Why is Neon (John Mayer) so difficult to play?

In this video I'm taking an in-depth look at why this song so difficult to get down properly.
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In this video I'm explaining why the song Neon by John Mayer is so difficult to play. We'll go over the 4 reasons why I believe this riff is one of the hardest ones to get down properly. Enjoy!
Hi, my name is Paul Davids! I am a guitar player, teacher, producer, and overall music enthusiast from the Netherlands! I try to inspire people from all over the world with my videos, here on KZbin. Also check out my guitar course: LearnPracticePlay.com
If you want to know more about me, check out PaulDavidsGuitar.com
Thank you for watching!
Paul

[@Crunkboy415]

It's one of those riffs that you can spend 3 aggravating months not getting anywhere with, but then suddenly it kicks in when the muscle memory gets it right and you start to relax.

[@SadisticStang]

Yep, like any other basic song...

[@cameronleb6508]

SadisticStang it ain’t basic bud

[@jaconova]

And then you realize its not your song, so its not worth the effort. Better create it something similar

[@patinthechat6452]

@@jaconova completely worth the effort imo, you can always learn a new technique or chords while learning other artists songs to use in your own creation. For instance in learning #41 by DMB, it gave me the ability to stretch my fingers and allow me to somewhat comfortably fret the 3rd and 5th chords in the verse without using my stubby ass thumb.

[@rodrigocortez6099]

Stumbled upon this song for the first time today. Let's say I've been trying it for... 30 minutes. Long way to go, haven't even made the intro yet, which I'm learning from Cifraclub channel, but this comment feels like a light at the end of the tunnel there. I also feel like (hope) if one gets the intro groove right, the rest comes along smoother afterwards

[@ghoziakbar6410]

Why am I here at 2 am, I don't even know how to play guitar

[@melvinwilliams7957]

Please learn

[@andromedaredjalam2287]

EXACTLY!

[@liambowling3932]

Lmao same man it’s 2:26 am here rn

[@JettSkoll]

LOL..It's only 5:15 PM here, don't know how to play guitar and have no clue what this dude is talking about

[@ethanmcgillan8140]

Hahaha that’s awesome

[@nipulkradmsinatagras8293]

Me watching this video while glancing at my guitar... My guitar: *"Don't even think about it!"*

[@zosangliana7392]

😂

[@june61586]

😂😂😂

[@monapony8634]

hahah same

[@Parwezh]

Yo this hits hard 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@BC-on7uf]

Yea I just looked at my guitar, and it gave me the middle finger.

[@gabrielordonez8011]

you're playing it all wrong. you didnt say "Good Evening" at the beginning

[@maldonadodani]

Gabriel Ordonez HAHAHAHA true

[@aljosanpedro4189]

HAHAHHAHAHA this is gold 🤣🤣🤣

[@mattgoogoodolls]

yeah where the light is

[@drewtv123]

Hahahahaha. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@devanshsoni8622]

🙌🙌🙌

[@SirDamned]

Last time I used a thumb for the g string I woke up in a police station

[@jens2049]

Moo goddamnit

[@CarloSikkink]

Dont you ever do it again boi

[@jazzinated]

That’s why the technique is rarely used publicly

[@jehtsalazar3900]

I use it on Going to California by Led Zeppelin. See I’m that guy who normally uses 4 fingers, but just like Paul said about John Mayor and Mark Knopfler, they use it to keep a groove going. If you think of your thumb as a metronome it’s really interesting to see what you can do with two fingers lmao. (Also, don’t think because I’m writing this your joke wasn’t funny. It’s bad that the first thing I thought was “now this does bring a smile to my face”😂)

[@timmylumsden8060]

@@jazzmachine FFS...good effort mate

[@RobertBreckenridge13]

This is ASMR for guitarists.

[@TylerS9812]

Heck yeah man

[@bhavyabathla8929]

Totally

[@gg-ie6tf]

I was about to write it but you anticipated me😂

[@kyloren2571]

Almost like music for guitarists 😐

[@mkpgedion9079]

He talks to much.

[@beanieguitarguy4070]

You ever just kind of stare at Paul and think “This guy looks like he gives really good hugs.” ?

[@DaveElke]

Haha

[@Umuliuz]

Well now I do :p

[@fatstrat772]

I want daddy Paul to give me a hug!

