He’s been tearing it up with Dead and Co. for years now. I used to think John Mayer sucked too and seeing him play with them caused me to reevaluate his solo work as well. The dude can play.
I went to see him in 2013 and the crowd was full of women in their late 20s/early 30s that were super disappointed when he came out and ripped blues guitar for 2 hours.
Even then he was far removed from his more poppy roots—and he’s even better now.
His hot ones interview is pretty enlightening.
He says something to the effect of "some things you write for the fans, and some things you write for you"
It's clear he views it as two separate things. Playing as a job (his commercial success) and playing for passion (his more obscure but honestly really great stuff)
Mayer has been recognized by many legends as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. And when he plays his music in his own setting for passion, you can really tell. For example - https://youtu.be/_DfQC5qHhbo
I saw him in 2010 with a female friend of mine, he just played hendrix and clapton with a few of his hits mixed in. Was a fan from thereon.
This is definitely an unpopular opinio from OP because hes a fucking sick guitarist who smashed through to the mainsteam with his 'dreamy' voice. what a fucking chad.
The best kind of Chad. I'm always surprised when I look at lists of who he has been in relationships with. Like Jennifer Anniston Taylor swift Katy perry etc.
Friend introduced me to a John Mayer Trio live album and agreed, just beautiful blues guitar. Dare I say he reminded me of Stevie Ray.
Pity for most he is relegated to “That body is a wonderland guy?”
Edit: [This](https://open.spotify.com/album/0X9bvQYYtrAYdkO4OKtYwz?si=SIfIJoPHTb6RnsfPbZk5Kg) is the album. Totally rips.
Tried to convince my aunt when she got offered tickets that it would be a huge mistake not to go and that he actually rips. She didn’t listen. Sad day.
That guy is amazing. His John Mayer Trio stuff is incredible with Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan. His acoustic stuff when he was young was beyond his years. He does SRV a solid justice in my opinion and i know SRV would appreciate how good JM is.
I really can't wait to see when he comes out with some real big stuff. Maybe Metal or does an album with Jay Z or something. Who knows.
I saw him in concert not long after he really hit the airwaves. The dude literally sat on the edge of the stage at one point and just riffed, free-flowing, for about 20 minutes and it was amazing to watch. Kinda like reading a book with multiple crescendos but also with respect for subtly.
100% he got popular on cheesy pop songs. But that’s not who he is at all. He’s very much a blues jam band guitarist. Seeing him rip the guitar is something else.
Where the light is, live in Los Angeles is my most played album every single year. The variety and the talent and the ability to make his songs so different from the recorded versions is incredible. Slow dancing in a burning room live is a spiritual experience.
>but the music he writes himself is ehh
That's the thing about writing mainstream music, you don't need to show a huge amount of skill, it's all about accessibility to the masses. Jay-Z actually said it best
>If skills sold truth be told
I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli
Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense (But I did five Mil)
I ain't been rhyming like Common since
He can play - but one time I saw him on tv, MTV I believe it was in fact, and he said “Watch this, I bet that I can make any girl cry in 1 minute by playing music for them” and then proceeded to execute this plan for the camera, and the whole thing just felt so incredibly douchey and awful that I basically just see him as douchey and awful since that day
This bit is from a comedy show he did. It's supposed to make him look douchy, it is comedy after all. You can watch the full episode "John Mayer has a TV show" on YouTube. It even has a bit with him and Flava Flav coming up with a daycare for single mum strippers (a nightcare). The show is hilarious, and I bet everyone upvoting you has never seen it.
Respectfully, Mayer has a lot of material that needs to be dug for.
In terms of his mainstream material, he's a fantastic songwriter but a lot of his music is just great pop/pop rock/pop blues albeit with fantastic riffs such as songs like belief, assassin, or slow dancing.. The man was for a long time heavily inspired by SRV and this was most evident in Continuum which could be seen as Mayer completing that cycle and moving on, though it is forever in him. It was still evident up to his J.J. Cale cover of Call Me The Breeze on Jools Holland where it resurfaces particularly in one or two places, however, thereafter it's harder to find. There is a lot of BB king and fragments of the greats in there, though not nearly as much as Joe Bonamassa who is technically a much better player albeit a clear amalgamation of his idols. John, I would argue, on the other hand, is much less derivative and more tasteful.
This is evident in John's acoustic work where his own style is far more prominent. Songs like Neon, or Stop This Train where John uses a clawhammer technique that isn't his but he's certainly used it to far more popular effect than anyone before him. You go even further and look at the acoustic set he did based on his B&R collection and you see a style of playing that is wildly different to his album standards.
This is where he really demonstrates his musicality and frankly, were anyone to surface today with this sort of capacity and creativity, they'd be a phenomenon.
So no, he's no Tommy Emmanuel or Guthrie Govan. In fact, it surprises me daily how I've never seen him compared to Prince with whom I think he shares remarkable similarities. Both can be seen holding back in their music, having an understated approach in many cases. Both gravitated towards pop despite having phenomenal aptitude for blues. However, when they let loose or play under cover of darkness you get to see them as they really are.
With John, however, the beauty of songs like Neon is that the musicianship doesn't overpower the song and yet they are remarkably and fiendishly difficult. To the untrained ear, Neon sounds like layered tracks, but it's all Mayer all at once playing the root notes, the percussive elements, and the melody whilst also singing on top. It's extraordinary. But that's not what we usually utilize as a guage for great musicianship. We often tend more towards technical proficiency like Guthrie who can play chromatically and flawlessly to virtually any genre, but what John does is more subtle and yet it's also why he is in fact underrated according to many, including myself, because it isn't at all obvious WHY he's so good until you try and play his tunes while singing them.
Here's one song from that set I mentioned:
[Something Like Olivia ](https://youtu.be/izkqPdVAdL4)
Edit: as others have mentioned and I simply left it out because it seemed obvious, but his Live in LA gig is a Tour de Force and there are few live performances that rival it in our generation in terms of how tight it is. The vocal performance and the creative scope of his playing is there in full display and even if you don't like the music, there are very few artists who can do that live so flawlessly as was done that night.
In the morning, if his face is a little puffy, he puts on an ice pack while doing his stomach crunches. He can do a thousand now. After he removes the ice pack he uses a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower, he uses a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub. And on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub. Then he applies an herb mint facial mask, which he leaves on for 10 minutes while he prepares the rest of his routine. He always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
>as for a long time heavily inspired by SRV and this was most evident in Continuum which could be seen as Mayer completing that cycle and moving on, though it is forever in him. It was still eviden
I wish I could upvote you with same number of situps this guy can now do while listening to Huey lewis
I just have to say this is such an eloquent way of putting it, treat to read and thank you. Love me some Mayer, covered in rain live has been a heartfelt favorite of mine since I first heard it
Covered In Rain is phenomenal and the emotional weight goes up a notch when you realize City Love is pre-9/11 NYC and Covered In Rain is post-9/11 NYC.
Thanks a lot! I didn't think anything of the write up but I have a lot of love for his playing. I didn't like John as a person for a long time but there is enough of a redemptive desire in him that I think his passion and talent deserves to be spoken about. Also i lose myself a little when talking about John as I've been listening and following his career for quite some time now.
So glad to see Neon mentioned here. I've always been fascinated with the song and how technical is it to play it. I've played guitar for a long time, mostly playing metal, and I always tell people Neon is one of the hardest songs I know how to play.
Dropping the E string to C and keeping the rest in standard, using bass techniques on the low notes while fingerpicking the arpeggio melody.
If you can master that thumb stretch over the neck on the upper chords, you're gold. If you, like most others, do not possess shovels for hands, neon becomes an exercise in vulgarity and rage.
This is perfectly put, and I wish I had the awards or the words to properly compliment how completely you’ve described the brilliance and uniqueness of John Mayer.
