The Trick to TRAVIS PICKING Learn it in 10 Minutes! (Plus free chord charts!)

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The Trick to TRAVIS PICKING Learn it in 10 Minutes! (Plus free chord charts!)

Рет қаралды 202,769

Күн бұрын

Learn Travis picking and you'll be able to play almost any picking tune you like. Named after the legendary guitarist Merle Travis, it's the most popular picking style in the world.This short tutorial will show you how to make light work of it. As always there's a method (a trick) to remembering what to do but trust me, it's really easy... when you know how! Click the link for my 'idiot proof' chord and finger position charts. They're free! www.bluenotegui...

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@timothycarroll5846 5 ай бұрын

ok, i took up the challenge. after about 100 hours and 2 months into it i am finally approaching ludicrous speed with getting a more acceptable number of stumbles per minute. it will takes months to eliminate them completely while changing chords and/or string sets. getting to this point was in no way easy. doing this at a walk is easy to learn and pretty easy to do once your right hand gets the basic idea. getting competently past a walk takes serious work, dedication, perseverance, and...pain. your picking hand will fight back, you have to force it, even when it wants or demands you stop KEEP GOING! as fast as you can, even if you are to the point that your fingers refuse to move. everyday. If you don't, you will be stuck in walk land forever. its work. i started with 5 minute forced marathons and progressed to 10, 12, 15 min at a time. now much more. I didn't really worry about doing the picking pattern perfectly while forcing, it was more about getting the picking hand to do the motion and not stopping. thanks, rob, for showing that that i could actually do this. signed: a 40 year power chord poser.............

@JohnMcintosh-dm1gn 4 ай бұрын

Good advice, I'm two months in now but haven't hit it as hard as you have. Saying that I think I may take your advice as it seems to be a better option than the path I'm on.

@timothycarroll5846 4 ай бұрын

@@JohnMcintosh-dm1gn the up side is that once you get it, you got it. i'm now at the point that i just brush up here and there now. If I can do it, you can.....

@ceceliatitus4378 13 күн бұрын

I'm glad I read your comment. I'm sobered by the reality of how much I need to up my game - and encouraged at the same time.

@johnrains8409 8 ай бұрын

Years ago, I had the pleasure of socializing with a young man who had been a professional Las Vegas pit band guitarist. This was in Memphis, TN. They had a blue grass "opry" out in a neighboring small town, Lucy. It was simply called the Lucy Opry, and almost everyone knew what you meant. After he had been in Memphis a few weeks, he found his way out to the Opry, and just a while later, he played in the "opry" talent show and won. When asked how long he had been playing "grass" he replied, "about 2 weeks. Point is, if you are proficient at one form of music, it does not take much time to learn another. As one poster here referred to it, "pattern" picking is the basis of all finger picking styles. That's what I did for years because, as the poster implied, I used it as accompanist for my singing. However, once I decided to try adding melody notes along with the pattern, it was not that hard. I did learn the intro lick to Fogelberg's "Leader of the Band" in just a few minutes. One more thing, you don't see many "pickers" doing any complicated riffs while singing. When they start sing, they resort to the patterns.

@awjfagan 3 ай бұрын

Really helpful and easy to understand video, the first of yours I've seen, will be checking out more - thanks a lot. ATB

@TheCommonSenseProfessor 8 ай бұрын

Thank you. My great grandfather was Earl Travis, first cousins with Merle Travis. Merle got his first guitar from my grandfather. I grew up hearing the stories, and now I am trying to learn Travis picking and this was very helpful.

@jysmtl 6 ай бұрын

I’m from the next town over from Drakesboro and learned Travis picking there back in the 60s from a guy who had learned from Merle. What the fellow is teaching in this video is folk style finger picking, not Travis picking.

