Phil Keaggy

The Master Course JamPlay Exclusive Course

Take the opportunity to explore a Master Course from one of the best musicians to grace the guitar. A JamPlay.com exclusive, this 45 lesson course will cover the songs, techniques, and styles that have defined the history of Phil Keaggy. With 45 years of touring and 70+ studio albums, Phil is one of the most admired guitarists in music.

If you are a Phil Keaggy fan, this course was designed for you. Engineered to cover everything from acoustic rhythms and melodies, to electric guitar effects and leads, we cover the signature styles of Mr. Keaggy. Learn more or start the course with membership

Course Details
46 Lessons
4 Hour+ Runtime
Tabs (gpx, pdf)
Playalong Tracks
HD+ Video
90 day guarantee
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Stream online, plus all other courses with membership.

The JamPlay Learning System

Like every JamPlay course, The History of Phil Keaggy features world-class instruction and a dynamic learning system to help you succeed quickly.

It's not just videos, and not just downloads. You'll get:

  • Interactive tabs, notation, and fretboard
  • JamTracks for play along practice
  • Ask-a-teacher functionality
  • Speed up, slow down and loop the video
  • Bookmark exact moments in the lesson
  • Note-taking feature
  • 4k video with multiple camera angles
  • Track progress with the progress report
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Rated 4.9 of 5

Feedback and reviews from our audience (9 reviews), current JamPlay Subscribers or purchasers of this course.

Ken Volpe
A must have for any Keaggy fan. August 8th, 2017
5/5

You guys did an excellent job. Lots of great elements for a guitarist to work on. Also, lots of great footage of Phil's live perforamnce in a very relaxed setting. Great camera angles and super high quality. A must have for any Keaggy fan.

Derek Whitworth
Absolutely fantastic! August 8th, 2017
5/5

Phil is and has been a master in his skill for many years and I am blessed to be able to learn from him. Thank you Phil for your willingness to teach us just learning how to give glory to Jesus with the beautiful tool of music with the guitar.

Jim Oswald
Perfect! August 8th, 2017
5/5

I'm so glad how Jesus and Phil Keaggy have influenced my playing. I've always wanted to jam with both so this course makes that possible. With Phil sharing decades of his how's and whys helps old timers like me to not have hit tape rewind a million times to learn.

Mark Griffin
What an amazing guitarist and person! August 8th, 2017
5/5

I've been waiting 30 years for an opportunity to hear these cool insights from Phil. What an amazing guitarist and person! Thank you!

Mark Breton
..been waiting years for this information. August 8th, 2017
5/5

I love it. I have been waiting so many years for this information. I wish there were more licks transcribed... not all of it was.

Bill Talajkowski
Love and humility shines through. August 8th, 2017
5/5

Just starting. Love learning about God's servant. Love and humility shines through. Hoping to get a few licks under my belt soon.

Warren Harding
I highly recommend this video series. August 8th, 2017
5/5

..I have been very impressed by the course content, video quality, and insight into Phil's personal life.

CJ Friend
A master musician. August 8th, 2017
5/5

Great, great course from a master musician.

Bob Fullen
Love it August 8th, 2017
5/5

Love it really enjoy listening to Phil great music.

The Exclusive Master Course from Phil Keaggy

46 guitar lessons from Phil Keaggy in high definition with full supplemental material, guitar pro files and tabs. This course is the singular answer to over 40 years of experience with step-by-step exercises and explanations. This JamPlay exclusive allows you to travel inside the mind of a pioneering musician for writing songs, developing melodies and much, much more.

This course offers 46 lessons covering 4+ hours of material in step-by-step, digestible presentation.

Lessons in this Course
1

Series Introduction

Welcome to the Phil Keaggy Master Course! In this series introduction, Phil shows and tells us what we can expect from this course. Get ready for a wide range of styles, flavors, and techniques!

7:03 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

Interview with Phil

Phil sits down with JamPlay for a candid interview about himself and his playing.

7:25 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

3

Tools, Career and :Advice

From nail care to reminiscing about his vast recording and touring career, Phil Keaggy discusses it all. He also shares advice for aspiring career musicians, talks about how his faith has influenced his playing, and sheds light on how to turn inspiration into creation!

23:23 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

4

How to Practice

Phil shares his insights in to practicing, how he goes about it and provides anecdotes to help you practice more effectively.

3:13 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

5

Where Inspiration Comes From

Phil discusses inspiration, where it's found and how you can take almost anything around you and use it to inspire your own creativity.

