Is John Mayer a better guitar player than Dave Matthews?

waffle_house_jam · Unread post by **waffle_house_jam** » Sat May 31, 2003 11:12 pm

i was just wondering...have you read any of john's lyrics?
i am one of the dwindling populus that expects good writing from musicians nowadays, it seems, so we have to ask ourselves that just because someone can make a living from what they do, does that make what they do something good?
naturally, the public likes it. does the public appreciate good music? from the survival of entire styles of music like rap and new pop, i have to say for the most part the public just wants some excuse to booty dance, not something deep to listen to.
you are right in one aspect, my distaste for the blues does bias me against john mayer, since he tries and tries to be the next SRV. but saying someone cannot write but can play guitar fast is no contradiction. i know plenty of people who can thrash the living hell out of the hardest metallica solos and can't write at all.
and btw, i don't pretend to be a musician. i play guitar because it is fun...i admit that i'll probably never be as good as most of the guitarists out there, but i'll keep trying. this isn't an "im better than everybody" statement, just an argument for one of my favorite guitar players.

Brock · Unread post by **Brock** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 12:08 am

waffle_house_jam wrote:i was just wondering...have you read any of john's lyrics?
i am one of the dwindling populus that expects good writing from musicians nowadays, it seems, so we have to ask ourselves that just because someone can make a living from what they do, does that make what they do something good?
naturally, the public likes it. does the public appreciate good music? from the survival of entire styles of music like rap and new pop, i have to say for the most part the public just wants some excuse to booty dance, not something deep to listen to.
you are right in one aspect, my distaste for the blues does bias me against john mayer, since he tries and tries to be the next SRV. but saying someone cannot write but can play guitar fast is no contradiction. i know plenty of people who can thrash the living hell out of the hardest metallica solos and can't write at all.
and btw, i don't pretend to be a musician. i play guitar because it is fun...i admit that i'll probably never be as good as most of the guitarists out there, but i'll keep trying. this isn't an "im better than everybody" statement, just an argument for one of my favorite guitar players.

Hey, waffle, long time no see.

I'll give you the lyrics thing on most of Mayer's popular stuff (ybiaw), but if you look at some of his older stuff or at some of the newer, largely unpopular stuff (i.e. great indoors is quite a deep song if you understand it) then you'll find a little more quality in the lyric department.

gravedigger · Unread post by **gravedigger** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 1:12 am

waffle_house_jam wrote:i was just wondering...have you read any of john's lyrics?
i am one of the dwindling populus that expects good writing from musicians nowadays, it seems, so we have to ask ourselves that just because someone can make a living from what they do, does that make what they do something good?
naturally, the public likes it. does the public appreciate good music? from the survival of entire styles of music like rap and new pop, i have to say for the most part the public just wants some excuse to booty dance, not something deep to listen to.
you are right in one aspect, my distaste for the blues does bias me against john mayer, since he tries and tries to be the next SRV. but saying someone cannot write but can play guitar fast is no contradiction. i know plenty of people who can thrash the living hell out of the hardest metallica solos and can't write at all.
and btw, i don't pretend to be a musician. i play guitar because it is fun...i admit that i'll probably never be as good as most of the guitarists out there, but i'll keep trying. this isn't an "im better than everybody" statement, just an argument for one of my favorite guitar players.

yeah I feel the same way. hey I havn't been on these boards in awhile, and I noticed how much this thread grew since I was away. just wanna know if its worth reading through

heck I'll prolly read it anyway.

peace

billywestom · Unread post by **billywestom** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 1:43 am

"why georgia" is about wondering if he is living life the way he should...which is what dave writes about alot, so why the beef with john's writing?

waffle_house_jam · Unread post by **waffle_house_jam** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 7:53 pm

its not really what you say, its how you say it...

DustyDave · Unread post by **DustyDave** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 4:40 am

Yes i have read his lyrics , i don't mind his lyrics or his style or anything at all , and all people always bash YBIAW , and ok maybe its not the most amazing song the public have ever heard , but ask any women on the planet if they hate that song , and you'll probably get a NO , atleast all the women i asked so far loved that song ....

