Lesson / Example of John Mayers Neon

[kdsjhfdsgdsfd]

Fuck the "only index and thumb!" thing, I use all of ny fingers and it sounds better. And also that last chord change in the intro is wrecking me, you were very right when you said it was the hardest

[verotronic]

Thank you very much!

[DEDSREIS]

you forget the last chord in the Chorus man, 0-4-5-6-0-5

[liamfalk]

nice guitar! maton?

[bulldoozer100]

thank you so freaking much this helped me alot!!!

[olmo2603]

@AcousticNugeman why is that stupid again? beginners always say they got the hang of it while actually they dont. i maybe exxagerated a bit sorry for that but it is true though

[MrMiltonius]

thanks dude i've been trying to figure out his way of hitting the notes, but i didn't work ,

with my thumb and my first finger i can finally pull it off

[OrginalKork]

Slow down brah, that's too fast.

[MRlaith]

is it possible to learn this song having only played guitar for about 7 months?

[davidgramlingmusic]

@MRlaith VERY Possible! Just work at it SLOWLY and it'll come. I learned it in around 15 minutes, but I had to play it slowly. Then the next day i could play it up to speed but it was STILL SLOPPY. Took MANY HOURS CLEANING it up. If I switch guitars it gets sloppy again because I get used to certain string spaces. Its just its a tricky song that requires constant work to ALWAYS keep clean. Just work slowly; you'll get it (No one on here plays EVERY NOTE of it perfect anyway Not even John Always)

[hale2100]

this song is like gibberish to me. props to anyone that can play it. nicely done!

[givemeknowlege]

your pissing me off with how good that strumming is, but ty for the demonstration =D

[zenyricardo]

Beautiful, thanks lots.

[miggiquerido]

You look like Patrick Stump. Haha. Nice playing.

[kj211414]

hey~ you very cute! and Thanks!~

[MegaMykool]

for rythm try just playing the base cord

[carliarce]

fuck! i cant get the part of the rythm

[bboyxchristian]

when he strums the chorus, does he mute the necessary strings?

[bboyxchristian]

why use two fingers when you could use four?

[likeming26]

can you make a more detailed version of the rythms....my right hand is retarted

[DanielLaNoue]

not exactly a lightweight...

[tigreslokos]

It's only you and John that make it look easy..

but I'm trying lol =)

[tigreslokos]

what tuning is this song in?

[maycoppi]

@tigreslokos DROP C tunning :)

[DenmarkRecords]

AArgh, I will never learn this! You are waaay to goood!! Man, its amazing!

[purplelove08]

this guy sucks

[Lil80sbaby]

this song is so easy to play

[mark031878]

I've been practicing this song for three or four months now. Its finally all coming together very smoothly (yay!). You were the first lesson I watched though. Thanks for the guidance man. I still use the thumb/index/thumb/index pattern to this day. Seems like the most accurate. I need work on the bass slap though. Any lessons?

[johnnnybruce]

I like you man, nice lesson

[bfitnessjoe]

Good tutorial. This song seperates the men from the boys when it comes to skills and creativity. This song leaves tons of room for personal style though it sounds best with blues and jazz licks mixed in. If you fail the solo then it just shows you have no imagination skills and creativity in yourself and ruin the climax of the song. You can throw anything even the kitchen sink when it comes to throwing your owns licks into the solo segment of this song.

[levis760212]

this video is very helpful!! thank you for the hard work!! keep it up!

[Haggarduser]

Argh, I can't get the slapping down.

[Madz280]

where do u actually get the full tabs to this song?

[creativeassembly45]

man will you please tell me how to slap the lowE string and not silence it

[ablindbadger]

Epic.

That is all :)

[dennoow]

Nice lesson there man! Thanks!

[tenderfootjoe]

damb you thumb and your ability to make this song so complicated and painfully difficult. great lesson though.

[nikolaou20]

.΄.

[itsmichaelnigga]

5stars for using the word reckon

[Hotdawg0007]

great lesson, thanks!

Finally I may be able to play this super hard song!

[bizza52]

GAHHHH i can get it omggggg

[StevenJonWest]

First, John Mayer is amazing!! Watching him play this song from the Live LA video seems to show that he uses his thumb for the low E (or low C!) throughout the whole song... Feels a bit easier than trying to hit those chords with 4 fingers...

Also, I dont suppose you could send a link for the full tab to this song please nzcoops?? I got one, but i dont think its completely right...

Nice video though! very helpful!!

[babolatpdtp]

@StevenJonWest with regards to the thumb thing, John Mayer seems to do the majority of the songs like that, like check out Free Fallin in the Live in LA. At first I thought it was weird, but it actually is kinda easier and gives a good bass

[StevenJonWest]

hey, yeah i think he tends to use his thumb for the low E in most chords... Like in Wheel, the second chord (i guess F sus4 add9??) he hits the F with his thumb, which is almost impossible to reach!!

