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 i... (more)
DJ currently offers 202 guitar lessons at JamPlay, with 116 intermediate lessons, 59 song lessons, 10 lessons in our Artist Series and 17 Lick & Riff Library entries.
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DJ Phillips will teach you everything you need to know to become a master of the blues with an emphasis on fast-paced techniques & playing.
Meet Mr. DJ Phillips & learn what he's going to teach you throughout this series.
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Learn what makes a chord progression a blues progression as well as the basics to the famous 12 bar blues.
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Time to take the 12 bar blues progression you've learned and add in some rhythmic variations.
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Now that you've learned the 12 bar blues and some rhythmic variations, it's time to throw in some chord variations.
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Time to take a break from the 12 bar blues and start mastering some lead techniques. This all starts with the minor pentatonic scale.
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Now that you've learned the minor pentatonic scale, it's time to learn how to move it around.
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Learn a handful of new blues techniques while learning to play Stevie Ray Vaughn's "The House Is Rockin'".
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Now that you've mastered some SRV, DJ is going to show you some funky blues rhythms that use the 9th chords.
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DJ begins a discussion of the minor pentatonic scale patterns. He demonstrates the A minor pentatonic scale in first or "open" position.
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Continuing on with the minor pentatonic scale, DJ covers the second position. As with lesson 9, he provides a few exercises and riffs along the way.
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Continuing with the A minor pentatonic scale, DJ returns with a lesson on the fifth position pattern.
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In this lesson, DJ covers the A minor pentatonic scale in 7th position. He includes licks and riffs to help with skill building.
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This lesson covers the 9th position of the A minor pentatonic scale. DJ provides licks, riffs, and a string skipping exercise.
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Now that DJ has covered all five patterns of the minor pentatonic scale, he explains how to shift from one pattern to the next.
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Now that DJ has covered the minor pentatonic positions, he shifts gears to the major pentatonic scale.
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In this lesson, DJ demonstrates a number of major pentatonic licks that feature position shifts.
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DJ demonstrates how to combine the major and minor pentatonic scales. He provides a number of combined scale licks for you to learn.
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In this lesson, DJ demonstrates how to build an effective guitar solo.
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This lesson details the importance of rhythm within solos and lead lines.
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DJ talks about the art of improvising in this lesson. Always begin with a grand entrance and end with a big finish.
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DJ begins a discussion of colorful dominant chord voicings. He demonstrates how to build chords from a root note on the 6th string.
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Continuing on from lesson 21, DJ explains how to build dominant chords from root notes on the 4th and 5th strings.
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In lesson 23, DJ demonstrates how various chord voicings can be used while playing rhythm or lead over a 12 bar blues progression.
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With lesson 24, DJ begins a short segment on tricks of the trade. First, he discusses and demonstrates string rakes.
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DJ explains how B3 organ licks can be played on guitar.
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In this lesson, DJ talks about volume swells and how they can be used.
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Continuing with his "tricks of the trade" lessons, DJ demonstrates a walking bass line and the upstroke shuffle.
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In this lesson, DJ discusses and demonstrates the basics of slide technique.
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DJ demonstrates some of the subtleties of using a wah pedal in the blues style.
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DJ discusses and demonstrates natural, artificial (harp), and pinch harmonics in the blues style.
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DJ delves into tone in lesson 31. He discusses how and why certain tones are achieved.
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With lesson 32, DJ introduces the minor form of the 12 bar blues progression.
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Building on his minor blues set, DJ discusses how to utilize the dominant V7 chord to spice up the standard progression.
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DJ demonstrates a couple turnaround techniques that can be applied to the 12 bar minor blues progression.
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In this lesson, DJ discusses some minor 7 voicings with roots on the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings.
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Much like lesson 35, DJ discusses minor 6th chord voicings with roots on the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings.
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DJ explains how altered extensions such as the b9 and #9 can be added to the V7 chord within the context of a minor blues progression.
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DJ discusses the scale options that can be used over a minor blues progression.
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In this lesson, DJ builds upon lesson 38 and covers the minor scale positions across the entire fretboard.
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DJ profiles blues guitarist T-Bone Walker in lesson 40.
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Profiling T-Bone walker, DJ will demonstrate the T-Bone Shuffle.
