SOB ROCK: How John Mayer uses the BLUES! 

"I guess I just feel like giving up today" is how I feel every time I try to play a John Mayer solo.

Yes, so good!!

Yes man.... Blues away, blues away....

I always enjoy the way you explain things, its very thorough and easy to understand 😁 Keep up the great work! ❤

Paul Davids you are a national treasure.

Hi quality content im dad

The work put into this video is perfect. As a filmmaker myself I'm getting amazed by the way you were able to hold my attention for the full ten minutes without even looking at the timer once. This really shows how you developed as filmmaker/storyteller making those videos. About the solo: I remember playing over the solo and how I got confused about the scale. I was not able to figure it out until now.. You explained it perfectly and now I can dive into it with a whole new perspective! Big thumbs up to you Paul, hope we can have a talk one day! Cheers from Utrecht ;')

I hope John Mayer sees this. Thank you for that amazing video, Paul

A reggae bass player, when I was starting out as a musician, said to me that "A good bassline has a question followed by an answer contained in it". Hard to elucidate on that further, except to say it is spot on advice for any bass player. Listen to your favourite basslines and see for yourself. My advice for a good guitar solo is that it should feel like great oratory; an emotional arc which leads to a satisfying conclusion.

I went through years of Jazz theory on guitar and knew as soon as this song came out, something was different and inherently "cool" about the solo - great video!

"You can just stop thinking and say: I guess I just feel like letting the guitar speak for me" From time to time I come back to this video to be reminded what playing guitar should be like. Thank you Paul and John

Man, you can just TELL right away how much effort you put in these videos. All the editing, trying to explain Keep up the good work man!!

John Mayer is a spirit animal and Paul Davids is the Shaman that explains. Love when you break down his stuff.... lets us mortals truly understand how special what John does on the guitar is.

He does the same thing with Gravity most of the time. Play the first solo in the "correct" Gmaj, play the outro in bluesy Gm. You can do this with a lot of songs. If you two solo's in one song it's a great way to make a difference between the two, preventing yourself from doing the same stuff all the time. Or, if you have an guitar battle it's also a great way to sound different than the other player.

Those camera zooms on every bent 3rd was so awesome man. That really made the point hit home. I just recently discovered your channel, and I'm blown away. Thanks for all this amazing content!

I love that Paul doesn’t ignore John, most of guitar channels do

Paul Davids talking publishing "About that John Mayer solo...". I guess my day is great now

I learned more in this 10 minute video than in my ten years playing guitar. Thank you for such quality content.

I can't tell what's sexier; John Mayer's guitar playing, or Paul Davids' Beard.

Hendrix did this allot. Very great break down. Thank you for this explanation. I'm still absorbing a more modal approach to my playing and having this kind of lesson to show the relationships is very helpful in my process. especially as a predominantly blues player. Thanks again Paul.😎

This dude is the MKBHD of guitar. (In terms of video quality)

Thank you THANK YOU for the brief music theory. I'm not trained in music, and those little digressions really help the engineer in me understand why music "works the way it does".

Great video! John is a master player and he most definitely went with what he felt like (as we see in that video). But for us non-master players out there, this analysis is extremely helpful. I just shared a song I'm still recording with a stranger last night. The only bass I have on the track is during the bridge and it's a very funky/catchy slap bass lick. His first response was "I want to rip a solo here so bad". But if I've learned anything from John, it's that you don't need to show off on your recordings. Let the bass/percussion shine for a while. It just makes the song that much better. Like with this song, he never quite goes where we all know he can and you're right: it's a blast to listen to the notes he does choose to play (that tapping lick was fun to figure out and soooo tasty). Thanks again, Paul!

One of the greatest videos I've watched in the last few months. Thanks Paul, you never disappoint. Keep up the good work.

Paul, you’re obviously crazy good and I really enjoy watching your videos I respect the way you not only show the cords and the progression but you write it out , naming the cord and then putting it on the diagram or tablature. Your teaching methods make us viewers, quiet simply put. Better Guitar Players. I just watched you play the John Mayor pentatonic scale, and then you played it 2 different ways as well. What can anyone say but you are absolutely awesome as a guitarist and as a teacher. Thanks so very much. Now I no longer have to jump all over RU-vid to get what I want.

When people talk about John Mayer's ability I get encourage and discourage at the same time. Makes me want to play a Mayer song then bust my head with my guitar after. 😧😂

Your editing is amazing. You know exactly how to keep the entire video interesting while holding on to the topic. Love it!

i really love this whole analyzing type video. Please keep doin this!!!

