MUSIC ANALYSIS:

JOHN MAYER
ASHLEY EPPERSON
MUSIC 1010 SU16 - FERRIN

INTRODUCTION
John Mayer
1977 Present
Pop/Folk/Soft Rock/Blues

BIOGRAPHY

Born October 16, 1977

Bridgeport, Connecticut
Educated family
Learned guitar at 13
Perceived as mental instability, diagnosed with
anxiety

BIOGRAPHY
Bostons Berkeley College of Music
Signed with Aware Record & Columbia
Consistent release of albums since 2001

ALBUMS AND AWARDS

10 albums (2001-2013)
19 songs nominated for a Grammy Award
7 songs won a Grammy Award
Hes won 19 other separate awards

COMPOSITION HISTORY
Queen of California
Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSdjo0W4Tvs

Album: Born and Raised

2012
Additional musicians included
Inspired by his past

Time

Form

Descriptions:

0:00

Exposition

Rhythm, Melody, Harmony,

Dynamics, Timbre, Texture

LISTENING GUIDE

Entire Song: Simple Quadruple Meter, Mezzo Forte

Begins monophonic with the acoustic guitar and
slowly adds drums and electric guitar to make
polyphonic

0:24

Verse 1

Vocals are introduced, melody is polyphonic with

distant harmony

0:48

2-Bar Chorus

Polyphonic with a slight decrescendo at the end of

the melody

0:59

Verse 2

Melody is polyphonic with distant harmony

1:22

2-Bar Chorus

Polyphonic with a slight decrescendo at the end of

the melody

1:33

Instrumental Bridge

Bright, polyphonic electric guitar solo, Finishes with

acoustic guitar accompaniment

2:08

Verse 3

Melody is polyphonic with distant harmony

2:31

2-Bar Chorus

Polyphonic with a slight decrescendo at the end of

the melody

2:42

Instrumental Close

Polyphonic. Piano is introduced with a solo, piano

decrescendos

3:10

All instruments play mezzo-forte for a polyphonic

effect, decrescendo at the end

COMPOSITION HISTORY
Wildfire
Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK2kKg4ao2I

Album: Paradise Valley

2013
Rock/Bluegrass
Summer feel

Time

Form

0:00

Exposition

Descriptions:

Rhythm, Melody,
Harmony, Dynamics, Timbre, Texture

LISTENING GUIDE

Entire Song: Simple Quadruple Meter

Begins with electric guitar and quickly moves
to polyphonic. Tempo is bright and lively,
but not quite allegro.

0:23

Verse 1

Polyphonic, vocals introduced, electric guitar

continues to play the same melody and
rhythm until 0:32, then it changes to a new
rhythm

0:51

Chorus

Begins monophonic and introduces clapping,

moves to polyphonic with the guitar

1:21

Verse 2

Polyphonic, electric guitar continues to play

the same melody and rhythm, distant
harmony included

1:51

Chorus

Starts polyphonic, clapping and guitar

continue

2:12

Instrumental Bridge

Polyphonic echo effect with piano, guitar,

hands clapping rhythm

2:30

Bridge

Voices singing piano (p) dynamic, builds to a

higher range to climax, crescendos up
towards the end

2:46

4-Bar Chorus

Begins in the middle of the chorus, clapping

and guitar continue

2:55

Instrumental Closing

Polyphonic electric guitar solo, decrescendos

to end

COMPOSITION HISTORY
Waiting On the World to Change
Music Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBIxScJ5rlY

Album: Continuum
2006
Grammy award winner
Billboard Hot 100 singles for 41 weeks
Inspired by the generation

Time

Form

0:00

Exposition

Descriptions:

Rhythm, Melody, Harmony,

Dynamics, Timbre, Texture

LISTENING GUIDE

Entire Song: Andante, Simple Quadruple Meter

Begins with drums, vibes solo and other instruments
introduced to create a polyphonic effect

0:21

Verse 1

Polyphonic, mezzo-forte, vocals introduced, melody is

complex, not straight-forward like his other songs

0:43

Chorus

Polyphonic, straight-forward melody with vocal echo

1:05

Verse 2

Polyphonic, slight variation on melody, electric guitar has

a stronger voice

1:26

Chorus

Polyphonic, straight-forward melody with vocal echo

1:48

Instrumental Bridge

Polyphonic, brass instruments introduced, distant talking

and vocal sounds

2:10

Electric guitar solo, polyphonic, ascending contour, vibes

come back during guitar solo

2:33

Chorus

Polyphonic, straight-forward melody with vocal echo

2:53

Chorus Variations

Polyphonic, straight-forward melody with vocal echo,

individual lines of the chorus are repeated, closes with a
tambourine jingle

BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES

Pictures
http://www.vegasnews.com/17690/john-mayer-bob-saget-nicky-hilton-at-hard-rock-hotel-casino.html
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/john-mayer
http://indscene.net/2013/07/22/john-mayer-announce-new-album-paradise-valley-listen-to-wildfire/
http://www.metrolyrics.com/news-story-a-day-in-the-life-of-john-mayer-watch-his-queen-of-californiavideo.html
http://s23.photobucket.com/user/socalgal082290/media/PICS/Words%20lol/artful-s-quote-108.jpg.html
http://www.ticketmaster.com/John-Mayer-tickets/artist/770494

Content
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/john-mayer/biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mayer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_of_California
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_on_the_World_to_Change