads ain’t no sunshine is a perfect cover and masterclass in playing with a trio. Still working on Neon, so right there with you Mike.

[@RobertBakerGuitar]

Mayer's music is soooo rich with musical nutrients.

[@lazvt8469]

I"m 61...playing guitar since age of 9. Got into Mayer via kids....his music got me back into guitar playing in a serious way at 55. Still love Boston, Rush, AC/DC, etc....but it's so much fun, and challenging to play Mayer stuff. Love his melodies and lyrics...genius?

[@flinx649]

yes

[@NickJardine]

Hell ya man, love this!!

[@tonyzuccaro2764]

Almost the same experience here. I’m 62. Been playing since 5th grade. Mayer is amazing. Seeing him for last 3 Dead and Co shows next week ( even though I love his acoustic playing even more). It only took me two months to learn Neon( badly- without singing) and I’m not a newbie. Just goes to show how amazing he is.

[@22Marcovp]

Mike you’re a true guitar hero , it’s really joyful to see how good you are expressing this thoughts that we all have on our musician journey , looking forward to see your own projects in the future

[@spennythespoo]

Hearing you talk about No Such Thing and how it "understands you" I 100% feel the same way about that song. Great video, Mike!

[@Grybenitez]

Nice running into you in Nashville last week! Again, love that you're diving into more Mayer! Knew I liked you!

[@efp722]

My jaw is on the floor. I didn't think there was another one out there like me- a HUGE John Mayer fan and a huge Soccer Mommy fan. I couldn't believe it when you just dropped Soccer Mommy in there like that. I've seen a few of your vids and I was impressed- you seem super chill and cool and your clearly know your shit. I finally sub'd yesterday and this video (and that Soccer Mommy moment) solidified my decision. Haha. Awesome video man!

[@nddgcm]

Awesome vid man, I also discovered how great JM is in 2013- finished freshman year of college, was going through a lot, and I started to listen to Room for Squares the whole summer and had a blast discovering how great of a guitar player and songwriter he is through those songs. I dig the riffs you chose in this video, thanks for sharing your unique perspective!

[@LonnyEagletonMusic]

Great choices and excellent playing Mike! Love the commentary too.

[@I_am_nooh]

I see JOHN MAYER I click!

[@sivandror6426]

Song #1 is a heavenly wonderland on it's own!! Go Miky awesome videos!

[@ivurivurivur]

I remember I was out on a road trip once, and a John Mayer song played on my phone. I didn’t think much of it, just let it play, and move on to the next song. Two years later, when I started playing guitar, I came across John through my KZbin algorithm. For some reason, my mind vividly remembered that road trip memory from 2 years ago, so I gave him a chance again and started from ‘Slow Dancing’. It was at that moment that Mayer changed my life. Oh, and that song I’d heard years earlier? It was ‘I guess I just feel like’.

[@srvmotoman]

I do not have a 10-riffs list specifically for John Mayer. But the ones that I do have were on your list. Always enjoy your videos and would love to hear more about your guitar journey. Cheers!

[@chaos4316]

Slow Dancing was a definitive turning point in Mayer’s career, and what shifted my focus and attitude towards him. I started taking him seriously. Learning so many songs on that album taught me so much. But particularly time spent on this and Belief… it’s what made me as famous as I am today🤷‍♂️

[@jomzb]

Love the shout to IDTM. Still my favourite song ever and was the reason I picked up a guitar.

[@drsmainemusic]

Where The Light Is... Need I say more? That concert film literally changed my life as a budding guitarist in high school.

[@brendanfreely4626]

Awesome video, love this type of stuff! Would love to see Hendrix next

[@dfnymusic3396]

This video is pure gold This pretty follows my top 10 Mayer songs. It’s just missing something. ……”somethings missing”. 😊

[@TobyKBTY]

No one can go wrong with any list of Mayer riffs. There’s so much to unpack in each one. His riffs that taught me gotta be: -Slow Dancing -Belief -Heart of Life -Who did you think I was -Comfortable -Edge of Desire -his cover of Don’t need no Doctor -City Love (hell yes this in your list too) - Daughters - Gravity - Why Georgia Yeah you can tell I pretty much worship the live “Light Is…” album 😂

[@isaachaynes6935]

Say was the first Mayer song I listened to as a kid and then Gravity. They never really moved me back then but when I started college, picked up a guitar, and listened to Still Feel Like Your Man and the Where The Light Is live album, I finally got it. Thank you John.

