Chords + Lyrics | Vultures
Intro
||: F#7sus2/4 :|| x8
Verse
||: F#7sus2/4 | F#7sus2/4 :||
Some of us, we’re hardly ever here.
The rest of us, we’re born to disappear.
How do I stop myself from being just a number?
How will I hold my head to keep from going under?
Chorus
| Amaj9 | Amaj9 |
Down to the wire, I wanted water but,
| B6/9sus4 | B6/9sus4 |
I’ll walk through the fire, if this is what it takes.
| Amaj9 | Amaj9 |
To take me even higher, then I’ll come through like I do.
| B6/9sus4 | B6/9sus4 |
When the world keeps testing me, testing me, testing me.
Instrumental 1
||: F#7sus2/4 :|| x4
Verse 2
How did they find me here? What do they want from me?
All of these vultures hiding right outside my door.
I hear them whisperin’, they’re tryin’ to ride it out.
They’ve never gone this long, without a kill before.
Chorus 2
Down to the wire, I wanted water but,
I’ll walk through the fire, if this is what it takes.
To take me even higher, then I’ll come through like I do.
When the world keeps testing me, testing me, testing me.
Solo
||: F#7sus2/4 :|| x8
||: Amaj9 | Amaj9 | F#7sus2/4 | F#7sus2/4 :||
Verse 3
Wheels up, I got to leave this evening,
I can’t seem to shake these vultures off of my trail.
Power made by power being taken.
So I keep on running to protect my situation.
Chorus 3
Down to the wire, I wanted water but,
I’ll walk through the fire, if this is what it takes.
To take me even higher, then I’ll come through like I do.
When the world keeps testing me, testing me, testing me.
Outro
||: Amaj9 | Amaj9 | B6/9sus4 | B6/9sus4 :||
Oh, oh, oh, oh oh.
||: F#7sus2/4 :||
||: Whatcha gonna do about it? :|| x3
||: F#7sus2/4 :|| x4
||: F#7sus2/4 :||
||: Don’t give up, give up. Don’t give up, give up, give up :||
Vultures Backing Track | Chord Analysis
Above, you’ll find backing tracks to use when learning Vultures. I’ve used stem separation to extract the guitar while keeping the drums, bass, and vocals intact.
After studying the chords and TAB, use my backing tracks to prepare for playing this tune with a band.
Chord Progressions – What’s Going On?
Vultures sits comfortably in F# Dorian—a minor mode with a lifted, soulful edge. Mayer leans into this colour by moving between the 4th and b7, and the b7 to the 2nd, while consistently avoiding the minor 3rd. This restraint creates a suspended, floating quality that defines the track’s harmonic identity.
The A and B chords function as IV and V, reinforcing F#m as chord II. These shapes carry the same decorative tones found in the main riff, allowing us to interpret them as Amaj9 and B6/9sus4. It’s a great example of how subtle extensions and omissions can completely reshape otherwise familiar chords.
To fully capture the nuance of these voicings, TAB is essential—this is where the groove and harmonic colour become more obvious, find it firtehr down this guitar lesson.
Once you’ve learned the riff, you’ve got an ideal loop for practising lead playing. The harmony supports F# Dorian naturally, but you can also explore A Lydian and B Mixolydian for added contrast. Using a loop pedal, my backing tracks, or even better – a combination, lets you really dig into phrasing and modal movement.
Here are the core chord progressions, with Roman numerals:
Intro + Verse:
||: F#7sus2/4 (II) :||
Chorus:
||: Amaj9 (IV) | Amaj9 | B6/9sus4 (V) | B6/9sus4 :||
The only variation comes in the solo section, where the B chord is replaced by F#.
Here’s a chord chart.
Vultures Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro Download
You can download my chord chart as a PDF or in the more flexible iReal Pro format, which allows you to adjust the layout I’ve presented here.
Vultures | TAB
Let’s go through each section one by one and see how we’re essentially playing the same idea throughout—just with slight phrasing changes that keep it feeling fresh.
Intro
The intro starts off in a way that’s never repeated, before falling into the main riff.
That 12th fret on the B string is the only truly unique element here. By bars 3 and 4, you’re already playing what becomes the core groove for the rest of the track.
If you’re playing this with a band, nailing those first two bars will immediately establish the feel.
Verse
Here’s the verse—it’s essentially the same idea carried forward. Consistency is key here. Focus on locking into the groove and keeping your touch relaxed and precise, rather than overthinking the part.
Chorus
Here’s the chorus—again, very similar. There is a slight variation at the end, where Mayer subtly changes the phrasing before heading into the instrumental. It’s a small detail, but it adds just enough movement to lift the section.
Instrumental
Here’s the final bar leading into the instrumental section, where things open up into some sparse but tasteful licks. This is where you can start to stretch out a bit more, while still respecting the groove that underpins the entire track.
Solo
The solo in Vultures is a masterclass in restraint. John Mayer really keeps things minimal, letting phrasing and feel do the heavy lifting rather than speed or complexity—well worth memorising note for note.
Pentatonic trick
Mayer’s solo sits firmly in F# minor pentatonic, played out of an A minor shape. There’s a brief shift into a G minor shape around bars 5 and 6, and he only steps outside the pentatonic through controlled bends, which keeps everything sounding tight and intentional.
A useful twist to explore here is swapping the minor 3rd for the 2nd. This works brilliantly in this tune, as the rhythm part avoids the minor 3rd as well, reinforcing that suspended Dorian sound.
Because you’re still using five notes, it remains a pentatonic scale. In effect, you’re superimposing a C# minor pentatonic over the progression. If you want to push it further, try adding the b5 in relation to F#, and even the b9—both create a surprisingly musical tension in this context.
It’s worth approaching this in two ways. Thinking in F# helps you target intervals and stay connected to the harmony, while thinking in C# offers a more visual shortcut across the fretboard, in this case – using Conspirian!
John Mayer’s Bold Evolution: A Shift in Sound
By the mid-2000s, John Mayer had the success and freedom to reinvent his musical direction. Teaming up with Pino Palladino and Steve Jordan, he formed the John Mayer Trio and released the live album Try! in 2005.
He followed this with Continuum in 2006—an album that marked a clear move towards blues, soul, and groove-based songwriting. The shift earned him admiration from figures like Eric Clapton, who invited Mayer to perform at his Crossroads Guitar Festival.
Vultures stands out as one of the defining tracks from this era, blending tight rhythm work with rich modal harmony in a way that feels both effortless and sophisticated.
Vultures Chords: Continue Learning
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