Stop This Train - John Mayer - Live from WTLI - Guitar Lesson

Slap Flick Technique 00:15
Link to the TAB bit.ly/StopThis...
The live performance version of this tune he does from WTLI (Where the Light is) live DVD has some small differences from the studio cut. I transcribed it myself first using video and slowed down to pitch audio to check what was going on and to verify the techniques and hand positions (when someone's head wasn't in the way, which happens a lot in that acoustic set). This tutorial video has onscreen tab with some detailed explanation and slowed down looped parts. I hope you enjoy it. It clocks in at about 23 minutes and covers every part of this version of the song.
See the link up above to a PDF of the tab used onscreen. I tried to stick closely to it on the video but take some unconscious liberties with a nice sounding note here and there...
Cheers!

[@StephanieL180]

Tip for anyone learning this: the flick does not have to played hard. Just brush the string enough to make it sound out. Also avoid overthinking it. Your fingers will naturally find the right flow if you noodle about with it - putting too much effort into each step will make it harder. The precision will come with familiarity.

[@aarons3166]

Thanks for the tip, I was trying to really slap the strings but a gentle flick with your nails gets the same sounds and helps it flow much better.

[@inkeduchiha851]

Exactly. I also figure out the "brush" Happy Bending ❤️

[@RamdanRandom]

i keep letting my hand flow without thinking about it. i can managed to do it even tho not really accurate but it's sound good enough

[@thepetesmith]

I’ve been working on this, and I think I like the sound better without a hard slap. I just brush out with my fingertips to get the train chugga.

[@CAGabriel116]

>Listen to John Mayer >Look up lessons to play his song >Realize that you aren't good enough to play his songs >Put your guitar aside and cry because you can't play the song This is my learning process on how to play.

[@Rockodona]

+Calvin Gabriel so fucking true :D :D :D

[@jordanbernice4159]

Try lolo Mohamed's video

[@thedankswordsmantm]

Dude you can get it, but not by putting the guitar down. Keep trying and start as slow as you have to. The finger picking in this song and "who says" have had me forever, but I got who says down and this one is making more and more sense.

[@hastyscorpion1]

Literally anyone is good enough to play his songs if they put in enough time. John Mayer once sucked at playing guitar too. But he got better by putting in a lot of hours to get better.

[@CAGabriel116]

Funnily enough, in the time between the original comment and now, I did end up learning this song fully, so yay for the learning process!

[@gdehoyos006]

It’s taken me years to learn this song, i never realized how far from closing the gap I was. I always look for this video in particularly because its the most accurate. I’m proud to say I can play/ sing this at public gatherings and avoid the musical humiliation attached with getting praised for playing something like wonderwall.

[@BM-dq3bv]

Great comment I always felt that way 😂

[@Zartimus]

Thanks! There is a lot of technique in Mayer songs. I think he is underapreciated by some of the guitar community at large.

[@jakejudy5455]

5 years later and i can almost sing and play it at the same time. i drifted focus for a bit but at least i re dedicated myself. My uncle died back in october and i set out to learn the whole song. Thank you zartimus!

[@nikita_ayzatulin]

I am proud to say that I've got the main riff in 45 minutes :') That's an achievement for me

[@draedeltoro6542]

You learn it all yet?

[@aaravshrestha528]

I am proud to say I got the intro and verse by ear

[@draedeltoro6542]

@@aaravshrestha528 insane!

[@Zartimus]

I know what you mean. I watch a lot of tuts and when the guy starts BLA BLA BLAing too much I fast forward it or shut it off, so I'm aware of the attention span most people have. Still, it takes 7-10 minutes per one minute of audio to teach properly so I think any of my vids in the last year or so fit that bill. I rely on the visual tabs, multiple takes and editing to cut down on the talk. Thanks for the advice and know that I do keep that in mind. That comment has appeared before. Cheers!!

[@buttscarlton1830]

Here's a big tip and kinda a small little thing i do when "slapping". I'm not actually slapping, i just flick my index finger and brush it like another comment said. I also don't use the top 2 strings at all, pretty much the whole time my thumb is taking over the 4th string and sometimes the 3rd (my right hand thumb). Another thing is don't practice it by the book, with every song i learn i step out my comfort zone a little bit and noodle around with it until i find a version I'm comfortable with playing. One last thing is don't give up eventually, whether that's in a week or a year, you'll get it down and be able to play it while singing or dancing or whatever. Took me almost a whole week to learn Who Says but now I'm so comfortable with the motion that i can play it while singing (even if I'm a very bad singer). A wise man once said "never gonna give you up" and i think it's a quote everybody should live by.