Nice, just checking out that song now.. Sounds awesome! Cheers :o)

[changster86]

Thankyou 4 the lesson

[skullkap1]

Nice job. That is a toughie!

[JacoboTrogler]

this is a really good video, but your hiting alot of extra notes just keep it normal and its good..the extra stuff makes it sound a lil dif.

[Amaan05]

actually... yea their are much of easier version on youtube... but this is the way john mayer plays it.. original! so those extra notes are worth it!

[romervhudson]

what extra notes?

if u can find "extra notes" in this tutorial, what the fuck are u doing here? go teachind some guitar classes.. in the hell ahah

fuck u and fuck your lil girl audition

[SimonSkippZ]

Great, but I'll never get the hang of that slapping rhythm, that's what makes the song good, but also what makes it hard!

[wakojako99]

@SimonSkippZ never say never!

[SimonSkippZ]

Okay then, maybe sometime, but 'multi-tasking' with the rhythm seems so hard to me although I've played for a long time. Mayer is really talented! But yeah, I've got to learn it sometime :)

[Kieranmusic89]

bottom E is drop C the rest is tuned to standard tuning

[TrentNIN01]

its drop C

[Bluesguitarist55]

what are you tuned to?

[Dunderkladden]

Drop D I think :P Same as YBIAW... Just tune low E-string equivelent to the D-string

[espChris93]

its standard except the low E is tuned down to C

[timdurgan]

Loving your work

[heliolagojr]

Awesome!! This felow downhere doesn't undestand english... that's why the complaining... lol..

Pretty good work man!!!!

[lucasilva8]

you talk to much!!

[jackskatenmusic]

cheers for this if you had'nt of mentioned that claw technique i would of kept on trying to play it with three fingers while still attempting the rythm with those palm slaps and thumb slaps.

[smokedisimo]

omggg ur great haha

i've only been playing guitar a couple months or so

and i got this song because of u

thanx haha

[olmo2603]

f your playing just a cuple months you or only tried to get this song straight since ur playing, or your lying.

this is one pretty advanced song which beginners cannot play be critic on your own work

[Fabio89787]

ahahahaha.. nice you got him xD

[Ilenalyd]

What are you talking about man ive been playing about three months and im picking this song up pretty quick its not that bad

[olmo2603]

you're probably not critizising your own work correctly...

if you can play the song better than me with never touching a guitar before 3 months ago, I'll commit suidice. If i win, i get all your dads money your and your parents money.

deal?

[AcousticNugeman]

@olmo2603 wuta stupid comment



[SourcesAreEverything]

You're a good teacher :-)

[SourcesAreEverything]

Very good explanation.

[CallMeKuzco]

thank alot i can do it

but i cant do it fast

[Bagrad100]

very helpful, thanks!

[pissballs]

It won't sound like this in a few months it will be more like polished neon! You already have the flavour and jist of it. Good share humble and open style :D

[kdheithaus]

between this one, noah needleman, sirkmi's and steve baughman i think i'm almost getting it...

[abeMr]

NOT VERY HELPFUL. BUT OK

[Maiden0101]

tanks alot man, i can almost do it, just need more speed . tanks

[14ManuelaSL]

I love you! Thank you SO much. you actually explained it very well and you don´t go jabbering for 10 extra min! PLEASE keep doing this kind of tutorials!

[XJONGSANGX80]

Thanks bro, you helped me a lot!

[nickheck]

for 1:12 use your thumb. it's easier to switch to from other chords

[aio193]

standard tuning?

[siphre7]

low e dropped to c.

[luchoganj]

dude you rock

[stickytoes2]

talented, and your accent gives me a 2x6

[MixolydianMayhem]

2x6? you meen like an irrection?

[JacoboTrogler]

thanks for the help

[TheWolfDogMoon]

Good tutorial. I have a hard time getting my ring finger up like you say. Also, the open note that starts the song I have a hard time with, LOL. Hard song.

[ChrisTheShred]

how is the b string plucked?

[notluckyafterall]

very helpful,thx!

[arlesravoux]

amazing tutorial, do you know where i can find the tab?

all of the ones i've looked up don't seem to correlate =/

[bmawnz]

nzcoops, your vids are great!

Youre the only person with John Mayer lessons that are correct and so on, sure theres alot of other lessons that are great but I prefer these.

Keep it up! :D

[jorihaar]

reallly great tutorial!! *thumbs up*

[immatellyouwhat]

Still can't tell how your index finger or fingers are moving! ahhh it just looks like your thumb is out and going up and down, I need help :(

[TheWolfDogMoon]

I've been learning this song. You are correct, your thumb will be going up and down. Try just slaping the beat with your thumb then do the chords. Also, it helps to play the song when all is quiet, like when everyone else is sleeping! Really, there is a mic close to the sound hole when John Mayer is playing it or he is using an acoustic electric or an acoustic with a pickup because I think the slap is actually a subtle beat.

