John Mayer - Improvising a song

[originalsongs7]

This is it...a GENIUS at work!!!! What an Inspiration :D John you HERO!!!!!

[Huldiie]

Did he seriously just made that up one the spot?! :o

[vortexers5]

Lyrics?

[ak231510]

@vortexers5 I'm sorry, if u could see inside my skull, u would no. I've got the best of all intentions you no it. Im sorry I feel like it my responsibilty to fill the silence all the time. Only then do i talk off a ledge do I fall fall fall. Im sorry. Its just not my mouth, somtimes its my head, but never my heart, always a reason. Always my mouth, never my head, maybe ill say home tonight and read a movie instead cause all that I no is when I take this thing out...

[ak231510]

@votrtexers5 theres always some reason Ive got to explain what its about. If u could see inside my head you woudl no about me. Getting ur way inside is like piloting ur way through a minefield. Once ur through u no. Then ur through will wondering whats this boys about and what is he putting me on for. And its a long ride through, but ull be happy when u do

[vortexers5]

@ak231510 thank you soo much!!!!!

[vortexers5]

@ak231510 thank you soo much!!!!!

[donmeswimee]

WHAT THE FUCK JOHN MAYER. WHAT THE FUCK SERIOUSLY

[skatingdisaster]

Kind of sounds like waiting for the world to change

[DevinDavidMusic]

@skatingdisaster ;sooo true

[DevinDavidMusic]

@DevinDavidMusic really similar bass line, keys and chord progression

[Mithrandilferalis]

@MegaSissylala You misunderstood me... I know exactly what you are saying. And yes, he DID stumble on those chords as he was getting ready for "My Stupid Mouth". One would have to be stupid to think that they are not real chords. He played a chord just for fun, it sounded good to him, added another chord to that, and decided to improv a song. And if you don't play something that "feels" good, you should put the instrument down and walk away. You should really read the post before replying.

[Mithrandilferalis]

@MegaSissylala And I guess I really should make my statements more understandable. Sorry for any confusion...

[gooman989898]

thats pretty clever....

he must have been mucking around with those chords before though

[Mithrandilferalis]

@gooman989898 Nope... He just found them by mistake. Its only 4 chords, played the same exact way for the improv part at the beginning. Its really easy to improv jam with a band; I know that because when I do that, you can make up stuff when you feel it will go well, and the band communicates well. But he did amazing with making up lyrics.

[realndnreal]

I Used to watch freestyles on hip hop channels... I Don't anymore.

[amjdamjd]

HE is a real musician. This is AMAZING.

[gabriell16bishop]

how talented can you be to just make up a song on the spot.

[hhg61]

great jam.

[sepmidget777]

Beautiful

[TheOnix123]

What is this new song called? Do you know?

[OzzieFRESH]

why the FUCK isn't this on an album! i love it

[DreaminginWaves]

Awesomeness! I do this all the time, just jam out an entire song, lyrics and melody included right off the top of my head but man, his band hopped on board quickly and really fleshed it all out. Major props to John Mayer for proving that he, not his producer, is the man behind the song-writing helm.

[theultimateprawn]

It sounds like they didn't improvise it, it was that awesome

[MrMortinjo]

john is floozy

[GDuBMuSiCk]

yo thats a freestyle. off the dome.

[wazupjaghetermaya]

"And this is a song about that long ride through and...how some people just never make it, and that's alright"

Absolutely amazing. This is why I love you, John.

[ericksonal2]

This guy's a genius.

[chursthouse]

can anyone tell me the chords/tab? low at the neck bar chord?, then an e maj?

[ak231510]

@chursthouse i already wrote them in the info

[chursthouse]

@chursthouse i knew that :P... cheers, lovely melody. John Rocks.

[chursthouse]

@chursthouse btw it doesnt sound right all of it...

[iRiselyTech]

@chursthouse reading fail.

[hursthousept]

@iRiselyTech rephrase, some of its right... better?

[iRiselyTech]

@iRiselyTech my bad, jokes on you :)

[BenjiBren]

i'd say he had those lyrics already and just thought to use them when he started playing the riff! but definitely improvised cuz when they go into 'my stupis mouth' it's a little sloppy but the best way you could do it!

What a man! :)

[TijmenDal]

Fucking love the drummer!

[Odinsgade]

pause at 7:13 .... ridicoulus face... :-D

But nice song. :-D

[funkyjim]

Such a proper musician. Can you imagine Justin Bieber improvising like this on stage? NO.

[LOLDISNEYLAND]

John Mayer is the smoothest, coolest motherfucker I know. Batman still just beats him but Batman can't write music, he can only Bat-dance, or he used to anyway.

