is John Mayer really that good?
- Thread starter frodonet
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Angeldevimon
New member
hE is Good. really knows his stuff and u listen to his songs, you will know its John mAyOR! lol. Even if you dun like him, u will still have to admit he is good. 
shows how much you know about music...
BluesGuitarJunkie
New member
He's a great guitar player, a decent songwriter, but personally I hate the way he sings.
MadWerewolfBoy
New member
haha i thought i was the only one.. but okay la at least he sings in pitch, i really appreciate people who can sing in pitch now after hearing some tone deaf clips. those were ear openers man!
Ized
New member
I used to think John Mayer was pretty good until I heard Richie Kotzen. Yeah before you naysayers start nagging "they'r 2 completely different players" when I first heard Richie on his solo stuff I was blown away by his singing. Really reminded me of Mayer but his voice is way sexier than Mayer (though both exude a similar vibe) and I think he does the blues better than Mayer too, although thats purely my opinion cos I like the way he adds fusion stuff in his phrasing.
Check out the songs from his latest album Peace Sign...it fricking rocks!
Check out the songs from his latest album Peace Sign...it fricking rocks!
LadyInTears
Well-known member
hahahahaha this is gonna be my sig
theGroovyMusic
New member
lol @ bbking play a few notes only, shows you have zero appreciation for the true blue players, i guess the thrill is gone for YOU heheh
hehehi wouldn't say he's a great guitar player. he's definitely better than average. but not yet greatness, possibly close. but what baffles me is how you say he's a "decent songwriter", putting him beside other songwriters of his genre, he is definitely one of the best. he's not a blues songwriter, he writes pop songs and it's not your average pop song. try listening to songs like "slow dancing in a burning room, belief, assassin, heartbreak warfare, neon, why georgia. all these are great songs..the way he sings has changed a lot over the years. it used to be really whiny, but now it sounds much, much better. his technique has definitely improved in all 3 areas since room for squares, and heavier things.
Fresh Ben
New member
there is no doubt that John Mayer is a fantastic guitarist (but i disagree that his a good blues guitarist) or musician but what i heard is that his pretty arrogant and f'up but anyway most muscian out there plays good music and are pretty f'up too LOL. Who gives a damn as long they play good music!
capt_oreo
New member
Interesting thread this one, trying to be neutral here, i think JM is a very commercial and bankable artist. He looks good ON TOP of the fact that he is a good player and comes out with some good pop tunes and gets in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. He gets alot of support and fans from the Christian communities and pop market. But calling him a guitar god is stretching it a little.
His albums are listenable at best (great to have it in your car for that long slow drive) but not something you will go back to all the time. His techniques are excellent but not "blown out of mind" stuff the hendrix or gatton or srv or even clapton churns out effortlessly during their hey days. I guess for me, basically he made the playing field interesting again, but he didnt push it on to another level. But this is just me.
I believed he was a regular at TGP as well until some guys starting commenting on his stuff which casued him to leave the forum. Anyone knows what's the story there?
I think alot of people forget that there were others like him before but somehow they just didnt caught on with the consumers. remember Kenny Wayne Shepherd or Johnny Lang? Even that dude from the recent american idol is probably gonna go the same route as JM.
But like one of the guys said above, if he has managed to convince people to pick up the guitar, then i have to agree as well. Power to him.
His albums are listenable at best (great to have it in your car for that long slow drive) but not something you will go back to all the time. His techniques are excellent but not "blown out of mind" stuff the hendrix or gatton or srv or even clapton churns out effortlessly during their hey days. I guess for me, basically he made the playing field interesting again, but he didnt push it on to another level. But this is just me.
I believed he was a regular at TGP as well until some guys starting commenting on his stuff which casued him to leave the forum. Anyone knows what's the story there?
I think alot of people forget that there were others like him before but somehow they just didnt caught on with the consumers. remember Kenny Wayne Shepherd or Johnny Lang? Even that dude from the recent american idol is probably gonna go the same route as JM.