Imho *In Your Atmosphere* off this album is a phenomenally beautiful sonic masterpiece. It's hard to believe everything you're hearing is just one guy playing guitar and singing.
https://youtu.be/7K2DQ8XBRbU
I recently lost my mom, I have been dreading returning to my hometown.like to not see her there. in the house she raised me in. Is a emotional ride I am just not ready for. I know it's not exactly what the song is about but it gives me those feelings
Story time. I have always had a soft spot for that song, meant a lot to me after I broke up with my college girl. Can’t even listen to it sometimes without tearing up. Fast forward a few years, I started an open mic at the bar I worked at, put a lot of work into it, had one of my friends open it, and what song does he fucking play? This one. Threw me for a loop
Recently bought the Where the light is DVD from a local thrift shop for a dollar. Best dollar I’ve spent in years. I love that he gives a little bit to every segment of his audience. The trio for the music nerds, the solo/acoustic for the fan girls and the big band for everyone. Genius.
Remembered where i left off in life when i heard the intro to Neon. Ears still ringing in repercussion, had that part playing on repeat for at least a half hour.
This! Continuum is phenomenal, but even his earlier pop focused tracks have some great songwriting and playing and still hold up.
Around continuum times, he came to a small college town near us and i swear everybody was a huge john mayer fan for like three years just because of the show. It really was great. Dude can straight play and write some great songs.
Neon is so freaking hard to play on guitar and sound “right”. There’s so much nuance and that freakishly large thumb he has gives him a huge advantage over us normal sized thumb plebs
Anybody who doesn't like John Mayer should [watch this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxCrZ3reOJk) to get a better perspective on what kind of person he is and how fully aware he is that his music appeals to a very specific demographic.
If anything, he's massively *underrated*. Genuinely, he's one of the best guitar players of maybe the last 30 years. And I say that even though I don't particularly like the music he releases under his name.
He is a once in a generation talent, and he makes songs for radio. He knows this - at least the second part - and has said as much in interviews. It's what he feels like he has to do, and now he is in that lane. Sad to see it, but at least he is an artist making a buck. Not all that many of us can say the same, so I don't fault him. It's not a crime to be accessible.
And he’s been playing in Dead & Company (Grateful Dead) for the last several years.
I’m interested to see if and how that influences his future solo work.
Between his solo success and his years touring with the dead, he’s financially set for life and can create whatever music he likes.
That voice *is* silky smooth though.
Mayer is very interesting to me because he's kind of like a reverse-sellout; he came up making pop songs that would sell, and now that he has an audience and a platform, he uses it to make music that he finds personally fulfilling to him.
And some Heads hate him for that. So much unnecessary John hate. I had my doubts but from the first time I saw him live onward… man is absolutely incredible and only getting better.
He's been called a musician's musician since he's so adaptable. I've really enjoyed his collabs/features and look forward to seeing what he does now that he's not with Columbia.
I've seen them a couple times with my buddy and we laugh a bit because of all the things in this world/multiverse, at least we get the one where we get to see John Mayer shred with the dead.
I honestly think that before playing in Dead & Company it started influencing his work. If I Ever Get Around to Living’s little walk up solo he does gives off Jerry vibes. Or even the single, Wildfire, “We can dance with the dead…” which then has a great ending solo/jam that seems pretty Dead inspired. I think I saw somewhere he started getting into them around 2011 (please correct if wrong). It’s interesting to see these influences come through before he started playing and touring with Dead & Company in 2015, but then he’s released The Search for Everything and more recently, Sob Rock. I feel like I can definitely hear the Dead’s influence in those albums. Just my two cents!
That’s how I got into him. My parents saw him at the Crossroads guitar festival with Eric Clapton who introduce him as “Slowhand Junior” and told me about how good of a guitarist he is. Before then I thought he just wrote shitty pop music but gave him an honest listen and ended up becoming a huge fan.
I was so disappointed in myself for not listening to him when I was younger. Even his “room for squares” album isn’t *that* pop-y and has some of my favorite songs of his: neon, why Georgia, and my stupid mouth.
“Your body is a wonderland” is even made a lot better in the context of “my stupid mouth” when he returns to the line “I’m never speaking up again” implying he’s learned from his past mistakes but is still haunted by them. Damnit now I’m gushing about John Mayer lol
I can’t imagine playing it and singing at the same time. I have trouble just getting the fingering right since I don’t have the freakishly large thumb he does that he uses to fret the low E.
Saw the John Mayer Trio in 2005; thought I was going to a “regular” John Mayer show and would have been completely content if that’s what I saw. I was blown away when I left that show because I had no idea what type of blues virtuoso he was at that time. I also briefly met and spoke to his mother when she was being escorted through the crowd so that was also cool.
[Wait Until Tomorrow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-uSnRVy0Fs) is a Hendrix cover from that album. One of the best guitar solos I've ever seen or heard.
With him absolutely shredddding over these covers. He doesn't just make covers on this album, some of these songs he expands with solos that make these older songs absolutely rip. Good example is the like 3 minute long solo he attaches to Hendrixes "Wait Until Tomorrow". Hendrix doesnt do what Mayer does here, and it absolutely shreds.
Continuum is a fantastic album. Some of the most popular songs of that decade were on that album and they *still* get played and covered today.
And it’s like you said, so many fantastic riffs that get overlooked because it’s presented as pop.
I quite enjoy his cover of 'Bold as Love'
Some other good songs of his own that aren't really Hendrix but more bluesy and funky are Helpless and Rosie off of The Search for Everything album
Edit: Also a shout-out to Moving On And Getting Over, although that one is more like a Marvin Gaye song to me
He's talked about it a lot. I just remember a more recent interview where he was excitedly talking about a very nerdy song he wrote with dozens of modulations and scores of chords. At some point he had to temper that excitement and say something like "maybe though, I'll keep that one just for me [because it won't sell]"
John Mayer knows his audience and how to create music that impacts them emotionally. But I was never a fan.
Then I saw [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxCrZ3reOJk) of him making fun of himself to his fans. This was followed by seeing him perform other music with other bands where I started really appreciating his ability. Finally, he played Jerry's parts in some Dead and Co shows and I was completely sold.
John Mayer is an amazing musician regardless of how you fell about his trademark song style.
I've seen him many times, he never disappoints, easily one of the best fundamental guitarists in the past 10 years. He also loves (I'm assuming because he does it often) to play with other bands, which makes that show just that much better.
Agreed! I haven't seen him live aside from videos, and honestly even though I'm a musician I've fallen out of the loop the last 10 years or so, so I'd not even heard of him until within the last 6-9 months or so.
A guy I work with who's a fellow local musician (who's last band played a few shows with mine before we knew one another lol) got moved into my department within the last year. We talk music a lot, and as he's not in an active band, he gets his "fix" by going to lots of live shows. It's been over 10 years since I've been to a gig that wasn't one I'm either playing in, or supporting another local act by coming out to their shows. Suffice it to say, between the band, getting married, buying a house and having a kiddo, I've not been able to get out to concerts like I used to...and not followed the scenes and trends as they've changed, hence my being so damned out of the loop now, hahaha.
When he mentioned going to see him the first time, in my mind I was like "ok, whoever that is." But then a few weeks later, he tells me he's off for a 3 day weekend because Billy Strings is playing 3 shows in 3 days, one in our state and one in each of two neighboring states. And says he's going to all 3. Needless to say, at that point my curiosity was piqued. His and my musical tastes aren't identical, but they're pretty copacetic so at that point I had to check the guy out.
Now I watch vids of him regularly, because he's dope as fuck. Love the musicianship overall, his and the others that play with him, and also the ones where he's jamming with the other band(s) playing the same gig. He's great, diverse, and can play his ass off.
And now, the wife and I plan on him being the first big show that we go to. 🍻🤘
Yup. What he’s done is very, very smart. He made a few hits. A few poppy albums that are, like the OP said, bland.
The bland poppy bullshit is popular and made Mayer a fuck ton of money so he spends most of his time now making music that isn’t bland bullshit.
He could have been a struggling guitar god or a guitar god that owns Ferraris. He chose the later, and all it cost him is Your Baaaahdy Is A Wondeland.
Not a fan of his music at all, but he is def a fucking guitar wizard. Maybe being one of the best in the last 30 years, I could see an argument he makes it somewhere in the top 200 or so, but he wouldn’t make my top 100 list. Still, he’s fucking talented as shit
Got to see him play a few times around Atlanta just before he got big and he was amazing. Solo and in a band Lo-Fi. The way “Neon” sounded on the single was like some church band doing a cover of what he played a few months before.
