October 8, 2023 by Klaus Crow
There’s no doubt about it, John Mayer is one of the few popular singer songwriters, if not the only, from the last two decades who also happens to be a virtuoso guitar player who’s name won’t be forgotten.
With his soulful vocals and bluesy guitar licks, Mayer has created a catalog of really good songs that showcase his incredible guitar skills.
From the sultry tones of “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” to the heartfelt melodies of “Gravity,” John Mayer has a knack for weaving his emotions into every note he plays.
His ability to blend various styles, from blues and rock to pop and folk, makes him a versatile guitarist whose songs appeal to a broad audience.
In this blog post, I’ve created the Top 10 Best John Mayer guitar songs that have left an indelible mark on both guitarists and music lovers alike.
While most of the songs are for intermediate and advanced guitar players, you can also just play the chords and strum along to the song if you like to sing, making it an easier and fun experience for all levels of playing.
I’ve included the chords and tabs to the songs so you can pick your favorites and start practicing.
Have a great time!
Slow dancing in a burning room
“Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” is a superb song in every way and is one of the top favorites among John Mayer’s fan base. The song was released in 2006 on John’s album “Continuum,” and made a significant impact on the charts, peaking at number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100.
During the recording of this track, John Mayer used his Fender Deluxe Stratocaster close-miked with a SM-57, C-451 and a C-24 room microphone. For the overdubs he used several Two rock amps. Other instruments on the track included a bass guitar, drums, and keyboards that created the overall mesmerizing sound.
The song is played in the key of C# minor, with a 4/4 time signature and a moderate tempo of around 75 BPM. Chords used for “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” include C#m, A, D, G, E, B, Aadd9, Badd11, and F#m11, and G#m7. These chords are beautifully woven together to create the melancholic and captivating melody for this classic Mayer tune.
The heart of life
“The Heart of Life” is an emotionally charged song that was released in 2006 as part of his album “Continuum.” It didn’t make significant waves on the charts but has remained a fan favorite for its soulful lyrics and melody.
During the recording of “The Heart of Life,” John Mayer used a Fender Stratocaster guitar and a Dumble Overdrive Special amp to achieve the warm and clean tones. The Dumble Overdrive Special is a boutique guitar amplifier that was hand-built by Alexander “Howard” Dumble in the 1970s and 1980s. It is known for its unique sound and rarity, with only around 300 units ever produced.
The key of the song is C# major, and played in a 4/4 time signature at a moderate tempo of around 90 BPM. Chords used for “The Heart of Life” played with the capo on the 1st fret are C, Am, Em, F and G.
For the strumming John uses a technique called the Slapping thumb technique. It is a fingerstyle technique that involves slapping the bottom strings with the thumb while simultaneously hitting higher strings with the index and middle fingers. The percussive slap produced by the thumb is similar to a snare drum and needs to be consistent in rhythm and sound.
Stop this train
“Stop This Train,” a poignant composition by the talented John Mayer, was released in 2006 on his album “Continuum.” This introspective track reflects on the passage of time and the desire to hold on to life’s fleeting moments. It didn’t chart prominently but struck a chord with listeners on a deeply personal level.
During the recording of “Stop This Train,” John Mayer opted for his trusty Martin OM-28M Eric Clapton Signature acoustic guitar to achieve its warm, resonant tones.
He plays the song in the key of D major, employing a 4/4 time signature at a tempo of around 94 BPM. The strumming pattern involves a technique called the ‘slapping thumb technique’ maintaining a steady and contemplative rhythm throughout the song.
Chords used for “Stop This Train” include Gmaj7, Dsus2, Dmaj13, Bm9/D, Asus2/D for the verse and GmMaj7, D/F#, E9, Gsus2/A, A7, Am7 and A9 for the chorus. These chords, combined with Mayer’s heartfelt lyrics and soulful delivery, create a song that resonates with anyone grappling with the relentless march of time.
Gravity
“Gravity” is a slow soulful ballad released in 2006 on the album “Continuum,” John told at a concert in December of 2005 that this song was the most important song he’d ever written.
During the recording of “Gravity,” John Mayer chose his beloved Fender Stratocaster guitar, coupled with a vintage Dumble Steel String Singer amplifier, to craft its signature bluesy, emotive sound.
The song is performed in the key of G major, maintaining a steady 4/4 time signature at a languid tempo of approximately 64 BPM. Chords used for “Gravity” include G, C, D/F#, Am7, D7, Gm/Bb and Ebmaj7.
