The John Mayer Song Nobody Knows (but guitarists should)

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[@MusicisWin]

Which JM tune do you think goes under-appreciated?

[@mailman5006]

Music is Win covered in rain

[@krishnapassi5912]

daughters for sure. and love is a verb

[@marcgabrielm]

fool to love you is underrated af

[@28orkun]

If I ever get around to living

[@velanga]

@@mailman5006 covered in rain solo on Any Given Thursday it's John Mayer's peak for me!

[@111Looping]

As someone said, there are 2 fan bases of John Mayer: Teenage girls and guitar players.

[@Moriabrosh]

I’m an teenage girl and a guitar player so...I feel like I’m more on the guitar player side tho

[@route6666]

I’m just being honest, but I don’t think too many teenage girls listen to him. Maybe back in the mid 2000s when he was at his hay day, but definitely not now. These teenage girls have all grown up and are in their 30s now.

[@Dionsilberman]

@@route6666 not true... he still has celebrity status and i know a handful of girls who are still gaga for john... i mean i get it he's still hot and his lyrics are as relatable as they've ever been.

[@route6666]

@@Dionsilberman Yeah, your experience may vary. I'm just speaking as a teenager who is around teenage girls. I'd love to meet another one who was into John Mayer but now he seems to be mostly known by guitarists and people in their 30-40s. Maybe one day I'll find one.

[@Dionsilberman]

@@route6666 I mean he has 14 million monthly listeners on Spotify... I don’t think he’s underground.

[@setheinsteiner2980]

My favorite John Mayer song is covered in rain.

[@roderickdhont4887]

My favorite rain song is covered by John Mayer

[@spencerarjang383]

Me too his tone is unreal

[@RealRowdy0]

That song is brilliant. Most of his best stuff is live or in the unreleased category.

[@Dontcarecarlos]

I keep saying that the solo from Covered in Rain might be one of the best guitar solos in history.

[@filback1462]

Same

[@Badger2872]

J O H N M A Y E R I N T H E T I T L E

[@dimebagsanchez]

honestly how i felt

[@souhardyabaishnab7978]

Yeah i remember that video 😂😂😂

[@jaxseaver21]

This guy is the definition of that... He’s Mr. I went to Berkeley too and studied under all the same professors as John did and have a PRS sponsorship just like John

[@landoctor94]

If you’re a John Mayer fan, you definitely know this song.

[@mhamdone6163]

Must be a bunch of men on the side

[@mmafan2223]

Facts

[@TheNinnyfee]

Yep. And it's very nice.

[@landoctor94]

@UCK0c6peESpLYCPg5vcH7rvQ it’s actually “Any Given Thursday”

[@propmaster101]

Facts

[@Kozeyplace]

Covered in the rain is so underrated. I’m glad people are starting to notice it.

[@jensencox1226]

“John Mayer song nobody knows” all die hard John Mayer fans: “ummmmm actually?”

[@badventist-petite]

Yeah, like as soon as he started playing I was like, “That’s Man on the Side, easy!” I guess I used to be a die hard fan, kinda fell off after battle studies but this is still a great one even after all these years

[@bradenstrublemusic4261]

Five seconds into the video I’m singing “six numbers 🎶 “

[@user-eg7nj1is7l]

thought the saaaaame thing! lol been playin this since any given thursday. Correct title should be "Only real mayer fans know this song.. and you should now know it too."

[@SenorGermaine]

When it said a song nobody knew, I thought it would be like his rare acoustic performance of Wheel, or Break in the Clouds or something

[@TheSupart91]

Ikr....🚩🚩 flagged for misleading title 😂🤣 jk

[@jmimbles8939]

I think one is second only to ‘another kind of green’ as one of the most under-the-radar John Mayer songs that deserve so much more attention.

[@pranavkamath4329]

Super fun to play as well

[@jackmaginnes7497]

Facts its such a good song and the main lick is so tasty

[@joshuatolle876]

I clicked thinking he was gonna play another kind of green. Funniest JM song to play!!!

[@_LifeIsGood]

i learned that the first time i heard it years ago. Pino and Steve made that song come alive.