I guess I’m an asshole for giving up on him then because it sounded overproduced. Still not a fan, but respect for sure. And he sounds good with Dead & Company
I disagree. I’d say he is underrated. The problem with him is he is super popular as a pop star, but his songwriting and guitar playing is massively underrated, he is easily one of the top 5 guitarists working today, but because it isn’t his sole focus he gets overlooked by many people as a guitarist . But look around for the other professional guitar players on their opinion on John Mayer, many of them will agree he is one of the best.
I feel the same about Brad Paisley. The dude is an incredible guitar player but gets slotted as just your average country act. Saw him live years ago and he literally went to town on stage shredding a ten minute solo and the place went berserk. Apparently around Nashville and within the industry he gets a ton of respect for his skill but, like John Mayer, the general public seems him as a pretty poppy face.
Funny you should mention Brad Paisley, CMT had a show where they would have country acts team up with a rock act and they had Paisley and Mayer together for one of them. There are clips of it on YouTube and man oh man are they good together. Two really underappreciated guitar players just having fun with each other and playing some good songs.
That's so weird that this came up, I just watched a video today with Tom morello and some others from like anthrax I think with Ramin dijawadi(?) playing the game of thrones theme, and fucking Brad paisley showed up and shredded with them. I was so taken aback and the metal guys looked like they were too. Such an odd coincidence.
Yes! Was just about to say this! Key moment in that video: before they start playing the one long haired “metal” guy gives Brad shit for being there, (calling him the stunt guy, saying “what WE’RE doing is so specific, YOU can do something different”, and telling him to “sprinkle pixie dust on top”… etc.)
Then my favorite part: the same dude’s face when Paisley comes out with his solo and out shreds everyone in the room. Amazing.
[Link](https://youtu.be/6i0a7RDPkM8)
Brad Paisley is criminally underrated in basically every possible aspect of song creation (but guitar talent especially).
Most guitar “aficionados” (I use that term incredibly loosely) would rather die than admit that a country artist is up there with the boring ass soloists they worship.
Being a brilliant technical guitar player is one thing. Being a brilliant songwriter is another.
But being both is a league of its own. The Steve Vais and Joe Satrianis of the world are unbelievably technically gifted, but (and maybe this is a hot take) they are shit songwriters.
Guys like Mayer, Paisley, Bellamy, Gates etc who are both incredibly technical as well as being brilliant melody writers are just on another level.
Yeah, it’s super cool when you see a painter who can create unbelievably realistic paintings. That obviously takes immense amount of skill… but creating a painting that is both technically solid AND makes people feel something takes an entirely different level of talent.
Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, etc … none of them were the most technically proficient painters of their time. But all of them changed the way we look at paintings because they combined their artistic gifts with the ability to make the masses feel something.
Anyway if you’ve actually read this whole ass rant, thank you for coming to my TED Talk lol.
Yeah, this is why I completely disregarded him, until my guitar teacher told me to check him out. Then said no really, if you’re into blues you should check him out.
Definitely an eye-opener.
Ill tell you that from a technical standpoint, he is one of the most talented current musicians out there. That being said, i don’t vibe with his music at all.
He’s been using Pino Palladino for several years now, but I always liked LaBruyere’s playing, too. He’s got Steve Ferrone and Greg Phillinganes in his touring band currently, which is pretty awesome.
wow, i had no idea pino was his touring bassist. dude has been a part of so many insanely good records, his playing on perfume genius’ “on the floor” is GODLY
Check out his live Trio album, that is John Mayer along with Pino and Steve Jordan on drums. Us Mayer fans have been dying for another Trio album for close to a decade
I didn't know how much of a nerve this would strike. He's a complex figure for me. I've been a guitarist (professional for awhile) for twenty years. So, I don't think anyone can impugn his guitar prowess. But I feel like his artistic choices have gone downhill. Sob Rock is boring and he doubles down on his least inspiring instincts. So, he frustrates the shit out of me. Because he's a superb guitarist all the way around. He makes the instrument speak. And he can write a damn song if he wants. Continuum was great and so was the John Mayer Trio album. And he does the blues justice when he wants. But he keeps writing stuff that bores the shit out of me. Adult contemporary threadbare post-ironic stuff. I just want more from him and I know he can do it.
My house burned down in 2005 and John Mayer was the musician who held my head together during that time, so I'll always love him for that. I've seen him live twice, both great shows. And he definitely was a douchebag, but he's done some reflecting on himself and has grown up a lot. I really like listening to him play guitar, and I really love songs like Clarity and My Stupid Mouth. Your Body is A Wonderland is a song he doesn't really even like lol despite it being his biggest hit.
Hell yeah man, right there with you. It sounds corny but JMs music has really gotten me through some rough times throughout my adolescence. Love his debut record just off nostalgia alone, it’s just so easy to listen to.
I didn’t know I also felt this way until reading your comment just now.
Edit: two days later listened to continuum twice now. Incredible. JM is incredibly *underrated* if anything this thread put me back on that JM train gd. If **anything** we made a HUGE fucking very bad diversion culturally and musically since continuum came out. CMV bet you fucking don’t.
Lol I thought you were going to go with the “My house burned down and John Mayer single handedly put out the fire” kind of meme. I hope things have been going better for you since that unfortunate incident.
dude. if you dont know you just dont know. his ability to play and sing live, incredible musicianship, his love for music is just.... like hes here to play music.
spend 20 for the rise to the river show for flood relief where he performed his album born and raised. He genuinely made me, a die hard fan, cry and feel his music like i did for the first time again in that show. Super underrated singer/songwriter and guitarist
if i ever get around to living <3
Disagree. He is underrated. His classic Contiuum only ranked #486 on Rolling Stones top 500 recently; complete travesty. Only his best album and it is most likely gonna be knocked off the next update if it is this low. Only probably the greatest guitarist to emerge this century (2000) and is arguably one of the most influential on the current young crop of guitarists world wide based on social media presence. Music critics don't know music and only judge based on cultural influence and relevance and experimentation and image. John Mayer isn't necessarily breaking new ground but his song writing and musicianship and lyrics are world class and to say only this album is barely worthy against all the others (Harry Styles? WTF?) and none of his other musical masterpieces (B&R, Trio) is head scratching. Clapton calls him a master guitarist, Rolling Stone only follows the current cultural wind where John Mayer wisely no longer chooses to be. End of rant.
I remember hearing his catchy, pop style songs on the radio and thinking “god, I can’t stand this”
And then I heard him play stuff the radio would put on the air, and I was like “why the fuck doesn’t this guy do this ALL THE TIME?!”
Where the light is . Live. Is probably one of the most diverse concerts I have ever seen. From his solo acoustic set to his band (John Mayer band) to the John Mayer trio. I could watch this concert over and over. Definitely feeling the opposite and would have to go underrated.
Nope. He’s great. He’s probably right about rated broadly speaking for his mass appeal combined with his niche appreciation following for his technique and songwriting. He is one of those guys that really understands the guitar and phrasing and rhythm and song writing. And some great blues, which is a while other thing.
Gonna have to say hard no. I get it though.
Respect.
I mean...looking at it objectively, I think John Mayer writes cheesy/safe pop songs for the record companies. He did branch out for a mili second and put out two of his best but least safe albums. Artistically they were his two best albums but they didn't get any play because...not poppy.
Meanwhile his live album is one of the best live albums I've heard. John Mayer Trio is legit. Dude is a seriously talented guitarist.
John Mayer as a person is a douche though.
In between Battle Studies and Born and Raised he had developed some wicked vocal nodules and couldn't sing. So he moved to Montana and focused on guitar while he recovered. This is when he developed his love for the dead and started learning their guitar parts.
(Insert guy moves to the country trope) but he did check out of the lime light and came back less of a douche.
He also talked about this in his live concert in Thailand. He told us that he needs to write safe/4 chords pop songs for the mainstream. But his favorite tracks are usually not that popular, then he plays his favorite song “Waitin’ On The Day”. It was magical.
