Free Guitar Lessons
John Mayer
View Full Playlist on YouTubeI've been covering John Mayer's catalog for over a decade β from his early pop hits to his deep blues work. He's one of the most complete guitarists of his generation, and one of the most rewarding to learn from. His playing spans fingerpicking, blues lead work, clean chord voicings, and a level of feel that takes years to develop. These lessons break all of it down so you can actually get there. Work through them at your own pace β the vocabulary you build here will show up everywhere in your playing.
01
Soul & Slow Burn
The songs that made you fall for his playing in the first place β fingerpicking, open voicings, and lead lines that hit different once you know how they're built.
Fingerpicking + Chords
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
One of the most-requested lessons I've ever done. I walk through the iconic chord shapes and the picking feel that makes this song so haunting.
Lead Guitar + Chords
Gravity
A masterclass in emotional restraint. I cover both the chord voicings and the lead lines so you can play the full song start to finish.
Open Tuning + Fingerpicking
Daughters
The open-tuning fingerpicking pattern that made this song famous β broken down slowly so you can feel the groove before building speed.
02
Bright Side Strumming
His upbeat hits β great rhythm lessons packed with smart voicings and real groove. These are the songs that made him a household name.
Chords + Strumming
Waiting on the World to Change
One of the best beginner-to-intermediate songs in his catalog. I cover the chord shapes, strumming pattern, and how to make it ring the way it does on the record.
Fingerpicking + Tutorial
Your Body Is a Wonderland
Sounds harder than it is. I show you the exact picking and chord approach that gives this song its warm, intimate feel.
Rhythm + Funk Fills
New Light
His funkier, more modern side on full display. I cover the rhythm parts and the slick little fills that make it pop.
Chords + Tutorial
Half of My Heart
Simple, singable, and satisfying to play. I break down the chord progression and strumming so you can nail this one in a single sitting.
03
Blues Feels & Lead Work
The SRV-influenced side β bends, vibrato, and phrasing that separates good guitarists from great ones. This is where his depth really shows.
Blues Riff + Solo
Who Did You Think I Was
Pure Texas blues swagger β Mayer at his rawest. I break down the riff, the rhythm groove, and the soloing approach that makes this track such a statement.
Major Pentatonic Techniques
Waiting on the World to Change β Solo
A deep look at his major pentatonic approach β the kind of concepts you can pull out and apply across dozens of songs in your own playing.
Full Lesson + Solo Tips
Last Train Home
One of his most underrated tracks β and one of the best for learning his soloing vocabulary. I go deep on the techniques so you can actually use them.
04
Deep Cuts Worth Learning
Lesser-played tracks every serious Mayer fan should have in their hands β rewarding, surprisingly approachable, and seriously impressive to pull out.
No Barre Chords Version
I Guess I Just Feel Like
A beautiful, melancholy track made completely accessible β I show you how to play it without a single barre chord while keeping all the emotion intact.
Solo Licks
I Guess I Just Feel Like β Lead
The companion to the chord lesson β here I focus on the lyrical solo phrasing and how to capture that deeply personal, searching quality in his lead playing.
Full Arrangement Breakdown
XO
A BeyoncΓ© cover that Mayer made completely his own. A great lesson in how to think about a song β not just play it.
Sob Rock Era
Shot in the Dark
Slick, polished, and more fun to play than it looks. I cover the parts that matter and show you how to nail that late-70s studio feel.
Ready to Go Deeper?
These free lessons are just the beginning. My full course library covers everything from beginner fundamentals to advanced technique β at your own pace, for life.
Explore All CoursesFrequently Asked Questions
What skill level do I need to start learning John Mayer songs?
John Mayer has something for nearly every level. Songs like "Waiting on the World to Change," "Half of My Heart," and the no-barre-chord version of "I Guess I Just Feel Like" are great starting points. "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room," "Gravity," and his lead work require more experience β but I teach all of them in a way that makes the challenge clear and manageable.
What guitar is best for playing John Mayer songs?
Mayer is famously associated with Fender Stratocasters, but you don't need one to sound great. Any electric with single-coil style pickups gets you close to his tone. For his acoustic work β Daughters, Gravity, Slow Dancing β a quality acoustic is all you need. The playing matters far more than the gear.
How do I get John Mayer's guitar tone?
His core sound is a Stratocaster into a clean or slightly broken-up amp. Clean settings with a touch of reverb cover most of his studio work. For his bluesier live tone, a light overdrive pedal into a warm tube amp gets you there. The biggest secret, though? It's his hands β his vibrato and pick attack are what actually make it sound like him. Focus on the technique and the tone will follow.
Which John Mayer song should I learn first?
For newer players, start with "Waiting on the World to Change" β musically satisfying and technically approachable. If you've been playing a while, "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" or "Gravity" reward the effort enormously. For his blues side, "Who Did You Think I Was" is the best place to start exploring his lead vocabulary.
Does John Mayer use any special tunings?
Most of his catalog is in standard tuning, which makes it very learnable. "Daughters" is the notable exception β it uses open G tuning, which is part of what gives it that resonant fingerpicking sound. A few other tracks use alternate tunings or capos, and I cover the setup in each individual lesson so you're always ready before you start playing.
How long does it take to learn to play like John Mayer?
Individual songs can be learned in days or weeks depending on where you're starting. Playing with his depth of feel and lead phrasing is a longer journey β one worth taking. His style draws heavily on blues masters like SRV, BB King, and Albert King, so exploring those roots alongside his own music helps the approach click faster.
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