[@sithic2241]

Fuckin love that one

[@johnjlanejr]

Vultures - love the funky 80's vibe

[@hamzaabdullah1042]

Lenny/Man On the Side is lowkey the best guitar parts Mayer has ever done

[@shreddievanhalen1]

His Lenny is INSANE

[@evthemen]

John Mayer did a Lenny srv cover? Or is it a different song with same name

[@shreddievanhalen1]

@@evthemen nah it’s SRV. Go to Apple Music/Spotify and type in Lenny/man on the side

[@jakobmorningstar]

Everett Cross he does a cover of Lenny that leads into Man On the Side of his live album Any Given Thursday

[@mobaby1979]

@@jakobmorningstar Came here to say this. Quick story - I didn't pay ANY attention to John Mayer until a Family Video was playing that live DVD on their in-store TVs. Until then, I mistakenly thought he was just a heart throb corny pop singer etc - I didnt even know he was a guitarist of ANY kind until I was 'forced' into seeing that. This was surely right after that live DVD was released, so I got to enjoy 'Room for Squares' last days and be a DAY 1 Heavier Things album LOVER!!! :) Only seen him live once, bit it was outdoors, with my daughters, on vacation, at a venue in Ohio that has got to be one of the prettiest settings for a show (its like a state park kinda environment), kind of a midwest USA version of Red Rocks. Mayer's music has been with me for 20+ yrs now and it feels like just yesterday I was a 20yr old dude obsessed with his tunes.

[@googleface5]

I knew that was Man on the Side immediately. His unreleased songs are total gems, thank god for the Eddie’s Attic bootlegs.

[@ChrizJam]

yeah i love this song. lenny/man on the side live, its so good

[@youssefmostafa6262]

The last time I was this early Corona was just a beer

[@ashishmeshram5057]

Lmao

[@lorcanfitzpatrick6019]

Wow never heard that one before. So original

[@youssefmostafa6262]

@@lorcanfitzpatrick6019 ikr? I'm so original😌

[@Fullyautomagic]

Corona is a type of virus that has been around since before humans knew what viruses were.

[@0987slipknot]

The good times

[@mrericchwang]

I listened to this on repeat about a year ago when I was going through a very relatable time. Masterpiece of a song

[@kevincz99]

Dude. Man on the side is awesome. I heard it for the first time when the live in birmingham DVD came out

[@georgepilling5000]

OMG. I LOVE THIS SONG. This has always been my fave john mayer song - beautiful melody and words, lovely guitar. So glad to see this vid because I’ve never talked to anyone who actually knows this song

[@jahdielheywood5277]

Finallyyy somebody is talking about this song. I not too long ago found out about it and i noticed nobody was really doing any thing about it. I've heard that john made this song during his first year at Berkeley...pretty cool, thanks alot Tyler🔥🔥

[@TheReBorn]

ANOTHER KIND OF GREEN!!!! Amazing song and great guitar playing!

[@RC32Smiths01]

I think as many have said, John Mayer truly is one of the last guitar heroes with a huge pop following. He is a really fluent and inspirational guitarist for modern players I'd say. Appreciate this one!

[@christian_uu]

@Bobby Hill he said "one of the last" not THE last jfc

[@deldia]

Agreed. The only other I can think of who is a modern guitar hero known for playing the guitar by a pop audience is Matt Bellamy of muse.

[@blue_basket2722]

I haven’t slept in 5 days

[@petergriffin4629]

I don't know, compare that to some Stevie Ray Vaughan.... Let's say he is not at the tip of the cue, I'd say he can't even see the tip

[@deldia]

@@petergriffin4629 I love a couple of things SRV did but he grows boring really quickly. Have you heard the modern blues players like Derek Trucks or Chris Buck? They are light years ahead.

[@jaimeecherivel2927]

I’m a rock and metal guy but John Mayer’s chops are unreal. His feel, tone, and note selection are just 🤯

[@bambostarla6259]

His songwriting and voice are also on point👌. Been a huge fam of him since my guitar teacher taught me how to sing and play why georgia.

[@SpaceJesus_69]

The songs in his Live in LA album are really good, but i recently discovered him jamming at the crossroads guitar festival where he performed City love.

[@aidenoakes3924]

The John Mayer song that needs to be seen by guitarists is either Try! Or Another Kind of Green.

[@wireless5168]

Literally my favourite song of his, and i listen to JM everyday

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

There’re so many bangers JM never released but thankfully, they’ve made their way on KZbin.

[@joeschmoe3665]

The intro he does live in 2002 is amazing I've been looking for tabs so long

[@omarsaletovicprins9632]

just one of those things we cant get… try learning by ear. hint: most of it is in Emaj pentatonic :)

[@KarpyCarpe]

I love Edge of Desire, nothing fancy on guitar but it always gets me.

[@Rocketmanrun]

This is one of my favs! Hopefully fans of him already know this one!

