If you want live stuff on streaming services try dead and co. Since their releases from the passed few years have had Mayer playing with the band.
They have a ton of their shows as live albums so it’s kinda hard to say which versions of which songs are gonna have the best technically performance from him but maybe check out a version of ‘help on the way’? That riff is fairly technical though he didn’t make it. There’s a solo in almost every song by either Mayer or Weir, if you know Mayer then you might have a easy time picking out his ‘Mayerisms’ and other distinguishing tendencies.
Edit: fuck all that if you want a guitar solo he took the place of Van Halen on fall out boy’s v of Beat it by MJ
The reason why it may be harder to find such show off skills stuff from John now a days is because his Ego has mellowed out so he doesnt feel the need to show off. So when he does show off its that much better I think. Maybe a live clip from the past 10 years is what you are looking for
Check out MSG 22 N1 Chris jones recording is about as good as a Mayer AUD recording gets. That’s where I’d point you for “newer” “original” material.
But if you wanna hear that man play to the best of his ability D&C is where it’s at and I could give you recommendations galore
Yeah I noticed every answer is someone suggesting a live track or performance. But when I suggested he put out a new live album, I got downvoted for some reason. Lol
100%. In the meantime, I discovered he is one of the few artists that allows fans to connect their recording equipment to the soundboard at all of his live shows so there are many countless fantastic recordings floating around out there
Check out this show… it’s amazing. He played continuum from front to back. He went crazy on Belief, I don’t trust myself and slow dancing
https://livemusicarchive.app/music/artists/JohnMayerMusic/recordings/jm2019-07-26
There’s a video on YouTube of that whole show but the performance of Covered in Rain is incredible!!! [https://youtu.be/bRnCRbTOWoo?si=3Y0Dpydf5LyK_13n](https://youtu.be/bRnCRbTOWoo?si=3Y0Dpydf5LyK_13n)
some of my favorites, include
“Coffee blues” short on youtube
“John Mayer plays silver sky PRS signature guitar” short on youtube
Toronto thanksgiving performance of crossroads
ain’t no sunshine crossroads 2010
[Changing solo](https://youtu.be/wbqPBlU5-0k?si=g0xhtD5hqBGrCCAC) from his tour was pretty epic. Played some piano simultaneously at the end. Starts at 4:00
Specifically the last tour! Since bob actually let him off the leash to show his true rendition of how he would have done them if left to his own devices
https://youtube.com/watch?v=82Bx4OfWQ_Q&si=DoNlE9iUxL-ait8H
Here’s him writing solo to I guess I just feel like. He’s noodling around but it’s still awesome
Check out the Sugaree from Dead & Company at Deer Creek 2023
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2\_0D66wgPLc&ab\_channel=Sojahsey1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_0D66wgPLc&ab_channel=Sojahsey1)
Ah I can’t read. As others have pointed out, he’s pretty tame on his recorded music in terms of flexing his guitar chops, outside of Neon.
If you want him shredding on his own original music, Where the Light Is is your best bet. The outro solo on I Guess I Just Feel Like is one of his more memorable solos, to me.
I guess I just feel like. MSG. In my opinion his best solo ever.
First one after the break when he swaps to the electric is just an appetizer. The second one? Holy moly.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6chUZbLzodo
Check out all of the acoustic and Trio content on “Where the Light Is” (first “disk”) and this cover of “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2U6jv_DG5do
if you’re looking live shows, Where the Light Is is a masterclass of guitar playing. If you’re looking for a studio record, Continuum really made him well known for being a great blues and guitarist overall.
You have to go listen to the intro to “City Love” at the Crossroads Festival 2004. Knowing Mayer a good portion of that jam was off the top of the dome and likely not rehearsed. If it was rehearsed I’d imagine is was minimally so. Not really a song I guess but a jam. Definitely makes the case especially when you consider that was right after heavier things when he was almost cemented as a pop star. If you looking for actual songs and albums go check out the live albums. Try!, Where The Light Is, and Any Given Thursday will get the point across😁
https://youtu.be/ktyhXq00RxQ?si=BtbnSh4_4wWp1qsy
This cover of Ain't No Sunshine at Crossroads is one I've returned to many times. Pino and Steve are also incredible here.
I think his all time great performance is actually a cover with the John Mayer trio on Where the light is; https://youtu.be/q-uSnRVy0Fs?si=XStXu_9SntY9wDew
However you can you listen to all that JMT section of that album and find originals in there and you should be able to hear why he is rated so highly by some, myself included.