But like one of the guys said above, if he has managed to convince people to pick up the guitar, then i have to agree as well. Power to him.
I had your mind set before until i tried playing some of his songs...
The time/era for an artist, like him to come out with an acoustic guitar, not an electric with good riffs/songs are very rare and bold. And to carry on doing that with great success is even rarer, excluding country music artists.
To compare John Mayer with likes of Hendrix, Van halen, Clapton or some great guitarists is pretty unfair. The music, the culture, the people, the taste then were so different.
If someone has to compare, compare during the year 2000 - 2010,
beside John mayer, who is the next most breakthrough artist (guitarist/songwriter)?
The time/era for an artist, like him to come out with an acoustic guitar, not an electric with good riffs/songs are very rare and bold. And to carry on doing that with great success is even rarer, excluding country music artists.
To compare John Mayer with likes of Hendrix, Van halen, Clapton or some great guitarists is pretty unfair. The music, the culture, the people, the taste then were so different.
If someone has to compare, compare during the year 2000 - 2010,
beside John mayer, who is the next most breakthrough artist (guitarist/songwriter)?
Last edited:
capt_oreo
New member
You're right, JM shouldnt be compared be the likes of Hendrix etc, but that was my argument of disputing why some here would claim that he is a so-called " guitar god" or one of the best. He's good and he has released some good stuff but nowhere near the above mentioned.
As i have also mentioned, he has done good, but alot has also got to do with the right kind of stuff he has released at the right time (which is like what the greats have done during their time), the marketing and the radios/MTV all loving him.
You're also right about him daring to come out an do stuff on the accoustic but off my mind there are others whom is like him but never gained as much popularity as like him but have still garnered a huge following despite not have the radios/mtv support that JM has. Off my mind i would say guys like Pete Yorn has done really well, he's also a good player singer songwriter, his stuff is deeper and everyone of his albums has always been recieved with rave reviews, but not many, at least here knows about him. The other is Justin Vernon who formed Bon Iver (which essentially is him), releasing one of the most emotionally driven album over the last 3 years and he plays crazy stuff on his accoustic as well. Given the right kind of marketing and support, i dare say they would have ventured further and faster than where they are now. What about Ryan Adams? Beck? Elliot Smith? Chris Isaak? or for the sakes of pop, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson or Sondre Lerche?
So maybe i should rephrase my intial argument and answer only the question that is the root of this thread.
Is John Mayer really that good? Ans: No.
Again, just my 2 cents.
As i have also mentioned, he has done good, but alot has also got to do with the right kind of stuff he has released at the right time (which is like what the greats have done during their time), the marketing and the radios/MTV all loving him.
You're also right about him daring to come out an do stuff on the accoustic but off my mind there are others whom is like him but never gained as much popularity as like him but have still garnered a huge following despite not have the radios/mtv support that JM has. Off my mind i would say guys like Pete Yorn has done really well, he's also a good player singer songwriter, his stuff is deeper and everyone of his albums has always been recieved with rave reviews, but not many, at least here knows about him. The other is Justin Vernon who formed Bon Iver (which essentially is him), releasing one of the most emotionally driven album over the last 3 years and he plays crazy stuff on his accoustic as well. Given the right kind of marketing and support, i dare say they would have ventured further and faster than where they are now. What about Ryan Adams? Beck? Elliot Smith? Chris Isaak? or for the sakes of pop, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson or Sondre Lerche?
So maybe i should rephrase my intial argument and answer only the question that is the root of this thread.
Is John Mayer really that good? Ans: No.
Again, just my 2 cents.
Agree with you that JM is no 'guitar god'.
He is no way near Tommy Emmanuel or Steve Vai.
But in term of music, songwriting and his uniqueness vocal+guitar (overall)
Is JM really that good? Ans: Yes.
Uniqueness = Marketable
Its like Eric Clapton to me is no 'guitar god' too
It is nowhere near Jimmy Page or Van Halen.
