John Mayer teaches you how to play Crossroads in this classic GW lesson

John Mayer
(Image credit: Future)

By the time 2009’s Battle Studies came around, John Mayer was no stranger to covers of his heroes, but his version of Crossroads - as made famous by Robert Johnson and Cream - is an especially incendiary take.

Around the album’s release, Mayer swung by the Guitar World studio to share the story behind the song and how he came up with its red-hot leads, as well as open up a grab bag of six-string japes.

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Michael Astley-Brown
Editor-in-Chief, GuitarWorld.com

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.