Maybe John's songs will be alot better later on when he gets bigger , time will tell :lol:

DMBphan1 · Unread post by **DMBphan1** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 6:46 am

Mayer sucks...Dave rocks!

DustyDave · Unread post by **DustyDave** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 6:48 am

DMBphan1 wrote:Mayer sucks...Dave rocks!

Gez

Not a musician are you ?

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:43 am

whats the deal with everyone saying Neon is so freakin hard? if you people would take the time to look at the notes and make a composition that doesn't use the awful sounding drop-C, you would see that its really not that difficult (it is a bad ass song though)

anyway i feel that they both have their strong suits in terms of guitar ability, but when the song writing is looked at, dave wins all the way. most of mayer's songs don't fall far from the standard blues progression ( who ever thought of using G-C-D, what an amazing achievement!)

I was reading an article in guitarone that said that no such thing was a "jazz" song. just because he uses a few major 9 chords doesn't make it a jazz song (i'd like to see mayer play a C7#5#9 off the top of his head)

sorry just had to get that off my chest

firedancer86 · Unread post by **firedancer86** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 9:49 am

fatjack wrote:whats the deal with everyone saying Neon is so freakin hard? if you people would take the time to look at the notes and make a composition that doesn't use the awful sounding drop-C, you would see that its really not that difficult (it is a bad ass song though)

anyway i feel that they both have their strong suits in terms of guitar ability, but when the song writing is looked at, dave wins all the way. most of mayer's songs don't fall far from the standard blues progression ( who ever thought of using G-C-D, what an amazing achievement!)

I was reading an article in guitarone that said that no such thing was a "jazz" song. just because he uses a few major 9 chords doesn't make it a jazz song (i'd like to see mayer play a C7#5#9 off the top of his head)

sorry just had to get that off my chest

Neon is a tad advanced...in terms of songwriting...it is not all that hard to play though...the trick is to get it to sound right...I am still working on that much...

check it out fattyjack

http://www.cadenzaspell.com/neon.mp3

Brock · Unread post by **Brock** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:19 am

fatjack wrote:whats the deal with everyone saying Neon is so freakin hard? if you people would take the time to look at the notes and make a composition that doesn't use the awful sounding drop-C, you would see that its really not that difficult (it is a bad ass song though)

anyway i feel that they both have their strong suits in terms of guitar ability, but when the song writing is looked at, dave wins all the way. most of mayer's songs don't fall far from the standard blues progression ( who ever thought of using G-C-D, what an amazing achievement!)

I was reading an article in guitarone that said that no such thing was a "jazz" song. just because he uses a few major 9 chords doesn't make it a jazz song (i'd like to see mayer play a C7#5#9 off the top of his head)

sorry just had to get that off my chest

Actually Mayer knows a shitload of theory, and while I personally couldn't tell you if he could play a C7#5#9 off the top of his head (I know I sure as hell can't), he might surprise you.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 12:19 am

thats pretty impressive mr. firedancer. thats the first time i've actually heard someone cover that song well. every guitar player in my town pretty much sucks and could never play that.

i never meant to say that it wasn't difficult, it just seemed that everyone was blowing it out of proportion.

once again, well done!

waffle_house_jam · Unread post by **waffle_house_jam** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 5:02 am

who gives a flying damn about theory anyways?
nah, seriously though, i know a great deal of people who think so. my guitar teacher actually studied it in college for a long time and he says all it boils down to is what sounds good...i have to agree.
not bashing theory, btw, i'm gonna be studying it next year. all i'm saying is that theory doesn't make the musician.

gravedigger · Unread post by **gravedigger** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 7:01 am

yep yep yep. I agree with the last 4 or 5 or 6 posts or so even if they do seem to tend to contradict. :wink:

mbgreen · Unread post by **mbgreen** » Wed Jun 04, 2003 8:11 am

Wow, people are still going on this one...I havent read the last five or so pages, and I thought for sure it would have dwindled off into some random discussion by now.

I'll reiterate my feelings: Mayer's technical ability and knowledge surpasses dave's, but I dont really care. I like DMB's stuff better.

*Gives the dead horse a solid kick in the ribs on the way out

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Is John Mayer a better guitar player than Dave Matthews?

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