John Mayer has breathed new life into traditional blues rock and made the genre accessible to a broader audience. But how? His ability to make traditional guitar blues feel modern and relevant again is down to several factors. Let’s take a look.
Blues innovator und guitar legend
John Mayer Live – Where the light is
As a working musician and guitarist, I am very familiar with blues music. I have always loved it when classic blues elements of guitar playing have been implemented in modern guitar solos. However, traditional blues has never come as easily to me as other musical styles. Blues music is not “easy listening”. To some, it might even seem a bit monotonous, boring, and unattractive if you are not familiar with the stories behind the songs or the soulful craftsmanship of the instruments. The blues, therefore, requires a certain level of sophistication. You have to be willing to immerse yourself in it fully.
The live concert “Where the Light Is” by John Mayer in 2007 was a profound wake-up call, awakening my love for blues music from its eternal winter sleep. Something wonderful happened here. John Mayer managed to bridge the gap between pop music and blues in a way no one did before or after.
The second set, with Pino Palladino on bass and Steve Jordan on drums, had exactly the same classic blues trio line-up, but with a mojo effect. The motto was “back to the roots” – music reduced to its essence. A symbiosis of bass and drums, long-winded guitar solos, and passionate performances with a “coolness factor.”
How did John Mayer pull off this trick?
I have a few theories about how John Mayer pulled off this trick. Because bringing old-fashioned blues into the modern era isn’t something most musicians could have done.
- Innovating interpretation: Mayer skillfully combines traditional blues elements with modern pop and rock sounds. This combination creates a fresh-sounding and contemporary interpretation of the blues that appeals to both blues lovers and a wider audience.
- Refined style: Mayer developed a unique guitar style that combined technique, emotion, and creativity. His playing is technically adept and full of expression, making the blues more accessible to listeners less familiar with classic blues guitar riffs.
- Lyrical depth: The lyrics of John Mayer’s songs often deal with personal issues related to emotions and interpersonal relationships. His depth and honesty give his blues-based material a timeless quality that appeals to and touches audiences.
- Authenticity: Mayer strongly respects the blues’ tradition and roots despite his modern adaptations. His connection to the blues legends is evident in in that he recognizes their influences and appreciates the genre’s history, which helps to make his interpretation of the blues perceived as authentic.
- Influences from different genres: Mayer incorporates blues elements into his songs, but also draws from influences from other genres, such as pop, rock, and folk. This variety of styles and sounds gives his music a broader palette, making it more accessible to a diverse audience.
This combination of innovative approach, technical finesse, emotional expression, and respect for tradition enables John Mayer to play the blues in a contemporary and appealing form that appeals to both traditional blues fans and modern pop listeners.
John Mayer’s guitars
John Mayer has a well-deserved reputation for playing a wide range of signature guitars. Fender once gave him his own model, but they have since been discontinued. He has been working closely with PRS Guitars for several years and has developed the extremely popular Silver Sky Stratocaster. Martin Guitars has also built several models according to his specifications. Here is a current selection of the guitars that John Mayer plays:
Closing thoughts
I am a huge John Mayer fan. However, the main purpose of this article is not to praise Mr. Mayer as a guitarist but to explore the question of how he managed to initiate the blues revival. He started out as a crooner and became a guitar hero. Some people only like his quiet pop songs, others prefer the blues trio. But most people probably like the best of both worlds.
It is also clear that John Mayer has the blues down to its last detail. It takes courage to defy traditional blues and reinterpret it as broadly as he does. John Mayer has also succeeded in making his own style audible. As with all great guitarists, you recognize him immediately.
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Originally published at Gearnews.de by Andreas Cortes, translation by Julian Schmauch.
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