[@Ibeenez]

You are a legend! I've literally been practicing the technique for 3 months on and off but I've finally got it! I learnt the rest today and I'm now riding the Mayer train! I can also relish the fact my Dad who's been playing 35 years can't do the picking pattern! Thank you! Much appreciated!

[@TrillionTalents777]

Is he slapping and flicking at the same time or is he slapping first and then flicking? Also, is he flicking one string or multiple strings on the downstroke (i.e. in the beginning the downstroke is the high e. Is he just flicking the high e or is he flicking multiple strings?)

[@DY761]

Michael Pang he is slapping and flicking at the same time. even though the tabs show only flicking one note. im pretty sure he is flicking multiple strings

[@amjedbelgacem8218]

I could've managed the strumming patterns and everything just by watching him play, but man oh man that stretching technic had destroyed my left hand like literally i can feel my nerves screaming and my pinky got hot asf. My sir you're the best teacher no cap and John Mayer is indeed one of the greatest.

[@mashelbyp33ps83]

Amjed Belgacem , i try tuning the A-string down to a G. That way, you can play the open G on those stretches. Then, just accommodate for the open A in the rest of the song. Might be easier for you that’s what I am trying to do. Good luck!

[@TRUTHandANSWERS]

Thank you sir..... Because of people like you I can play some amazing songs...from my heart, thanks

[@ganstagabe]

u can tell this guy has played this 1000 times even tho he teaching he just carelessly going threw it wit no problem i can wait till im this good great video

[@sportsfan1515]

Just gotta say man, this is incredible! Can't believe you put the time into analyzing the live video to figure all this out. Thanks for doing it and giving your fellow John Mayer fans exactly what we're looking for!

[@zacholiveira8250]

Man you are a life saver, the slap flick is over complicated in so many videos!!!

[@CrusaderKen]

Great tutorial; thanks for the attention to detail. Always nice to have the president from Independence Day teach me a John Mayer song.

[@batesdude728]

THIS IS SO HARD IM GETTING PISSED AT MYSELF

[@liligman]

Batesdude72 That means you're making progress

[@daneliizaguirretoscano1995]

Batesdude72 keep up :)

[@BlasterJunos]

Try Justin's tutorial if you haven't figured it out yet

[@builderphill1361]

Once you get it down you can play a various selection of music much better as a solo performer 👍

[@zonks92]

I don't know how many people may tell, but you can play very well, many won't realize.

[@tangdexian3323]

seriously, without you, I'll never be able to figure out how to play this song

[@ldratio]

England calling here. just wanted to say thank you for the clearest JM tuition I've seen on the web, and god I've searched. Seems I have a lot of work to do, but you've really made clear the JM muted finger slap. Whatever I learn I will be passing on to my daughter too, so double thanks! Please keep JM songs coming, you're doing a great job.....Karl, Cornwall, England.

[@fauziwibowo]

Once I studied this song from you but forgot to thank for this. Thank you sir!

[@QuackOP]

Commenting just because to give this video more popularity! Thanks for your amazing work and for taking time to do this.

[@Zartimus]

That made me smile. Don't worry. The only reason I use my old beat up 1978 ovation in my vids is because my Custom Tony Karol guitar was made to a specific scale length so I could play the 6th string tuned to a low C and not have it behave like a piece of Spaghetti. I use it in a few videos but no tutorials because a capo would throw people off. I can't tune it above D. That's the one I play the wacky stuff on. I have another one order to be built next year for standard tunes. I can't wait

[@neberust]

Thank you very much for this lesson. It's taken me a couple months but I'm proud to say I've stuck with it and I can now play this song. Huge thanks because I wouldn't have been able to learn this song without your tutorial

[@raicho20]

How in the fucking fuck do you strech like that? I physically don't have a hand that can reach this far! No way!

[@bonvct]

raicho20 get a 3/4 guitar mate

[@mikerodriguez1722]

I have that same ovation in black. Love playing melodies like this on it, they always come out sounding amazingly smooth.