@TheCommonSenseProfessor 6 ай бұрын

Merle used two fingers, but by definition this is Travis Picking. The technical term is alternating thumb style, which if you want to be a purist, that is probably a better name for this guys finger picking style, but everyone knows this as Travis Picking. I am learning the pure 2 finger style, I would guess like you play. I am curious who you learned from. My family is from Browder. @@jysmtl

@jysmtl 6 ай бұрын

@@TheCommonSenseProfessor Good for you for deciding to keep the tradition going. His name was McPherson. I could have the spelling wrong. It was a long time ago. Around ‘66-‘68 or so. He was a fantastic player. I recall he was from Drakesboro, but I might have that slightly wrong, too. I heard he died in a car crash driving home from a gig quite a long time ago now. He could play anything, including Travis picking. He taught us differences between the way Merle and Chet played. Chet had heard Merle on the radio and that’s how he picked it and added to it over the years. I’ve been clicking around KZfaq and see that a lot of people are saying that any alternating thumb on bass strings is Travis picking. I think that’s very wrong. There’s a world of difference between folk style finger picking - even if much of it entails alternating thumb on different bass strings - and Travis picking. Paul Simon is a great great player. Peter, Paul & Mary style is great, but it ain’t Travis style. You’ve got to get that thump thump thump going, with palm muting and locked-in solid on the rhythm with whatever’s the lowest note on the 6th or 5th string, alternating down to usually the 4th string. Often on that second hit with the thumb pick you hit two strings at once, the 4th and 5th together (depending on the chord and all). Then melody on top, of course. For melody, even though Merle only used one finger, it’s okay if you use two. Just using index finger only is not what gives the distinctive Travis picking sound. I’m just a hacker, not a true expert, but I’ve been around Travis picking since that time and played (my poor version of) Cannonball Rag probably about as much as anybody. I’d suggest listening first of all to the playing and teaching of (Merle’s son) Thom Bresh (here’s a good one kzfaq.info/get/bejne/hpycZqp8s5yldXk.htmlsi=WPU4hb5fLOzSWQ8U ). Or any of the great players who have kept Merle’s and Chet’s styles alive, honestly sometimes taking them even further. Tommy Emanuel, Doyle Dykes, plenty of others. They get the style, the sound, the feel of Travis picking. That’s the way I see it and hear it. Best of luck with your learning!

@rbh615 2 ай бұрын

@@TheCommonSenseProfessor Hey my great grandmother was Odra Travis. She was also first cousins with Merle and I guess your great grandfather as well. Small world!

@TheCommonSenseProfessor 2 ай бұрын

@@rbh615 That is a small world. My Grandfather was Earle Travis.

@maxb8695 2 ай бұрын

Ain’t no way you randomly explained the exact part of big love I didn’t get! Thank you so much !

@mvdeehan 8 ай бұрын

Now and again KZfaq throws you a Golden Charm of a video out of nowhere. This is one of them! Thanks Fennah Rob! P.S .Dave Lee Travis was the only Travis I knew.

@howabouthetruth2157 8 ай бұрын

Really good, fundamental lesson.........that is absolutely essential. You are a great teacher. And this is coming from ( me ) a 62 yr old, lifelong guitarist. I gigged professionally ( guitar/singing/blues harp ) for many years & eventually grew tired of the club/lounge scene & "retired" back in 2003. But the music lives on with me, as I'm back into playing again.

@paulhughes3827 9 ай бұрын

Best travis picking lesson I have seen, thank you.

@TheHarpass 8 ай бұрын

Priceless, always thought I could never finger pick but your breakdown has changed that thought. I'll be 64 next week and learning something new. Thanks.

@litotesone 8 ай бұрын

Happened upon your channel and I had to stop to compliment you for your no nonsense, direct and intelligent manner of instruction. Thank you for as much and for sharing your excellent talent for playing, too!

@primevalprimeval 9 ай бұрын

Thank you, you made me understand this so much quicker than anyone else.

@GTX1123 8 ай бұрын

This has to be the BEST explanation / instruction of travis picking bar none.

@fennahrob6934 9 ай бұрын

Forgot to mention; The same rules apply to barre chords too. 👍🏻😎

@GeriWardMusic 9 ай бұрын

I was just about to ask you that question. 😊

@tmurphy1000 9 ай бұрын

But much more difficult.