[@dionneyap4580]

Thank you for this. Another favourite favourite is covered in rain too ❤

[@chuckyinges]

Where the Light Is is once in a lifetime live recording.

[@AndyEdwards]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Great job Mike!

[@TobyKBTY]

John taught me dynamics, control when all i wanted was to be obnoxiously flashy all the time. Dude is super important to me as a guitar player

[@TheGuitarislove]

John Mayer is the reason I play guitar, the reason I sing, and the reason I write songs. He means everything to me

[@Stephanosdespoti]

I feel u

[@dragondrew]

your vids getting real good man gj

[@christophers9095]

Epic video

[@garydunham335]

I love the stories youre throwing in man!

[@colbytaylor9805]

Good Love Is On the Way from Where the Light Is is a JM song I can replay endlessly

[@BennettMarks]

hearing those new pick ups in the strat with context sound really good compared to the old ones. When comparing them back to back. it was noticeable but now it really is .

[@BlueJayWaters]

It's funny, watching you go through your list reminded me of the time period I was learning guitar, and my brother was constantly saying I'd love John Mayer, and the first 5 songs you listed are why I didn't take him seriously at all. Super pop based, uninteresting guitar (for me, at the time), and not what I needed as an influence at the time. Then one day I watched VH1 Storytellers and heard his best at the time and newer work, and Heartbreak Warfare got my attention. Then Born & Raised came out and I went back and analyzed a lot of his playing, and Don't Trust, Vultures, and Slow Dancing were songs I absolutely missed out on at the time, because I was doing a lot of double stop experimenting. Even though I'm a big fan and he's a solid influence to my playing though, I still don't care for most of his work before Continuum, and even now I hear songs from his early days and feel oddly irritated at it, but appreciate the work at the same time because of how JM helped shape my sound.

[@misterknightowlandco]

I’m in the same boat… his work got a lot better after his run of being popular…

[@chrismikan2631]

Saw John play Assassin acoustic when he came to Pittsburgh. It was amazing.

[@nickfunkhouser7096]

I was there too! It was awesome. I’d love to learn how to play that one day.

[@michaelreynolds6543]

Great video mate found you by pure accident and i just love John mayer and i agree with you that slow dancing was phenomenol it was also the first song that I really listened to and got me into mayer . . . .i ve been playing since 1976 i went through a couple of years listening to mayers stuff sadly I dont play anymore but still listen to John mayer he is amazing . . i loved the 70s the music was very rich . . Dire Straits Pink Floyd The Eagles John Martyn Ralph McTell Paul Simon Bert Jansch Don McLean John Denver . . . . but Mayer is in another league Talking of inversions I think that Mark Knopfler is ther epitome of that kinda style he was a real guitar hero of mine i would literally spend hours days years studying his playing getting his sound and deep diving into what made him tick as a player he taught me sooo much and really opened up the fretboard for me

[@n_a3522]

This guy is cool, great stories man. Thank you

[@joshwhite5766]

Like many, Mayer opened up guitar for me. I thought I was a decent player and then I listened to Stop This Train. I said to myself, I’m gonna learn that. 3 months later and finally nailing the right hand technique I had an all new passion for guitar. One of my go to warm up songs that I play about 75% of the time when I pick up an acoustic is, Why Georgia.

[@archiederham2103]

Mike always makes great vids, always has me coming back. Keep it up bro you're doing great stuff!

[@Spedly]

Ghosts by Big Wreck and Red Light are songs that I think you would dig. Not only because theyre great, but the guitar and bass parts play off each other very well, especially Ghosts

[@JohnnyTurnerMusic]

I pretty much just listened to and played Greenday. Then i saw the video of Free Fallin live in LA followed by In Your Atmosphere and i was all in on John Mayer!

[@riyazranjan9090]

Can't appreciate this gentleman enough !

[@Cinnamonster83]

I appreciate your videos and outlook on guitar playing, you sir have earned a sub today.