[RosaParks312353]

@LOLDISNEYLAND He really is. And Batman is only like half an inch in front of him.

[MegMortTV]

@LOLDISNEYLAND lol you KNOW john mayer?.... i think not... or you wouldnt be watching youtubes, you'd be out with the coolest person in the world..

[cripplicious]

hi im john mayer and im gonna improvise an 8 minute song caus i dont feel like playing my set list

[RosaParks312353]

@cripplicious And the damnedest thing is that it does not matter at all. Everyone is like HELLLLYAAAAHHH. Lol.

[Leonardoo69]

is so easy to do this pop songs!

[bgoodrick]

Does anybody thing that "Waiting on the World to Change" might have sprung from these chords?  I like this lil jam.

[shaq3696]

@bgoodrick I think so. The chords a little similar but the beat sounds really close to waiting on the world to change.

[LuckyCharli]

Amazing..

[EAZSE4]

This is good enough to be on an album

[RequiemSoup]

Theres no way that was improved.... It was just to awesome to be improve....

[seanoghughes95]

thanks so much for tabbing it! very nice groove

[Resdim]

I like this more than many of the songs on his albums

John Mayer is a swell character

[imprtslyr0223]

so anybody know or when this concert took place?

[TheTaylorShaeee]

Can anyone write transfer the lyrics? I can't comprehend some of them.

[ak231510]

@TheTaylorShaeee I'm sorry, if u could see inside my skull, u would no. I've got the best of all intentions you no it. Im sorry I feel like it my responsibilty to fill the silence all the time. Only then do i talk off a ledge do I fall fall fall. Im sorry. Its just not my mouth, somtimes its my head, but never my heart, always a reason. Always my mouth, never my head, maybe ill say home tonight and read a movie instead cause all that I no is when I take this thing out

[ak231510]

@TheTaylorShaeee theres always some reason Ive got to explain what its about. If u could see inside my head you woudl no about me. Getting ur way inside is like piloting ur way through a minefield. Once ur through u no. Then ur through will wondering whats this boys about and what is he putting me on for. And its a long ride through, but ull be happy when u do

[btub09]

Is this in Standard E tuning ?

[Travmann777]

@btub09 it would be in the same tuning as my stupid mouth since that was what this song was going to be

[mark44]

ya hear the rythem guitar rite, the euphoric weird melody i love that sound does any 1 kno like other songs wit a similar rythym like dat

[adams6693]

musicians... lol thats how

[Skeletorix]

how do all the other guys know what to play?

[nicolitox]

@Skeletorix First, he started playing the song, then the drums boy followed him, then he approaches the bass player and shows him the chord progression to let him know what to play

[smokinjoe1984]

@Skeletorix They may have rehearsed it..although only sounds like a couple of chords..

[piccicacca]

maybe this was the time when waiting on the word to change's knocking on john mayer's head.. XD

[Surfingjenni]

@piccicacca Agree, totally sounded like it.

[scarygood01]

the track sounds so simple...but i cant seem to figure it out...anyone know the chords he uses here??

[ak231510]

@scarygood01 Look at the info section, I put the tab in there awhile ago.

[RicardoEstevesMusic]

@ak231510 How do I read those tabs?

[ak231510]

@RicardoEstevesMusic the tabs are written so that the six horizontal lines represent the six strings on the guitar. The bottom line is your top, or thickest guitar string, then the other strings correspond accordingly. So, if you look at the tab you see that the 5th string(or second string from the top on the guitar) has a 10 written on it, so you hold that string down on the 10 fret(10th open space on the guitar). So, you just hold the fret on the string it is written.

[RicardoEstevesMusic]

@ak231510 Cool, thanks :) But, what about the tempo? I understood the numbers and the lines, but for instance, in the second and third line (second and third string) have a 3 and a 2 written on them - those are the numbers of the frets. My question is, how do we read the tabs? Is it like in collumns? So that the first 7 and the first 10 are one chord and so on? Because there is a repeatition of the 7-10 twice in a row...

[ak231510]

@RicardoEstevesMusic yes, any number written on top of one another are played simulatenously. So in the tab, the 7th fret and 10th fret are played together for two strums, then you switch and play the 7th and 9th together for one strum, then you bar your finger(i think I actually use my thumb on this song) across the 7th fret on the top three strings. Than you repeat except the last strum switches to the 2nd anf 3rd fret. Its all just one down strum on each chord.

[RicardoEstevesMusic]

@ak231510 Noow, I get it! Thanks a lot, buddy, you were a HUGE help, I wish everyone was like you :)

Best regards to you and yours :)

Ricardo

[HknNor]

@scarygood01 they use their ears

[ZosoRocks]

@scarygood01 i think hes alternating between a Bminor and a D. thats only from listening to it mind, not playing to it.

