Neon Guitar Lesson
How to play Neon by John Mayer
Lesson
Video Time: 5:47
Learn how to play John Mayer's Neon.
Don't worry about being able to read music. The breakdown will have you playing this great riff properly and learning standard music notation at the same time.
Looking at the complete 2 measure main riff can be a bit intimidating (to say the least) however the beat by beat breakdown will have it making sense quickly and easily.
This is just the bass lines and the clicks on beat 2 and 4 (acting like a snare drum would) and is played entirely with your thumb.
We are going to work hard to make this sound clear even when playing the whole riff.
Measure 1 Beat 1
The Notes
Beat 1 has us play the low open C that we have tuned down and then a G which we will play on the 8th fret of the 2nd string (B string).
Counting
Fingering (p = thumb, i = index)
Click (percussive sound)
Above I had a rest on the "&" of beat 1. Now we are going to create a quiet click instead of a rest. It is important to try and play this click quietly.
Measure 1 Beat 1 and 2
Beat 2 starts with a click
This click we will try and play it loud like we mean it. Think of it as a snare drum.
Beat 2 Complete
After the click, play F on the 10th fret of your 3rd string (G string) followed by the low open C again on the '&' of the beat.
Fingerpicking
Notice the finger picking pattern. Thumb is playing eighth notes.
Measure 1 Beat 1, 2 and 3