[@PieDude3583]

Holy shit I've been trying to learn this song for years but i could never find a good guide to go off of until now. No idea how i never found this. Great lesson, thanks man.

[@veehjaye]

".. and we're strumming the SHIT out of these, so.." best tip ever. great tutorial.

[@juandiegoferreira889]

The reason the technique is so hard is because first you have to learn it. But then you have to master it like John plays it. It's effortless, you don't hear a hit you just hear a "percussion". Lots of people who learn this flick dont take in account that it's really gentle and soft flick.

[@jallegar1808]

Thank you very much. The slap technique has been something that's eluded me for quite some time. Now I can play more Mayer songs thanks to you. You rock. Muchas gracias.

[@mrgoodnews7702]

By far best tutorial on youtube. Learned within few hours thanks!

[@jakejudy5455]

The amount of time you've spent on tabbing out these songs deserves a big publishers clearing house sized paycheck! You could probably sell lesson packs? I would pay if you tabbed out some jm songs that I could figure out.

[@Legitideas]

Simple and effective. Thank you for doing what so many other tutorials couldn't.

[@Maddogtommy]

been waiting for someone to do the chorus properly... thanks!

[@FMessi50]

This channel is my savior. All other channels that I watch lessons on never thoroughly explain it, they always expect us to know it already, but you're different. You explain each part and include tabs. You're amazing! I don't understand how this does not have more views! Please keep uploading and keep up the good work!

[@wfarmer1000]

Thank you sir. I have learned so much and so many Mayer tunes thanks to you. Many blessings your way sir.

[@YuchengJoe]

Thank you for your persistence to make the tutorials,I hope everything works out for you❤

[@davidsmith6028]

Wow this is so good, I am amazed you don’t have more hits, all of your lessons are so in depth and as someone getting into playing harder songs it is so helpful. Thank you so much for posting these!

[@Zartimus]

" concentrate more on growing my hands and less on guitar playing :)" Love that comment! If you figure out how to grow huge Mayer thumbs, share the secret! (and just hit the 7th fret notes on that part, you can skip the root there or change the fingering).

[@csanchezcuba]

I learn so much with your tutorials, that it scares me :), seriously. I had pictured this song as a really hard song in my mind, but after you broke it down it became reachable, thank you so much for investing you time into teaching, we appreciate it!

[@cmep]

Bravo sir for putting the tab up with the music as it plays...it's not easy to understand the rhythm of counter-time music otherwise. Thank you!

[@Acoustribute]

This has absolutely driven me crazy to learn after totally being dependent on a pick and learning fingerstyle for the first time but it's finally starting to click.... Thanks!!!

[@joricklania8627]

Your videos have helped me out in learning some of my favorite songs by John Mayer. Thanks a lot, Pal!

[@jakejudy5455]

Stop this pain I wanna give up and go back to chords can't take the speed it's moving in. Literally a metaphor for trying to play this lol

[@apowers543]

Z, thx for the awesome transcription...got me over the hump of the chords & fingering...now to work on that slap technique!

[@chrisclarke3308]

Top stuff mate. You must spend so much time analysing these songs. Can't tell you how much they help!!!

[@kunalsarafcool96]

Best Stop This Train Tutorial on this planet u r the best thanks a lot for making this tutorial u r amazing!!!!!

[@user-vz4yl5he5x]

You are awesome. I just learned to play this song from beginning to end. all thanks to you.

[@vdes05]

Hey zartimus, thank you for all your tutorial!! You are the best who can teach john mayer's techniques and there's a lot of work in all your tabs. Everytime I want to learn a song quickly, I watch one of your tutorial because I know they are always finely right and refined. I think it helped me a lot to be a better guitarist!!!

[@bobw1559]

Thanks again for yet another great lesson on utube! By far the best on the tube! Your absolutely correct that this tune is must better in standard tuning! Once you get the slapping technique and groove down practice will get it done! Its challenging but its not Cavatina LOL. Thanks again and keepem comin!

[@Zartimus]

Unfortunately I won't be able to do that any time soon as I have a backlog and it's not a tune I would normally learn. If I do ever get time though, I'll let you know. I'd suggest getting a program like Amazing slow downer or TRANSCRIBE (I use both) and slowing down parts of the MP3 to pitch in a loop until you can remember it and get it up to performance speed. IMO that is the most concise way to learn songs.If you look at the end of my "Human Nature" tut there is some video of just that.

