Me exactly. Though I already got my own technique based off of John Mayer. I just watch this because I love Paul's tutorials. And with videos like Paul's, you can still learn something new.
I've been a classical guitarist for about 15 years and recently started playing fingerstyle as well for something more fun and chill than the sometimes rigid technicality of classical music. I heard this technique (and many others I hadn't tried before) and was really confused for the last week trying to figure out how to do this. Then I watched this video and got it down first try with your style! Thanks so much! You have a great ability to teach all levels my friend!
Thank you so much! I'm a 13 year old and have only been playing guitar for about eight months and I can now finally play Stop This Train after practicing this technique vigorously.
Just started trying to do this today, hardest part I'm finding is getting the right tension in the index finger during the twist. Too soft and I don't get any follow through on the hook; too hard, and I hit the string below without wanting to. Also struggling getting a good consistent slap sound. Thumb on its own, no problem. Index on its own, no problem. Combining the two: yikes.
I'm with you. Thumb slap is easy and index flick is easy in itself. I'm so used to using my thumb and index finger together like a pick that after hours of frustration I learned to play "Who Says" with the thumb slap only. Once I mastered the thumb slap it was relatively easy to add the index flick.
I am having this same problem. I can do the thumb slap on its own and been doing it for years now, but just recently I've been trying to do what Mayer does because the dynamics sounds amazing, but my gosh it's difficult.
Same here dudes...hitting a string downwards with the nail of my index finger feels totally wrong. Gonna take time to get a clean and precise note that way. Amazing video though
The details in your teaching is absolutely spot on. I have been playing for over 20 years and recently started finger style playing with actual structure which really makes a difference. Seems I was faking it all along, although I have developed my own style along the way. Keep up the great work and your playing is an inspiration! Much appreciated
I was looking at tabs and live videos trying to figure it out...nope....and you just explained it. Like that. In. Out. 1. 2. One of those moments where you both feel stupid and being given the key to the kingdom. THANK YOU!
@@infraredplayer I'm having the same problem, I can hit the notes with my index but then I can't slap so hard, when I try to slap harder, I miss with my index because it kinda curls upwards.
You sir are a great teacher... Calm, relaxed and providing good examples while executing the technique in many different speeds. You've just earned a new sub!
Just started to learn this song and found this. This lesson is so good. Focuses on just what it should...the hard part. And so clear and detailed explanation. Thanks Paul!
I love this technique. Took a long time back when I learned it. For the most part, I don't use my ring finger or middle, but after I "flick" with my pointer I almost do a tiny one sting sweep to the next note so I can up stroke it with my pointer. Essentially you use a "claw". I think this is the way John actually plays some of the more basic slap and flick songs like heart of life which is a good starting point for this technique.
2:38 There you go. Thats the most important thing. Practice it slowly and again and again and again. When I learned this it was so hard me. It´s really not easy to slap and flick simultaneously in the beginning but eventually your fingers get the hang of it. The notes of these songs are not essentially that difficult but the technique really makes it interesting and driven. Learn it and have fun!
If you want to learn songs by ear easier, learn the chords of every key(or the (most popular keys like A,G,C,D,E,B,F) and then you just have to trial and error. Use your ear and you will get better at hearing stuff.
My father taught me so much about Harmony since I was like six years old which is why I can play along to almost every song easily and super quick. It's definitely worth learning!
if you want good info on harmony look up jacob Collier..... however just talking about it or watching a few vids won't get you to understand it in any practical way I don't think.........
Hi, I hope you've improved regarding figuring out songs. Another thing that always helps me out a ton is watching live performances, so that you know where about the guitarist is playing, or how his hand is positioned.
Paul, this video helped me understand a technique that otherwise seemed impossible in about 2 minutes! I had seen other videos trying to explain it, but they didn't do it that well. Then you explain it like 1, 2, 3, and suddenly I can play using this just like I can play a G chord. Another reason why you're one of the best guitar instructors / players on RU-vid; keep it up! 🎸😎
So strange, I was literally studying this technique all day on my day off from work and now this video , haha it must be fate , watch out for continuum 2 guys 😁
Even you don’t “actually” learning what is being taught but It feel so amazing to hear John Mayer’s riffs somebody teaching you. I solute you Sir John Mayer.