I absolutely enjoy all of your videos, how you explain things, as well as the well articulated subject dissection and how you elicit thought from your viewers for them to make connections. Cheers, Mr. Davids, you're doing a great job!

this shows what a master john is too and you explain it so well.

Such effortless dissection of a wonderful solo. Paul, you are indeed a blessing for us!

Gotta say your the best guitar teacher online for advanced guitarist. I’ve gotten past the point of watching Marty or anyone else cause they go to slow. If your a beginner it’s great. For me the vids got boring but yours is perfect pace and I can play right along with you and learn a lot! Your great man wish I would’ve discovered you earlier. My skills have gotten way better in the last couple months and find myself picking the guitar up a lot more.

What the..... I just learned so much in this. You brought me back to 10+ years ago when I was studying theory, but taking that knowledge and dropping bombs all over it. The way my brain works is that if you play a major chord then you play a major scale, if you play a minor chord you play a minor scale. Everything you said in this video just exploded that entire method of thinking.

The song is perfection: lyrics of sad introspection and giving up, with a beautiful melody and a stripped down production.

man, im from argentina and i dont speak english too much, but the way you explain the things and the clarity with you talk makes me more easy to understand it, and i learn a lot from your videos, aprecieatte that. keep it going!

I saw the short clip of the solo on RU-vid before the song was released and it was so great that I learned that part before the song even came out. My legs buckled when I listened to the song for the first time and the outro solo came. Total braingasm.

I love absolutely everything about this video. Very well done my friend, each of your videos improves upon the last.

4:32 doesn't "feel right"? That riff gave me goosebumps it was so good. Loved the video

This song is so underrated , it’s literally perfection , not only musically but also lyrically ,”I guess I just feel like good things are gone, and the weight my worries is too much to take on” that’s basically saying “I don’t think I can continue anymore , I’m tired” , but then he says “But I know that I’m open and I know that I’m free , and I’ll always let hope in wherever I’ll be, and if I go blind I’ll still find my way. I guess I just felt like giving up today” it’s basically like saying “yes I know that this is just a phase and I know I should keep my head up” it’s like justifying that you felt really sad earlier but you’re not gonna let that bring you down. It’s like when you were a kid and you did something bad and then said “I know that it was wrong , but I was mad , but I’m sorry” and then you gave your mom a hug , and everything was alright. The last sentence is basically saying that even tho things might seem really bad , you still have a chance and things will get better , just keep your head up. And then the solo is just perfection , it’s not happy , but it’s not sad , it’s like hope , the solo feels like hope , at least that’s how I see it. ✨

You deserve everything you have gotten. This is an amazing video! Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.

I think this is my absolute favorite and best video of Paul, i just love it

Just got my tickets to see Mayer in Manchester 18th October! Right after my birthday and his!

You and John need to do a video together. That would be so so cool given that you've dissected his stuff better than I've ever seen anyone else do. I'm sure John is sitting in a chair somewhere watching this thinking "yeah, this guy knows." So happy you're doing what you do, sir. Keep it up!

It will be always a "abracadabra" for me. But one thing I really understand; John Mayer is a genius on the guitar. Meanwhile I still try to understand what i am doing on that peace of wood and play just what sounds good sounds in my ears with the hope that I sound like a guitarist. 😂🤣. But you let me think about what I am really doing on that loveable instrument. That is the real power of making music; in what scale you are doesn't matter, you still can learn and have fun. Thnx for the info and enjoyable way of explaining about something that is way beyond my skill. 😉👍

You really dig into John Mayer's music. Like what you did with Neon. Great video. Cheers from Philippines! \m/

The tapping lick in the solo is such a Derek Trucks lick, only Trucks would play something like that with a slide, it's great I love it

Paul, you're a gift for us.

Such a beautiful study of a beautiful song.

Genius I found myself asking the same questions when I heard that solo first but I certainly couldn't answer them that well. Thanks for this !

Excellent as always. Please don't stop making these

You are brilliant David! 👍

Paul you are very generous with your knowledge ( insight AND emotion). I have no doubt that you just flat out love all things guitar . I have learned so much from you. THANK YOU!

You predicted his album name

Great video once again! I’d love it if you were to make these kind of videos more often. Analysing interesting songs, why certain scales sound good over a particular chord, etc. Keep it up Paul!

Paul Davids, had you predicted his album name in 2019???