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DJ discusses and demonstrates skills acquired from learning T-Bone Walker's material.
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DJ will take a look at Blues guitarist Bo Diddley and teach you the "Bo Diddley beat."
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Dj is back yet again with more on the style of Bo Diddley. Here is will dive more into his style of solos as well as an in depth explanation of how the songs are played out. Get comfortable everyone and get you blues fingers ready.
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Dj brings a kicking finish to the style of Bo Diddley by teaching you how to implement his style of playing to your's. With a quick review of what he has taught so far, Dj will play the backing track as you play with him and creat your own Bo Diddley style solo.
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DJ returns to his blues guitar series with the introduction of a complete blues solo. Through the next 12 lessons, DJ will provide a phrase-by-phrase breakdown of the solo. By the end of this mini-series, you will have added a few blues licks to your repertoire as well as a full solo with them all strung together!
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DJ is back with Phrase #2 of the Swing Blues Solo. This lick is designed to outline the IV chord.
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DJ is back with another phrase of his swing blues solo. The third phrase of the first solo is also your first turnaround. In this lick, you'll outline the chords that bring us back to the top of the form.
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The fourth phrase of your first solo has a lot of pentatonic influence in it. You've also climbed the neck to the upper register to help build your solo.
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We're back to the second phrase in the long form blues again. This lick picks up where the last left off and continues to build suspense in the upper register.
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DJ is back with the sixth phrase of his Swing Blues Solo. We're now at the second turnaround of the long form. This lick incorporates chromaticism to build tension.
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We're back to the top in the 3rd chorus of the blues solo. This lick starts to amp up the solo by adding more bends and a few double stops.
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DJ is back with the eighth phrase in the swing blues solo. The second phrase of the 3rd chorus incorporates hammer-ons.
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DJ is back with the ninth phrase in the swing blues solo. For the third time, we find ourselves at the turnaround. This lick plays on the idea of a repeating figure followed up by a scale run.
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We really start to add some gusto to the solo for our final three phrases. This lick uses open stringed double stops and position shifting to create a long build up towards the solo's climax.
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The eleventh phrase of our long form blues solo continues to build on the previous phrase. This time you'll be using a repeated but slightly varied figure along with double stops to create more build-up.
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DJ is back with the final phrase of the swing blues solo. This turnaround lick uses quick bends, repeated figures, and a chromatic walk down to twist your ear before finally resolving back to E.
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Now that you've completed the first solo of a long form blues, it's time to tackle the second solo. This next blues is played in straight eighths and starts off with some chromatic notes, bending, and a syncopated rhythm.
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Dig into the second phrase of our straight blues solo! This one uses double stops, bends, and vibrato to kick the solo into high gear!
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The first turnaround in our straight blues solo uses a low walking melody along with a scale run that brings us back up to the top.
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As we return to the top for the second round of our long form, we hear a familiar melody. This one is stolen right from the last phrase, only it's been transposed up into a higher register.
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We're getting into the meat of this solo and it's time we started rocking! We amp up the energy by using some down picking and scale lines.
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We've now reached the second turnaround of our long form blues. This phrase gets a little funky with some position shifting and double stops.
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Here, we return to the top and continue the funky feel from the turnaround. This lick features chromatic runs with vibrato and a repeated figure.
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The next lick in our long form straight blues is all about syncopation and getting that dirty tone from the amp. Careful rhythmic placement of rests and the use of double stops help us accomplish this.
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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.
This short lesson will introduce you to the country style of playing and provide some necessary background information on how the genre got started.
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DJ gets to the roots of the country music genre with a lesson on Western Swing.
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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.
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DJ discusses the classic country style. He explains the rhythmic and structural differences between this style and western swing.
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With lesson 5, DJ starts to discuss elements of the modern country style. This includes the technique known as "Chicken Pickin'."
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In this lesson, DJ discusses some of the finer points of the hybrid picking technique.
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In this lesson, DJ begins to talk more in depth about modern electric country guitar. He starts with the western swing style.
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Lesson 8 continues to cover the western swing style of electric country. Eldon Shamblin and his musical efforts are discussed further.
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This lesson covers the twin lead section of the song "Twin Guitar Boogie."
