Rhythm in Neon

The rhythm in John Mayer’s live version of Neon is very smooth. He plays it on an acoustic guitar and adds elements of drums by tapping the low E string of the guitar with his thumb throughout the intro and verse riff to maintain a beat like a drum would with its kick drum. It stay pretty much the same. He supports the rhythm with some finger picking. I think that it is a pretty groovy thing he does. Then when the chorus hits he just strums but the rhythm doesn’t really change a whole lot. He stays in the same rhythm but it just sounds different because he’s not playing individual notes. Right before he does his guitar solo there is this short transition where it seems like the rhythm slows a bit. It sounds a bit more vibey. That’s the best way I can explain it. Then he goes back to the chorus again and its the same and he ends with what he played for the intro/verse.