But in term of music, songwriting and his uniqueness vocal+guitar (overall)
Is EC really that good? Ans: Yes.
Uniqueness = Marketable
The others include Dave Matthews, Bryan Adam etc.
Good looks or a certain image appeal not included.
Just pure unique talent.
But if the topic is "Is Slash really that good?" my answer will be a definite no.
He is no way near Tommy Emmanuel or Steve Vai.
But in term of music, songwriting and his uniqueness vocal+guitar (overall)
Is JM really that good? Ans: Yes.
Uniqueness = Marketable
Its like Eric Clapton to me is no 'guitar god' too
It is nowhere near Jimmy Page or Van Halen.
But in term of music, songwriting and his uniqueness vocal+guitar (overall)
Is EC really that good? Ans: Yes.
Uniqueness = Marketable
The others include Dave Matthews, Bryan Adam etc.
Good looks or a certain image appeal not included.
Just pure unique talent.
But if the topic is "Is Slash really that good?" my answer will be a definite no.
superpotato_30
New member
I personally feel that JM is way way WAY overated.
This doesnt mean he isnt a great musician mind you all.
True he has very nice chops/licks standing out amongst todays music which is full of brainless material,
yet to consider him a legend like the others have pointed out would be way too much of an exaggeration.
I will not judge him based on technicalities because many musicians out there CAN shred, CAN play 10 minutes solos with absolutely insane technique requirements, yet many of them dont simply because thats not their purpose.
My point is simply that people elevate him to a status that is beyond what * i feel * he deserves.
This is similar to asking if Slash is really good. Have you heard his new album entitled 'Slash'? It shows Slash's versatility and ability to work with all other renowned artists as well as trying out venturing out of the typical GnR image he is mostly remembered for. Is he overated? Hell yea, but he is a good guitarist? Definitely. Both Page and Slash made the Les Paul design more iconic than ever. Slash was caught 85% of the time with a LP.
On to the topic of Clapton too, most people remembers him for his soloist career of using a Strat, playing songs like Layla and Tears in Heaven. What most people dont remember him for is that he created a most unique tone the world had barely thought/heard of when he plugged a Les Paul into a cranked Marshall JTM45.
The point being that many guitarists out there actually are really very good. How you judge them is based on personal preference. If you like their stuff you tend to think they are good and better than others. In some cases this is more obvious. Ultimately nobody can judge who is really better than who because each musician has his own uniqueness and style which the other doesnt. Its just which you prefer.
This doesnt mean he isnt a great musician mind you all.
True he has very nice chops/licks standing out amongst todays music which is full of brainless material,
yet to consider him a legend like the others have pointed out would be way too much of an exaggeration.
I will not judge him based on technicalities because many musicians out there CAN shred, CAN play 10 minutes solos with absolutely insane technique requirements, yet many of them dont simply because thats not their purpose.
My point is simply that people elevate him to a status that is beyond what * i feel * he deserves.
This is similar to asking if Slash is really good. Have you heard his new album entitled 'Slash'? It shows Slash's versatility and ability to work with all other renowned artists as well as trying out venturing out of the typical GnR image he is mostly remembered for. Is he overated? Hell yea, but he is a good guitarist? Definitely. Both Page and Slash made the Les Paul design more iconic than ever. Slash was caught 85% of the time with a LP.
On to the topic of Clapton too, most people remembers him for his soloist career of using a Strat, playing songs like Layla and Tears in Heaven. What most people dont remember him for is that he created a most unique tone the world had barely thought/heard of when he plugged a Les Paul into a cranked Marshall JTM45.
The point being that many guitarists out there actually are really very good. How you judge them is based on personal preference. If you like their stuff you tend to think they are good and better than others. In some cases this is more obvious. Ultimately nobody can judge who is really better than who because each musician has his own uniqueness and style which the other doesnt. Its just which you prefer.
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