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DJ breaks down the second part of the twin lead solo from "Twin Guitar Boogie."
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Finalizing his teaching on the Twin Guitar Boogie with emphasis on Eldon Shamblin, DJ brings you this lesson on the guitar solo.
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Lesson 12 covers all the techniques involved in the previous lessons on the Twin Guitar Boogie.
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DJ takes the techniques he discussed in lesson 12 and helps you create a solo over a standard country rhythm.
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Lesson 14 delves into the realm of fingerpicking.
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In lesson 15 DJ demonstrates the techniques used by Merle Travis to build a solo, and improvisation technique.
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Lesson 16 starts a 3 part series on Arthur Smith's "Guitar Boogie."
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In lesson 17, DJ completes his note for note demonstration of "Guitar Boogie."
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In this lesson, DJ takes a look at some of the country guitar concepts used in the song "Guitar Boogie."
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In this lesson, DJ teaches the song "Whistle Stop" by legendary guitarist Jimmy Bryant.
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DJ demonstrates the song "Yodeling Guitar" by Jimmy Bryant.
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DJ teaches the song "Joy Ride" as performed by Jimmy Bryant.
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Now that DJ has covered "Whistle Stop" and "Joy Ride," he'll be looking at some of the concepts used to play these songs.
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This lesson covers the tune Got a Lot of Rhythm which features the playing of Hank Garland.
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In lesson 24, DJ takes a look at an Elvis Presley song "I Need Your Love Tonight."
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In lesson 25, DJ continues his in depth look at Hank Garland's playing with a demonstration of Sugarfoot Rag.
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DJ takes a look at "Walkin' the Floor" by classic country guitarist Leon Rhodes.
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DJ Phillips teaches the progression, structure and melody of the song "Honey Fingers."
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In lesson 28, DJ demonstrates the entire guitar solo for the song "Honey Fingers."
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Looking back on the lessons on Leon Rhodes' playing, DJ offers up a lesson on applying the new concepts.
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DJ discusses the tic-tac techniques used by Johnny Cash guitarist Luther Perkins.
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Looking at guitarist Luther Perkins, DJ helps you to apply the tic-tac rhythms in your playing.
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DJ returns to his country lesson series to profile legendary country guitarist James Burton! In the first lesson of this mini-series, DJ takes a look at open string licks that are common in James' playing.
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DJ is back with the second lesson in his James Burton mini series. For this one, DJ takes a look at how James Burton started the Tele sound with the use of hybrid picking and chicken pickin'.
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In lesson 34 of his country series, DJ is expanding on his look at James Burton. In this lesson you'll be taking a look at double stop and partial chord concepts utilized by this country great!
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To finalize the concepts and techniques portion of his mini-series on James Burton, DJ offers up a look at bending technique.
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Now that you have all the lick based elements and concepts under your belt, it's time to apply them. In lesson 36, DJ plays all of the licks you've learned with a backing track.
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DJ Phillips profiles the guitarists that created and nurtured the funk sound.
DJ Phillips starts out his funk guitar series with an overview of what he'll be covering in lessons to come.
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In this lesson DJ profiles guitarist Jimmy Nolan, one of the original members of the James Brown band.
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DJ introduces Catfish Collins and begins to profile his sounds and technique.
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DJ takes another in depth look at Catfish Collins' playing style with "in the style of" licks.
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DJ begins to talk about Leo Nocentelli, the guitarist for The Meters.
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DJ breaks down an "in the style of" lick made famous by Leo Nocentelli.
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DJ provides yet another look at a famous "in the style of" lick from guitarist Leo Nocentelli.
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DJ provides another "in the style of" lick from The Meters' guitaris Leo Nocentelli.
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DJ provides the final lick in the style of Leo Nocentelli.
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DJ begins lesson 10 of his funk series by going over one of Curtis Mayfield's signature licks.
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DJ returns with another look at a signature look from guitarist Curtis Mayfield.
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DJ returns with another "in the style of" lick from Curtis Mayfield.
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DJ demonstrates an "in the style of" lick from Curtis Mayfield that centers around an F#m7 chord.
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DJ demonstrates the fifth "in the style of" lick from Curtis Mayfield.
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DJ offers up the final "in the style of" lick from Curtis Mayfield.
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