Finally a video that teaches how to slap and strum a string at the same time. Not exactly what I was looking for but I can finally play a certain song I've almost given up on because some parts require a slap and a pluck at the same time! Who would've known it was called John Mayer slapping thumb technique. I just kept googling "how to slap and strum at the same time" and could never find what I was looking for.
You must be the most knowledgeable teacher and artist we have on RU-vid. I saw John playing like that but I did not even know it had a name till now. Thank you!
QUICK TIP: this literally was the make or break of me getting the technique down - when you hit the string with your pointer finger, make sure that it clears away from the strings (don't follow through with the finger and let it sit on the next string)
@@kokujin3349 Like you shouldn't keep your finger there nor rest it on the next string, but once you've hit it try to move it away from the strings just a bit, so it won't touch the next one
I've watched Paul for 4 years of my guitar ongoing. With many videos come to many things in the first two years. Then i left this channel for soaring the sky of musi . One year, many wonderful things, so do failed periods of time. Àn now, back to this year, Paul is like a father to music, cozily teach me, again, like a warm-hearted farther piggyback the childish big boy. Love and thanks, appreciate you so much Paul Davis 🤟🌟.
guys when you practice it try your slap very hard and force yourself to slap everytime. exaggerate the slap makes the whole technique easier when you practice it.
@@sealy999 I can't tell precisely where he hits it but personally I make my thumb relatively straight except I curve the tip upwards to give me more stability then slap with the bone on the left side of your thumb. Try not to exaggerate the slap too much because it'll cause you to slap the wrong string or hit a string you didn't mean to.
Having tried to learn this technique for a while, and of course tried other tutorials, this one is undoubtedly the most in-depth and precise one. I know how I'm spending my weekend now - thanks!
For a very long time I had difficulty to synchonize to do a slap with the thumb and to flick with the index finger at the same time. What helped me to make this technique work is, to first focus only on slapping with the thumb. What I have noticed is, that once the slap was strong and consistent, the flickering with the index finger came along naturally. I still haven't "master" it completely, but it's a progress :)
Excellent lesson. Been trying to learn thumb slap for a while and keep hurting my index finger, had the wrong angle. Slow mo demo helps a lot. Sometimes expert guitarists forget the very basic details of how they learned. Will be back at it today and gonna get this down.
Very good tutorial !! and since I'm teaching those songs to my students, I'll be very happy to share it with them. ;-) I'm always sharing your vids with my students because they are very accurate and very well explained. Congrats ! Only one little thing I'd like to mention is that I'm pretty sure that John Mayer is only using his thumb + index finger to play that technique. I've been watching so many videos to write the tabs with accuracy that I'm almost certain of it. But it doesn't really matter and I'm always telling my students that you can use two or three fingers to play it, it has to be confortable, it's the priority. ;-) thanks again for your great videos !!
+Les Cours de Guitare Moderne - Hugo Martin Thank you, seriously appreciate it! I think you may be right about him using only his index finger, but I think this technique is more versatile when also using the middle and even the ring finger at some accessions :) Cheers!
i wish this came out like a month ago, learned these songs and this technique by trial and error haha. Nice to confirm that I didn't screw it up with this lesson though, so thanks as always my friend, keep the videos coming!
one thing about JM is that he only plays with thumb and index finger unlike the others ,"making his own style". I believe everyone comes out with their "own style" while making their "own music".
Haha, my gawd...I just got: *Who Says - John Mayer* yesterday as a guitar lesson by my guitar teacher and now, this video suddenly pops up in my *Recommended.* Haha, what are the chances ^^
Amazing technique and MUCH MUCH better lesson about it. Your teaching skills are superb. Thanks from Spain. I went through a little hell with your Travis lesson. It took me months to learn it, and still improving...What I´ve noticed is that after that learning battle this new scenario is hitting much less harder in my synapses. This is going to stay with me forever. Thanks Paul!!!
This has to be the tenth time I'm coming back to this video. I've given up several times but now I'm finally making progress, so thanks a lot Paul! By the way, is there any particular reason why we should use the index finger for the second slap/flick on the B string? To me it comes much more naturally to use my middle finger there, especially since it plucks the same string again right after the slap/flick
Holy cow! I just did it. I have been able to do the thumb slap and roll but my thumb always came off the D string and didn't stay like yours. Today I got the thumb to hold. I know it my seem silly but this is a good win today. Thank you Paul.