8:49 Runtime

0.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
6

Chord Voicing Variations

Phil is famous for his unique chord voicings. He loves the rich, somewhat dissonant colors he can achieve by exploring different ways to play chords. In this lesson, he shows us his approach to finding these unique tones.

8:50 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
7

Using Effects with Electric Guitar

Phil's use of effects in his sound is artistic in and of itself. In this lesson he demonstrates some of his signature effects. You'll get a clear idea of how he creates some of his legendary electric guitar sounds!

9:05 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

8

Adding Riffs to Chord Structures

In this lesson, we watch and learn as Phil takes a pretty routine and basic chord structure, and adds a little spice to it to make it a full blown riff!

3:51 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

Following Chords When Soloing

Unique chord progressions require unique note choices when soloing. Here, Phil strategically targets certain notes that work over an atypical chord progression.

6:06 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

10

Left Hand Chord Stretches

Getting those chord voicings that Phil talked about in a previous lesson requires a good bit of hand dexterity. In this lesson Phil gives us a challenging progression, along with some thoughts and exercises to get your hands to stretch for those wild chords!

7:46 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

11

Altered Tunings

Watch and learn as Phil not only uses an altered tuning in this song, but switches to another tuning in the middle of the piece!

6:01 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

12

Picking Hand Development

Phil is uniquely qualified to talk about picking hand development. Having endured many challenges in this area, Phil tells us his story of overcoming those challenges, and gives you a closeup look at some of his picking hand techniques.

8:26 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

Using Multiple Capos, Part 1

In this lesson, Phil demonstrates how he uses multiple capos to create specific moods and colors within songs. He then uses looping to create a fantastic piece that will have your head spinning and your foot tapping!

10:56 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

14

Using Multiple Capos, Part 2

If you've ever used a lever capo, you know they can be a mechanical, yet musical addition to the guitar. In this lesson, Phil demonstrates not one, but using two lever capos at the same time!

4:43 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

15

Do it For You: Fingerstyle Exercise

Phil teaches a descending line that incorporates a simple fingerstyle technique.

3:15 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Cascading Fingerpicking

Phil offers up a cascading lick that functions as a great introduction to fingerstyle playing.

2:18 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

Morphies Law: Fingerstyle

Phil teaches a a folk-based fingerstyle line derived from his song Morphies Law.

4:26 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

18

Two Handed Tapping

Phil demonstrates the two handed tapping technique and discusses it's uses.

3:29 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

19

Farewell: Two-Hand Tapping

Phill offers up another piece that focuses on the two hand tapping technique. This time you'll be incorporating a capo at the same time.

2:37 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

20

Alternate Tunings and Time Signatures

Phil demonstrates and discusses his approach to using altered tunings and time signatures.

1:11 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

Alternate Tunings: DADGAD

Phil demonstrates and discusses his use of the DADGAD tuning.

2:46 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

22

Alternate Tunings: E, B, C#, G, B, E

Phil has another lesson and discussion on alternate tuning here. You'll be looking at examples in the tuning EBC#GBE.

3:11 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Adaptations of an E Chord

Phil demonstrates and discusses the ability to move the basic E chord around the fretboard as a way to develop a song.

3:41 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

24

Looping - Reverse Effect

Phil demonstrates a simple walking line that, when reversed and looped, sounds like a traditional Irish flavored tune. He talks about how he discovered the reverse effect and plays chords and rhythm over the line that he has reversed.

2:39 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

25

Looping - One Man Band

Be the drummer, the bass player, the rhythm guitarist and the lead guy; do it all with a looper and a keen sense of how to weave parts together while giving them their own space. You’ll see a complete breakdown of how Phil builds his loops and lines, one step at a time! This is a gem of a lesson that lets you inside the head of one of the masters of the “one man band!”

3:53 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

26

Looping - Percussion

Zero in on acoustic guitar percussion techniques and ideas! Some of what you’ll see is conventional and some of it is downright wacky, but Phil brings it all together. Learn how to smack that guitar, use cut up credit cards, and create grooves that are easily looped. You’ll also see how to layer static chords over a catchy passage. There are several separate musical examples that should inspire an endless amount of creativity with a looper effect!

8:45 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

27

Graceful Sweepy Bend

It’s bluesy and quirky. This lick played over an E dominant sound packs a lot into a little space with a tasteful sweep into an ‘on again off again’ bend that you can’t help but experiment with. Phil goes back and forth with his phrasing choices, works the beat and demonstrates ways to bend the ears, strings and fingers with this one.

