Phrase Guitar Solos Like a Singer - John Mayer Teaches Guitar 06

"If you can sing it, you can play it."
Source: Instagram Live. @JohnMayer. May 7th 2020.

[@evanstheframe]

Why is it when John plays alone he still sounds like he’s playing with a full band. Man if I could play like that I would give up sleeping so I could have more time to play.

[@michaelcameron5531]

He gave up sleeping so that he can sound like that.

[@martinjohnbutler]

Great to see you doing this John. I've taught beginners for 25 years and it's great to see a master being so generous with what he knows. Passing it on is what true musicians do.

[@j_e_hill]

Interesting remarks. I always felt that SRV doesn’t get enough credit for laying his vocals into the guitar sound so perfectly as well as he played. There’s magic when they come together like that.

[@michaelshearer3559]

Love that point in decades of playing when you go back to the beginning and the circle starts over with more clarity.

[@VonBluesman]

Being able to sing the lead sure helps not only to play it correctly, but it helps to be able to remember it like one remembers the lyrics to a song, plus it helps keep a person from overplaying hundreds of notes too. It’s great to see John Mayer posting all of this helpful information to help players and singers out. Thanks 🙏

[@itayr15]

The improv at the end is amazing

[@bloosman1]

That is Texas Blues theory, right there.

[@Danyolxo]

Just watching his thumb play the G- root note, then keeping it for the C and D for the jam at the end. Life changed.

[@monkeysbum999]

John Mclaughlin does many chords, using his thumb on the 5th and 6th strings on his My Foolish Heart solo(transcription) solo.

[@j_e_hill]

…and what a gift for a guy like JM to share this stream of consciousness with people. Right on.

[@TheKottonheads]

I’m glad you’re doing these lessons! Now if I could only sing!😅 Thanks John! You’re truly a professional….🎸

[@stevepethel6843]

You have done what a lot of really good guitarist failed to do...you sir have grown and keep getting better . RESPECT to you John

[@randallfranklin2548]

Incredible that you can demonstrate microtonal stuff like that!!

[@guyslayer9933]

Thank you so much John. This has really helped me add and create way better melodic solos to my playing. Just awsome.

[@cameronwalshguitar]

Nails the jimmie vaughan singing!

[@rajeshgumber363]

Does anyone know the Jimmie Vaughan song at time 4:08 onwards? Or is John improvising? Thankyou

[@cameronwalshguitar]

@@rajeshgumber363 yep. "hey yea" off strange pleasure album

[@rajeshgumber363]

@@cameronwalshguitar Thankyou so much for replying, topman! I am going to learn to play this now.

[@johndrowe5281]

It is so great to hear and see Mr Mayer mature as a man. I have been critical of his interviews in the past as self-absorbed and often lewd … So, I owe it to him to recognise his propensity for “growing up” quite well. Welcome to being human, John. We all - if we are blessed - live long enough to know people who will not believe that we Ever said something like that 😂! (I knew his skills as a guitarist would top out at Sky Plus; nice to see that he turned out to be a fairly humble man👍). Cheers/Slainte, Mr MayerExtraordinaire. God bless and keep sharing your thoughts and skills with us … plz. 🎸👨🏼‍⚕️🎸. 🫶✌️♾️.

[@xsamitt]

You have greatness....thank you for sharing that with us!

[@bigben007ch]

Thanks for this mini master class! I loved it, a real epiphany. At the same time hearing this level of mastery makes me just want to burn my guitar and start a new hobby in birds photography 😄

[@dayleclarke4433]

It should make you want to practice more 😉

[@tomriley_bike]

Buy a PRS and then you can do the birds photography AND still play guitar

[@cazziebb1707]

That's so easy! Come on man!

[@brutallyremastered4255]

Love the digital clipping effect.

[@HanfM]

hahahahah yeah kinda weird but nice tho

[@1SUNGODELBASIR]

Awesome. Great information!

[@handsolo1546]

Six strings down! Enjoyed that

[@archdomster9446]

Dude, this is treasuuure.

[@nsc217]

I think that’s an awesome bend phrase! I’m going to learn it now

[@bwmohner]

These are super helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[@HanfM]

this man is a legennnddddd

[@GraffitiBlack]

This dude is so interesting to listen to

[@benmaguire4098]

Rollin & Tumblin whoa the whole night long etc & Mercury Blues But The guy I 1st saw & heard do it live & up close was Rory Gallagher .. & Buddy man .. But when I 1st heard you I had to bribe my wife with a footrub special to get her to come & listen so she Listened .. & I told her that guy stole my sound Lol .. I am joking but it was like the 1st time I heard Eric it was Sleepy time time . From the 1st Cream album & I just went oh my God how do you get that sound. & I used to Know Pino lol but I could barely play when I met him & he showed me how it was done . Such a nice guy . But you know John that's one of the things I love about your music .. You are always Reaching .. Still feel like your man wow that just blew me away could not stop humming it .. lol I would love to just hang out with you & jam .. but I am 65 & that's not gonna happen lol ps. I don't really get the Watch thing ? it's like I don't know ? Same with guys who go fishing catch & release ??? I guess for you it's safer than fast cars or Bikes .. The world still needs more from John Clayton Mayer .. Stay safe .