[@pablocortes23]

I was not a big fan of John Mayer when i started playing (like 12 years ago)... but to be honest I never gave myself a chance to really listen to his music. It was until 2017 when I heard "The Search for Everything" and then really started fully understand why ge was such a great player... of course I listened to the Nokia Live album on repeat by months. On 2021 I finally decided to get a Silver Sky and I couldnt be happier with it. Still learning most of his songs and live solos.

[@jeffmcintoshmusic]

I think his most underrated riff, and a song that gets looked over, is Paper Doll! I remember working at a summer camp when that came out and it was his first song in years. I loved it so much

[@RodgerDodger115]

Bro, I was thinking the same thing!!

[@jeffmcintoshmusic]

@@RodgerDodger115 I think because it was released as a single it got lost amongst the full album, but that sound is golden.

[@lowelrobles507]

John Mayer inspired me to go push my guitar playing., from 4 chord guy singing with friends by the beach to doing solo and riffs.. crazy but it's a good thing to know a lot here feels the same! WOW...

[@euan724]

Great video, and I love the same songs.. but with fingers as long as yours you'd better believe you've got it easy...😁

[@BinarySk8]

Stop this train made me a significantly better musician. Learning it to the point where I could freely sing over the playing really changed me

[@mrlephu2611]

John Mayer is my inspiration for life

[@Toronja_Arenosa]

0:52 Love it, same thing happened with my and the Chillis (Frusciante), I stumbled across Mayer later on.

[@sked11]

i just started playing about a month ago and ive been working on jack johnson/john mayer stuff. god their songs are fkin difficult but so satisfying when you can even get a part of it down

[@tommyoriley4174]

Great video, Michael Kochael

[@bigtoysdt]

Outstanding lesson!!!

[@lochanawijesundera]

Why Georgia - the first JM song I learned on the guitar. It was the most challenging riff I learned at the time, and it taught me that a simple chord progression (at least the verse being 2 chords) can become a whole lot more with the way you play it. Also, it's the first song where the user experience of playing it felt good. Playing the riff itself is pleasurable. Some riffs out there can sound good externally but not be as fun to play (for me this is stop this train). Edge of Desire - the most recent JM song I learned. It's a guitar exercise of its own and I still can't do it with complete accuracy, but dam it's cool to play and has a whole vibe to it. I also can't play it the way he plays it due to physical hand size, so I had to modify the fingering a little bit. In Your Atmosphere - when I first heard this song, it sounded like there were multiple instruments going on from the guitar to violins - all from one acoustic guitar. It created a whole atmosphere. I couldn't learn the whole thing (again, I reached a physical limitation), but dam, what a riff.

[@fatimamazhar2566]

Slow dancing in a burning room definitely taught me a lot about guitar playing its an amazing song

[@vasantsarthi9625]

Edge of Desire live on the solo tour with his double neck AND while singing was absolutely majestic and masterful

[@siggi8445]

Very entertaining and inspiring video. 😊 A similar one about John Fruciante would be awesome. 😁

[@calebwhitcraft1664]

"Neon taught me that it's ok to want to quit something because you're really bad at it." I've never identified with anything more.

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

Completely new to you and your channel . What a Great content of music learning ! ❤️👌 Subscribed your channel 🙏

[@giorassiccuriosity3179]

you had us at “What the heck is A john mayer”!! 😂😂

[@dpduke69]

First trip to NYC to visit my uncle in 2002. I took a chance on a new artist's CD at The Virgin Megastore and that happend to be Room for Squares. That one got a lot of play in my Walkman on the way to 7th grade. Just a fun tale from early 2000's lol.. Crazy how his career has evolved since then.

[@tophm2634]

Mayer has inspired a generation of guitarists.

[@DennyBob521]

I’m from an older generation of guitar players who started playing listening to Page, Hendrix, Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and then migrated backward to their influences - BB King, Muddy Waters, Lonnie Mack, Kenny Burrell. I love Mayer. I think he’s one of the guys keeping guitar music alive in this world of making a beat on a computer and auto tune. He’s an extremely talented man, there are others of the more contemporary as well I love - Ariel Posen, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Jared James Nichols - oh and I had a second row seat right in front of two months ago - holy crap - Tosin Abasi. He’s unreal. And Mayer is an amazing songwriter.