@lynnglidewell7367 8 ай бұрын

Very good pattern for folk music. Paul Simon uses this on the song The Boxer on the intro. Peter, Paul, and Mary used it on most songs they sang. Donovan a major influence on The Beatles taught them how to do this or tried to. Paul came up with a method that worked for him. I have to say this video covered things very well. Being a five string Banjo picker as well I'm use to all this already but I still found information in this video that's helpful to anyone be they new or accomplished. Excellent.

@nigelboothman6653 8 ай бұрын

Just stumbled across this - never seen your channel before. Been playing 30+ years but learned something straight away. Like everyone says, you're an excellent teacher and I'm now going to burn hours and hours going through your old videos. Subscribed!

@pww6581 9 ай бұрын

Love travis picking but looking to extend it further so subscribed. More of these please.

@Patrick_H. 8 ай бұрын

Learn more patterns. When you get proficient at many of them, it becomes easier to interchange parts of them to make your playing sound exactly like what you want for it's purpose. You'll know you're starting to 'get it' when you realize you _sometimes_ need to use different fingers for the bottom 3 strings to get exactly what you want. And remember Practice does NOT make Perfect. Perfect Practice makes Perfect performance. If you're struggling - SLOW it down, and get to speed gradually.

@pww6581 8 ай бұрын

Cheers Patrick. Appreciate the advice.

@lasentinal 8 ай бұрын

I am so glad that I found you. Now that I have retired, I can practice heaps. I am more of a singer than a guitarist, but I am working to put the two together.

@thommeinert9072 8 ай бұрын

Excellent Tutorial!!! Direct and to the point unlike many long winded tutorials. A natural approach spot on. Thanks!! Musician/Artist USA- ThomMeinert

@Jeronimo365 9 ай бұрын

Definitely more picking styles please, Travis or otherwise. ‘Big love’ would be awesome. 👍

@GuitarAdam 9 ай бұрын

Big Love - great song

@robertjones7792 6 ай бұрын

I been playing for 47 years and always avoided Travis picking but I am going to get into it now, Just got to get the old brain in time with my fingers. This looks like the easiest way to learn I have ever seen. Thanks

@ron.v 8 ай бұрын

I've been playing these type banjo rolls on the guitar since the '60s and never knew it was called "Travis Picking." You explain it so well.

@writephil020 7 ай бұрын

Excellent lesson. As someone who plays 90% of the time with a plectrum, this was a revelation. Thank you.

@lou196t 3 ай бұрын

I love the way you talk - right down to earth and you’re so funny. Thanks for this lesson and your humour.❤😂🤘

@Patrick_H. 8 ай бұрын

Great example for beginners! I laughed out loud when you went to the C chord - and _automatically_ went to 5-4-6(whoops) on the bass. It's all about the 'pattern', and the more patterns you get proficient at, the more you can interchange them in your chords to start adding some 'lead' and 'runs' to you accompaniment. I think a lot of people will be helped by this explanation. I'm glad I didn't 'wince' when I watched this video - I often do at people trying to explain non-classical finger picking.

@joseuisley8090 9 ай бұрын

Thank you, Travis picking and folk picking is a very hard pattern picking to understand and learning. Great video

@simonpratley3301 9 ай бұрын

That is the best travis picking tutorial I have seen. I listened to every word and was travis picking by halfway through your video! Amazing! Now I understand! Thank you so much! 🎸

@fennahrob6934 9 ай бұрын

Glad you pulled it off. Well done! 👍🏻😎

@TheBluzeman 8 ай бұрын

Been using Travis Picking since the 70's when I got turned on to John Prine. But I just happened to come across this video and this is an excellent lesson for those just getting started! You have a great teaching style.

@robertbaker1986 8 ай бұрын

Ah, amazing lesson, you make it so easy to learn. Like being in the same room. Thanks so much for your videos.

@moshealex 9 ай бұрын

Amassing work, Rob. Very easy and helpful.👍

@stevefraioli4838 5 ай бұрын

Excellent tutorial! I'm a long-time amateur who couldn't get my right hand to cooperate with the left. Your tips for independent focus does the trick. Thanks! And it's a wonderfully succinct summary of alternating the base notes.

@chrisgregory6050 9 ай бұрын

Now at last it’s making sense, thank you thank you and more please.

