Classic Country Guitar Lesson
Classic Country
DJ discusses the classic country style. He explains the rhythmic and structural differences between this style and western swing.
Taught by DJ Phillips in Country Guitar seriesLength: 6:30Difficulty: 1.5 of 5
The classic country sound features a two beat rhythm with an emphasis on beats 2 and 4. Beats 2 and 4 are often referred to as the "back beat" of a measure in 4/4 time. In this style, the bass player plays on beats 1 and 3 where as the guitar lives in the area of the back beat. In Hank Williams' band for example, the rhythm section is comprised of a bass player and a guitarist. No drummer is present. The bass player alternates between the root and fifth of the chord on beats 1 and 3. The guitar throws in chordal stabs on beats 2 and 4.
Tic Tac Rhythm
The "tic tac" rhythm is borrowed from tic tac bass lines. The tic tac bass features six strings tuned an octave lower than the guitar. In a classic country setting, the guitar part often doubles the tic tac bass line.
DJ demonstrates a tic tac bass line with a C major chord. The bass line is palm muted throughout the figure. The root note note is played on beat 1. The third of the chord, E, is played on beats 2 and 4. The fifth of the chord, G, is played on beat 3. These simple guidelines can be transferred over to any chord.
"Hey Good Lookin'"
DJ uses this classic Hank Williams song to demonstrate how the tic tac rhythm is used in a practical, musical context.
A Section Chords
This song is played in the key of C major. The A section utilizes the I, II, V chords in this key. Respectively, these chords are C, D, and G.
The tic tac bass rhythm is played the same with both the C and the D chords. Simply slide the figure for C up two frets to play a tic tac bass line for the D chord.
The bass pattern for the G chord is slightly different. A low root is played on beat 1. The root note located one octave higher is played on beats 2 and 4. The fifth of the chord, D, is played on beat 3.
Watch and listen at 03:50 as DJ plays through the A section. Practice this bass line on your own. Then, return to the lesson video and play along with DJ.
B Section Chords
The chords change twice as fast in the B section. The B section begins with the IV chord, F. The same basic pattern for G major is applied to F. Simply slide the bass line played over G down two frets when playing F. The I chord is also used in this section.
Watch at 04:36 as DJ demonstrates the bass pattern for the B section. Practice this section on your own. Then, play it along with DJ. The next logical step is to play through the entire form as a whole. This song features an AABA song form. Play the entire form along with DJ at 05:08.
Preview of Next Lesson
In the next lesson, DJ covers some modern country licks that utilize the "chicken pickin'" technique.
Supplemental Learning Material
Country Guitar
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsHaving 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
Introduction to Country
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 Only
Western Swing
DJ gets to the roots of the country music genre with a lesson on Western Swing.
Length: 5:50 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Roly Poly
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 Only
Classic Country
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
Chicken Pickin' and Modern Country
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 FREE
Hybrid Picking
In this lesson, DJ discusses some of the finer points of the hybrid picking technique.
Length: 15:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Electric Country, Western Swing
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 Only
Eldon Shamblin, Western Swing
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 Only
Twin Guitar Boogie's Twin Lead
This lesson covers the twin lead section of the song "Twin Guitar Boogie."
Length: 17:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Twin Lead Solo: Part 2
DJ breaks down the second part of the twin lead solo from "Twin Guitar Boogie."
Length: 14:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Twin Guitar Boogie's Guitar Solo
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 Only
Twin Guitar Boogie Techniques
Lesson 12 covers all the techniques involved in the previous lessons on the Twin Guitar Boogie.
Length: 7:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Solo Building
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 Only
Fingerpicking
Lesson 14 delves into the realm of fingerpicking.
Length: 17:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Solo and Improvisation
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 Only
Guitar Boogie Pt. 1
Lesson 16 starts a 3 part series on Arthur Smith's "Guitar Boogie."
Length: 47:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Guitar Boogie Pt. 2
In lesson 17, DJ completes his note for note demonstration of "Guitar Boogie."
Length: 30:39 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Guitar Boogie Concepts
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 Only
Whistle Stop
In this lesson, DJ teaches the song "Whistle Stop" by legendary guitarist Jimmy Bryant.
Length: 19:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Yodeling Guitar
DJ demonstrates the song "Yodeling Guitar" by Jimmy Bryant.
Length: 32:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Joy Ride
DJ teaches the song "Joy Ride" as performed by Jimmy Bryant.
Length: 30:37 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Jimmy Bryant Concepts
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 Only
Got a Lot of Rhythm
This lesson covers the tune Got a Lot of Rhythm which features the playing of Hank Garland.
Length: 10:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
I Need Your Love Tonight
In lesson 24, DJ takes a look at an Elvis Presley song "I Need Your Love Tonight."
Length: 19:55 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sugarfoot Rag
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 Only
Walkin' the Floor
DJ takes a look at "Walkin' the Floor" by classic country guitarist Leon Rhodes.
Length: 29:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Honey Fingers Pt. 1
DJ Phillips teaches the progression, structure and melody of the song "Honey Fingers."
Length: 35:30 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Honey Fingers Pt. 2
In lesson 28, DJ demonstrates the entire guitar solo for the song "Honey Fingers."
Length: 27:13 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Applying Concepts and Skill Building
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 Only
Luther Perkins
DJ discusses the tic-tac techniques used by Johnny Cash guitarist Luther Perkins.
Length: 18:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Tic-Tac Rhythms Applied
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.I really enjoy DJ's style and as a beginner I have found him extremely willing to take the time to tackle my questions. It wouldn't help me if Hank Williams himself was teaching this song (although it would be really cool) it's going to be difficult regardless. Thanks DJ for a great set of lessons
If you could hum/sing or something to give us a clue as to where you are on the supp sheets, it would be helpful to those of us who are beginners. I know you are an EXCELLENT musician, but hard for us real beginners to keep up with where you are without the word from either you or the supp material. If this is the basic lesson from which I should start, I failed first grade already...need your help to start right basics...thanks.
Thanks for the comments, adjohns3! I will work on improving clarity in the future. A couple of notes for you regarding this series: 1. One of the best options for learning a lot of this stuff is to pick up the original recordings by the original artists. This is not to say that your point is not valid, but since music is so readily available these days, I recommend getting a copy of the song(s) in question and listening on your own! 2. Supplemental content is created after the recording of the lesson to give the most accurate record of what was played, so pointing to a measure number is not always possible. In the future, we will strive to better clarify, however. Thanks for your input!
very difficult to follow this guy - talks to fast, often confuses notes/fingers - interested in this genre but needs re-recording with a better teacher
Hopefully we'll find one somewhere around here!
The SOUND differential between his talking and his playing is so different it is difficult to pay attention without having your hand on volume to turn lesson UP or down.