[@mihailwarsavski8849]

That’s just you, bro

[@high6060]

Head*

[@mccloysong]

I toured with Mayer 7 years. (Was there at 0:50) I heard/saw him do that song each of the almost 300 shows. The middle of the setlist merely said "JM SOLO". He'd play three acoustics there, but we didn't know what. Sometimes Wonderland or Stop This Train. and when he dropped that low E to C, I knew it was Neon. Always amazed how his thumb climbed up the neck for all of the low notes. The last chord, that thumb reaches waaaay past the fingers. I guess he has no fat on it to mess up the clean note :D Thanks for the detailed video. His playing is worthy of note.

[@haydenmoore584]

Man, i would love to sit down and just pick your brain for hours. just looked you up. youve done some wild stuff, i studed audio engineering years ago. I bet youd have some great insights and interesting stories!

[@mccloysong]

@@haydenmoore584 It definitely was a learning experience being with such an A-list crew, and being around such heavyweight musicians. I learned so much as a songwriter, as a singer, as a guitar player, and assisting Rene Martinez and setting up John’s rig.

[@mastrofpuppets]

@@mccloysong woah your really cool man nice job :)

[@Chadp.]

@@mccloysong looking to make strat noiseless with no muddleingin in low high mix along with a 7 way with toggles if you have suggestions on parts to make some jimi scream I am all ears. Was gonna talk to smokey bs in the morning. Much love keep rocking!!

[@tatereno]

You nailed it low e to c. "He said he used to tune it to that in his bedroom after discovering the legend Charlie Hunter. He'd tune it down to C then all of a sudden it would re-contextualize the string. Then nothing's where it should be on the guitar anymore so he had to figure out what he can do that's in this song so that he can work around with it. He talked about how he had a weird natural thing he would do with his hand where he would do a thumb tap pick sequence that eventually turned into the rhythm of that picking at the start of the song." - John's words telling the story about how he came up with the song at his show in Vancouver on April 10/2023

[@BenNocella]

that editing at the end with additional parts coming in one section at a time was genuis

[@Black182heart]

he teaches fine but he talks way too much .

[@pontepolentepontepi]

This is not instagram ;)

[@Black182heart]

@@pontepolentepontepi who has said its instagram ? He doesn't come to the topic soon and often takes circles to say straight things. Not hating just my opinion.

[@jakecarpenter6404]

Wouldn't be much of an explanation video if he don't talk that much lol. But an opinion stands, never wrong. Cheers mate

[@graysonadams2485]

@@Black182heart go back to Instagram yungun with short attention span

[@ragilmalik]

The crazy thing ? It's in his first album.

[@ronzojonzoify]

Meh kinda but same time the first album you're not thinking I'm gonna be famous.. It's coming from your soul. Also usually the first album includes songs you have been playing for years tweaking a little here and there

[@willritter4076]

I'd be honored if some John Mayer fans who remember his music from the early '00s would take a listen to my acoustic piano & vocal performances of CLARITY and QUIET on my YT channel in tribute to the ongoing brilliance of the boss. Live acoustic with no autotune or digital editing. Thanks and peace.

[@malesmandi]

After all the crazy things paul said about this song, I read your comment. I wanna cry

[@MrMineHeads.]

Room For Squares is his second album.

[@vladimirjones6990]

I can do it comfortably

[@donniegnar5571]

I remember as a kid, before I played any instrument I heard 'Your Body is Wonderland', and I thought John Mayer was hot garbage. It took me years later, after I picked up guitar, a friend actually showed me a video of John playing this song, and I was completely gobsmacked. He's by far one of greatest guitarists of this generation, and to think all I thought was he was some "popstar" when I was growing up.

[@asthemusicplays]

I think John Mayer also revealed recently how he play Neon on TikTok

[@evangelionl0vr857]

If that helped you, you didn’t need it lol

[@arnavdeshpande2581]

@@evangelionl0vr857 We need a damn tutorial to understand Mayer’s “tutorial “

[@draetonalimoffatt8780]

@@arnavdeshpande2581 It's the flow needed. You practice that technique at a slow pace, then you add in the chords and slowly speed up. It just takes hard work

[@BiggySeth]

What people forget to add is that he SINGS over all that mess. THATS the icing on the cake.