@crashier 8 ай бұрын

F yeah man, this is super helpful, & thank you for the closing tip of practicing each hand independently!

@michaelbattaglia2512 8 ай бұрын

Excellent lesson ! Simple and concise. Thank you.

@davegray1364 8 ай бұрын

I really enjoyed this lesson. I’ve been trying to improve my fingerpicking and this was super clear and easy to follow, many thanks.

@vincent-br5cn 8 ай бұрын

Check out Chet Atkins.

@edbryan9205 6 ай бұрын

This may be an old post, but it is the most helpful I’ve run across in many years. Thank you.

@johnnymcnoodle27 8 ай бұрын

Love your style Rob , demystifying the guitar and making it simple , cheers .

@Mohnfaltermusik 8 ай бұрын

I already know how to travis pick. Travis picking to me was the most important thing I learned on guitar. So much fun and it opens up a whole world of picking patterns with the alternating thumb. Was quite interested to see how you teach it since I taught it to other people and we have a similar approach. Still managed to pick up some stuff here, so thank you very much for that :)

@MarkFern-fc1eu 8 ай бұрын

Yeah. I agree with some of the other comments here. This isn’t what players referred to as “Travis picking” fifty or sixty years ago when guitar players were buying Merle Travis albums. But terminology changes over time and evolves to mean something new. I think folks now have just melded finger picking with Travis picking in their minds as synonymous. Whatever. Good tips here for finger picking patterns.

@sharpsbattle 2 ай бұрын

This was brilliant! Thanks for keeping it simple, but not rambling on. Now I have something to practice!

@icarusi 7 ай бұрын

I always teach it like you do. Most online do it too tricky. I use 'outer 2 inner 2' (although the inner 4 strings is the most common), as it doesn't really matter which 4 you use, as long as you start with the lower string first, so lower>upper and repeat. Danny Gatton uses a 1324 order low to high, vs the 1423 order low to high. I can only do that one with thumb & 1 finger. 'Travis picking' is the common term for it, but I'm pretty sure it was originally primarily a banjo technique carried over to guitar, and you can use on any plucked instrument, including harp! I learnt it by watching some folkie players in the late 60's and figuring it out. Steve Stills has some nice tunes on the early CSN&Y albums, which use it at low tempos. Helplessly Hoping, Four & Twenty etc.

@cotiga-davidpompiliu-viore9725 9 ай бұрын

This is just great! I've just found your channel. And I love Travis picking. End your lesson helped me. A lot! Thank you so much!

@robertpetre9378 25 күн бұрын

When I was going to music College and I was introduced to Travis Picking the song they kept talking about was Mr. Sandman.

@fennahrob6934 25 күн бұрын

I think that was Chet Atkins.

@duranduran6456 8 ай бұрын

Not only is this an AWESOME lesson, but it is an ASMR video. I will be subscribing to channel!

@pip461 8 ай бұрын

what a teacher , love it ,

@michaelvassallo4841 8 ай бұрын

What a hoot! Love your style - based on this with some work, I still have a chance to Travis pick. Yay.

@scubapod 9 ай бұрын

Really simply explained. Just gotta get my right and left hand working together, a bit lik rubbing your tummy and patting you head lol. Thank you . I love your no nonsense approach

@JB19504 8 ай бұрын

Great video. I tried Travis about a year ago and just never felt comfortable. I think I'll try it again thanks to you.

@bassoneman 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for taking your time and putting this video together..

@WilliamJDager 8 ай бұрын

Outstanding, short, clear and concise tutorial. Much appreciated!

@tjstevens001 8 ай бұрын

That is awesome! I might be able to play it right now!