[rafaelunplugged]

@scarygood01 im almost certain he tuned it differently.

its seemingly dropped d tuned at least.

[bigacornhunter34]

@rafaelunplugged its standard

[rafaelunplugged]

@bigacornhunter34

yeah. i think its just the open e/b that threw me off. he throws left hooks from nowhere with his chords so u never know.

like in your atmosphere. great stuff nonetheless.

[cRaZyTRimZ]

@scarygood01 yeah same here man.

[iRiselyTech]

@scarygood01 another reading fail

[scarygood01]

any one know what chords he plays here....they sound so simple but i cant figure them out

[pspkillah222]

did this ever get a title, and published?

[FakeFlourescentSkies]

holy fuck he made that up on the spot?! epic.

[TheBAGGEN]

GENIOUS!!!

[drummeboy94life]

check out my band cover of i don't need no doctor by john mayer :)

[MBenya1994]

ez hülye xd

[janeisannoying]

hahaha he is soo ：）i love john mayer

[pleaseRoger]

is this actually a completely improvised song??? holy shit!

[BdSherman]

up until he starts singing My stupid mouth! Amazing

[thenicknicol]

thats absolutely unreal

[OHMYGASHH]

I wish I could do that.... Just.... Think of some chords and BAM! a song. :|

[luvudarren1]

that's really hard!

[TheSuperHeroSideKick]

thats wat she said.

[luvudarren1]

yep when i was doin her.

[DavkasPegason]

and then you woke up

[luvudarren1]

lolz. u ppl think wrong

[ilovejohnmayer22]

wow, he's amazing. I've had a horrible day, and just listening to him instantly cheers me up.

[utubin67]

precisely true.. lol

[charliecutler]

Cheers 4 updatin info with tab ;)

[charliecutler]

Can any1 work out the tab for the improv part plzzz?!?! Iv been tryin but can't work it out...

[ferret2020]

it's in the info...

[Cody111079]

@charliecutler I could post a cover..would that be helpful? I'm too lazy to write tabs

[charliecutler]

Erm iv woked it all out now thanks but yeh yu shud, i think he should release this song! Its addictive...

[ronnieonmadrid]

the original john mayer trio haha. and some other guy on john;s right not sure who

[oliverandm]

I'm pretty sure he made up the lyrics on the way yay :) most of it is "gibberish" but in a poetic way, a thing John CAN, no MUST do xD Cause he is the only one who can make wrong sound right! I mean "your body is a wonderland" is a very perverted song when you think about it :P But hey, he has every right to do it!

[nomis101uk]

if this is truely completely made up on the spot then how did all the band know to stop just past 6:00?...

[ak231510]

The beginning up to 3:35 is the make up part, after that he transitions into his actual song My Stupid Mouth

[TheFallofSaodos]

@ak231510 thats the sign of a good band

knowing each other musically

[mrstzeed]

yeah u must not know john mayer songs at all if u dodnt know that

[Jst0911]

they transition from the made up part into my stupid mouth and in the song they all stop at 6:00

[Soggycorndogs]

lol.... because the whole video isn't one big made up song. That part (the song playing during 6:00) is an actual song called "My Stupid Mouth"

Only the beginning song is the made up one. Try reading the description for a change.

[ecshivdw]

lol...

[ArianRohani]

magic

[B4mytyme]

hotness.

[mimapianokeys]

that's probably one of the coolest things i've ever witnessed

[xXFrantic]

wow. thats awesome.

[livelaughlove084]

thats amazing, don't understand why others don't see that. Try it, its wayyyy harder than it looks.

[kombattom]

a+ agree

[smauro3]

haha nobody gets this at all.

[Surfingjenni]

Is it me or does this sound just a bit like "Waiting On The World To Change" at first?

[pvprodigy1]

its just you.

[SHN1311]

Dude he's good!

[maplehamadryas]

there's nothing he cant do. what an inspirational dude :)

HI FIVE JOHN!!

[guilirio]

he also made up the lyrics as he was going along?

[livelaughlove084]

yeah! amazing eh

[paulefty]

great improv, and this video is an example of how tight the band is... insane! :)

[Confettikaas]

Wish I could have the lyrics ^^!

[EtherealSunrise]

ew I can't even believe you used Nickelback and Finger 11 in the same sentence as John Mayer. Mayer is an truly gifted though. He is the essence of soul and pure taste.

[searchingfordaniel]

Not thta i disagree, but... be careful where you use the word soul. Jill Scott = Soul. Angie Stone = Soul. JM /= Soul. Lo Siento.