[@joashbritto]

He mentioned it in the video

[@viktorceder4985]

Well the singing over isn't an issue if you've listened to the song to the point of knowing every single interval and timings. since it's the same picking pattern all the time (except for the pre chorus) and the singing starts and ends at the same point after everytime you finish the riff, it's really just the groove and consistency that's the hard part. Disconnecting your mouth from your fingers by staring into the abyss is also a great way to do it lol.

[@gredangeo]

@@viktorceder4985 It's still an obvious layer of difficulty to an already complicated riff. There's plenty of great guitarists that don't sing while downpicking basic 8th Notes. Mix in an actual riff that is considered easy, and many still don't do that. So singing while playing a difficult riff, is simply insane, and is at a master level.

[@maldonadodani]

11:02

[@viktorceder4985]

@@gredangeo Except that im not a master by any means. Singing over was never an issue for me when learning the song because of how many times I'd listen to the song prior. Belief chorus is arguably his hardest guitar part to play and sing over, and im not sure anything else even comes close. I wanted to learn belief the same day I heard it for the first time thus much harder to figure out the playing while learning the singing.

[@doktornouveau862]

In order to sing while playing this riff, your spirit must be infused with the rhythm. John Mayer is not a guitarist. He’s a State Alchemist.

[@brendahawkins3965]

Doktor Nouveau my 16 year old grandson performs this. Would love to know what you think kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWPHnn-hhM-lgKc

[@manikvashisht3040]

kzbin.info/door/38JyCAb2Xy3kYGeCq2aBQQ

[@manikvashisht3040]

Please subscribe

[@kylebarbisan7499]

Ed and Al

[@RuminatingWizard]

Sad that a talented guitarist plays such forgettable mediocre music. A soon to be forgotten musician. Your body is a Wonderland. 😬

[@rogeliojayarflores7511]

That freakin live version of neon is sooo damn good. The he plays the guitar while singin. GOOSEBUMPS!

[@heldercoltura8420]

To everyone who is intimidated by the title of this video. Don't be! This song is very doable if you have some (slappy) fingerstyle and general guitar skills. I thought it was impossible, but using this video and the live version and other youtube videos I did it! You can too.

[@hahn1in]

Agreed. I just started learning this today (keep in mind that I've been playing guitar for about a year, but I've been a pianist for 10 years so my finger dexterity is better than it would be otherwise), and it's coming along much quicker than I expected. I think that the hardest part of this riff is figuring out how Mayer plays it, and that is solved by videos such as this one.

[@trendkill3333]

I think the reason people think it’s so difficult is because they try and learn it when they’re just a beginner. I’ve been playing for a few years seriously and although it is a little tricky it’s not that difficult for me. Just practice.

[@drdave971]

Awesome perspective That’s how I thought about learning Spanish fly by Eddie Van Halen it’s ridiculous both crazy to learn by masters of the guitar

[@epicproductions9003]

i know haha. i learned this last week and it only took me about a day or two to get it down comfortably (not perfect) i definitely surprised myself with all the comments about this song.

[@glennhughes2664]

@@trendkill3333 Exactly, your the only person who isn't a Sheep on this comment . section

[@MrEcted]

You’re like a younger version of the most interesting man in the world.

[@ArjunKamal89]

Messi? Or Chris Evans 😂

[@ArjunKamal89]

Messi or Chris Evans?

[@adrianmarthalopezzar4744]

No, the guy from the “Dos Ecis” (XX) beer commercials

[@WayneCarrigan]

He has his beard listed on his donor card.

[@StevenSmith68828]

@@biffmasterson9786 that's pretty interesting

[@vinnycontini10]

I can’t stop looking at how clean and thick that beard is

[@spooderbeck]

Anon Ymous seems as if 395 people care

[@vinnycontini10]

Spooderbeck damn ok

[@timthetillerman8175]

Arpit Das shut up man

[@Jorcap]

@@arpitdas4263 idiooottt!!

[@tonymirabal8832]

No it really sounds gay, why dosen't Vinny grow his OWN beard intead of relentlesly Staring at some other dudes beard, Vinnie youve been voted gay by your own comments, Would you like to add anthng Vinny?