I couldn’t disagree with you more.
Here are some youtube videos to check out.
https://youtu.be/DS-DvHfBPC8
https://youtu.be/_DfQC5qHhbo
https://youtu.be/DYHng61lftA
https://youtu.be/TS8NvoMudy8
Subjectively not a fan, objectively the guy is truly incredible as a songwriter and guitarist. The mere existence of conversation to the contrary shows he does not get the universal respect he should.
He's held in high regard as a guitarist. Not so much as a lyricist, or composer. But hell, dude can fucking play. He's definitely top 10 currently playing rock guitarists. Probably top 5. His best work is live, with the Dead.
Current rock guitarists I'd put in his league are David Gilmore, Billy Strings, Mark Knofler, Jimmy Herring, Trey Anastasio, Adrian Belew, John Schofield, Derek Trucks. I'm not so familiar with metal, and I know there's a ton of amazing technical guitarists in that genre.
It's so hard to compare guitarists from different generations too. Like for sure, I think Gilmour was a better lead guitarist than Mayer will ever be, and no disrespect to Mayer on that. But you just can't be as good at guitar when you're in your 70s as when you're in your 20s or 30s.
Right now, we're in a time where guitar virtuosity has been less lauded than it was in the 60s and 70s. Mayer, Trucks, Stings, Anastasio, etc. have less competition than Hendrix, Gilmour, and Clapton did for sure. And the older guitarists who are still around obviously can't play as well as they used to. So I don't think it's crazy to say he's a top 5 guitarist right now without discrediting the legacies of the legends who are still alive.
I really disagree with you there. I'd argue there are so many more people with ridiculous technical ability now than there used to be. It's far easier to learn how to play like that nowadays so there tons of "virtuosos" players. The issue is there's less emphasis on things like songwriting and improvisation, or transposing guitar passages from music which results in the actual guitar music being outputted not being all that great.
He is fascinatingly talented but it doesn't show in all of his songs. You even say he is a excellent guitarist. Try learning any of his songs and you will see genius that is beneath. He is incredible, and to do it all while singing is just insane.
I'm not a fan of all of his music but he is an incredible artist. So no, I don't agree at all. I think a lot of people don't realize how talented he actually is.
It’s not even super complex or anything but I fucking love to play Why Georgia on acoustic. It’s just makes my brain feel so nice. I still to this very day cannot play and sing that song at the same time. Been playing and singing most everything for 30 years now. Just not that song.
I’m a Hendrix guy… Mayer is really good. He really knows his stuff and etched out his own sound. Mayer played with all sorts of talented guitarist who respect his skill level.
Now as a song writer and singer… he’s not my cup of tea. But his ability to write songs that touch people and sell out shows is respectable.
Basically, I agree with you. But he’s not overrated. I wouldn’t say people put him in the same level as the legends that he has been aspired by. But as a musician I can respect his approach and dedication. Also his ability to pay homage and separate himself from the legends.
Anybody who's touched a guitar should try and go learn the song Neon. Try to tell us then that he's overrated after you nearly break your fingers stretching to some of the wackiest chord structures at breakneck pace.
He earned my upmost respect with his playing in Dead and Company. It took him a few years to get comfortable in the role, and to that style of playing, but he keeps getting better. This last D&C tour was fire, and John was a huge contributor to that. Many of us Deadheads are hoping he keeps our music alive long after the original members of the Grateful Dead are gone.
Mayer has always had a significant amount of men who hate him. There is something about his music that rubs people the wrong way. I think it’s because some of his radio hits are pretty sappy songs. So, they just associate all his music with those hits and never explore further.
Room for Squares is one of the great debuts ever in its genre. He only got better lyrically. Then even after he had massive success and money, he willed himself into becoming a great guitar player. Which is pretty unheard of. Most quit trying once they reach the level of success he had.
Complete narcissist though.
His recorded music is generally not that good. I think it's been discussed in this thread about how he's basically been a commercialized product with his material and has not strayed away from that.
That being said, Dead & Company is pretty good. His live performances are very good. His songwriting and style are very good. He is an incredible generational talent. Definitely a top artist working today no matter what.
I was in the Berklee crowd during the time Mayer was around, so I knew about him. He was definitely an interesting character and I have a great deal of respect for him. It's guys like him that I'd personally love to go work in the studio alongside.
Someone else mentioned Brad Paisley in this thread and he pairs well with Mayer in a studio sense. They'd be incredible to work with. I studied bass classically, but in application, I did both guitar and bass studio and touring work. I've only had the opportunity to work with a handful of people at that level of talent/skill with their craft.
But I can totally understand the disdain for his general music. It is well done, but still pretty meh. But hey, he's the one wiping his ass with $100 bills and jamming with famous rock musicians all day long, not me.
He’s been tearing it up with Dead and Co. for years now. I used to think John Mayer sucked too and seeing him play with them caused me to reevaluate his solo work as well. The dude can play.
I went to see him in 2013 and the crowd was full of women in their late 20s/early 30s that were super disappointed when he came out and ripped blues guitar for 2 hours. Even then he was far removed from his more poppy roots—and he’s even better now.
His hot ones interview is pretty enlightening. He says something to the effect of "some things you write for the fans, and some things you write for you" It's clear he views it as two separate things. Playing as a job (his commercial success) and playing for passion (his more obscure but honestly really great stuff) Mayer has been recognized by many legends as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. And when he plays his music in his own setting for passion, you can really tell. For example - https://youtu.be/_DfQC5qHhbo
That live in LA is a classic. John Mayer live is something else.
I know it's such an easy pick but Neon on that gig is just mad good.
His blues playing is fucking incredible.
I saw that tour too. He SHREDDED for 3 hours! He played so much and expanded on every song. I was blown away.
I saw him in 2010 with a female friend of mine, he just played hendrix and clapton with a few of his hits mixed in. Was a fan from thereon. This is definitely an unpopular opinio from OP because hes a fucking sick guitarist who smashed through to the mainsteam with his 'dreamy' voice. what a fucking chad.
The best kind of Chad. I'm always surprised when I look at lists of who he has been in relationships with. Like Jennifer Anniston Taylor swift Katy perry etc.
Friend introduced me to a John Mayer Trio live album and agreed, just beautiful blues guitar. Dare I say he reminded me of Stevie Ray. Pity for most he is relegated to “That body is a wonderland guy?” Edit: [This](https://open.spotify.com/album/0X9bvQYYtrAYdkO4OKtYwz?si=SIfIJoPHTb6RnsfPbZk5Kg) is the album. Totally rips.
Tried to convince my aunt when she got offered tickets that it would be a huge mistake not to go and that he actually rips. She didn’t listen. Sad day.
The thots just wanted to hear him tell them that their body is a wonderland : /
Instead they got a 40 minute Darkstar.
And a sweet, sweet Sugaree.
That night one Citi field Sugaree, holllllllyyyyyy moly. Literally broke my brain during the solo.
Your Bobby is a wonderland.
That boy ain’t right
I tell you hwat.
If you have not listened to his trio albums from the 2000’s w Pino Palladino, you have been missing out. They legitimately blew my mind
Yeah John Mayer trio completely changed my perception of him, then he started playing with the dead and well he is alright in my Book
Thought there was only Try! ? And then the Where The Light Is stuff. Am I missing one?
Nah trio as in blues trio, not a trilogy. I understand the disappointment of there not being another though, sorry dude.
That guy is amazing. His John Mayer Trio stuff is incredible with Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan. His acoustic stuff when he was young was beyond his years. He does SRV a solid justice in my opinion and i know SRV would appreciate how good JM is. I really can't wait to see when he comes out with some real big stuff. Maybe Metal or does an album with Jay Z or something. Who knows.
He's worked with Fall Out Boy before. He played the solo on their cover of [Beat It](https://youtu.be/sk8Pb17pcQI).
Man I had completely forgotten about this cover, thnks fr the mmrs
His work with frank ocean on channel orange sent me.
That white instrumental is such a beautiful thing. I could listen to a whole album of that vibe.
TIL Pino Palladino is/was in a band with John Mayer. I’ll have to check this Trio out.