[ak231510]

It isnt just big black girls who have soul. Ben Harper, John Mayer, Ray Lamontagne are all very soulful lyricists

[searchingfordaniel]

Soulful? Yes... but "essence of soul" not so much. Ben Harper is a personal favorite though...

[meganDY12]

lol big black girls....i agree with you...not necessarily loving how you put it but I agree....Ben Harper and John mayer definitely have some soul, i havent listened to Ray Lamontagne but I will def. look him up....I dont know if you saw the live performance of clarity, the extended version on the related videos but if that doesnt prove the point idk what will...

[ak231510]

I didnt mean anything negative by it at all. Its just the only ones he listed had that aretha franklin quality, which is what everyone jumps to when they think of soul singers. If you look up ray lamontagne, look for his BBC sessions version of "Empty," its absolutely brilliant.

[meganDY12]

Cool, i looked up it and really enjoyed it =) that and another called "lesson learned",

[Nuggetsfan315]

Ray Lamontagne is from Maine like me, check out my channel I do a few Mayer covers

[Jelloxox]

I agree. Im a "black girl" and alot of my friends that play music have more "soul" than I do. I think we should forget the notion that only black ppl have soul.We have more supply of it lol but its a universal thing. Filipinos have MAJOR soul

[oliverandm]

Can someone please explain the tabs or something.. i just, i can't quite get the hang of the chords just by listening and watching to this video - thank you :) (btw was talking about the impro thing, not My Stupid Mouth)

[GreenRiceInc]

Oh yeah. And the band playing with him is pretty awesome too. They gotta follow whatever John's got going in his head cuz he doesn't play every song exactly the same each time and he tends to go where the music takes him and band does a good job of going right along with him. =]

[JissMUSIC92]

This is sooo Freaking good! John mayer truely is a genious!

[0l0Dom0l0]

you dont see many big names doing this!! thats pretty awsome tbh lol

[IanGuitarhero]

agreed! i seen Nickelback live along with daughtry stained hedley finger 11 and more.. AND JOHN MAYER . seen them all live. and JOHN IS MY ALL TIME FAV! but listening to nickelbacks live music is just like a record. if you closed your eyes it sounds like they cranked the record in a huge auditorium with screaming fans!... but not john.. hes a genius Live and hes a genius in the studio!! hes a guitar god , lyric master and holy cow hes my main man!

[TheOctaneTheory2008]

i love the egg shaker the drummer has tied to his right hand drum stick! :)

[aronkarmusic]

tim keltner does this alot

[Sjjags]

The chord progression reminds me a bit of Waiting on the World to Change, which obviously hadn't been written yet at the time of this performance.

[ppetracco]

Damn...

[TheOctaneTheory2008]

KMAO the ENTIRE crowd is girls :L

[AwfulCold]

Score.

[ramapl07]

he's just fuckin genius!!!

[jamieross1991]

agreed

[ihasnathanshat]

I can't believe this wasn't rehearsed!! amazing

[dukefiya]

i just let my stupid mouth run and said sumthing dumb, this improv and the song help me feel like less a dick, it happenes, i sure do feel dumb tho. thanks jm

[CattieGurl]

OH DAMN. I love John Mayer =)

[MrIheartmoosic]

This motherfucker is just epic full stop. who agrees?

[MEGAchewy22]

That was simply amazing. =)

[DreamEpiarch]

so mcuh chemistry oging on in this video. I feel it.

[WareThunder117]

hes so gifted. everything is great about this video, his improvisation, and my stupid mouth.

one thing though, why does he have a lisp? haha

[ihasnathanshat]

hahaha i think thats a result of him makin out with the mic XD

[hendrixfan805]

i hope you realize this is just my stupid mouth with a jam at the begining

[NVgen1]

thats because he was playing my stupid to begin with, but i guess he messed up and went with it

[dreambrother37]

..this is why mayer is cool! ..not b/c he can play like stevie and hendrix.. he needs to get back to being original and creative!!!

[yodamvpplayer]

personally i hate the fact that he is one of the best mainstream tech guitarists that I've heard. and that he writes delicious music that despite being so relative is also deeply personal to everyone. and he has an ear for beautiful melodies. so i can kind of sort of see why you dislike him so much, he really is a talentless hack.

[guidovanwestjr]

he's a god...

[tylerdurdensays19]

thats fucked up it takes me a year to write the music and the lyrics to a song and it still sucks he makes something in three seconds.

[ioplk90]

it might be 11.30 pm but this makes me pick up my guitar and do more practice just to get a tiny bit better . some probably know how it is to be playing scales at 2 am despite work starting at 8 .... lol