[@maxbrooks8905]

It's hard to explain to people who don't play guitar just how insane of a song Neon is. I've been playing for almost 15 years, and it's the one song that truly frustrated and stumped me. I gave up trying to learn it after just 2 days, because I was so confused. It's such a unique composition and unlike any other song I've ever tried to learn. To me it proves that Mayer is a musical savant.

[@salrenzulli8473]

You've explained this in a way I never could. KUDOS on that alone, let alone your diligence in learning to play it in such a pleasant and authentic way.

[@matthewbuchanan8680]

After hours and hours of trying to play this I just give up and intentionally threw a guitar pick in the sound hole just to shake my guitar violently in anger to get it out.

[@Oscar-mi7yi]

I felt this

[@FlatlandMando]

Thanks for the ( non destructive) tip on how to punish instruments for not playing well enough in our hands. I will try the " pick- shake treatment" on my mandolin & ukulele. See if that doesn't smarten them the hell up!

[@lillemonjuicce8645]

My guitar laughed at me

[@jitulborah_10]

😂😂ps:-hope you r not angry..its just the pick stuck inside

[@OmarGarcia1]

This comment is so underrated I laughed soooo hard

[@tylancaster01]

I got to meet John Mayer around 1999/2000 when he was opening for Guster. I had heard a few of his songs and tried to play them and realized he must have huge hands. So my buddy and I got to hang out with him after the show. The first thing I asked him was to put his hand up- each of his fingers is about a joint longer than mine! Funny night.

[@texasfossilguy]

Very cool. Funny how guster is almost the unknown now and he got huge.

[@dsml3348]

TimoYork luckyyyyy

[@perryleduc1954]

dude i fucking miss old guster.

[@dylanr.cerezo4325]

Man, never knew he started by opening for Guster. Love both artists.

[@casperes0912]

When Mayer played in Denmark recently, he honestly had a pretty arrogant vibe around him. Like he didn't really want to play and just wanted to get paid and leave. Pretty disappointing concert. The music sounded good as you'd expect, but there was no stage personality

[@mnekajetsa9420]

how John sings during such a crazy part, it's incredible

[@lancethrustworthy]

You should win awards for your videos. Those who appreciate such things, really enjoy your creative editing. You care. Thanks.

[@RhettShull]

This part was originally written on piano by Clay Cook when he and John were a duo here in Atlanta, that’s part of why it’s so tough to play correctly on guitar. Great video man!

[@PaulDavids]

Very interesting, thanks! Love your work too man, top notch :)

[@RhettShull]

Paul Davids thanks man!

[@numenhilmar]

That's so interesting. Kinda like Asturias(Leyenda)

[@tpadgett2]

Absolutely! Lo-Fi Masters had more talent in their band than any 10 member band I've ever seen! Lol. But for real, John and Clay writing, recording, and playing together was basically unfair.

[@shadygroves8252]

Are there any videos of the two of them playing together? Shout out to CC - the songs he & JM wrote together are legendary

[@vincek3234]

That “Somethings missing” part was very clever Very deep. Almost as if it was a new deep...

[@Mecherle]

I see what you did there...

[@anggakusuma1940]

Get out

[@vodwills]

Thank you, i was wondering which song it was! It would have driven me crazy!

[@MorsDengse]

I always found it intriguing, that the most amazing songs like Layla, Tears in Heaven and Gravity, are amongst the simplest songs to play. It is like it takes great complexity, to create great simplicity.

[@ebay9302]

DUH! Wannabe players are so backwards...

[@dubchile]

Ye got 'Something' there Lars

[@JD-fx1np]

The hallmark of any design is simplicity. Same for evolution.

[@nbassasin8092]

I mean you do have a the same amount of "the most amazing songs" that are complex as well, but you are not wrong, there is certain beauty in simplicity and a good song definitely doesnt have to be complex

[@freeelectron8261]

Great to see all the detail of this playing mapped out. Thanks Paul!

[@PowMusic]

"warning, if you try to play this shape with your thumb, chances are you will dislocate something in your hand." LOL

[@joshjames6397]

I just tried to do it after thinking "how bad can it be ?" It was rather painful hahaha !

