Singer John Mayer has confirmed his split from pop star Katy Perry, insisting "coupling is a tricky thing".

The Your Body Is a Wonderland hitmaker began romancing Perry last summer (12) but they didn't go public with their love until December (12), when they made their first red carpet appearance together.

Their relationship appeared to be going strong, but the singers reportedly split last month (Mar13) after less than a year of dating.

Now Mayer has acknowledged the break-up for the first time during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which is due to air on Tuesday (02Apr13), but he kept the details about the failed romance under wraps.

He told host Ellen DeGeneres, "Listen, it was a very private relationship going in. It was a private relationship during and it's a private relationship, still. I'm on the same journey as everyone else. Coupling is a tricky thing."

News of the couple's split emerged just weeks after the 35-year-old rocker gushed about their bond during a TV interview, saying, "I don't feel like I'm in a celebrity relationship. I don't feel it for the first time of my life... I really don't. I'm not even in a high-profile (relationship)... I know it's high-profile, but it's hard to explain. It doesn't feel that way to me and it's great and I'm glad..."