[hammr5311]

do another line of blow dude...

[fabiorod91]

can anybody tell me where i can find the most accurate tab for this song, in ultimateguitar i don't think they re accurate

[JMrocksmysocks]

hey man bloody hell i finally learned how to play neon thanks to you! could never figure out how to slap the strings while plucking them. i actually JUST created an acct so i could comment on this video. great job!

poopoohead, why so defensive? just don't reply! and yes i do agree it wasn't very nice of you to say that "You're not the best when it comes to playing this song", i would feel insulted if i were him.

[skidivine]

welcome to youtube world :)

great tutorial btw....it really helps, unlike other tutorials, teaching the wrong thing, or unclear, no offense..this one is awesome. Thanks heaps

[Jeff799]

THANKS!

[P00P00Head]

You're not the best when it comes to playing this song but you certainly teach how to play it extremely well. Thanks, I really learned a lot from this vid.

[blacknailbrat]

Seriously, couldn't you just say that he teaches it well and you learned a lot from this vid? Did you really have to put him down saying the first bit?

[P00P00Head]

What are you, Youtube comments police? I don't think I put him down at all with my comment, nor was it my intention. He's a great teacher; there's a difference between being a great guitarist vs being a great teacher, not that I'm saying he's not a great guitarist as well.

What's even more unnecessary is people like you going around putting down people for leaving comments that are not in line with your own viewpoint. Seriously, did you even leave a comment about the actual vid?

[Parolu13]

What is your problem??? dont have a life and just getting others down, i agree with Blacknailbrat and JMrocksmysocks. Ur pretty stupid with your comments.

And Btw, I really think hes a good guitarist AND a goot teacher aswell, so if you are here to put him down, dont leave a post...

[blacknailbrat]

Exactly!!! Thank you!!! I'm so sick of all these people giving unconstructive criticism.

Rock on nzcoops. Best tutorial for Neon here on youtube man.

[Hakoria]

It's funny seeing how people didn't like your comment at all. People are over-sensitive much? I doubt nzcoops even found it offensive. If he takes it maturely, he'll rather continue to practice and become even better, instead of making a fit over it; can't people see that?

The point of youtube isn't only to suck up to people; everyone should learn to accept criticism.

Now for the tutorial: the tutorial is great, and I actually liked the way it was managed; easy to follow and well demonstrated.

[whitham89]

you look and sound like daniel vettori. good video btw, helped me a lot.

[Eknull]

Hi, did not know about the finger picking =)! really nice so much easier to play now :P. in the last party of the Intro u can use bareé on eight fret, much easier to get the last chord !

[johnnyrouge]

thanks mate for slowing it down it really helped

[nebuer20]

finally picked up the slap bit..awesome tutorial.!

advice if your just starting off with this piece: get the tab down perfect and then come back to this.

[xemosintightsx]

goddamn this is where never finger picking will kick my ass my fingers are soo awkward!! i could probably alternative pick this better LOL. after so many years...

btw best tutorial out there especially for rhythm thanks.

[cabarthur]

thanks a lot!!! finaly i can play that song

[romspryo]

Good job! thanks for sharing :)

5 stars ;)

[llanocano15]

what i dont agree about is everybody copycating the right hand

[Chickenjuggle]

playing with a low C like that is such a pain in the ass

[thechangee]

fucken bad assssss! I learned something today.

[sianoreis]

what happened with your voice man?!

[samucalencar1]

Dude, props man. Really nice.

[stokes975]

mate, this is exactly what i needed.

please don't listen to the fuckwits.

[edgirallenjoe29]

Was that really necessary?

[MixolydianMayhem]

"Now as for the left hand... Fekin handy cam theng"

lol... such a New Zealander, good teacher to some respect though :)

[batman290123]

how long did this take u to learn?

[batman290123]

how long did this take u to learn?

[mike23ru]

Thanks Mate, this video I found MOST helpful only now I got it right. Cheers

[ohpuck]

Too fast and sloppy, slow down.

[landmanjann]

you're not in new zealand NOW, bret...

[iixlateralusxii]

most helpful video I have found on this - thanks

[boundary121]

niiiice video

but u gotta slow it down....im freaking stuck at the beginning....wtf!?!?!?!?

someone help!!!

[maklokiper]

Nice :D

[totleariss]

you mess up a couple times when you play, and you don't name strings, but hey, 5/5. you're pro to me and i still think you do a great job showing the technique. good job

[apocatie34]

waaaaay to fast dude!!!