[@DamonBates]

John once said, many years ago, that he would look out in the audience periodically and look for the 40 year old guys....and if he saw them he knew he / his music was still cool. I was that 40 year old guy at his shows from the very beginning in about 2001. at 62 now, Im still there and it's funny to see a whole generation of Ed Sheeran fans (via KZbin) not really know his music when he opened for Ed here in Boston last week. Im so old John still feels like new music for me! As a rudimentary jazz player I was fascinated by how john could use jazz voice leading and harmony in a song like St Patricks day....SO many examples of his influence.

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Everybody’s always talking about this John guy, but what city is he even the mayor of?

[@thatonepickleman]

nice one

[@lastpuff9577]

The riff city

[@sirajpix]

No it’s Juan Mejor

[@cuteanimalsworld98]

I first saw John in 2019 while I was watching some random videos on KZbin then I saw John's Neon performance of Where the light is. right after watching his videos of playing acoustic songs that inspired me a lot to play guitar. John's probably the most inspirable guitarist and singer of this generation. He's so unique and original.

[@EstiagoGaming]

My first ever john mayer song without even knowing it was his song was "Say" while watching The karate kid as a kid.

[@percypig3884]

hell yeah, the guitar Mike used on city love is the same guitar strap I have. I have it on my gretch semi hollow ;)

[@sarahince8231]

I don't play guitar, but just to throw it out there...the most Unique song I've ever heard John play was Human Nature at Michael Jackson's funeral. That's really when i actually figured out who he was (i knew several of his songs but had never put it together) and just felt it was the best way to perform at Jackson's funeral. Performing a song that was frankly different for Michael but made still his own. Can still be found on KZbin 👍🏼.

[@LukeVonBeatz]

great video

[@boardlife27]

Edge of desire was the toughest song for me to nail the down strokes while singing

[@Stephanosdespoti]

John Mayer is the one made me continue and believing in my self !

[@thrillslime4762]

I’m more of a bass player, just tryn to learn guitar now, and the vulture’s bass part so so fun with a band, it’s my fav song with the bass

[@StarbucksColdBrew]

Agreed with Assassin, very underrated track!!!

[@TheGuitarislove]

Also agreed, your body is a wonderland is objectively a well written and well produced pop song. It’s a hit for a reason

[@tmmuscics2753]

Just learned stop this train, love to play it man

[@jeffwoeber9590]

The wood grain on the neck of that Martin is absolutely gorgeous.

[@jedi098765]

3x5's outro is still as magical today as it was back when I was in high school

[@osvijazz]

Two intros that made me play new stuff/technique, both from Where the light is…I don’t need no doctor and Everyday I have the blues. 🎸🎸🎸

[@zia85]

FYI - assasin was an opener on his recent acoustic tour.

[@nickjanineh3079]

Covered in rain is the perfect song to learn for development in my opinion

[@Tyler_Wilson]

I’m thankful to have discovered John from a friend of mine, Brad, in 2006. Continuum was released shortly after and we would listen to it together on repeat. What I’d give to experience that summer again. 🥲

[@bjlennart]

This dude has some really good guitar face

[@DrHwatson1]

Not sure if you've learned too many Ed Sheeran songs or not, but that would be an amazing video as a returning player who's finally taking guitar seriously this time around and loves that style of music and songwriting!

[@froseph3970]

FYI, can confirm John is playing Assassin live now. He played it during his latest solo tour

[@tusharrajput983]

John has just changed the way I used to see music or play guitar.

[@Frank_KS-c9w]

Good stuff… funny as usual

[@roadtorockstar7848]

1:33 Great Song! Great Song to start!

[@vapa7065]

Good love is on the way is another one - an underrated JM song

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

There's assassin live version? 😳 I love how you're nerding out and teaching at the same time While being interesting And showing stuff I want to learn someday somehow

[@SrinivasanChakravarthy]

i can play stop this train but i never really learnt your body is a wonderland, i can probably play it if i try thought 😂

[@anonymhomoerectus7036]

Im going to my first jm concert next march. Im so excited

[@xGoldriever]

LOVE this