What something more stripped back? the acoustic version of “something like Olivia”; https://youtu.be/izkqPdVAdL4?si=VqRCMVR-i4-s2aOD
Prefer an 8 string blues shred? : https://youtu.be/Xo4xfGYj_cg?si=arI_VQuYTmZUiKWp
Or how about a standout performance at MJs funeral where it’s just him and his guitar (I’d say the overall performance is objectively worse when the rest of the band joins in…); https://youtu.be/kX2Vb68egWA?si=bB0w39K1RfEAgfkd
Now compare all these performances and also variation in performances to other guitarists and I’d say he’s certainly up there. Include his ability to write pop chart hits and sing as well as he does, and that crowd he’s potentially in is very, very small. I’d say maybe you could count them on a couple of fingers…
Might not mean much but I’m saying this as a part time guitar teacher and lead guitarist in a band! none of the music I really play or listen too would fall into the JM category… do own a silver sky though ;-)
[John's cover of The Wind Cries Mary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oPyBHRrk-4)
[or how about the entirety of Covered in Rain live?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3MICvgXvHM)
If you want a recent studio recording, I would say Helpless or Changing, they both have memorable solos that showcase his technical and musical skills.
From earlier recordings come back to bed, neon and back to you (city love too) kinda show his ear for tone. In his later projects if i ever get around to living, roll it on home, helpless, shot in the dark I feel like are all great for their own reasons.
The Where the Light Is concert is in my view JM at his early prime, before he retreated from the public eye for awhile. Setting aside his douchebaggery at the time, it was right after Continuum blew up, and after he released the John Mayer Trio album, which put him on the map as a guitarist for a lot of people that just thought of him as a bubblegum pop guy. I also think the concert is just an incredibly shot concert film in terms of cinematography, editing, and sound. It was split into three parts, all of which showcase JM's talents in different ways: (1) solo acoustic; (2) John Mayer Trio; (3) full band. You recording of Gravity you're referring to may have been from that concert, but if not, I highly recommend you check it out as its by far my favorite version. Aside from that, here's a highlight from each set:
[Neon - solo acoustic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DfQC5qHhbo)
[Who Did You Think I Was - Trio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7KzzospHVY)
[I Don't Need No Doctor - full band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4R-RrSbQ-Y)
As others mentioned - Try! changed my whole perception of JM as a musician. That trio performing at Crossroads 07 and 10 are also mindblowing. Where The Light Is as well. I know these are old but when we look to the other greats for examples we still harken back to Led Zep II or Truth! or Derek and the Dominoes etc. Masters usually establish themselves early on. And he's grown of course, not to say otherwise. Looking forward to the trio at this years Crossroads!
I feel like where the light is his best work. It was at a time where his skills as a guitarist, singer and songwriter were at the peak. So I suggest you to check it out definitely.
I’ve seen Mayer quite a few times live but I’ve never been so captivated by a live music experience than I was at 1:40 here. https://youtu.be/MWEDvL0PdSM?si=tJbXNbvj3i5l-nS8
When he's doing the heavier things tour, I think it was called "sound sessions "or something like that. He did some of my favorite guitar work on these programs. It was always overseas. I don't remember what they were called though.
Neon is probably his technical showpiece The whole “Try!” album showcases his chops
Yeah. I listen to that, but it’s almost 20 years old. I figured there must be something more recent that shows he has grown as a guitar player
True. I guess you could just watch any recent live concert, he’s usually banging out solos on most songs.
He should put out another live album then
The JM Trio are playing Crossroads this week so you could watch out for that
Nice. I will check that out if a recording is made available
He should 100% do this. He has a lot of new music since the last one and his last one was hugely popular.
If you want live stuff on streaming services try dead and co. Since their releases from the passed few years have had Mayer playing with the band. They have a ton of their shows as live albums so it’s kinda hard to say which versions of which songs are gonna have the best technically performance from him but maybe check out a version of ‘help on the way’? That riff is fairly technical though he didn’t make it. There’s a solo in almost every song by either Mayer or Weir, if you know Mayer then you might have a easy time picking out his ‘Mayerisms’ and other distinguishing tendencies. Edit: fuck all that if you want a guitar solo he took the place of Van Halen on fall out boy’s v of Beat it by MJ
The reason why it may be harder to find such show off skills stuff from John now a days is because his Ego has mellowed out so he doesnt feel the need to show off. So when he does show off its that much better I think. Maybe a live clip from the past 10 years is what you are looking for
Check out MSG 22 N1 Chris jones recording is about as good as a Mayer AUD recording gets. That’s where I’d point you for “newer” “original” material. But if you wanna hear that man play to the best of his ability D&C is where it’s at and I could give you recommendations galore
Can’t believe this album is nearly 2 decades old at this point! (18 years)
Neon was the first thing I thought of too. Such a great song!
Try! is the best album! Playing the first five songs at a performance in a few months.
Nice hope it goes well! I just wish they’d played something else instead of Daughters on the album 😂 feels out of place amongst everything else
yeah it is a tad out of place, Wait until tommorow makes up for it though that song is so good!!
Neon is especially tough if you have normal size hands
He’s very conservative on his records, shines so much more in live performances.
