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 Chords: Exploring John Mayer’s Smooth Dorian Groove
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 really come to life. Here’s a link to the TAB lesson: Vultures – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
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—or isolating the track with software like Serato—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 | Course Preview
In the course, you get TAB for all sections, clearly displaying all of Vultures chords. As a preview, here’s the main riff played during the verse. Notice the little dot above the stem in bar two, it means to “play short”.
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
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Vultures (John Mayer) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy:
