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John Mayer - Gravity - Guitar Lesson

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Key G major
John Mayer - Gravity guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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John Mayer Blues Rock G major
Capo Advisor 0 G major · Original key

About Gravity

Few songs expose your touch on the guitar quite like "Gravity." John Mayer plays this in E Standard tuning in G major, and at 89 BPM the tempo is unhurried enough that every note you rush or squeeze too hard will be heard. The challenge here is not speed but feel: the lead lines demand a behind-the-beat, vocal phrasing that takes real control of your pick attack and vibrato. Getting that slow, wide vibrato to sing in tune rather than wobble out of pitch is probably the single thing most players need to work on most. The chord voicings are relatively open and approachable, but the interplay between the rhythm part and the lead fills asks you to think like a singer, not just a guitarist. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the solo passages slowed down so you can focus on matching the phrasing rather than just the notes. This is a great song for developing expressive blues-rock technique at a patient, controlled pace.

  • The song sits at 89 BPM in G major, giving you space to focus on slow, controlled vibrato and intentional note bending rather than speed.
  • Playing in E Standard tuning, the lead parts reward work on pick attack and finger pressure, since the tone is clean and every nuance is exposed.
  • The solo phrasing is highly vocal in character, so practising with the Practice Toolbar looped and slowed down helps you nail the behind-the-beat feel.

How to Play Gravity

The song moves through: Intro, Chords explanation, Intro solo, Verse, “This section”, Live variation, Chorus variations, 2nd verse arpeggio, Solo, Ending.

Tuning: E Standard · Key: G major · Tempo: 89 BPM

The arrangement runs through 10 distinct sections, and the solo is the steepest jump, so isolate it on its own. At 89 bpm the slow tempo leaves every note exposed, so timing, vibrato, and dynamics matter more than raw speed.

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 89 BPM.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Mayer's foundation guitar before the PRS Silver Sky, his sunburst '64 Strat and Black1 Custom Shop model defined his early tone with their responsive single-coils that let his picking dynamics shine. The Strat's vintage tremolo and feel remain deeply embedded in his playing style and note articulation.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Mayer uses the '65 Twin Reverb for his cleanest tones, letting him achieve glassy, touch-sensitive breakup at moderate volumes without relying on gain. Its natural reverb and headroom complement his approach of using amp dynamics rather than heavy distortion.

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9
Pedal

Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9

The TS10 pushes Mayer's amp into bluesy overdrive with midrange presence, essential for his soulful lead work on tracks like 'Gravity' and blues jams. This pedal adds grit without obscuring the pick dynamics and string clarity central to his tone.

Boss CE-2 Chorus
Pedal

Boss CE-2 Chorus

Mayer prominently featured this vintage chorus on 'Last Train Home' and throughout Sob Rock, using it to add shimmer and movement to his rhythm tones. The CE-2's lush, organic modulation fits his aesthetic of tasteful effects that enhance rather than dominate.

MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay
Pedal

MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay

The MXR analog delay provides Mayer with warm, repeating textures for slapback and ambient effects without digital artifacts. It sits perfectly in his pedalboard philosophy of color-adding tools that maintain the clarity and touch-sensitivity of his core amp tone.

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