John Mayer and Kenny Wayne Shepherd are two of the biggest names in modern blues – and boy, do they know how to introduce a guitar solo By Stuart Ryan published 25 April 24 Learn how to phrase spellbending blues intro licks in the style of Kenny Wayne Shepherd and John Mayer
“Your voice has been heard”: At long last, left-handed versions of John Mayer’s PRS SE Silver Sky are officially on the way – and they’re arriving sooner than you might think By Phil Weller published 24 April 24 Following huge demand, PRS is set to reconfigure the hugely popular model for southpaws six years after its initial release
“Is it wrong in every possible way or do you dig it?” This guitarist transformed their John Mayer PRS signature guitar into a Stevie Ray Vaughan Number One Strat tribute – and now we really want a sunburst Silver Sky By Matt Owen published 23 April 24 John Mayer once asserted he’d never produce a sunburst version of his popular PRS signature guitar. Now we know what it would look like, and it's quite something
“I could finally quieten down this noise in my head... the best in the room is sitting over there – and it doesn’t have to maybe be me”: John Mayer says that when Jeff Beck was in the room, he felt he could finally relax about his guitar playing By Matt Parker published 26 February 24 Mayer has described a sense of a weight being lifted when in the presence of the formidable guitar talent
“John had to send a text with a photo of a piece of paper, where he scribbled, ‘Yes, it’s me!’” Before the Silver Sky was built, John Mayer cold-called PRS to discuss working on a guitar together – but the phone operator hung up on him By Phil Weller published 16 February 24 Session pro Tim Pierce recounted the tale on his YouTube channel, recalling how one of the most popular guitars of this generation got off to a rocky start
“This is the Super Bowl of trips for the lifelong Dead Heads”: John Mayer and Dead & Company are officially returning for a 6-week residency at the MSG Sphere By Phil Weller published 5 February 24 Mayer help will lead a Grateful Dead-honoring residency at the world's most futuristic venue in Las Vegas this summer, months after the supergroup's farewell tour
“This feels life-changing and gives me, as a very hard-working indie artist, inspiration that anything is possible”: Gibson launches its Artist Spotlight program, with Austin Sexton the first beneficiary By Phil Weller published 2 February 24 The initiative will give global exposure to a revolving cast of artists and highlights a wider trend of gear firm’s championing musicians on their own platforms
“Designed to look and feel like a favorite garment”: He’s played it on stage for a number of years – now John Mayer’s matte black Silver Sky has finally been released to the masses By Matt Owen published 17 January 24 Officially dubbed Faded Black Tee Satin, the ultra-luxe signature model is joined by a Venetian Blue finish – and both are available in rosewood and maple configurations
If you're playing in a blues trio, you have an awful lot of freedom with your guitar parts – here's how to make the most of being the only guitar player in the band By Richard Barrett published 7 December 23 These major-sounding blues ideas are ideal for those situations where you've only got the drummer and bass player for company
Step aside, Silver Sky: PRS’ best-selling guitar of 2023 wasn't John Mayer’s signature guitar – it was its all-new ‘Telecaster’-style NF 53 and Myles Kennedy models By Matt Owen published 5 December 23 Despite only launching in June, the two new entries to the PRS ranks rose straight to the top of the brand's best-selling six-strings of the year
“The higher up you wear your bass, the more it makes you think about what you’re playing. I don’t want to think that much”: Tim Lefebvre explains the belt-level placement of his low-slung P-Bass By Chris Jisi published 27 November 23 From Tedeschi Trucks to Knower to Saturday Night Live, how Tim Lefebvre became the bass player everyone wants to work with
“The first time I played it, I was smiling”: PRS unveils the latest evolution of John Mayer’s signature guitar – the ‘Dead Spec’ Silver Sky, inspired by Jerry Garcia’s Alligator Stratocaster By Matt Owen published 14 November 23 It was first spotted on stage when Mayer hit the road with Dead & Company. Now, the purpose-built Silver Sky – which has a few new tricks up its sleeve – has been given a limited-edition release
“When he signed his note, ‘Your friend,’ I truly felt like he meant it. I am really friends with John Mayer!” Meet Ryan Woodard – the 17-year-old artist who was gifted his dream guitar by John Mayer following a viral cover of Gravity By Matt Owen published 10 November 23 He shared the stage with Buddy Guy when he was just 11 years old and has already amassed a huge social media following through his rock-solid blues chops – but receiving a Martin OMJM from his biggest hero was the “greatest honor” of Ryan Woodard’s life
“I’ve never considered myself a guitarist, and I’ve never liked the guitar”: Omar Rodríguez-López is one of electric guitar’s most reluctant heroes – here are his 10 greatest Mars Volta guitar moments By Ryan Reed published 7 November 23 The last thing Omar Rodríguez-López wants is to be called a guitar hero, but sorry Omar, it’s true – and here are 10 reasons why...
I played the new Squier Sonic guitars and they blew me away – but my favorite took me by surprise By Matt Owen published 2 November 23 After spending three weeks reviewing four models from Fender's new range of super-affordable electrics, my outlook on one design changed completely
“They asked us to make a guitar out of the Knicks basketball court”: John Mayer has added another custom Charvel to his collection – and this one is literally built from Madison Square Garden’s floor By Matt Owen published 16 October 23 Does the New York Knicks court make for a sonically compelling tonewood? It remains to be seen, but it sure makes for some alluring visuals
John Mayer trades solos with H.E.R., covers Grateful Dead with his blues trio, and reunites with the Fender Monterey Stratocaster (again) during jam-packed Crossroads 2023 concert By Matt Owen published 25 September 23 Mayer brought his rhythm, lead and tonal A-game to the star-studded festival, during which he had an especially busy itinerary
John Mayer is one of the most lyrical soloists playing today – learn his tricks to crafting memorable leads By Andy G Jones published 28 August 23 Mayer is a player who wears his influences well but always brings his own twist – we take look at how he applies this to his solos, and how you can, too
Martin and John Mayer celebrate 20 years of signature models by, quite literally, putting the silver in silverburst By Matt Parker published 25 August 23 The storied acoustic luthier is celebrating with two models: one of them is scarily expensive, the other is just regularly expensive...
“The fun part is singing over it”: how John Mayer turned a DIY practice routine into “probably the most emo song” he has By Matt Owen published 18 August 23 Inspired by Dave Matthews Band's Satellite back in 2008, Mayer crafted a routine that would improve finger dexterity – and in doing so created one of his most popular songs to date