3:52 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

28

Arpeggio With Style

The main run or arpeggio that Phil showcases here is based on a B minor sound and provides an excellent way to climb quickly and target that sweet spot note that the listener is aching to hear. You’ll hear it demonstrated as a fast flurry, ending inside slightly different contexts over the groove. You’ll also get to hear it broken down a bit so that you can drop it into your own material. It’s a very versatile lick!

3:06 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

29

Pentatonic Animal

Phil blends classic pentatonic phrasing with a bit of an arpeggiated flare over an E minor sound. As demonstrated, the timing of the sequence over a groove can be felt out and tweaked quite a bit depending on the flavor of the overall lead. It’s played as a setup to a melody and as a blistering run that ends strongly on a downbeat. Try both approaches for an added challenge!

1:20 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

30

Bloomfield Style

Inspired by legendary 60s-era guitar playing from Michael Bloomfield, this passage is packed full of jazzy dorian fun! The main lick during the first 3 measures of the passage sets the mood and the motif, and then Phil masterfully demonstrates how to expand on the lick while retaining familiarity throughout.

2:25 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

31

Riff With You

Phil offers up a spacious lick in the key of E that works well as an ending to a solo.

1:52 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

32

Souther Style

Phil discusses and demonstrates a passage originally adapted from Pianist Richard Souther.

2:37 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

33

Turn It Around

Phil teaches an unconventional blues turnaround centered in the key of E.

1:18 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

34

Falling Up the Stairs

Phil teaches a three note per string scale and feels like you're "Falling Up the Stairs."

2:49 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

35

Strongly Not Resolved

Knowing what to do with a diminished chord is not easy. In this lesson, Phil shows us how to set up a diminished chord that resolves nicely to another chord.

1:11 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

36

Coming Full Circle

This lick has a mellow, ascending sound that is all Phil. The dynamics of this are key to making it sound just right!

3:05 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

37

Back in Time

This riff is based around the good ol' pentatonic scale. While not as flashy as earlier licks, it has a nice flowing rhythm and descending nature that the ear immediately gravitates towards.

1:58 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

38

Stomp On This

Here's a classic Phil sounding lick. There's a swampy country-rock or southern-rock flavor to this one, and it will allow you to practice the intonation on your bends!

3:04 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

39

My World

This riff centers around the intervallic spacing of the rhythm guitar part. Then Phil loops the rhythm part and adds some very tasteful solo guitar lines. An all around great track!

3:58 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

40

Love Divine

This lesson contains a very Beatlesque rhythm part from Phil, along with an extremely catchy lead solo. See how you can do at both of these parts!

2:10 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

41

Lord Have Mercy

Here’s a straightforward, swampy blues groove with a little flare. Set in the key of E, it’s perfectly positioned to take advantage of open strings both with an E drone and with numerous opportunities taken to pull off to key tones. The universal appeal of this lick is that you can use parts of when riffing over any E blues song.

2:53 Runtime

5.0 Difficulty

42

Not Passing By

This passage nods its head to many classic riffs and is a perfect example of a lead-based riff that is working perfectly with target chords. In other words, you’ll be playing rhythm and lead at the same time when you learn to play this snippet of Phil’s. It’s also a great way to apply the pentatonic scale in a more interesting context.

2:33 Runtime

5.0 Difficulty

43

Love Does Not Fear

Boogie on with this riff! Get in the groove over an E pedal tone and practice using the pentatonic scale to pull away from the bass note while maintaining the strong E presence and the boogie feel. This is another great example of combining strong rhythm and lead ideas into one lick.

1:52 Runtime

5.0 Difficulty

44

Not Nothin to Play

This is pure pentatonic lead riffage! It’s the attention to phrasing that makes it so juicy. You likely already know the notes. Hone in on Phil’s attention to detail as he walks down the A minor pentatonic scale.

2:47 Runtime

5.0 Difficulty

45

Fly on the wall

Volume swells, contemplative space, and chordal voice leading are among the many themes present in this phrase. Learn to put the chord patterns together first, then connect them with the subtle melody that joins them together.

3:47 Runtime

4.5 Difficulty

46

Live Event Archive

As a special treat we have included the archive of the Phil Keaggy Live Event. Join us as he demonstrates some of his favorite techniques, answers questions, and talks about his upcoming album.

73:02 Runtime

4.0 Difficulty