I play like this and I have to say that you explain this, and everything, in probably the most easy to understand, clear, and concise way. kudos mate. Love the videos.
I've seen there's a channel here with an entire series of videos that are all 30+ minutes long dedicated to teaching songs with this thumb slap technique and initially I thought, wow that's amazing, but honestly they're just way too long than they need to be. Going over each individual note can sometimes be useful but only up to a certain point. This video demonstrates the technique and, like what was said, the only way to learn it is it do it over and over. A 30 minute tutorial isn't going to give some magic method. So thanks for the concise and informative video here.
Hey Paul, i just realized that i've been around ever since that a minor backing track you uploaded 4 years ago. I've been using it since you uploaded. It's my favourite backing track ever and i didn't even realize it was you! Thank you for all the great content!!
Dude I went through so many videos and was about to give up on this when your encouraging words at the beginning made me change my mind. Gonna practice this shit and kill this technique!
Thank you for this...I have developed a sort of percussive string hit thing over the years, but this has allowed me to explore reigning that process in and allowing for a new technique where one can hit single notes in a percussive way, sort of like old clawhammer style....which now makes me want to go look up some old clawhammer style guitar songs (or banjo songs to transpose). This kind of thing is pretty life changing, realizing the potential in this exercise...have been practicing that technique now as I run scales....using one entire licks, using on the electric, just super fun and interesting, and rut-breaking stuff. Stuff I need nowadays. Thanks Again from Rhode Island, US.
Adam P in the LA version he plays the D string with his thumb and the B string with his indexfinger. In the chorus he also only uses his thumb to play the E string and his index for the B and high E string. In this video he uses his midde finger but mayer actually doesn't do this.
You're arguing semantics, there's no real reason why he would use his index on both the B and E string, it was most likely an error in the heat of the session and he adapted quickly to fix his right hand positioning. With perfect technique, you would play it as was demonstrated in this video for the most logical and economic finger positions
This might be true, but Mayer still plays with only his thumb and index. Not only on Stop this train, but a lot of other songs aswell. Neon, Queen of California, Shadow Days (live vevo version), Heart of Life and Who says, to name a few.
PAUL ever since I stumbled upon your channel with your 'Who Says" tutorial being the first video I watched, I have tried to get the groove of this picking pattern down for well over a year now and I think I just got it! The key lies in using your thumb and index only! tempting as it is to use the middle finger on the 6th string, dont do it!! I can't explain it but it feels as if your hand bounces around on the strings much easier with one less finger involved in the whole shabang. Can highly recommend!
Hey Paul, truly a wonderful tutorial on this method. I really appreciate the encouragement in the beginning and yes with practice it is coming along. Thank you so much for including the really good clear slow motion, super helpful. Again thank you.
So after recently doing the John Mayer acoustic show twice, I actually looked close and I'm 99% sure he's just using his thumb and index finger much like Paul McCartney. I learned using this video of yours a couple years ago and I feel like its pretty cool using the middle finger as well cause its different and now I don't feel like I'm just doing what he is lol.
Love this. Great job explaining it. I've been trying to learn a song for few weeks now but couldn't get the percussive part right so this has really helped!
I think the slow motion really helps. Hit with the side of the thumb while kinda moving that finger away from you. Then apply force more and more until you get it to sound correctly.
Wow happy I found this video while looking through your collection. I’ve recently bought a John Mayer song book and was really struggling to thumb slap and “flick” my index as per the song books directions. This video is great!
Thank you Paul, this is so helpful. Last night, I (re)watched the Insta vid of JM when he does his bit on this technique and the things you can do with it, it was so damn cool but I just had no clue how to pull it off. This helps massively. Cheers.
Great lesson. I've learned by learning songs I wanted to play. Which is fine until I learn a song that is close to what I already know (progressions, patterns etc) then I get lazy and half-learn the song. This tutorial and technique has forced me to learn the way I should have been all along - do it correctly as slowly as needs be, get it right then slowly build up until it's solid. Hardly ground-breaking but it's bumped me out of a plateau so thanks a million.