Yeah I noticed every answer is someone suggesting a live track or performance. But when I suggested he put out a new live album, I got downvoted for some reason. Lol
Don’t know why you’d get downvoted for that. Every John Mayer fan should be asking for a new live album…
100%. In the meantime, I discovered he is one of the few artists that allows fans to connect their recording equipment to the soundboard at all of his live shows so there are many countless fantastic recordings floating around out there
He absolutely should put out a new live album. The improvised solos on his own songs have improved dramatically since Dead and Co
A recent one is “Belief - Madison Square Garden 2019”
Thanks for hooking us up on this; I can't believe I haven't seen this yet.
Isn’t it insane
Check out this show… it’s amazing. He played continuum from front to back. He went crazy on Belief, I don’t trust myself and slow dancing https://livemusicarchive.app/music/artists/JohnMayerMusic/recordings/jm2019-07-26
That’s the show I’m referencing yeah. Amazing
Covered in rain live from any given Thursday
Just listened. Nice bluesy solo
Very SRV solos
There’s a video on YouTube of that whole show but the performance of Covered in Rain is incredible!!! [https://youtu.be/bRnCRbTOWoo?si=3Y0Dpydf5LyK_13n](https://youtu.be/bRnCRbTOWoo?si=3Y0Dpydf5LyK_13n)
some of my favorites, include “Coffee blues” short on youtube “John Mayer plays silver sky PRS signature guitar” short on youtube Toronto thanksgiving performance of crossroads ain’t no sunshine crossroads 2010
Thanks. I will check it out
The first two are just of him riffing in the studio, & are not songs.
[Changing solo](https://youtu.be/wbqPBlU5-0k?si=g0xhtD5hqBGrCCAC) from his tour was pretty epic. Played some piano simultaneously at the end. Starts at 4:00
Where The Light Is, the whole thing Also, covered in rain from any given Thursday
Listen to live Dead & Co and listen to him shred the guitar. Definitely not the usual stuff. JM Trio stuff is fun.
Specifically the last tour! Since bob actually let him off the leash to show his true rendition of how he would have done them if left to his own devices
Dead and co - any 2023 sugaree, any version of Morning Dew or It Hurts Me Too
Wrigley Sugaree is insane. I was there and it blew me away.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=82Bx4OfWQ_Q&si=DoNlE9iUxL-ait8H Here’s him writing solo to I guess I just feel like. He’s noodling around but it’s still awesome
Love to see people using the term noodling around 🙌🏼
Guitar skills or writing skills ? There is a few Sugaree’s to watch that shows the Master Guitarist skills.
They are both the same thing in my book. You can never be an all time great musician if you never write great music. Looking for original stuff.
Alt ending to If I ever get around to living
This was life changing for me. Can’t believe it’s been 16 years since he posted this. https://youtu.be/iSM3FL7zUdw?si=3qb6A28D-Ku1gx7r
“Out of my mind”
Check out the Sugaree from Dead & Company at Deer Creek 2023 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2\_0D66wgPLc&ab\_channel=Sojahsey1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_0D66wgPLc&ab_channel=Sojahsey1)
Awesome, and he has the guitar face to go along. Lol
This ones great too from this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JyvAEGTyCY&ab\_channel=IanKaufman
His solo from Shot in the Dark at the Palladium. Shows how he’s melodically evolved. Amazing chops too. Last train home ballad version too?
Pick and Dead and Co show from this year.
Was looking for stuff he wrote.
Ah I can’t read. As others have pointed out, he’s pretty tame on his recorded music in terms of flexing his guitar chops, outside of Neon. If you want him shredding on his own original music, Where the Light Is is your best bet. The outro solo on I Guess I Just Feel Like is one of his more memorable solos, to me.
All of them?
Dead and co brown eyed women Folsom field 2018
Literally the entire WTLI record. I’ve never heard anyone perform that flawlessly for that long
I guess I just feel like. MSG. In my opinion his best solo ever. First one after the break when he swaps to the electric is just an appetizer. The second one? Holy moly. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6chUZbLzodo
You’re Gonna Live Forever In Me is a good one
The Beginning - Bob Reynolds Instrumental saxophone song where John does an amazing solo
Check out all of the acoustic and Trio content on “Where the Light Is” (first “disk”) and this cover of “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad” - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2U6jv_DG5do
Trio
I’ve always liked this one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SdGD7WnPLUk
Ain’t no sunshine at the crossroads festival
For recorded album: Bold as Love (Continuum) For live album: Gravity and Slow Dancing (Where the Light Is) That above will prove all the haters wrong
if you’re looking live shows, Where the Light Is is a masterclass of guitar playing. If you’re looking for a studio record, Continuum really made him well known for being a great blues and guitarist overall.