@michaelc3977 8 ай бұрын

Would love to learn the great R. L . Burnside's strumming technique, as used on Jumper On The Line

@timsmith6688 6 ай бұрын

Completely awesome, fella! …. Luckily snagged you on day and self lesson one and I’m on it. Countless thanks! …. isn’t the 6 string acoustic, simply one of the most utterly amazing instruments you could ever play! …. but f! …. feels like I possibly need a couple of lifetimes to be able to play anything like you, brother …. 😣😏

@snickpickle 8 ай бұрын

I have been playing guitar -- with "OK" results -- since 1980. I have used my self-taught two-finger (thumb-and forefinger; P-I for the classical players) technique. While I have my own signature sound (being generous here once again) using this technique, one of the "features" of my technique is that I am quite sloppy with it. Since then, I have adopted a plectrum/two-finger technique, and for the most part, I get the same sloppy results. That said, this simple technique is going to open up a lot of avenues for me. Now that I'm in my 60s, it just goes to show that one is never too old to learn a new technique or two! Thanks for the tutorial! (This is my first time seeing any of your videos. Thanks to KZfaq's algorithm, I will now be watching more of your videos.)

@napadave58 8 ай бұрын

Subscribed today to Rob Fennah after watching a very good little lesson on Travis picking. This one! I'd like to see you delve into some of the intricacies of this type of picking - like getting a melody going at the same time. Think of "Matty Groves" if you're familiar with it - from Doc Watson's Home Again LP, it's the best example of "impossible-sounding" Travis picking I can think of. Rambling - What I came to say was: You're a good teacher and I subscribed without hesitation. Let's bring that subscriber count up considerably. You deserve it.

@fennahrob6934 8 ай бұрын

Have a look at my tutorial for Ragtime Boy.

@jond.2868 8 ай бұрын

Finally, someone willing to teach the things, I always was curious about. What great lesson.

@hearpalhere 8 ай бұрын

Really great approach, no frills and easy to follow instructions. Thank you!

@chirilas5217 8 ай бұрын

Great tutorial. Just practice, and you will get it. It is not easy. Be patient, it takes months, even years to reach a good level.👏👏

@GaryBook 9 ай бұрын

Paul McCartney never did get that picking right, but his index finger brushing does work. According to Donovan, he taught the Beatles picking in India. John wrote Dear Prudence and Paul wrote Blackbird. George learned slide while touring with Delaney & Bonnie, but I don’t recall any travis picking from him. I love your videos. Paul Simon is a really good picker, James Taylor has a nice picking style as well. I enjoy Jimmy Page’s songs where he picks.

@fennahrob6934 9 ай бұрын

Yep; Donovan taught John how to pick (although John never got his head around starting each new shape with the root note. He seemed to favour starting with the 5th even when playing an ‘E’ based chord. ‘Julia’ for example.

@berryj.greene7090 9 ай бұрын

George Harrison: "All My Loving" is the nearest example of him playing that way that I know of.

@Rooty_Firewood 8 ай бұрын

Tommy Emmanuel

@HieronymousCheese 8 ай бұрын

THANK YOU. I've played for donkey's years and never learned this. Before the video finished I'd got it. Now to build up speed!!!

@ismithies 8 ай бұрын

No nonsense, just great help and advice thanks Rob

@davidgallois5634 8 ай бұрын

thank you for your video Sir. You are an excellent educator!

@tomplaner1488 8 ай бұрын

Thank you! You have given me just what I needed to try fingerstyle.

@MrJasdog107 9 ай бұрын

Great lesson going to check out your channel.

@rboyer1020 8 ай бұрын

You demonstrate and explain it so well you sir are a very good teacher!

@robertleJaxon4667 Ай бұрын

Hi Rob I find your lessons to the point and easy to follow, thanks very much for the tips.

@taffboyslim 8 ай бұрын

Lovely lesson. I will try this

@retinalcircus 4 ай бұрын

Easy to understand, i already use some patterns in my own song, but this is great for knowing how to do it more accurately and comfortably. An nice pattern indeed, thanks. I'm almost up yo speed to try adding the bass in next after a few hours

@BrettPenza 8 ай бұрын

The funniest thing is, if some watched film of Merle Travis, they’d say what he was doing wasn’t “Travis picking”. Regardless, this is a great tutorial toward building up some finger style chops. Nice work. Thanks for that!😊

@fennahrob6934 8 ай бұрын

Yes, this is an introduction to that stuff. Everyone seems to refer to it as Travis picking though, even though it’s not as intricate. Chet Atkins style is the same.

@dwayne5698 9 ай бұрын

Great lesson!! Love finger picking songs.