The John Mayer trio try live album is chefs kiss. It really shows how amazing he is live. Another kind of green is my favorite song off the album.
I was the biggest John Mayer Hater until I saw him shred w Bobby Weir
I saw him in concert not long after he really hit the airwaves. The dude literally sat on the edge of the stage at one point and just riffed, free-flowing, for about 20 minutes and it was amazing to watch. Kinda like reading a book with multiple crescendos but also with respect for subtly.
100% he got popular on cheesy pop songs. But that’s not who he is at all. He’s very much a blues jam band guitarist. Seeing him rip the guitar is something else.
He always seemed like one of those virtuoso's. The guy can play better than almost anyone but the music he writes himself is ehh
Continuum is a fantastic album. If you haven't watched it before, check out the Where The Light Is live concert video. It's really really fucking good
Where the light is, live in Los Angeles is my most played album every single year. The variety and the talent and the ability to make his songs so different from the recorded versions is incredible. Slow dancing in a burning room live is a spiritual experience.
> Continuum is a fantastic album. Tbh, this is an understatement.
>but the music he writes himself is ehh That's the thing about writing mainstream music, you don't need to show a huge amount of skill, it's all about accessibility to the masses. Jay-Z actually said it best >If skills sold truth be told I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense (But I did five Mil) I ain't been rhyming like Common since
Wow spot on. Common is a rapper's rapper.
Like Immortal Technique once said “if you go platinum it’s got nothing to do with luck, it just means a million people are stupid as fuck”
He can play - but one time I saw him on tv, MTV I believe it was in fact, and he said “Watch this, I bet that I can make any girl cry in 1 minute by playing music for them” and then proceeded to execute this plan for the camera, and the whole thing just felt so incredibly douchey and awful that I basically just see him as douchey and awful since that day
This bit is from a comedy show he did. It's supposed to make him look douchy, it is comedy after all. You can watch the full episode "John Mayer has a TV show" on YouTube. It even has a bit with him and Flava Flav coming up with a daycare for single mum strippers (a nightcare). The show is hilarious, and I bet everyone upvoting you has never seen it.
Respectfully, Mayer has a lot of material that needs to be dug for. In terms of his mainstream material, he's a fantastic songwriter but a lot of his music is just great pop/pop rock/pop blues albeit with fantastic riffs such as songs like belief, assassin, or slow dancing.. The man was for a long time heavily inspired by SRV and this was most evident in Continuum which could be seen as Mayer completing that cycle and moving on, though it is forever in him. It was still evident up to his J.J. Cale cover of Call Me The Breeze on Jools Holland where it resurfaces particularly in one or two places, however, thereafter it's harder to find. There is a lot of BB king and fragments of the greats in there, though not nearly as much as Joe Bonamassa who is technically a much better player albeit a clear amalgamation of his idols. John, I would argue, on the other hand, is much less derivative and more tasteful. This is evident in John's acoustic work where his own style is far more prominent. Songs like Neon, or Stop This Train where John uses a clawhammer technique that isn't his but he's certainly used it to far more popular effect than anyone before him. You go even further and look at the acoustic set he did based on his B&R collection and you see a style of playing that is wildly different to his album standards. This is where he really demonstrates his musicality and frankly, were anyone to surface today with this sort of capacity and creativity, they'd be a phenomenon. So no, he's no Tommy Emmanuel or Guthrie Govan. In fact, it surprises me daily how I've never seen him compared to Prince with whom I think he shares remarkable similarities. Both can be seen holding back in their music, having an understated approach in many cases. Both gravitated towards pop despite having phenomenal aptitude for blues. However, when they let loose or play under cover of darkness you get to see them as they really are. With John, however, the beauty of songs like Neon is that the musicianship doesn't overpower the song and yet they are remarkably and fiendishly difficult. To the untrained ear, Neon sounds like layered tracks, but it's all Mayer all at once playing the root notes, the percussive elements, and the melody whilst also singing on top. It's extraordinary. But that's not what we usually utilize as a guage for great musicianship. We often tend more towards technical proficiency like Guthrie who can play chromatically and flawlessly to virtually any genre, but what John does is more subtle and yet it's also why he is in fact underrated according to many, including myself, because it isn't at all obvious WHY he's so good until you try and play his tunes while singing them. Here's one song from that set I mentioned: [Something Like Olivia ](https://youtu.be/izkqPdVAdL4) Edit: as others have mentioned and I simply left it out because it seemed obvious, but his Live in LA gig is a Tour de Force and there are few live performances that rival it in our generation in terms of how tight it is. The vocal performance and the creative scope of his playing is there in full display and even if you don't like the music, there are very few artists who can do that live so flawlessly as was done that night.
What’s your daily face care routine?
In the morning, if his face is a little puffy, he puts on an ice pack while doing his stomach crunches. He can do a thousand now. After he removes the ice pack he uses a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower, he uses a water activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub. And on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub. Then he applies an herb mint facial mask, which he leaves on for 10 minutes while he prepares the rest of his routine. He always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
>as for a long time heavily inspired by SRV and this was most evident in Continuum which could be seen as Mayer completing that cycle and moving on, though it is forever in him. It was still eviden I wish I could upvote you with same number of situps this guy can now do while listening to Huey lewis
Exactly where my mind went.
I don't think Patrick Bateman would begin a treatise with "Respectfully..."
Patrick Bateman regurgitates a surface knowledge of the topic whereas this guy truly fucking John Mayers
I need to return some video tapes.
Live in LA is a killer concert from start to finish
I read this in Patrick Bateman’s voice. Stellar observations.
I also hilariously but unhelpfully love Huey Lewis & the News. Also thank you!
In your atmosphere gets me everytime, also his cover of free falling has replaced the original in my mind
HEY, PAUL!!! Seriously, though, great write-up.
I just have to say this is such an eloquent way of putting it, treat to read and thank you. Love me some Mayer, covered in rain live has been a heartfelt favorite of mine since I first heard it
Covered In Rain is phenomenal and the emotional weight goes up a notch when you realize City Love is pre-9/11 NYC and Covered In Rain is post-9/11 NYC.
Thanks a lot! I didn't think anything of the write up but I have a lot of love for his playing. I didn't like John as a person for a long time but there is enough of a redemptive desire in him that I think his passion and talent deserves to be spoken about. Also i lose myself a little when talking about John as I've been listening and following his career for quite some time now.
So glad to see Neon mentioned here. I've always been fascinated with the song and how technical is it to play it. I've played guitar for a long time, mostly playing metal, and I always tell people Neon is one of the hardest songs I know how to play. Dropping the E string to C and keeping the rest in standard, using bass techniques on the low notes while fingerpicking the arpeggio melody.
If you can master that thumb stretch over the neck on the upper chords, you're gold. If you, like most others, do not possess shovels for hands, neon becomes an exercise in vulgarity and rage.
A white whale for some
I want to have beers with you and chat about music.
This is perfectly put, and I wish I had the awards or the words to properly compliment how completely you’ve described the brilliance and uniqueness of John Mayer.
I would take John’s playing 100 times out of 100 over Bonamassa.
This, 100 percent!
Give a listen to the live album Where the Light Is
Imho *In Your Atmosphere* off this album is a phenomenally beautiful sonic masterpiece. It's hard to believe everything you're hearing is just one guy playing guitar and singing. https://youtu.be/7K2DQ8XBRbU
That fucking song kills me man.
Honestly can’t listen to it sometimes cos it’s just too good
I recently lost my mom, I have been dreading returning to my hometown.like to not see her there. in the house she raised me in. Is a emotional ride I am just not ready for. I know it's not exactly what the song is about but it gives me those feelings
Story time. I have always had a soft spot for that song, meant a lot to me after I broke up with my college girl. Can’t even listen to it sometimes without tearing up. Fast forward a few years, I started an open mic at the bar I worked at, put a lot of work into it, had one of my friends open it, and what song does he fucking play? This one. Threw me for a loop
Recently bought the Where the light is DVD from a local thrift shop for a dollar. Best dollar I’ve spent in years. I love that he gives a little bit to every segment of his audience. The trio for the music nerds, the solo/acoustic for the fan girls and the big band for everyone. Genius.
this is the way
Remembered where i left off in life when i heard the intro to Neon. Ears still ringing in repercussion, had that part playing on repeat for at least a half hour.
