Man, this song is FUN.

Vultures by John Mayer is finally here! You've given me tons of requests, and I've heeded the call. John Mayer's songs can be a little intimidating for some players, but this one isn’t too difficult. The tricky part is nailing the groove so it doesn’t feel clunky or awkward.

In this lesson, we’ll go over the main riff, the second overdubbed guitar part, and the two solos, which are both full of cool tricks.

Let's get to it.

How To Play "Vultures" by John Mayer on Electric Guitar

The Main Riff

Let's look at the riff that repeats in the verses, choruses, and solos. I did extensive research into this guitar part and have come to what I think he’s playing. This is my best guess. :)

Moving all the way up the neck, you’re going to start the main riff on the 14th fret. It’s based around three diad shapes, so it’s not too tricky. We don’t use a pick here, so we need to pay attention to which fingers we use to pluck the strings. Don’t worry, we look at all the details in the video.

🧐 The Small Details: In typical John Mayer fashion, there are a few percussive hits that contribute to the overall groove. I’ve written out the counts for you, but it certainly helps if you’re already familiar with the song.

There’s also a subtle variation to look out for at the end of the chorus. ;) Listen to the song a few times to learn when it comes.

Vultures by John Mayer: Second Guitar Part

This is a super subtle overdub, so you wouldn’t play this as the main riff. But it adds a nice lift to certain parts of the song. It's easy too - you only need two notes (E and F#) and a nice funk rhythm.

🧐 More to Explore: There are a bunch of high guitar overdubs in there - if you’re a big John Mayer fan, you might like to figure them out.

Time for the solos!

First Guitar Solo

I played this with my fingers, but you could probably use a pick if you prefer. There are a few hammer-ons and flick-offs in the solo, but getting the right notes down isn’t the problem here. The trick here is to get the right inflections and tones throughout the solo. And that’s never as easy as it seems, especially for less-experienced players.

👂 Transcribe It! There are only five notes in this solo and they all come from the E Major Scale - maybe you could try working it out by ear. ;)

Vultures: Second Guitar Solo

This solo definitely has a bit more meat than the first one! It's so great - full of bends, vibrato, and really exciting rhythms. I love playing it. The catch is that Mayer plays this with his fingers, and it's tricky to know which ones will allow you to play this riff fast enough.

Have loads of fun with this great John Mayer tune. Laters!

👉 Neon, Daughters, Last Train Home... get tons more John Mayer right here.