[@alwaysevolving281]

My favorite song ever from him is Another Kind of Green

[@dannystarkridesfixed]

Sounds like a nice song and fun to play as well. I’m not really a fan of his but good guitar is good guitar and I’ll always give it to anyone who is a good guitarist.

[@THE-G420]

Who found music is win randomly and started watching him daily for his incredible guitar skills?

[@sorencoate3224]

me

[@borisnachev1358]

Not me bruh

[@the___dude]

I don't really remember how I got to know this channel but goddamn I'm glad I found it

[@Jrup2110]

🙋🏻‍♂️

[@THE-G420]

@@the___dude yeah me too

[@harveygitarista1600]

Make this a series! (Artist) song nobody knows but guitarists should.

[@jessestrantz2502]

life as the man on your side

[@benschneck8686]

Love the SRV tribute he does at the start of the live version of this song, definitely one of my favorites by John Mayer

[@boomerdell]

This is incredible. You are such a great teacher! Somehow you made it accessible even to this Padawan learner. Thank you. 🙏🏽🎸🎵😊

[@CDW98]

god that amp sounds so good

[@bradenforrest1848]

I’m a simple man, I see John Mayer I like

[@SrinivasanChakravarthy]

Yeah same here

[@gunkanjima3408]

Find a new quote to copy and paste

[@bradenforrest1848]

Gunkanjima Okay, I’ll do it just for you cutie 😉

[@Atimo133]

Gunkanjima i‘m eating peanuts right now, they‘re not as salty as you are though.

[@tomasotreasaigh111]

@@Atimo133 You spelled 'penis' wrong...

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

A couple of John Mayer songs that I feel like are sleepers are Come Back To Bed and Friends Lovers or Nothing. Both of them have really cool changes in them. Something Like Olivia is another song that's really simple but he enters Clapton's tonal territory but with incredible groove.

[@ZL1LoVeR]

Clarity and Something Missing are great ones in his early career

[@jmimbles8939]

The JM trio version of something’s missing is the absolute best version of that song.

[@kiwi_wolf2805]

I love something's missing!

[@billystone5618]

Shoutout to Clay Cook for the co write on this one. He also recorded it. Different from Mayer’s version tho.

[@billystone5618]

and yes that’s Clay Cook from the Zach Brown band

[@ErikZmusic]

Don’t forget John was roommates with Matt Mangano (the bassist of Zac Brown) at Berklee. Clay lived across the hall from them in the dorms. Matt recorded a bunch of their early tunes (like Victoria) in their dorm room before John and Clay dropped out and formed the lo-Fi masters.

[@Rennyblue]

I thought for a sec it was Come Back to Bed .. another underappreciated gem

[@jacobhall7829]

Day 1 of asking Tyler to do a "chasing SRV's Lenny tone"

[@adam_-adam]

I feel like this is the song most people dont realise is not john mayers but clay cooks.

[@jakobs7307]

This is one of my favourite songs and it makes me so happy to see someone give it the recognition it deserves

[@angelosanti]

I agree..I’ve been playing/enjoying this song since the first time I heard it on “Any Given Thursday”. I heard it was one of the first songs he ever wrote. I don’t know if that’s true though. I would love to have a high quality recording of him playing it. Thanks for making a video on it. Love your channel.

[@chadamparo7711]

nice tone, awesome dude

[@God_For_A_Reason]

I thought it's another video on Neon

[@owl9715]

bold of you to assume i didnt know a Mayer song

[@maximalist5038]

He wrote this song, and some of the other songs on his debut album, with one of the guitar players from the Zac Brown Band. I think his name is Clay Cook. They were a duo really really on. Clay has a version of the song so that’s probably why John hasn’t done a version

[@Puckburglar]

Came here to make the same comment.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Clay Cook is an incredible musician. Look up the video of him playing Blackbird and Maybe I'm Amazed in Eddie's Attic. He literally plays every single instrument for Maybe I'm a Amazed and uses loopers to put it all together to make the whole song and sings it as well and he does it ALL LIVE! It's insane!

[@ilovepizzamore]

Just made the same comment 😂

[@auxorion]

This guy has the most Chad setup I've seen in a while. I bet people come in there and ask "You play guitar?" Keep up the great work, man.

[@AllInOne-zb8id]

Just listen his acoustic version you gonna love it the first time for sure

[@phishphan5732]

That amp is killing the vibe of the Silver Sky, too much mid range, and faint reverb...blackface scoop with some spring ‘verb.

[@allstopblue5717]

Wanted to reply something snarky, but I think you’re right. It certainly doesn’t sound bad, in fact it sounds good. But yeah, not quite the sound I want to hear with what’s being played.

