He also lands on the 9th of E (F# note, 4th fret D string) and stays there for a beat. Let’s look at the chord tones of E in this part of the neck: Now what’s important about this, is that Mayer is not playing random notes out of the E major scale.Īs soon as the chord changes to E, he very purposefully targets the 3rd of E major (G# sharp note, 6th fret D string).

He then plays some notes out of the E major scale in the C shape:

So for the first part of this lick, Mayer is playing right out of the B major pentatonic scale: I can promise you that this will not be the last Mayer solo that is covered on .Īfter this lesson, you'll learn what makes John Mayer's solo on the 7-16-16 Sugaree so melodic and heartfelt, and how you can incorporate these bluesy elements in your playing. However, Mayer has provided his infectious brand of energy and breathed a new, brilliant light on the Dead's timeless catalog. The cynic in me originally though that they chose Mayer because they wanted to put asses in seats.īut truthfully, I think they could have chosen someone who wasn't a household name and still packed stadiums around the country. In this version, he manages to pay homage to Garcia while making a statement that is all his own.īobby and the gang could have picked any world-class player for the lead guitar chair in Dead & Co., and in hindsight, I don't think they could have made a better choice than John Mayer. It was perfect, soulful, and beautiful as all hell. Once I heard that first solo in Sugaree, I knew I absolutely had to learn it. He managed to win over even the most jaded Deadheads with his pitch-perfect crooning and Jerry-flavored guitar work.īefore a few days ago, I had never learned a single John Mayer song, solo, or even a lick of his.īut one day last week, I was hanging out with a friend who had put the 7-16-16 stream rip of Sugaree up on his big screen. Mayer absolutely knocked it out of the park with Dead & Co. When I heard that John was joining Dead and Company, I was about as excited as a chef who learned that one of Guy Fieri's restaurants had earned four Michelin stars. I'll admit that I'm not the biggest John Mayer fan.ĭon't get me wrong – I've always respected him and his undeniable talent on the guitar.īut I've never kicked my shoes off after a long day of work and said to myself “I think I'll listen to an entire John Mayer record today.”

John mayer where the light is solo tab