Funny, even after I get lost in the theory, I still watch Paul's vids to the end. Always a rewarding watch.

that tap lick tho... Paul strikes again. Amazing content, my friend

These types of videos are incredible, you simple find something awesome and explain it to us in an amazing way. Don´t ever stop.

Great explanations of complex, confusing topics in easily applicable, digestible ways!

Oh yes Paul, since I saw the 'Making of' this Solo, I can't stop thinking about it. Your explanation gave me a better view on why I like it so much. Thanx again.

Im here before this video had "Sob Rock" on the title. Great video. Love to re-watch your videos

His audio is so peaceful

The way you related the lyrics to the scales = mind blown 🤯🤯🤯. Thank you!!!

Paul Davids called it Sob Rock even before John did 😂

Thank you for lighting up the people that deserve it. Keeping em' where the light is. Great video paul. Genuine as it gets.

Paul, I just wanted to thank you for keeping me motivated playing guitar. I’ve never had so much fun learning music theory, and it’s really excelled my progress!

This video does show you good Paul is, but GOD how good is John Mayer?! Paul kinda broke down his song to it's true meaning. Great video man!

Love how you added sob rock to the album after like 3 years😂

CAN I GET A HEART FROM PAUL?! 😁😁

This was one of the most valuable content I’ve ever seen about guitar. You rock, Paul! Thanks man ❤️

This title aged well...

Beautiful explanations. You raise the bar in our minds and our fingers and challenge me to be better and believe me I feel like I play better because you have helped me along the way.

Chapeau !! I knew you would treat this sooner rather than later. Five days until I see JM in concert.........so excited !!

Most of the time I have absolutely no idea what hes talking about but he’s an amazing guitar player and that’s what I’m here for

I have been trying to dissect the solo for this song for the last two weeks and it has puzzled me, so this video is like mana from heaven

He predicted the actual album name

Video released 20 seconds ago. Comments from 15 hours ago, what?

So pedagogic , so clever, so cool to watch ! Lucky are the ones who have Paul for guitar teacher 😊 ...Kind regards from France

Can’t believe this is happening! this solo and tone is so beautiful 😍 thanks Paul!

Wow, looks like I really overlooked that solo!

I'd love the same treatment for "Shot in the Dark" as that song speaks, its just a shot in the dark. Something that could be, but will not. And the ending of that song is that. It never gets to the climax. I was waiting for some solo, and it never arrives. Its so anticlimatic, yet good!

Glad to see other people can appreciate what John does.

I don't understand the theory, but can feel it. I'd really like to connect the two so I can use it more like a road map. Thanks, Paul, appreciate your time with helping us!

The relative major D in this case also play a big part of the solo

World class video Paul. You keep outdoing yourself. If people had watched you for a while they can start understanding the way you think and approach music. Keep going you have a bright future! We just gettin started baby!!

your production is getting so great!

Paul, this was an EXCELLENT video. I've been jamming on some backing tracks to this end solo the past few days and I feel much more in tune with what I want to play now that I have some basic understanding of where I can take things.

One of the best analysis of a tune I've ever heard! Great lesson!!! You like Mayer, may be a poet.

Not sure if you are aware but Tim Pierce recently interviewed a fellow Scotsman contact of mine, young Ross Campbell (a rising talent himself on the platform), and they both heralded you as one of the most incredible RU-vid video producers and ground breaking in your approach. Huge kudos to you. You're awesome, sir.

Duuuuude! The end of this vid gave me goosebumps. Awesome. Thank you Paul.

Paul has a way of explaining the things I subconsciously do at jam nights when I follow another guitar or sax solo but want to sound different.

Great video, Thank you so much Paul! I was hoping so much John Mayer would play that song at his show in Amsterdam, where I was. But he didn't. I would have loved to feel that song live after knowing what you explained in that video.

Perfect timing on the video Paul. Was just watching JM's video and loved it, now I love this. Thank you.

WOW man just realised that you predicted the album title

Very nice editing, those highlights during the solo were very helpful! Keep up the good work!

Would kill to see you cover John Mayer’s solo on Gravity at the mac miller tribute for life concert. Best guitar solo I’ve ever seen.

Got major mindblown moments watching this video!

Is it just me or you changed the title? Nevertheless, rewatching, recommenting, algorithming.

Is no one talking about the fact that he guessed his next records name, 3 years before it came out?

Thanks Paul. You have a skill for provoking the cerebral and emotional aspects of guitar. Brilliant breakdown of this track!!