[@karu6111]

I was practicing the song today my index and middle finger kinda locked for a second HAHA

[@brendahawkins3965]

Pow Music would love to know what you think of my 16 year old grandsons live version of this song kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWPHnn-hhM-lgKc

[@Sandarpan]

I tried it. Paul's right. Don't try this. I have like Steve Vai hands and even for me it was uncomfortable. I usually play bass notes with my thumb but this chord is something else.

[@Sandarpan]

@@brendahawkins3965 Your grandson was great.

[@1arualblack1]

For some reason it sounds like you're narrating a wholesome recipe video, glorious descriptions and step by step explanations ☺

[@robertbrown2728]

Spot on :-)

[@ErrolPineda]

binging with davids

[@teejmorrison]

Your videos are so incredible. Absolutely fantastic.

[@jolanogremin7165]

8:43 "Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want"

[@sudhindrakopalle7071]

What an amazing breakdown of this song. For three chord newbies like me, this is like wetting my toes in the ocean where the limit is the Mariana trench,

[@jmaster2855]

I'm with ya.

[@pinkrey4277]

good thing the main riff of neon is 4 chords

[@krish2712]

@@pinkrey4277 I’m pretty sure it’s five

[@pinkrey4277]

@@krish2712 well i wasn’t counting the first chord since its three notes but i suppose you’re right

[@krish2712]

@@pinkrey4277 no the last two chords

[@dopamining7621]

Where's the freaking LOVE button?

[@PaulDavids]

Here it is ;)

[@coupdegrace861]

mannn, love the way u explaining about this song so much, also this 10:14 editing while you play the song while you explaining things was the best part of the video.

[@stefanweidner4740]

Thx Paul. Awesome explanation and super accurate breakdown of this masterpiece!!

[@stephenr80]

Thst guy would fit in literally any ikea ad

[@nobodyknew]

I do believe he is Scandinavian so...makes sense lol

[@B0K1T0]

@@nobodyknew From his accent: must be Dutch. Still makes sense though :P

[@Floral_Green]

Huib Piguillet Damnit; I’m usually good at noticing accents, but I presumed this guy to be from some obscure region of Iberia.

[@LuciFernato]

He lives in the Netherlands and hes dutch, btw check the video description

[@TheGuitologist]

This is precisely how I picture a typical John Mayer fan looking and sounding.

[@PaulDavids]

Thanks!!

[@GrauFPV]

Like an npc?

[@toomanyrats534]

It's ironic considering I look nothing like this. I could never sound as cool as this guy!

[@JoseLopez-jd5zk]

😂

[@360.Tapestry]

@@GrrFromGrrland RIP npc was so young...

[@vekebg]

I literally played it "wrong" since ever... I don't have classical background and was wondering why my picking timing sucked. This video solved it almost instantly! Thank you.

[@danparish1344]

This riff was fun to learn. So much technique involved to get it to sound like JM, It’s beena couple months since I started learning it, finally feels completely natural to me.

[@andygamerkh]

this is science not a guitar video.

[@ZakEdwardsOfficial]

Exactly and incorrect.

[@-jed5980]

Where's the science in this detourl

[@johntyler2508]

Whoosh

[@spencerschaus4921]

I'm angry that I tried watching this

[@adhynugroho9424]

I think all of Paul Davids videos are part science and part guitar. I feel I learn a bit of music theory from each video.

[@justenfinch5911]

I was there at the Live in LA/Where The Light Is Concert. Neon was the first song he played and the crowd went nuts when they heard the low c. I still remember it. And you are so right about this song. I've been practicing it for years. Sometimes, it also helps to have a guitar that resonates correctly. I play a Martin DM and the low end doesn't speak like it does on a D-28.

[@PaulDavids]

Really? Wow, that would've been a great experience! I only remember the DVD falling on my doormat... Still a memory ;)

[@raphalfonso]

You're lucky to be there.

[@NickRobbMusic]

I have D-28. It's absolutely not the right guitar to use for Neon. OM size for finger picking. Like the Collings Paul uses

[@TheDjurekovsin]

Lucky bastard !!! :D I hate you! :D

[@NickRobbMusic]

@Magnus Ramsey I think you meant to write the D28 works if you plug it in. That depends on what y8u define as 'work's, the D28 is too stiff to get the top moving by finger picking oh I fingerpick on mine but it's best suited for flat picking. I never plug in my acoustics , always mic them. John uses an OM fur LA live and it looks as though he uses an LDC mic , I've looked and I can't see s cable coming out only a guitar strap but he may be plugged in too. Fact is you will never get that sound only from plugging in an acoustic. OMs 00s or 000s are much better suited for songs like Neon. I'm drooling over Pauls Collings it sounds fantastic. And he plays it like a god

[@JonDaiello]

This is (by far) one of my favorite guitar songs. Great observation on the bass notes. That bass-riff throughout the song really does carry it along and give it a lot of contrasting depth. Thanks so much for the breakdown.

