JOHN MAYER'S Blues Chops

In this exclusive feature Milton Mermikides breaks down John Mayer’s impressive blues techniques and musical concepts, to show how they can inspire and supercharge your own playing.

- Milton Mermikides

ABILITY RATING

Info Key Various Tempo Various CD TRACKS 4-10

Moderate/Advanced

Will improve your… Playing with good groove Classic & modern blues vocabulary Melodic blues soloing

JOHN’S TECHNIQUE

John Mayer performs much of his electric guitar work fingerstyle and this direct contact with the strings provides timing, timbral and dynamic nuance. He also ‘hides’ a plectrum between the first and second finger of his picking hand, which he retrieves to perform funky strumming and more standard blues soloing. He can switch between these techniques remarkably fluently and even exchanges phrases using the two techniques. Mayer also uses the Hendrix-inspired fretting-hand thumb to play notes on the sixth string which aids muting and chord embellishment. These all provide an intimate control, complexity and nuance of timbre and tone, a goal mirrored in his enviable roster of instruments, amps and effects.

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