[chibimaru8]

it's the way to the fast dude

[Canfood90]

thanks, good tutorial helpful =D

[GothenburgGuitarist]

Great, I wouldn't have thought of using the ring finger instead of the thumb on those hard chords. Thanks!

[dwpoint548]

its weird i saw this video couple years ago on a guitar site back when i was starting guitar and thought damn i could never play that....now here i am years later, came across the same exact vid and now i'm jamming away. ha never say never when it comes to guitar. thanks for the upload!

[AoWAether]

yeah i learned the song by this tutorial sadly my technique is different than johns so it will never sound the same : (

[ApiratesL1fe4me]

By far best tutorial for this song that I've seen. Great job, mate!

[rszl]

--_-- i cant do it!!

[Kahonez07]

what's the tuning for it? great tutorial!

[pipall]

Just drop low E to C =)

[Kahonez07]

oh nice, lol. thanks!

[Nko14]

Shot Bro, cheers for that. Good tutorial.

[daniellama1308]

thanks for this lesson, the best lesson ever :)

[AoWAether]

you have to be one of the best tutorials ive ever seen

[guitarman1707]

thank you so much bro!!!

[lastima999]

shit

[rebelguitardude10]

great video man

[TomLikesToast]

with the strumming / slapping motion, did you just practice it really really slowly for ages, or is it less meticulous than that?

[nateguitarsoccer]

im tryin on an electric with 13s and its still a pain in the ass.

[jdub3028]

ya man, if you practice it long enough you will get it. it took me a while to get that style down, but I eventually got it

[sander71113]

Nice tutorial! I do it differently - but I think this one is the proper way to do it. Specifically the right hand, thanks.

[joshluxy]

Aha, mean kiwi accent bro!

[Vaidol777]

Actually if you watch the live accoustic video it sounds like John's doin' all those bass notes too... I think... anyways great video!

[slashrocks768]

I use my thumb for it all man, found it easier. Just needs a good stretch.

What i did like is your picking technique because it's SPOT on BUT you got a lot of bass man, sounds funky but dunno if right way :P But i do like it!! Maybe more!

Haha watch me make some mistakes.

[64ccd]

Great job on showing the people how it's done!

[abbyincubus]

hey you did an amazing job bro...good stuff...

[kaufdrop86]

yeah, this is a really good lesson vid. nice for geting the left AND right hand into the vid, clears up a lot of questions that the others don't. thanks

[cisco19]

it;s so hard

[bigthahn]

dude you rock! but its guna take me forever to lear all this stuff but ill do it!!

[darkstar941]

you could just thumb all the chords, I find it easier that way, esp the last two chords

[1337EMIL]

Nice video - especially for showing the 'picking pattern'. I couldn't do all the slaps because i didn't know i had to pick it like this. So.. now i can play it - Thanks!

The best Neon lesson.

[jamesthom18]

thats class

[kotoblack81]

thanks! you good job

[Chickenjuggle]

this song is hard...

mostly cuz im used to playing with a pick

[JackKnifer]

i play with a pick mostly.

if ya slow it way way way way down and concentrate on finger picking it without slaps first, and add the slaps later, it makes it much easier.

at least for me

[darkstar941]

if you want you can replace your thumb for a pick and then use your middle finger as the index finger, hybrid picking version

[guitarskater11]

lol dude just play with a pick thats what i do

[abbyincubus]

bru..dat is flippin awesome...great stuff...

[jackloupin]

Thx you

it helps me a lot

[c00ld00d82]

omg finally!

its kinda like in the heart of life i noticed

when you slap down your index finger has to come down on a string sometimes!!

thanksss soo much

awesome vid

[pbmadness123]

like a jew claw

[duecedropper2009]

i guarentee you it is not in drop D. the tuning is CADGBE. only the low E string is dropped.

[RobertiusB]

thanks for this, go nz

[Tannyboy82]

Can you please tell me where the tabs are specifically? URL please? I have 10 different tabs! Thank you :)

[donoage]

the best vid yet

[christichik]

dude..ive been lyk tryin to find a vid that shows u how to play this song..i love it..but when u sed the lower c..does dat mean tuning wit to a diff key.n btw..u added this vid on my bday date..yay..thnx heaps =]

[phlashed1]

so this is drop c tuning?

[SeveredShadow22]

No, just the sixth(low E) string is tuned down to a C an octave lower than your third fret on the fifth(A) string. So the tuning is actually E B G D A C

[thejohnofsteel]

that is drop c. What most people call drop c is actually drop d down one whole step. a drop tuning is when only the 6th string's tuning is altered.

[SeveredShadow22]

Drop C is two full steps down so the tuning is CGCFAD. Drop D is DADGBE.

[thejohnofsteel]

no. CGCFAD is dropped d down 1 whole step. I guarentee you. It is dropped d, but in a different key.