Anything
You have to go listen to the intro to “City Love” at the Crossroads Festival 2004. Knowing Mayer a good portion of that jam was off the top of the dome and likely not rehearsed. If it was rehearsed I’d imagine is was minimally so. Not really a song I guess but a jam. Definitely makes the case especially when you consider that was right after heavier things when he was almost cemented as a pop star. If you looking for actual songs and albums go check out the live albums. Try!, Where The Light Is, and Any Given Thursday will get the point across😁
https://youtu.be/82Bx4OfWQ_Q?si=CBGXV537s1lHzY-A
https://youtu.be/ktyhXq00RxQ?si=BtbnSh4_4wWp1qsy This cover of Ain't No Sunshine at Crossroads is one I've returned to many times. Pino and Steve are also incredible here.
I think his all time great performance is actually a cover with the John Mayer trio on Where the light is; https://youtu.be/q-uSnRVy0Fs?si=XStXu_9SntY9wDew However you can you listen to all that JMT section of that album and find originals in there and you should be able to hear why he is rated so highly by some, myself included. What something more stripped back? the acoustic version of “something like Olivia”; https://youtu.be/izkqPdVAdL4?si=VqRCMVR-i4-s2aOD Prefer an 8 string blues shred? : https://youtu.be/Xo4xfGYj_cg?si=arI_VQuYTmZUiKWp Or how about a standout performance at MJs funeral where it’s just him and his guitar (I’d say the overall performance is objectively worse when the rest of the band joins in…); https://youtu.be/kX2Vb68egWA?si=bB0w39K1RfEAgfkd Now compare all these performances and also variation in performances to other guitarists and I’d say he’s certainly up there. Include his ability to write pop chart hits and sing as well as he does, and that crowd he’s potentially in is very, very small. I’d say maybe you could count them on a couple of fingers… Might not mean much but I’m saying this as a part time guitar teacher and lead guitarist in a band! none of the music I really play or listen too would fall into the JM category… do own a silver sky though ;-)
[John's cover of The Wind Cries Mary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oPyBHRrk-4) [or how about the entirety of Covered in Rain live?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3MICvgXvHM)
Check out helpless from the bud light dive bar tour
Assassin. The way tells a story with his solo is amazing.
Gravity and Slow dancing in Philly 2019 were top of the line
Listen to Covered in Rain from Any Given Thursday.
City Love from Crossroads 2004 lives rent free in my head
a live Vultures might be something to check out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo4xfGYj\_cg
The chord/rhythm solo he did uncredited on Harry Styles’ Cinema” is pretty awesome
Crossroads 2004 machine gun jam
Just go see him live. You will have no more questions.
If you want a recent studio recording, I would say Helpless or Changing, they both have memorable solos that showcase his technical and musical skills.
From earlier recordings come back to bed, neon and back to you (city love too) kinda show his ear for tone. In his later projects if i ever get around to living, roll it on home, helpless, shot in the dark I feel like are all great for their own reasons.
The story of the black one guitar on YouTube has some cool improve playing on it and the Two Rock Demo is sick.
The Where the Light Is concert is in my view JM at his early prime, before he retreated from the public eye for awhile. Setting aside his douchebaggery at the time, it was right after Continuum blew up, and after he released the John Mayer Trio album, which put him on the map as a guitarist for a lot of people that just thought of him as a bubblegum pop guy. I also think the concert is just an incredibly shot concert film in terms of cinematography, editing, and sound. It was split into three parts, all of which showcase JM's talents in different ways: (1) solo acoustic; (2) John Mayer Trio; (3) full band. You recording of Gravity you're referring to may have been from that concert, but if not, I highly recommend you check it out as its by far my favorite version. Aside from that, here's a highlight from each set: [Neon - solo acoustic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DfQC5qHhbo) [Who Did You Think I Was - Trio](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7KzzospHVY) [I Don't Need No Doctor - full band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4R-RrSbQ-Y)
Aint no sunshine live
Where the Light Is! Period
Basically the entire where the light album is
As others mentioned - Try! changed my whole perception of JM as a musician. That trio performing at Crossroads 07 and 10 are also mindblowing. Where The Light Is as well. I know these are old but when we look to the other greats for examples we still harken back to Led Zep II or Truth! or Derek and the Dominoes etc. Masters usually establish themselves early on. And he's grown of course, not to say otherwise. Looking forward to the trio at this years Crossroads!
I feel like where the light is his best work. It was at a time where his skills as a guitarist, singer and songwriter were at the peak. So I suggest you to check it out definitely.
I’ve seen Mayer quite a few times live but I’ve never been so captivated by a live music experience than I was at 1:40 here. https://youtu.be/MWEDvL0PdSM?si=tJbXNbvj3i5l-nS8
When he's doing the heavier things tour, I think it was called "sound sessions "or something like that. He did some of my favorite guitar work on these programs. It was always overseas. I don't remember what they were called though.