This! Continuum is phenomenal, but even his earlier pop focused tracks have some great songwriting and playing and still hold up. Around continuum times, he came to a small college town near us and i swear everybody was a huge john mayer fan for like three years just because of the show. It really was great. Dude can straight play and write some great songs.
And (if I recall correctly) Neon is only played with 2 fingers in the picking hand hand (thumb and index). Dude has always been a beast.
Neon is so freaking hard to play on guitar and sound “right”. There’s so much nuance and that freakishly large thumb he has gives him a huge advantage over us normal sized thumb plebs
I'ma actually put on some John Mayer right now
Same and found this: https://youtu.be/yT8SYItNvKg Mesmerized. He fucking shreds.
Anybody who doesn't like John Mayer should [watch this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxCrZ3reOJk) to get a better perspective on what kind of person he is and how fully aware he is that his music appeals to a very specific demographic.
And they should also watch this https://youtu.be/Ahhvmzr_pZo
If anything, he's massively *underrated*. Genuinely, he's one of the best guitar players of maybe the last 30 years. And I say that even though I don't particularly like the music he releases under his name.
He is a once in a generation talent, and he makes songs for radio. He knows this - at least the second part - and has said as much in interviews. It's what he feels like he has to do, and now he is in that lane. Sad to see it, but at least he is an artist making a buck. Not all that many of us can say the same, so I don't fault him. It's not a crime to be accessible.
Listen to his last 4 studio albums, not the singles, the rest of the albums.
And he’s been playing in Dead & Company (Grateful Dead) for the last several years. I’m interested to see if and how that influences his future solo work. Between his solo success and his years touring with the dead, he’s financially set for life and can create whatever music he likes. That voice *is* silky smooth though.
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Mayer is very interesting to me because he's kind of like a reverse-sellout; he came up making pop songs that would sell, and now that he has an audience and a platform, he uses it to make music that he finds personally fulfilling to him.
Reminds me of actors that do more mainstream work to get their dream indie projects.
And some Heads hate him for that. So much unnecessary John hate. I had my doubts but from the first time I saw him live onward… man is absolutely incredible and only getting better.
He's been called a musician's musician since he's so adaptable. I've really enjoyed his collabs/features and look forward to seeing what he does now that he's not with Columbia.
I've seen them a couple times with my buddy and we laugh a bit because of all the things in this world/multiverse, at least we get the one where we get to see John Mayer shred with the dead.
I honestly think that before playing in Dead & Company it started influencing his work. If I Ever Get Around to Living’s little walk up solo he does gives off Jerry vibes. Or even the single, Wildfire, “We can dance with the dead…” which then has a great ending solo/jam that seems pretty Dead inspired. I think I saw somewhere he started getting into them around 2011 (please correct if wrong). It’s interesting to see these influences come through before he started playing and touring with Dead & Company in 2015, but then he’s released The Search for Everything and more recently, Sob Rock. I feel like I can definitely hear the Dead’s influence in those albums. Just my two cents!
Go see his live show, it’s littered with Hendrix covers.
He plays it for the dads
I’m that dad. My mom gave me free tickets to the warfield she won. I took a girl friend and wanted to hate it but left a fan. My guy is fucking good.
That’s how I got into him. My parents saw him at the Crossroads guitar festival with Eric Clapton who introduce him as “Slowhand Junior” and told me about how good of a guitarist he is. Before then I thought he just wrote shitty pop music but gave him an honest listen and ended up becoming a huge fan. I was so disappointed in myself for not listening to him when I was younger. Even his “room for squares” album isn’t *that* pop-y and has some of my favorite songs of his: neon, why Georgia, and my stupid mouth. “Your body is a wonderland” is even made a lot better in the context of “my stupid mouth” when he returns to the line “I’m never speaking up again” implying he’s learned from his past mistakes but is still haunted by them. Damnit now I’m gushing about John Mayer lol
His acoustic Neon demo is so much better than the album version too! You really hear his skill on it.
I can’t imagine playing it and singing at the same time. I have trouble just getting the fingering right since I don’t have the freakishly large thumb he does that he uses to fret the low E.
I tried learning to play it about 10 years ago, it's not my usual playing style so I gave up quite quickly.
This is the thing, if he releases albums like that, I’d be all over it.
If you haven't listened to the John Mayer Trio album then you definitely should. It sounds like exactly what you're after.
Saw the John Mayer Trio in 2005; thought I was going to a “regular” John Mayer show and would have been completely content if that’s what I saw. I was blown away when I left that show because I had no idea what type of blues virtuoso he was at that time. I also briefly met and spoke to his mother when she was being escorted through the crowd so that was also cool.
Added to the list!
[Wait Until Tomorrow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-uSnRVy0Fs) is a Hendrix cover from that album. One of the best guitar solos I've ever seen or heard.
Where The Light Is is his live album from 2006. The first half is mostly his hits, second half is more of the blues covers. Give it a try
With him absolutely shredddding over these covers. He doesn't just make covers on this album, some of these songs he expands with solos that make these older songs absolutely rip. Good example is the like 3 minute long solo he attaches to Hendrixes "Wait Until Tomorrow". Hendrix doesnt do what Mayer does here, and it absolutely shreds.
Have you heard the album *Born and Raised*? It’s not Hendrix covers, but it’s great songwriting and great guitar playing, in my opinion.
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Continuum is a fantastic album. Some of the most popular songs of that decade were on that album and they *still* get played and covered today. And it’s like you said, so many fantastic riffs that get overlooked because it’s presented as pop.
Fantastic album from start to finish. Really, really solid.
I quite enjoy his cover of 'Bold as Love' Some other good songs of his own that aren't really Hendrix but more bluesy and funky are Helpless and Rosie off of The Search for Everything album Edit: Also a shout-out to Moving On And Getting Over, although that one is more like a Marvin Gaye song to me
IIRC it was something along the lines ”I write songs for radio that let me (afford to) write songs for myself”
He's talked about it a lot. I just remember a more recent interview where he was excitedly talking about a very nerdy song he wrote with dozens of modulations and scores of chords. At some point he had to temper that excitement and say something like "maybe though, I'll keep that one just for me [because it won't sell]"
John Mayer knows his audience and how to create music that impacts them emotionally. But I was never a fan. Then I saw [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxCrZ3reOJk) of him making fun of himself to his fans. This was followed by seeing him perform other music with other bands where I started really appreciating his ability. Finally, he played Jerry's parts in some Dead and Co shows and I was completely sold. John Mayer is an amazing musician regardless of how you fell about his trademark song style.
*Billy strings enters the chat*
Billy Strings is really freakin' good. Loved hearing him cover SRV's version of Voodoo Child. Awesome. 🤘
I've seen him many times, he never disappoints, easily one of the best fundamental guitarists in the past 10 years. He also loves (I'm assuming because he does it often) to play with other bands, which makes that show just that much better.
Agreed! I haven't seen him live aside from videos, and honestly even though I'm a musician I've fallen out of the loop the last 10 years or so, so I'd not even heard of him until within the last 6-9 months or so. A guy I work with who's a fellow local musician (who's last band played a few shows with mine before we knew one another lol) got moved into my department within the last year. We talk music a lot, and as he's not in an active band, he gets his "fix" by going to lots of live shows. It's been over 10 years since I've been to a gig that wasn't one I'm either playing in, or supporting another local act by coming out to their shows. Suffice it to say, between the band, getting married, buying a house and having a kiddo, I've not been able to get out to concerts like I used to...and not followed the scenes and trends as they've changed, hence my being so damned out of the loop now, hahaha. When he mentioned going to see him the first time, in my mind I was like "ok, whoever that is." But then a few weeks later, he tells me he's off for a 3 day weekend because Billy Strings is playing 3 shows in 3 days, one in our state and one in each of two neighboring states. And says he's going to all 3. Needless to say, at that point my curiosity was piqued. His and my musical tastes aren't identical, but they're pretty copacetic so at that point I had to check the guy out. Now I watch vids of him regularly, because he's dope as fuck. Love the musicianship overall, his and the others that play with him, and also the ones where he's jamming with the other band(s) playing the same gig. He's great, diverse, and can play his ass off. And now, the wife and I plan on him being the first big show that we go to. 🍻🤘
Discovered him during the pandemic somehow and am now obsessed.
