
Having roots in Folk, Celtic, and Gospel music, Country and Country Western evolved rapidly in the 1920's. This genre of music has spawned two of the top selling solo artists of all time. Elvis Presley, and Garth Brooks.
Lesson 1
This short lesson will introduce you to the country style of playing and provide some necessary background information on how the genre got started.
Length: 2:04 Difficulty: 0.5 Members OnlyLesson 2
DJ gets to the roots of the country music genre with a lesson on Western Swing.
Length: 5:50 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 3
In lesson 3, DJ teaches a short song called "Roly Poly." If you ever find yourself jamming in a country circuit, you'll need this one in your repertoire.
Length: 5:22 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 4
DJ discusses the classic country style. He explains the rhythmic and structural differences between this style and western swing.
Length: 6:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 5
With lesson 5, DJ starts to discuss elements of the modern country style. This includes the technique known as "Chicken Pickin'."
Length: 12:59 Difficulty: 2.5 FREELesson 6
In this lesson, DJ discusses some of the finer points of the hybrid picking technique.
Length: 15:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 7
In this lesson, DJ begins to talk more in depth about modern electric country guitar. He starts with the western swing style.
Length: 11:11 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 8
Lesson 8 continues to cover the western swing style of electric country. Eldon Shamblin and his musical efforts are discussed further.
Length: 13:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 9
This lesson covers the twin lead section of the song "Twin Guitar Boogie."
Length: 17:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 10
DJ breaks down the second part of the twin lead solo from "Twin Guitar Boogie."
Length: 14:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 11
Finalizing his teaching on the Twin Guitar Boogie with emphasis on Eldon Shamblin, DJ brings you this lesson on the guitar solo.
Length: 21:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 12
Lesson 12 covers all the techniques involved in the previous lessons on the Twin Guitar Boogie.
Length: 7:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 13
DJ takes the techniques he discussed in lesson 12 and helps you create a solo over a standard country rhythm.
Length: 17:33 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 14
Lesson 14 delves into the realm of fingerpicking.
Length: 17:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 15
In lesson 15 DJ demonstrates the techniques used by Merle Travis to build a solo, and improvisation technique.
Length: 12:15 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 16
Lesson 16 starts a 3 part series on Arthur Smith's "Guitar Boogie."
Length: 47:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 17
In lesson 17, DJ completes his note for note demonstration of "Guitar Boogie."
Length: 30:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 18
In this lesson, DJ takes a look at some of the country guitar concepts used in the song "Guitar Boogie."
Length: 16:13 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 19
In this lesson, DJ teaches the song "Whistle Stop" by legendary guitarist Jimmy Bryant.
Length: 19:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 20
DJ demonstrates the song "Yodeling Guitar" by Jimmy Bryant.
Length: 32:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 21
DJ teaches the song "Joy Ride" as performed by Jimmy Bryant.
Length: 30:37 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 22
Now that DJ has covered "Whistle Stop" and "Joy Ride," he'll be looking at some of the concepts used to play these songs.
Length: 23:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 23
This lesson covers the tune Got a Lot of Rhythm which features the playing of Hank Garland.
Length: 10:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 24
In lesson 24, DJ takes a look at an Elvis Presley song "I Need Your Love Tonight."
Length: 19:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 25
In lesson 25, DJ continues his in depth look at Hank Garland's playing with a demonstration of Sugarfoot Rag.
Length: 32:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 26
DJ takes a look at "Walkin' the Floor" by classic country guitarist Leon Rhodes.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 27
DJ Phillips teaches the progression, structure and melody of the song "Honey Fingers."
Length: 35:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 28
In lesson 28, DJ demonstrates the entire guitar solo for the song "Honey Fingers."
Length: 27:13 Difficulty: 3.0 Members OnlyLesson 29
Looking back on the lessons on Leon Rhodes' playing, DJ offers up a lesson on applying the new concepts.
Length: 11:49 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 30
DJ discusses the tic-tac techniques used by Johnny Cash guitarist Luther Perkins.
Length: 18:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members OnlyLesson 31
Looking at guitarist Luther Perkins, DJ helps you to apply the tic-tac rhythms in your playing.
Length: 7:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About DJ Phillips
View Full Biography
Like many guitar players who began playing around the same time, DJ began plunking out Nirvana and Soundgarden tunes when he first picked up the guitar in the mid-nineties. While these grunge-y roots certainly have their merit, it wasn't until DJ's eldest sister took him to a Led Zeppelin laser light show that the full potential of the guitar began to come into focus.
With Jimmy Page's Les Paul pyrotechnics as his inspiration, DJ began fervently practicing for hours on end in the suburban jungle of Southwestern Ohio. This newfound passion (combined with his complete lack of athletic prowess and physical coordination thus completely ruling out all sports) led him to form rock bands in junior high and high school. He grew to love the performance aspect of music and soon decided on it as a career path.
College led him to Nashville, Tennessee where he began to pursue a degree in Commercial Music at Belmont University. He also started another band and got his first professional theater gig the following summer. Since that summer, DJ has spent nearly every waking hour finding ways to play music and avoiding a real contribution to society in any other way.
He moved to Minneapolis after college, rocking out between theater gigs with his current rock band Brother Big Bad. He has now convinced the band to move to Nashville where music flows like water.
DJ is elated to be a part of JamPlay and is thankful for everyone's warm welcome and says "Now, let's ROCK, people."
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Hey DJ love your lesons, however I'm using an acoustic guitar, does that matter in the overall lesons.
Hey George, sorry it took me so long to respond. You should be able to do most things on acoustic guitar just fine. In the lessons that involve big string bends you might have to work around it, but you should still be able to get the idea across on an acoustic.
Re-my last I'm using an electro acoustic, I'd like youe thoughts on this, thanks.
ok now have to say SORRY for the picking part I was so into watching one part that did not have it , to realize that I can see the picking else where
I know I have alot to say really what to learn to play this song... I would of like to see more of the picking hand saying 2 4 6 cord gets me confused, I know more my A B C cords HA HA I find myself raising my head to see if I can see more on top of D.J left hand thanks guys for all your hard work
Matt's working on sup content my friends, rest assured it will be up for every lesson, however because of his recent film session (filmed 32+ lessons) he's a bit behind.
hi D.J..I have been playing this song for a while, heck it don't sound half as good as yours.love that little solo..this lesson was worth my 20$..Good song for a beginner to learn with not just a boring single cord..plus it has punch to it..thanks again