[@rickm4295]

Ive been binge watching your videos and Ive been really inspired. I sat my guitar down after playing for many many years, 35 years in fact. I hit a wall in my playing and time became sparse in my life to break through it....After watching your videos I picked my guitars up again last night. With rusty flat strings I went through some triad exercises you were doing and just had a moment again. Im headed to the music store to buy a few sets of strings to get all of my guitars back up and running. Im 50 now and my guitars have been sitting for about 5 years and I almost forgot how much I love them. Thank you very much for what you do Sir (Paul). Sub'd and Bell'd

[@croakhilleburg9155]

5:06. Whoa, he’s a wizard too.

[@fve1352]

You should receive a Phd from the John Mayer Music University for that research ....!!!

[@adrianyuen6162]

Fv E Look up Zartimus

[@fve1352]

Adrian Yuen ok... that guy should receiving a double PhD...

[@TheVinciol]

I was thinking the same, then I read your message! The way he conceptualizes knowledge is fantastic!

[@codymills8410]

Wonderful tutorial and breakdown! Thanks for all your hard work!

[@Natassia4]

OMG! That's so amazing!! Also the song and your presentation!

[@lucaandre723]

I want bigger thumbs for christmas

[@PeterZeeke]

Peter Andre you should ask your mysterious girl

[@carlosmatos9848]

@@PeterZeeke Put them on a table and have someone smack them with a hammer

[@natebox3607]

😂

[@mcgraw8098]

@@PeterZeeke that comment was insaneia

[@axelroz1719]

Deal

[@darksonata4611]

john mayer: i just played the damn thing lol 😂

[@RichiePhillipsmusic]

What an amazing video Paul - love how it comes together at the end with you adding each element until you have the full riff!

[@guilhermebahia8749]

Amazing deconstruction! I love this song! Thanks for your class, sir! Best regards from Brazil.

[@mattstephens6137]

I clicked thumbs up with my thumb, and index finger, and then i slap-subscribed. Thanks for the video!

[@baahs101]

Slap subscribe? This is not Davie504 😂

[@jockojohn3294]

I never felt is was difficult to play @ all. I simply press play on the phone, & it started playing right away.... nothing to it :)

[@PaulDavids]

You... Got me.

[@ferumcastrum4097]

Yousician😂😂😂

[@wesleyalan9179]

Hahaha

[@The1EmanV]

haha!

[@poopcatapult2623]

jocko john but did you slap the play button? It adds a whole new dimension to things.

[@js78910]

I appreciate your videos so much. The quality of the production matches the quality of the content. You kick ass at guitar too! Thanks

[@itsfinn9644]

Show this to anyone who says John isn’t a master guitarist...I don’t listen to his stuff much, but videos like this of clearly amazing guitarists picking apart his music and just showing how incredibly intricate it is really shows off his skill and style

[@SDesWriter]

I don't see anything "masterful" about it. It's something difficult to do because you didn't learn technique the way he did. But it's nothing complicated or difficult (or inspiring). Watch Stanly Jordan play and tell me how this is in the same universe of "difficulty" as what he does.

[@MrSpunduckwoo]

I feel like it would be way easier to figure out how to time travel than learn how to play this song.

[@loth6088]

Actually no! I learned this in 2 days! Not the whole thing of course but I can play maybe the first 30 seconds? If you wanna learn this song, I suggest learning who says or stop this train.. Or both.. But they're essentially the same, in terms of fingerpicking and slap technique.. I had so much trouble learning who says because I'm not used to using only 2 fingers and I'm not used to the slapping technique but once I got it down, learning Neon was a piece of cake.. Kind of😎

[@loth6088]

@Theo Emanuelsson It's not exactly the same but they're sooooooo identical.