Vultures
“Vultures” is a rock-infused track that was released in 2006 as part of his album “Continuum.” Known for its beautiful guitar riff/theme where he makes use of double stops, it made a notable impact on the rock charts, reaching number 32 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks.
During the recording John Mayer turned to his gold leave Stratocaster. John said it was the guitar the wrote the song on and the only guitar the song works on.
“Vultures” is performed in F#m, maintaining a standard 4/4 time signature at a brisk tempo of around 126 BPM. Although the song is predominantly played with double stops you can play it in an easy fashion using the chords F#m, A and B.
Love on the weekend
“Love on the Weekend” is a beautiful relaxed tune you would listen to riding in your car on a Friday night. It’s a perfect song for beginners playing two measures of each chord throughout the song and a nice and easy intro solo.
Released in 2016 as a single and served as a precursor to his album “The Search for Everything” the tune achieved moderate success, peaking at number 53 on the Billboard Hot 100.
During the recording of “Love on the Weekend,” John Mayer relied on his trusty Fender Stratocaster guitar, coupled with a vintage-style Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier, which provided the song’s warm and inviting tones.
“Love on the Weekend” is played in the key of G major, maintaining a familiar 4/4 time signature at a comfortable tempo of around 90 BPM. For the strumming pattern you can play down-down-up-up-down-up allowing the guitar to groove smoothly along with the song’s laid-back rhythm, creating a perfect backdrop. Chords used for “Love on the Weekend” include G, C and D.
Neon
“Neon” is a dazzling display of John Mayer’s guitar virtuosity. Written by Mayer himself, this intricate piece was released in 2001 on his debut album, “Room for Squares.” While it didn’t make significant chart waves, it has become a hallmark of Mayer’s live performances.
For the recording of “Neon,” John Mayer employed his signature Fender Stratocaster guitar paired with a Two-Rock Custom Reverb amplifier.
“Neon” is played in C#m, maintaining a 4/4 time signature at a brisk tempo of approximately 116 BPM. The strumming pattern is complex, involving a combination of precise downstrokes and rapid upstrokes and John’s thumb slap fingerstyle technique.
While the song is not your straight forward chord strumming tune the chords for the song include C#m, Eb, Fm, Ab, Bb, Gm, Gb and C. “Neon” remains a challenging yet rewarding piece for guitarists looking to push their boundaries and explore the world of fingerstyle playing.
Why Georgia
“Why Georgia” is a beautiful melodic song. It was released in 2001 on his debut album, “Room for Squares,” marking Mayer’s emergence as a singer-songwriter.
For the recording of “Why Georgia,” John Mayer relied on his Martin D-28.
The song is played in the key of G major, maintaining a common 4/4 time signature at a moderate tempo of around 95 BPM. The strumming pattern involves the thumb slap technique that became his trademark. For a simplified version of the song you can play the chords: G, D, C, Em, A and F.
Queen of California
“Queen of California” is a great fingerpicking song. The song was released in 2012 as part of his album “Born and Raised,” this song marks a transition in Mayer’s new sound towards folk and Americana. It enjoyed modest success, reaching number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.
During the recording of “Queen of California,” John Mayer utilized his Martin 00-45SC acoustic guitar and a vintage-style Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier, achieving the song’s warm, folk-inspired tones.
The song is played in the key of G major, maintaining a 4/4 time signature at a relaxed tempo of around 84 BPM. The strumming pattern involves his famous thumb slap technique, but if that is beyond your capacity you can also play it without the slap which sounds pretty good too. The chords for “Queen of California” are G, C, Am and D.
Perfectly Lonely
“Perfectly Lonely” is a soulful catchy pop song by John Mayer. This song was released in 2009 on his album “Battle Studies”.
For the recording of “Perfectly Lonely,” John Mayer relied on his signature Fender Stratocaster guitar paired with a vintage-style Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier, creating the song’s distinctive bluesy tones. .
“Perfectly Lonely” is played in the key of C major, maintaining a 4/4 time signature at a moderate tempo of around 94 BPM. The strumming pattern a sophisticated mix of downstrokes and upstrokes, but also allows a simple 4/4 strumming pattern. Listen to the song and try to catch the groove by strumming along to the rhythm. The chords used for “Perfectly Lonely” are C, F, Dm, G, Em, Am and F.
Download Free John Mayer Chords and Tabs links sheet here
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