[@SamSveistrup]

I thought it sounded fine

[@renelie8217]

I believe that the chord you call an E with a B in the bass is a B 4/6 suspended chord (not sure what it's called in english...)

[@alexchernik7229]

One of the first songs I've learned by JM, criminally underrated!!!

[@joestoes5213]

U inspired me to play guitar

[@stacyrakatairi-herewini5306]

Might be that new amp he's playing the e guitar on its so crisp and clean

[@afrozyamir4987]

The notification squad shan't fail you sensei

[@alecblair11]

I hear Tomo Fujita in that song for sure

[@jsguy100]

He covered Eric Clapton’s Promises and played the most insane improv solo I’ve ever heard. It’s on KZbin. Highly recommend

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

The most Claptonesque I've heard him sound was on Something Like Olivia. That sounded like a song that could have been on Reptile with the tone he got. Really simple song but with a phenomenal groove.

[@DIVADNOMIS1313]

can’t believe i actually clicked thinking there was a mayer song i didnt know about

[@rustyrobots426]

I haven't heard this before and I'm a huge JM fan. I feel dirty and ungrateful. As a side note, anyone else feel like "come back to bed" was his "gravity" before he had gravity?

[@CalabrianVince]

Covered in rain was his “gravity” before gravity

[@gungadubs823]

Let’s gooo Every time I see him come up i know I’m up for a treat

[@brownsworthy7323]

This song was my everything near twenty years ago when I was seeing a girl whom was in a bad relationship and I was her man on the side. It was an intense, deeply romantic relationship that despite our bond was destined to fail and this song has been my reminder ever since and never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

[@kme06d]

Love Man On the Side! I wish we had a better recording of the Any Given Thursday version because it was amazing. The crowd noise is just too much on that filmed concert to really enjoy his playing.

[@marcosaraujo3555]

John actually has a recorded version of this song in an album he released with Clay Cook, it’s really underground tho

[@TheSneakerSickness]

I clicked this thinking “if it’s anything other than man on the side I’ll be disappointed” and... I wasn’t disappointed lol

[@daddychan7]

Covered in rain

[@TheNinnyfee]

The song is on the live album "Any Given Thursday" as a combination "Lenny/Man on the Side".

[@dibyayan388]

There's a demo version he recorded for Lo-fi Masters with Clay Cook, its on youtube. And Clay Cook actually did a proper studio recording of the song which is on Spotify as well.

[@Rocketmanrun]

Btw this was written by John and Clay Cook. Clay has a version on Spotify

[@WILSHIRE25]

Man for someone so great at guitar im really surprised your playing it wrong.

[@ziphrox]

Amazing song, probably not that well known because we don't have alot of recordings of it and is a live-only song

[@JackHixon]

YELLED MAN ON THE SIDE quicker than I have ever in my whole life

[@dudustickytricks]

This song and Covered in Rain from his early live album completely changed my impression of and respect for JM. I was so ignorant of his skill and work, having only heard the pop radio hits, before then. Man, was I dumb!

[@fastkikfk3310]

Tank you, John Mayer is my favorito guitarra player In this moment and I Think i now all about himself - this is what I said before I click on this video, Tank you, and can you make more videos talking about John Mayer please 🥺

[@synergyjohnscreek]

It’s because he didn’t write it. Clay Cook did, who was the literal man on the side back in the early days .

[@tekstephens]

See that’s what I thought. Then John went on stage and said this was a song HE wrote about a girl at Berklee (there’s a vid here on KZbin about it). I know him and Clay have both performed this song but I wonder who actually wrote it? Maybe it was a joint thing lol

[@jonp4076]

True fans know man on the side from the any given Thursday live album. Hardcore stans know it from the lofi masters demo with clay cook

[@tomperkins6424]

What was the gear setup? (amp, pedal boxes etc.)

[@diegomahoudeau934]

Berklee vibes am I right? :)

[@kiwi_wolf2805]

Some more unknown ones taking on water and lifelines

[@JonKaneshiroGuitar]

Can’t take that plane! Unreleased bonus track from Continuum.

[@RealRowdy0]

Its insane to think JM was just a freshman when he wrote Lenny/Man On The Side. The guy is so musically talented. It’s a shame many people just can’t seem to look at him other than a pretty boy mediocre guitarist who just writes pop music to get inside girl’s pants.