@nezbit8989 3 ай бұрын

You’re deffo an old Skool scouse and this is a really well taught lesson👌

@nezbit8989 3 ай бұрын

Also subscribed to you

@debbowen-saunders9886 8 ай бұрын

I think I love you! Ive been playing since I was 7 & Im 60, & have always tried to pick like this. I never could get around it as a structured pattern & always fell back to some gobbledygook made up picking. I pick ok with a plectrum, but I want to learn this structure. Thankyou SSSOOOOO MUCH! You explained it simply with other tricks to get it right like "outer/inner". This is a wonderful help. I chat have a serious chat with my fingers about my expectations of them. Let you know how it goes!!! Yahooo XXXXXX!

@uskuleleukegroup3595 9 ай бұрын

Absolutely fabulous

@__bam 4 ай бұрын

Great lesson sir. Thanks and new subscriber here. I am going to learn to Travis pick.

@mradisic11 8 ай бұрын

Thanks Rob. God blessed you. Lucky you are. 🤗

@DavidDMcLaughlin 3 ай бұрын

Really good teacher. So straight forward

@ihatemyjobman 9 ай бұрын

Would you consider possibly doing "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" by Dylan?

@jdfolbre 9 ай бұрын

Good stuff

@kiowakeiffer1 8 ай бұрын

Thanks Rob! stumbled onto your KZfaq channel this morning...love it, loved your style! Appreciate you!

@michaelheinz3954 8 ай бұрын

Simply brilliant!

@peterlewis2783 9 ай бұрын

Thanks Rob, that's a great pattern. 🤓

@GuitarHeroWhatley 8 ай бұрын

Brilliant lesson that, thanks 👍🏻

@schaddalton 8 ай бұрын

It's funny that you mention Paul and John at the start. I've been having a lot of trouble learning Travis picking and I specifically want to learn it so I can learn "Dear Prudence." My ongoing frustration is something I attempt to quell often precisely by reminding myself that Paul doesn't know how to Travis pick and he did pretty well for himself, so if it's just something I can't ever get under my belt it's not the end of the world. Thanks so much for this lesson. I'm cautiously optimistic that it will help make things finally click for me!

@fennahrob6934 8 ай бұрын

I’ve put Der Prudence and Julia up as tutorials. Blackbird too. 👍🏻😎

@mikeonb4c 8 ай бұрын

Brilliant concise tutorial. Can I, at 71, get the muscle memory to learn this stuff though, that's the question. This video encourages me to at least try! 👍

@user-jk5hr7dm4b 8 ай бұрын

Very helpful. Thank you sir!

@ConwayBob 9 ай бұрын

Great! This works!

@davidjones6218 9 ай бұрын

Definitely need more vids on Travis picking. Great to learn. Chicken pickin too. If you don't mind..👍

@Lowdenjim 9 ай бұрын

As far as I'm aware, no-one ever teaches how to play the way Merle Travis played... ie. using only 1 finger. What's "Chicken-pickin' " please?

@BEDavisBrown 8 ай бұрын

Brilliant it's always about muscle memory but your explanation and pattern will get you there with steady practice and I'm sure even Merle used the same method.

@jonathanbazely8104 8 ай бұрын

I have a few styles of my own using this basic positioning.. very helpful indeed, thank you 🙏

@bobcharlton.9701 9 ай бұрын

The 'Boxer' patern 👍

@Leenie333 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for this excellent, concise tutorial that suits my attention span 😂 Well done! Happy to be a new subscriber and looking forward to catching up on more of your videos! 💜👍

@timpage4212 9 ай бұрын

Very good Rob gonna have ago at this.

@josephreinhart8712 8 ай бұрын

That was a clear explaination. Now excuse me while I bugger off on my guitar and practice a bit.

@GuitarraestiloLuismi 8 ай бұрын

Nice what you did at the end of the video. It's always surprising how little changes can make such a difference in what you play.

@chrismartenable 8 ай бұрын

This is a great help, can't wait to try it out

@user-lv8gp3bw2y 7 ай бұрын

Great lesson, well paced - some tutorials make their commentaries too elaborate which paradoxically doesn’t always help, yours was concise and easy to follow.