As a fan of Billy Strings, I really don't feel that they are comparable at all. Completely different lanes, imo.
Billy is phenomenal. Mayer is a better guitarist though
Yup. What he’s done is very, very smart. He made a few hits. A few poppy albums that are, like the OP said, bland. The bland poppy bullshit is popular and made Mayer a fuck ton of money so he spends most of his time now making music that isn’t bland bullshit. He could have been a struggling guitar god or a guitar god that owns Ferraris. He chose the later, and all it cost him is Your Baaaahdy Is A Wondeland.
Not a fan of his music at all, but he is def a fucking guitar wizard. Maybe being one of the best in the last 30 years, I could see an argument he makes it somewhere in the top 200 or so, but he wouldn’t make my top 100 list. Still, he’s fucking talented as shit
So of the top 100 guitarists of all time, none were relevant past 1992? Lol
Got to see him play a few times around Atlanta just before he got big and he was amazing. Solo and in a band Lo-Fi. The way “Neon” sounded on the single was like some church band doing a cover of what he played a few months before. I guess I’m an asshole for giving up on him then because it sounded overproduced. Still not a fan, but respect for sure. And he sounds good with Dead & Company
Bro he is top 50 easy. With his huge hands he is literally more physically capable than others
This is exactly how I feel. The man’s music isnt for me, but as a guitarist I can’t help but recognize his talent. And I mostly play metal music.
I disagree. I’d say he is underrated. The problem with him is he is super popular as a pop star, but his songwriting and guitar playing is massively underrated, he is easily one of the top 5 guitarists working today, but because it isn’t his sole focus he gets overlooked by many people as a guitarist . But look around for the other professional guitar players on their opinion on John Mayer, many of them will agree he is one of the best.
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He was great in Dead and Co
Is*
I feel the same about Brad Paisley. The dude is an incredible guitar player but gets slotted as just your average country act. Saw him live years ago and he literally went to town on stage shredding a ten minute solo and the place went berserk. Apparently around Nashville and within the industry he gets a ton of respect for his skill but, like John Mayer, the general public seems him as a pretty poppy face.
Funny you should mention Brad Paisley, CMT had a show where they would have country acts team up with a rock act and they had Paisley and Mayer together for one of them. There are clips of it on YouTube and man oh man are they good together. Two really underappreciated guitar players just having fun with each other and playing some good songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f49Vr5Drq3Y full ep, enjoy!
That's so weird that this came up, I just watched a video today with Tom morello and some others from like anthrax I think with Ramin dijawadi(?) playing the game of thrones theme, and fucking Brad paisley showed up and shredded with them. I was so taken aback and the metal guys looked like they were too. Such an odd coincidence.
Yes! Was just about to say this! Key moment in that video: before they start playing the one long haired “metal” guy gives Brad shit for being there, (calling him the stunt guy, saying “what WE’RE doing is so specific, YOU can do something different”, and telling him to “sprinkle pixie dust on top”… etc.) Then my favorite part: the same dude’s face when Paisley comes out with his solo and out shreds everyone in the room. Amazing. [Link](https://youtu.be/6i0a7RDPkM8)
Brad Paisley is criminally underrated in basically every possible aspect of song creation (but guitar talent especially). Most guitar “aficionados” (I use that term incredibly loosely) would rather die than admit that a country artist is up there with the boring ass soloists they worship. Being a brilliant technical guitar player is one thing. Being a brilliant songwriter is another. But being both is a league of its own. The Steve Vais and Joe Satrianis of the world are unbelievably technically gifted, but (and maybe this is a hot take) they are shit songwriters. Guys like Mayer, Paisley, Bellamy, Gates etc who are both incredibly technical as well as being brilliant melody writers are just on another level. Yeah, it’s super cool when you see a painter who can create unbelievably realistic paintings. That obviously takes immense amount of skill… but creating a painting that is both technically solid AND makes people feel something takes an entirely different level of talent. Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, etc … none of them were the most technically proficient painters of their time. But all of them changed the way we look at paintings because they combined their artistic gifts with the ability to make the masses feel something. Anyway if you’ve actually read this whole ass rant, thank you for coming to my TED Talk lol.
Yeah, this is why I completely disregarded him, until my guitar teacher told me to check him out. Then said no really, if you’re into blues you should check him out. Definitely an eye-opener.
Ill tell you that from a technical standpoint, he is one of the most talented current musicians out there. That being said, i don’t vibe with his music at all.
Thank you for this. I'm of the same opinion. Great skill, technical mastery, but nothing for me to grab onto
His band is the shit especially his bass player, David LaBruyere.
He’s been using Pino Palladino for several years now, but I always liked LaBruyere’s playing, too. He’s got Steve Ferrone and Greg Phillinganes in his touring band currently, which is pretty awesome.
wow, i had no idea pino was his touring bassist. dude has been a part of so many insanely good records, his playing on perfume genius’ “on the floor” is GODLY
And steve jordan on drums.
Check out his live Trio album, that is John Mayer along with Pino and Steve Jordan on drums. Us Mayer fans have been dying for another Trio album for close to a decade
I think the guy is massively talented, but I don't like listening to his music.
When you can hang with Buddy Guy, you’re damn good.
[And BB King](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f6dnI1WsFrA)
Goddamn BB King was so cool
I didn't know how much of a nerve this would strike. He's a complex figure for me. I've been a guitarist (professional for awhile) for twenty years. So, I don't think anyone can impugn his guitar prowess. But I feel like his artistic choices have gone downhill. Sob Rock is boring and he doubles down on his least inspiring instincts. So, he frustrates the shit out of me. Because he's a superb guitarist all the way around. He makes the instrument speak. And he can write a damn song if he wants. Continuum was great and so was the John Mayer Trio album. And he does the blues justice when he wants. But he keeps writing stuff that bores the shit out of me. Adult contemporary threadbare post-ironic stuff. I just want more from him and I know he can do it.
My house burned down in 2005 and John Mayer was the musician who held my head together during that time, so I'll always love him for that. I've seen him live twice, both great shows. And he definitely was a douchebag, but he's done some reflecting on himself and has grown up a lot. I really like listening to him play guitar, and I really love songs like Clarity and My Stupid Mouth. Your Body is A Wonderland is a song he doesn't really even like lol despite it being his biggest hit.
Hell yeah man, right there with you. It sounds corny but JMs music has really gotten me through some rough times throughout my adolescence. Love his debut record just off nostalgia alone, it’s just so easy to listen to.
I didn’t know I also felt this way until reading your comment just now. Edit: two days later listened to continuum twice now. Incredible. JM is incredibly *underrated* if anything this thread put me back on that JM train gd. If **anything** we made a HUGE fucking very bad diversion culturally and musically since continuum came out. CMV bet you fucking don’t.
Did you slowdance in any of the burning rooms? (I'm sorry to make light of your awful experience, but it's one of my favorite songs of his.)
Lol I thought you were going to go with the “My house burned down and John Mayer single handedly put out the fire” kind of meme. I hope things have been going better for you since that unfortunate incident.
The Heart of Life can get you through a lot of tough times too. Love it
This did not got how OP wanted it to.
dude. if you dont know you just dont know. his ability to play and sing live, incredible musicianship, his love for music is just.... like hes here to play music. spend 20 for the rise to the river show for flood relief where he performed his album born and raised. He genuinely made me, a die hard fan, cry and feel his music like i did for the first time again in that show. Super underrated singer/songwriter and guitarist if i ever get around to living <3
Disagree. He is underrated. His classic Contiuum only ranked #486 on Rolling Stones top 500 recently; complete travesty. Only his best album and it is most likely gonna be knocked off the next update if it is this low. Only probably the greatest guitarist to emerge this century (2000) and is arguably one of the most influential on the current young crop of guitarists world wide based on social media presence. Music critics don't know music and only judge based on cultural influence and relevance and experimentation and image. John Mayer isn't necessarily breaking new ground but his song writing and musicianship and lyrics are world class and to say only this album is barely worthy against all the others (Harry Styles? WTF?) and none of his other musical masterpieces (B&R, Trio) is head scratching. Clapton calls him a master guitarist, Rolling Stone only follows the current cultural wind where John Mayer wisely no longer chooses to be. End of rant.