[@loth6088]

@Theo Emanuelsson aw shit, my mistake. I somehow got confused. I mean, Who says and stop this train are similar. I'm too lazy to re-read my comment.. Who says and stop this train are not the same as neon but they help make it easier to learn neon.. I totally contradicted myself..? Im confusing myself haha, you're 100% right.

[@loth6088]

@Theo Emanuelsson I think my whole comment is wrong , I probably confused myself because I mention who says, stop this train, and neon.. idek but the point is you're 100% correct

[@kless001]

ImAnEthicalHacker you didn’t learn 30 seconds of this song. Stop lying!

[@fooltothink8932]

He said he felt something was missing, proceeds to play Something Missing by John.

[@Langshot]

fooltothink89 you got the joke

[@seviregis7441]

Love your videos, Paul, this one is a great break down for the Neon patterns

[@mackin26]

As a guitar teacher, this is the first song that I couldn’t deliver fully for the student. Mayer’s a genius.

[@daysrl]

9:56 wow, I wish I can do that, at that speed. Update: wished to play it 2 weeks ago, now I learned how to play it!

[@blainealvares2098]

Mind telling us what tutorial you referred to?

[@daysrl]

Blaine Alvares kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXrQk555m82posU The tutorial is by Ross Campbell

[@luissalcido5694]

Ha 69 likes either way congrats

[@daysrl]

@@luissalcido5694 :)

[@stankcooter]

# good job man glad to hear you learned it

[@jeffmcinnisacoustic1497]

This is very well done. You broke it down piece by piece. Excellent.

[@julianguy1000BC]

that was a very very good break down of this master piece. It was a pleasure to watch and understand. Nice one !! thank you.

[@fluxcc]

Not only is he playing all this while singing, he is also using his thumb to play the bass notes on the low E string. Mind cannot compute. System overload, rebooting.

[@RockNRoll__]

@Theo Emanuelsson show us how to play it. I WILL WAIT

[@Robsmithwick]

Which is also how he slides on the last bass line notes. Which wasn’t mentioned in this video. Nearly impossible without using the thumb. Still can’t get the slide down

[@AlessandroLucas]

Rob Smithwick yes! I’m really surprised that he didn’t mentioned it.

[@aaronjohnson951]

If you're a bass player at all that should be natural to play slap bass

[@Catstew]

@Theo Emanuelsson still waiting

[@fullmetalsal]

You should sell ice to the penguins

[@TheLordOfDogtown]

You Sir made my day LMAO

[@Ublomor]

Or fridges to the Eskimos

[@Sandarpan]

Eskimos do need fridges to keep things from going too cold.

[@actionman9900]

@@Sandarpan well I bet you're real fun at party's aren't yah

[@Sandarpan]

@@actionman9900 Not fun enough for the lame jokers

[@marmaladebrah]

epic video as always paul!

[@reidriandelacruz7728]

3 years ago I never thought I'd be able to play this song. Now 3 years later I finally realized I was correct.

[@andrewramirez3107]

I for one, really appreciate this video and all the hard work that went into producing it. For the first time, it opened my eyes to see the level of genius that John Mayer is. I've listened to John's songs for the longest time but never really thought about how complex his songs are. Aside from playing this crazy song, which in and of itself is an extremely difficult thing to do; John is singing! That concept is just wild to me.

[@glennhughes2664]

hahahahah

[@viliamgazo8589]

I really admire players who can come up with something like this on the first place....great analysis

[@michaelgames6196]

Would absolutely love to see a video on the rest of the song as well! Definitely a masterpiece!

[@danzellan6530]

This is absolutely-beautifully, laid out. Thank you.

[@daviedaw]

Beautifully done and WOW on the explanation!

[@rockyjackson8117]

Beautifully executed great tutorial I’m new to guitar but now I’m truly inspired to learn. Paul David’s you are a remarkable teacher thank you 👍🏻

[@ardenapples5357]

EXCELLENT VIDEO! I see someone else is a John Mayer stan for the right reasons. Really like how you are so passionate and really break the song down!!! Also the something's missing joke sent me. Would love to see more stuff analyzing and playing his stuff! Brilliant.

[@emiliojosegraobenedi450]

Tus vídeos están muy bien diseñados, iluminados y montados. Tu dicción es perfecta, clara y con el tono de voz preciso. Tus explicaciones muy detalladas, acertadas e interesantes. Y además eres un guitarrista excepcional. Bravo, Paul!!