[@BulldogMCR22]

Dude thank you! such a great tutorial, i dont think i would've learned this if it wasn't for you!

[@orpiv]

I agree! I appreciate the thoroughness, accuracy and quality..Excellent tutorial!! Thanks

[@darrenpalmer5284]

Superb tutorial and a G-force Phoenix. Thanks so much.

[@blok31092]

you have some of the best JM tutorials. This is extremely thorough! I have known how to play this song for awhile but this cleared up some of the nuances for me, thanks buddy!

[@brunomillalaf8553]

I cried when I first learned the finger picking pattern.

[@elodionocesa]

YESS!!! I finally got up to mid chorus!!! It was hard... I've noticed sometimes when learning a new song I might not get it that first time.. So I come back to it a week or two after and somehow I get it. Any way, thank you, the combination of this and GuitorialVideos' tutorial really helped!

[@ryancurry5284]

haha I know man! Sucker rocks...its just sooo catchy. Whenever you get around to it dude. I've been working on a lot of your tutorials, and you have no idea how much I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME you take to do them. Like ive said in a few other comments, you teach it note for note and dont miss a beat.

[@stalis93]

I have been trying for so long to learn this and these tabs are so accurate! Thanks you :D

[@ElGabo63]

Thanks for the video, is great in detail. From Mexico City

[@austinseeley6757]

Dude… you’re the best. I love your lessons.

[@GuitarDiddlerJP15]

This has been challenging me for at least a month now. I can play through it without the slapping but God damn is it hard to add that in... And that 3-7 fret stretch is straight up impossible and I'm 6'7 with HUGE hands lmao. Wtf is going on with John mayers hands... He must dislocate his thumb or something

[@Zartimus]

He has abnormally large thumbs. I like, stretched mine for a few months, just to get there.. Still room for improvement..

[@CJ-zm8vd]

6'7? Wow you're tall. I'm 15 and 6ft and I can do that stretch. To be fair, I always play with my thumb and even use it on the A string. It's just practice to get your hands stretched out. If you have big hands already, you will be able to make that stretch no problem if you practice it enough. Mayer has giant thumbs though...

[@PaulyM856]

I consider myself to have small hands and this spread is absolute hell for me. I just use my index finger on 3 and pinky on 7. That isn't exactly convenient for later positions in the song. But hey it works. :)

[@aydenclinkenbeard2325]

This is really really late and you probably have the song down by now but for anyone reading comments don’t give up! I’m 13 and 5’2 with regular sized hands (my hands may even be on the small side) and I got this stretch completely down without in a week!

[@guyjimmy8028]

Not too flex or anything but I’m 15 and can play it just like John. My advice would be to just focus on the slap. If you can get the slap in then the strum comes normally. With the stretches, it’s all about what you can do. I’ve seen people do it by not using their fingers and just doing a big stretch but whatever

[@El_Vincento]

Super useful tutorial as always, finally got this down to a level I'm happy with! Now to learn Man on the Side :D

[@trevdog457]

Best tutorial I found for this song!!

[@ephenkpunk]

are you kiddng me? that's bloody hard. my fingers were just five,not six btw thx for video, you are great!!

[@fraserduncan9777]

Really great job. Have been looking for a decent tutorial for a while. The other ones on youtube are incomplete or not accurate. Thank you very much. I can only imagine the work put in trying to tab this out! Cheers!

[@brosandimusic]

THANk you so much covered in the rain .

[@Zartimus]

"Why Georgia" is a great tune to start with. I don't have a lesson for it but there is an Australian dude out there on KZbin with the basics down in a tutorial (Mayer starts that tune fingerstyle with a pick stuffed between his knuckles, then switches to the pick for the 2nd verse and back to fingers in the middle. I don't think anyone shows this). "Wonderland" is a good tune to start with as well. Aside from the solo in the grammy version, the verse and chorus are pretty fun to play.

[@BISanders]

That stretch is out of this feking world..how he does it I will never know. >.>

[@MichaelConferPhoto]

really awesome job on the breakdown. You hit it all. Thank You very much!!

[@yugen9345]

Love your ovation guitar

[@jeffhanson9839]

A little late to party on this but hell of a job making it simple with tab overlay and letting us listen to find pattern with you.