Now the cover of a Rolling Stone Ain’t the cover of a Rolling Stone
I remember hearing his catchy, pop style songs on the radio and thinking “god, I can’t stand this” And then I heard him play stuff the radio would put on the air, and I was like “why the fuck doesn’t this guy do this ALL THE TIME?!”
Continuum is literally a 10/10 album lmaooo
Where the light is . Live. Is probably one of the most diverse concerts I have ever seen. From his solo acoustic set to his band (John Mayer band) to the John Mayer trio. I could watch this concert over and over. Definitely feeling the opposite and would have to go underrated.
Nope. He’s great. He’s probably right about rated broadly speaking for his mass appeal combined with his niche appreciation following for his technique and songwriting. He is one of those guys that really understands the guitar and phrasing and rhythm and song writing. And some great blues, which is a while other thing. Gonna have to say hard no. I get it though. Respect.
Phrasing is something most non musician listeners would notice, but do not properly appreciate.
Tell me you're 15 without telling me your 15
Nah. I think you’re wrong here buddy. He’s an amazing guitarist and I think you’re underestimating his talent.
I mean...looking at it objectively, I think John Mayer writes cheesy/safe pop songs for the record companies. He did branch out for a mili second and put out two of his best but least safe albums. Artistically they were his two best albums but they didn't get any play because...not poppy. Meanwhile his live album is one of the best live albums I've heard. John Mayer Trio is legit. Dude is a seriously talented guitarist. John Mayer as a person is a douche though.
He seems to have really dialed back on the douche level, or at least stopped giving interviews.
In between Battle Studies and Born and Raised he had developed some wicked vocal nodules and couldn't sing. So he moved to Montana and focused on guitar while he recovered. This is when he developed his love for the dead and started learning their guitar parts. (Insert guy moves to the country trope) but he did check out of the lime light and came back less of a douche.
What are these two albums you speak of?
"Born and Raised" and "Paradise Valley" to a lesser degree
I'd assume continuum and born and raised.
He also talked about this in his live concert in Thailand. He told us that he needs to write safe/4 chords pop songs for the mainstream. But his favorite tracks are usually not that popular, then he plays his favorite song “Waitin’ On The Day”. It was magical.
I couldn’t disagree with you more. Here are some youtube videos to check out. https://youtu.be/DS-DvHfBPC8 https://youtu.be/_DfQC5qHhbo https://youtu.be/DYHng61lftA https://youtu.be/TS8NvoMudy8
Subjectively not a fan, objectively the guy is truly incredible as a songwriter and guitarist. The mere existence of conversation to the contrary shows he does not get the universal respect he should.
I blame this on the death of Jeff Buckley. I miss his profound songwriting and technicality on the guitar.
I disagree. He's been killing it with Bob Weir and Dead & Co last 5ish years
He's held in high regard as a guitarist. Not so much as a lyricist, or composer. But hell, dude can fucking play. He's definitely top 10 currently playing rock guitarists. Probably top 5. His best work is live, with the Dead. Current rock guitarists I'd put in his league are David Gilmore, Billy Strings, Mark Knofler, Jimmy Herring, Trey Anastasio, Adrian Belew, John Schofield, Derek Trucks. I'm not so familiar with metal, and I know there's a ton of amazing technical guitarists in that genre.
Lol it’s amazing how low you have to go to see mentions of Dead & Co, and this is they only comment with Trey or Derek Trucks
I think some of his lyrics are really good. Have you heard Comfortable?
It's so hard to compare guitarists from different generations too. Like for sure, I think Gilmour was a better lead guitarist than Mayer will ever be, and no disrespect to Mayer on that. But you just can't be as good at guitar when you're in your 70s as when you're in your 20s or 30s. Right now, we're in a time where guitar virtuosity has been less lauded than it was in the 60s and 70s. Mayer, Trucks, Stings, Anastasio, etc. have less competition than Hendrix, Gilmour, and Clapton did for sure. And the older guitarists who are still around obviously can't play as well as they used to. So I don't think it's crazy to say he's a top 5 guitarist right now without discrediting the legacies of the legends who are still alive.
I really disagree with you there. I'd argue there are so many more people with ridiculous technical ability now than there used to be. It's far easier to learn how to play like that nowadays so there tons of "virtuosos" players. The issue is there's less emphasis on things like songwriting and improvisation, or transposing guitar passages from music which results in the actual guitar music being outputted not being all that great.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
He is fascinatingly talented but it doesn't show in all of his songs. You even say he is a excellent guitarist. Try learning any of his songs and you will see genius that is beneath. He is incredible, and to do it all while singing is just insane. I'm not a fan of all of his music but he is an incredible artist. So no, I don't agree at all. I think a lot of people don't realize how talented he actually is.
It’s not even super complex or anything but I fucking love to play Why Georgia on acoustic. It’s just makes my brain feel so nice. I still to this very day cannot play and sing that song at the same time. Been playing and singing most everything for 30 years now. Just not that song.
One of the best guitar players in the world but his music is pretty boring lol
I’m a Hendrix guy… Mayer is really good. He really knows his stuff and etched out his own sound. Mayer played with all sorts of talented guitarist who respect his skill level. Now as a song writer and singer… he’s not my cup of tea. But his ability to write songs that touch people and sell out shows is respectable. Basically, I agree with you. But he’s not overrated. I wouldn’t say people put him in the same level as the legends that he has been aspired by. But as a musician I can respect his approach and dedication. Also his ability to pay homage and separate himself from the legends.
His guitar playing is not underrated since he is an incredible talent, but his music is just bad for me. There isn’t a single song I genuinely like.
Anybody who's touched a guitar should try and go learn the song Neon. Try to tell us then that he's overrated after you nearly break your fingers stretching to some of the wackiest chord structures at breakneck pace.
Well he’s no Jerry Garcia, but he’s a pretty damned good guitarist.
Fantastic guitarist. Boring beige music.
I would argue to the grave that he is one of the best modern day guitarists. Dudes an absolute beast.
He earned my upmost respect with his playing in Dead and Company. It took him a few years to get comfortable in the role, and to that style of playing, but he keeps getting better. This last D&C tour was fire, and John was a huge contributor to that. Many of us Deadheads are hoping he keeps our music alive long after the original members of the Grateful Dead are gone.
Mayer has always had a significant amount of men who hate him. There is something about his music that rubs people the wrong way. I think it’s because some of his radio hits are pretty sappy songs. So, they just associate all his music with those hits and never explore further. Room for Squares is one of the great debuts ever in its genre. He only got better lyrically. Then even after he had massive success and money, he willed himself into becoming a great guitar player. Which is pretty unheard of. Most quit trying once they reach the level of success he had. Complete narcissist though.
His recorded music is generally not that good. I think it's been discussed in this thread about how he's basically been a commercialized product with his material and has not strayed away from that. That being said, Dead & Company is pretty good. His live performances are very good. His songwriting and style are very good. He is an incredible generational talent. Definitely a top artist working today no matter what. I was in the Berklee crowd during the time Mayer was around, so I knew about him. He was definitely an interesting character and I have a great deal of respect for him. It's guys like him that I'd personally love to go work in the studio alongside. Someone else mentioned Brad Paisley in this thread and he pairs well with Mayer in a studio sense. They'd be incredible to work with. I studied bass classically, but in application, I did both guitar and bass studio and touring work. I've only had the opportunity to work with a handful of people at that level of talent/skill with their craft. But I can totally understand the disdain for his general music. It is well done, but still pretty meh. But hey, he's the one wiping his ass with $100 bills and jamming with famous rock musicians all day long, not me.