[@gustavvader2207]

Fantastic breakdown of the complexity of a song Paul. Truly great.

[@mrlevinielsen]

John Mayer is definitely underrated as a serious guitarist imo.

[@CutTheCrapAndKissMe]

mrlevinielsen he really isn’t though?

[@mrlilnomad]

I’ve never heard of anyone underrating him. Lol. The average person doesn’t appreciate the guitar ability and focuses on vocals.

[@mrintense115]

Then you clearly dont pay attention to the guitar world. He has been known as one of the best blues guitarist alive for awhile now and even Clapton thinks he's the best alive... hard to say that's "underrated"

[@Stiegosaurus]

Nothing underrated about him, he's been celebrated for a long time.

[@porit1023]

definitely not there is even a prs john mayer

[@mex00mex]

super inspiring video. Thank you, master!

[@juniperthewolf5624]

100%. The live version is, hands down, the best. Man...thank you so much for this!!!

[@federicogatto2635]

Man, you just described exactly the same learning process I had been going through since I heard this incredible song, about ten years ago. It gave me goosebumps

[@elcidbob]

Still remember he came and played my college before he blew up, opened that night for Bela Fleck. I was working security and ended up chatting with him a bit after the show and invited him back to our dorm where we had a party going. He joined us and was really chill. Was a great night.

[@brendahawkins3965]

elcidbob wow. My grandson would give anything to meet him. This is Josh playing Neon. What do you think kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJnHgHZ5r6yfmas

[@SimoneOrtisi]

Very well explained! 👍🏻😊👏🏻👏🏻

[@glovebox6770]

This is encouraging because I have been told I’m pretty good at finger picking but only use my thumb and index finger….using the others has always been too difficult to me…so that gives me hope to learn this song 😂

[@RantzBizGroup]

Paul, great work! Isn't it amazing that, in general, we'd never show a new person to learn this style - but the material that comes from such a style is remarkable. In reality, John plays the acoustic steel string like it's a classical, the low C gives the growl. Tough piece as we have to adapt not just notes, but style and then singing on top of it!

[@TheRitter]

This was your best video yet , I love that song the most

[@yfitzmorris]

splendid explanation. what an amazing song

[@netosilvestri1725]

Incredible breakdown. Sounds easy with you explaining!

[@jacobvaldesaguirre7741]

I really loved this video, you can see your own admiration towards john Mayer and at the same time give an amazing explanation of the intricacies of this song, I honestly really enjoyed it

[@shorerocks]

Not a John Mayer fan, but this riff is magic, as I now know, thanks to another genius. Cheers!

[@mikeault]

Great video, explanation, and help with this great tune, thank you!

[@casualartist4202]

3 years ago, I never thought I'd be able to play this riff. 3 years later and I was absolutely right.

[@njso18]

Neon has always been one of my favorite riffs of all time and I have never been able to play it remotely proper, though I've tried. Ever since I first heard the song when I was around ten, I somehow knew then how unbelievably insane it was that John was playing the riff in this way, and singing the song at the same time. Thanks for explaining all the elements that come together to make this song so special.

[@uj5436]

6:53 *Davie504 has entered the chat*

[@BudaDangol]

Yesssss face reveal at 1mil

[@patinthechat6452]

SLAPP like on this comment or I will call the police

[@sgzenitsu4415]

He already reveals his laugh haha at 5 million subs

[@tevitamotulalo3909]

Slap Like Now!

[@jootpepet]

FAKE. Davie504 would never be in a guitar video

[@kentaddition]

Calming voice to teaching. AWESOME!

[@UFCUEAU]

Love the vids mate.

[@cjsmith8319]

The main riff isn’t that bad if you do it over and over again. HOWEVER, tackling the improv, live intro, and solo is another beast. Fun to learn/play! Worth every second.

[@gregsneathern7940]

This is the video that made me finally subscribe, awesome edit.

[@8BombCustom]

Thanks. It helped a lot! You have a very cool channel!

[@seanrussel4776]

*Something's missing plays in the background* Me for some quarantined reason: *Laughs hysterically*

[@tarikaiesec]

That's what I would call a "song surgery"! Excellent analysis, content and editing Paul👍