[@simonshah3566]

being that i learned neon months before this, it took me 45 minutes to learn this entire song.

[@mortenjacobsen2472]

Thanks you. Good tutorial, really helped me.

[@overlyanalytical4410]

6:50 WTF

[@hatlenkha]

hahahaha Hell Yeah WTF is That

[@CAPT1ANGU1TAR]

Your videos are extremely helpful! They are very instructive. Thanks a lot for putting them up.

[@EzyoMusic]

Very nice tutorial!

[@daron67]

thank you for this tuto and the job you've done ! it's a really nice song and your explanations are really simple to learn that song.. thank you again !

[@romuloplollatoyou]

Great tutorial!! Thanks a lot! I was having such a hard time with this song but your tutorial really makes life easier! I'm have not mastered this song yet but I intend to with your help! Best wishes, and keep on the good work!!

[@luchobattiston]

Nice tutorial bro, simple and with the exact chords. Thanks a lot!

[@gabeman6970]

great work on this and the other songs thank you times 10

[@xdahid22]

Thank you so much for taking your time and make this tutorial! Helped me alot. Keep up the good work!

[@JohnFortniteKennedy503]

Me *finishes intro*(ok I got this) Second verse*looks at my tiny hand*😏

[@Toccobass13]

Great tutorial! Thanks!

[@eferro7903]

Great lesson ! Thanks !

[@amikzeshan]

Please do "Walt grace's submarine test" and "age of worry"

[@Zartimus]

Man Sucker is AWESOME! never heard it before! I love that, FOR SURE! Don't know when though! Working on Covered in rain and it's like 9 minutes long...

[@Zartimus]

Hey man, you are bang-on with that thumb on the 5th fret coming out of the chorus. I checked the vid and the first two choruses don't show the hands but finally, the third chorus distinctly shows just that. I'll add a notation and fix the tab.

[@pingvins909]

love it. this video/tab version is perfect for me

[@leekirkland.musician]

well done son, nice work. I had to have a look at the 'where the light is' version, and there's a nice aerial shot of Mr. Mayer where you can clearly see that this is indeed what he is doing. Only problem is that now I have to unlearn what I have engrained in my head from a previous less accurate video.

[@xorxeli]

That`s JM best tutorials : ) Please make Who says , waiting on the world to change , Come when i call , gravity and slow dancing in a burning room lessons : )

[@brandonwilson4408]

best i can do is a like and comment. amazing lesson bro. thanks for all the help with this piece

[@IgnacioGiri]

The thumb technique on this song is unreal. Gets worse on Neon.

[@AlineNicolini]

I agree with you.

[@nobody4920]

if you have problems with the stretch: i figured out that the 3-7-stretch is much easier to play if you dont use your pinky, but the ring finger for the high e-string and the middle finger as usual for the g-string. :)

[@DiGoM00]

I learnt it, thanks Zartimus . cheers

[@Zartimus]

The lyric you mention "...understand, I tried my hand?" occurs at 3m 10s of the song. At that point you play the same part near the end of the Chorus at 0m 54s (measure 21 in the TAB) where the lyric is "Moving in, I know I can't.." before going into the descending two note chords that end the Chorus "Honesty, won't someone stop this Train"..

[@Zartimus]

Are you referring to the ringing open 6th string E that is still in play from the previous note when you play the second open 4th string D? That is not struck, it's a hold over note. All of the open 4th string D's are played with the thumb, the only real downstroke I mention is with the index finger all on the 3rd string. Sorry, I'm not seeing/hearing it. If you refer to the tab you can mention the measure numbers on the left (1, 5, 10 and shown, the rest are implied) if you see an issue.

[@PineappleFritter88]

Great tutorial, very thorough and detailed. The only problem for me is that I have tiny hands and can hit the third and seventh fret at the same time, I'll just have to concentrate more on growing my hands and less on guitar playing :)

[@rampmonkeyyyj]

Fantastic video. Great work, much appreciated.

[@Zartimus]

Yeah, someone pointed that out within months of the vid going up. I need to put an annotation for that. I've already switched to playing it like that myself. That's what i call an "Honest mistake" because the note value is the same. ;-)

[@nikoefthimiou3727]

That was great, thank you !