[@elihintz5620]

I hope you know that Lenny isn’t his song. While he plays a great cover, it was written by John’s idol, Stevie Ray Vaughan

[@RealRowdy0]

Eli Hintz Yeah ik I just mentioned Lenny cuz he has performed them together hence the name

[@omarabz4129]

YOU KIDDING ME , HARDCORE MAYER FANS LOVE THIS SONG

[@TheYoupi1997]

Hey, man! Just wanted to let you know that this is not at all how john plays it. There is a live video of him playing it on the 8/20/08 where you can clearly see what hes playing.

[@mattjanes875]

Thanks for posting this. The way he’s playing it only makes the song more difficult to play. Most of the verse section of this song can be played in mostly the same position with very little movement. If anyone wants the most accurate tab out there just google “Catherine Gagne John Mayer Man On the Side Tab”. In the early days of people tabbing out JMs songs, she was a legend.

[@betty4774]

John Mayer & Clay Cook - Lo-Fi Masters Demos (1998)

[@ngoodman5340]

I love that he’s using the John Mayer signature for this.

[@davidnunes1754]

one of my favourite songs of his!

[@davidnorman708]

do habits of Tyler Larson

[@hyrumgomez3969]

Do COVERED IN RAIN. Been a John Mayer fan for 6 yes and I JUST found COVERED IN RAIN a week ago.

[@cheeseUout]

I USED TO PLAY THAT SONG IN HIGH SCHOOL! I gave me so many points in the "cool" department. I need to pick up my acoustic and figure out how to play that again.

[@claudeman]

I really wish he had a good studio version of this song. There's too much screaming in the Any Given Thursday recording. There is a "demo" version if you look it up.

[@SaiRam-nz9sy]

This v/s the chord porn version Started with this as the base, chord porn version for the exact chords, used this tutorial for the embellishments. Going good rn.

[@DorothyOzmaLover]

As a guitarist playin originals for bk trailers who's always been inspired by the John Mayer Trio, I liked your playing here since your tone is so clear and keep those melodic lines very pretty and steady. Nice accents that keep the ear captivated. Inspring!

[@jonathanratliff1501]

Covered in rain is definitely my favorite underappreciated JM tune

[@jonathanchristen2235]

Thought this would be Covered In Rain based on the title, but this song is just as good! :)

[@538-y6j]

Love man on the side! One of the best Mayer songs, he wrote it at Berklee I’m pretty sure at the same time as sucker and comfortable!!

[@williambaumert7726]

5:03 I see this as an (inverted) Esusmaj7 (E=root, B=5th, A=4th, Eb= maj7th) because it leads to Esus (E=root, A=4th, B=5th) which resolves to E (E=Root, Ab=Maj3rd, B=5th). But that's just my theoretical interpretation. Either way great video.

[@SaiRam-nz9sy]

Bruh I started from scratch, zero fingerpicking and knowledge of these chords. Took a solid month , add a few weeks maybe to get smooth flowy fingerpicking. Another month to get the chords as fluid as possible.. Started in September, now I'm nailing all chords smooth like butter . Now on to the licks and embellishments. TLDR ITS FUCKING DOABLE, PEOPLE. I'M DOING IT FOR A GIRL A LIKE AND TBH FEELS AMAZING TO NAIL THE SONG AGAIN AND AGAIN. TIP : embellishments and verse chords from this video, improvise the bridge from the original song and the chords for the main verse from the 'man on the side chord porn' tutorial will set you alrighty. Bottom note is : this song might be the best one to improve your phrasing and chord knowledge in this sweet scale of E major. Im fucking ruling and blazing through the fretboard on the E scale like crazy after learning this song. Well worth the 5 months .

[@elblopex]

-John, how many chords will your next song have? -Yes

[@the_fc4life]

"Epilogue" - Martin O'Donnell features John Mayer!! Now that's a deep cut! Check it out 😎

[@davidcunetta4081]

John usually plays the E major in the c-shape. Playing the open E string. And the E maj c-shape from fret 4 to 7. And he likes to play the B maj in the G-shape with the root on the 7th fret of course. At least on the intro and verse. Then he goes down to the e-shape open E maj chord and sort of walks up the neck. I’m sorry, but a lot of this video is not accurate. Still the same song. But dif vibe. Unless there is a video I have missed of Mayer. My favorite is the Any Given Sunday performance. With a little SRV “Lenny” splashed in. 🔥

[@cameroncouch3878]

Quick Fact: You can't play John Mayer songs w/o making weird facial expressions Like John does.

[@tmehlman16]

What about Another Kind of Green??? Another amazing Mayer song that few know about!!

[@umiloyayi]

Die hard JM fans would know that song and rate Any Given Thursday concert 2nd to Where The Light Is. Like me. So i assume this is just a clickbait.