[@shreddykrueger3776]

When I play blues I think of walking into a rough pool hall.

[@themrtomward]

LOVE IT!

[@kjguitarman]

Great advice, John! Quickly adds spice to your playing. Queuing some BB King now….

[@graemebruce9320]

Could literally listen to this guy talk about anything 😂

[@monkeysbum999]

Clapton plays your disliked lick on phrase three in the I Feel Free Cream solo.

[@michaelchernoff7219]

I had no Idea that’s what I was doing that. Not to be snobby but I always jammed with other people felt like they where not that exciting then I tear it up and wonder why I was different always bending notes now I know. Best lesson I have ever seen. Only took 35 years of playing Thanks again John

[@pagesegovia2026]

Hey John could you maybe share some guitar insights on playing Grateful Dead songs? That would be a cool thing to learn from someone who's played their songs live !

[@FakingANerve]

Step 1: Lysergic acid diethylamide.

[@danhusband6154]

I wanna jam with John… and just sit in Awe!

[@lespaul1755]

Good tip. It doesn't fit all of the time but sometimes it's the best way to go

[@brandonproctor3639]

That tone though

[@chrisrosencrans]

You know when you’re on to something good when your face gets all derpy lol

[@GJSsongsmith]

Very cool John , thanks 🙏 , great way to play !

[@musicbyclay4919]

Anyone realize at 5:35 he bars the A string with his thumb for the IV and V Chord..🤯 dudes thumbs are ripped

[@comandantethorn9929]

ye he has long ass thumbs he has said it himself ASDJKLHFSDJKA

[@archdomster9446]

Big hands, long fingers. Woe to us with small hands.

[@godofyou666]

@@archdomster9446 try a shorter scale lengh my dude

[@archdomster9446]

@@godofyou666 I meant using the fretting hand's thumb :) I have no problems with regular scaled guitars

[@Phoboss32]

Interesting to watch how microtones moved into western music by African-American roots music. There is no black and white but indefinite gray tones.

[@silverstem2964]

I've been a shitty player longer than John Mayer's been alive. That changes today.😏🎸

[@nsc217]

I like this idea..: Jimi used to sing along to the notes he played all the time (later on after he heard Buddy Guy do it live)

[@andrewblacktunes]

Benson sings the 5th bent to the 6th . Ex On Broadway .....Stevie Wonder also sings the 6th in RNB and Blues based stuff he does.

[@monkeysbum999]

Clapton does that one and then follows it with disliked lick number one on the I Feel Free Cream solo.

[@karolstevenvillacarillo1036]

yes

[@entheogenesis71]

gawd you're handsome! See you Oct, 29th...

[@scottschmittmusic]

Do you play mostly with or without a pick?

[@openup007]

I like it, thanks again... any idea where I can find a left-handed version of your guitar?

[@nsc217]

You need to flip it like Jimi

[@CaptainKarma8]

Tasty

[@davidhumphries853]

Excellent advice. Playing needs to have some kind of flow like language/voice. Not just i think its time for a bend now......

[@JacobMcCaslin]

Yes a voice would do it… it’s a George Benson thing

[@gregduncan5485]

Exactly, I was going to say the same thing. Thinking of "On Broadway" in particular

[@SpencerP96]

Even if a voice wouldn't do it who cares? Yes it can be cool to phrase a guitar solo like a vocalist, but guitar also has its unique sound you can't get anywhere else, and that's cool too.

[@JacobMcCaslin]

@@SpencerP96 also it’s like my favorite line on guitar haha - I think John’s ear is just tired of hearing it for 25 years

[@SpencerP96]

@@JacobMcCaslin JM is cool to listen to but he goes back and forth on a lot of things. He'll talk about how he likes to buy a lot of gear and he'll show it off and then 18 months later he's "not into buying gear" anymore, then another 18 months and he's a gear head again.

[@andocobo]

I think BB is a better singer than guitarist

[@paulrhodesquinn]

Maybe you don’t play guitar?

[@clintmiller23]

Poor John how is he going to bend strings with that pesky 7.25” neck radius?!

[@wreams2964]

Idk. Ask the dude who did sultans of swing

[@darkflash32]

i bet ya it's not in the radius ;)