5 Essential Steps to Learn Travis Picking

[@MusoraOfficial]

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[@denisroy5856]

Never too late to start..👍 Enjoy the journey

[@haviskam]

It took me literally years to build the travispicking coordination. Now it is so natural to me. I can do it without thinking. Hard work and regular practice pays off for sure.

[@edsoars]

I've been playing for decades and performing for the last 5 years in coffee houses, etc. and this is the best Travis picking tutorial I've found so far. It will open some pickin' doors! Thank you!

[@Asherfonseca]

53 years old and I am learning. Your video has been the most helpful to me. I've seen quite a bunch. Your method is by far the best for me.

[@lindsayjenkins5430]

Excellent lesson … as a beginner I appreciate you setting the expectations of time and effort. As I’m learning … it’s all about putting in the time and effort. Thanks!

[@Gratefulman1965]

I’ve been a flat picker for years but now at 59 I am venturing into finger picking. I’m primarily a songwriter but I need to add to my tool box and Travis picking is important. Thanks for this tutorial.🎶

[@BHAKTIBROPHY]

On your picking hand, you have excellent hand position there. It's very important for players to hold the thumb to finger ratio at a "45 degree" angle. (Brooks Robertson explains that in a Truefire lesson. It was taught to him by Buster B. Jones.) It's basically making sure your thumb is *not* over your pointer finger; it's hard to tell exactly from your camera angle, but it seems you're holding your hand appropriately: your thumb pick is about an inch closer to the fretboard than the pointer finger. Just trying to help people (like me who started learning Travis Picking by ear in the mid 1980s) not have to unlearn a bad habit many folks make. I see a lot of guitar "teachers" on KZbin * Guitar World teaching Travis and Boom*Chick (think Jerry Reed, Tommy Emmanuel,...) lessons without proper pick hand technique. The 45 degree angle makes it possible to play really fast without your thumb tripping over your pointer finger when pinching and boom*chicking. You are a very good teacher! I'm glad I found your channel. Beautiful guitar, too! (I have subbed. I can no longer play due to spinal injury, but I love watching others play. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!)

[@djdolceproductions899]

Thank you for breaking this down!!! What a big difference it makes, to practice it this way. It’s like on the drums when we first learn left right left right on the snare over and over simple and easy until it literally becomes second nature.

[@yavonnavichmutt-haven481]

I am new to your channel and love how you take the lesson slow, still a rookie at 55 yrs of age, but inspire to play half decent some day! Thanks for your help!

[@shadowshadow2485]

70 yr.s old. , man I've been trying to learn this , for Peter Paul & Mary; & some Dylan stuff , great slow clear explanation , thank you so much , you have a new subscriber , thanks , moe

[@kraptastic333]

Keep picking Moe and try a John Prine song soon

[@usmcchrisg]

This lesson helped me. I'm TP every song I know now. That Martin thermal is fin sweet.

[@markbrown7103]

Yeah that style of playing really takes a lot of work and proves to be quite a challenge, I started doing that in about 1977 started reading music in 1980 and started reading finger style guitar and playing it very well in about 1991 I’ve been on this instrument for 46 years now and I love it not much of a streamer but just an old picker all of these great all guitar players have passed away somebody needs to carry their legend out and it’s people like you to do that thanks a lot appreciate it have a great day🎸👍☮️😁

[@dustins9611]

I first learned Dust in the wind... now I use my clumsy travis picking as a way to change up most songs I learn. Makes a lot of beginner songs sound a lot more difficult and complicated :) This is another great lesson with some excellent tips to help pick this style up with much less effort than I've put in so far. I got stumped on "the entertainer" in the early 90s and still haven't picked up that ragtime/ travis picking yet but I feel like this lesson holds an important key and bridge to where I want to go. Thank you!

[@dpaikkos]

A massive thank you for this lesson. I had tried Travis picking a couple of times in the past but always gave up and even put the guitar down because I wasn't enjoying it. After running through this lesson I've got to stage 5 and took a look at the Freight Train video this evening, Really appreciated.

[@Daymanoahha]

If anyone is getting frustrated with this, its good to know that when you sleep your brain learns and remembers how to perform physical tasks you've encountered during the day. The more you make it a problem that your brain is trying to solve, the more your brain will focus on it during your sleep, and you should notice yourself getting incrementally better each day. This helped me keep going when learning this and helped me take a calmer approach without getting too frustrated and giving up. You usually wont improve much within one given day so practice as much as possible and make sure to get a healthy amount of sleep and you'll have it down much faster, the increments will be minor at times but every now and then you'll be surprised at the noticeable step forward you took :)

[@Rumham666]

Its true

[@NoUsernamae]

I need to ask because I can't tell. I picked up my guitar a month ago and I just watched this video now and I can do it a bit faster than his slow version before he does the fast one near the end. I started working on finger style from day one, but did he just mean getting the speed could take months or years? I'm very unclear on what he meant

[@brettadkins4698]

TheDaarkWarrior Pretty sure his point was just alluding to the fact that everyone is different, some people catch on faster, some people have very limited time to practice, some folks struggle or are complete beginners. There’s no set time for how long it takes to learn.

[@NoUsernamae]

@@brettadkins4698 thanks for the response

[@thomasmorris4449]

I want to believe

[@fly1327]

I've found just the opposite. Learn a simple song, especially in an open tuning like D, maybe even monotonic bass. Your brain picks this up pretty fast and as it does your thumb becomes subconscious within the narrow confinement of a single song, letting you concentrate on melody. Get good at it and watch yourself, finding and fixing weaknesses. What next? A new song presenting a few new challenges. After several songs, well you've got a small repertoire and have subconsciously internalized so many coordinated motions, learning more new songs, including in standard tuning that can be tougher, becomes much easier. Just my take.

[@chucku.farley]

This is basically a much more useful version of Tommy Emmanuel's lesson. The same one he's been giving for 20-30 years. This video actually breaks down his "step 4" which he always blows right through. Thank you!!! Where you been for 10 months???

[@azzuro195]

Great resource. One of the best I saw surely. I suggest you to make the PART2: some progressions, runs and bridges. Keep up the good work

[@dalegeorge1339]

Yes, this is basically how I mastered Travis picking, by starting with the thumb and getting a rhythm then add a finger...then two. In a week or two with daily practice, you will find yourself Travis picking. Learning songs is a LOT easier with knowing this technique.

[@playthechords3640]

May I ask what if it is Root D,what pattern you are use?D-A-D-E?D-A-D-A?or D-E-A-E?

[@daviddavies2313]

I started playing around 12 years ago and this is the first time I've understood Travers picking. Thanks, David.

[@toofypeg7931]

Holy cow!!! It seems impossible!! But I’m gonna go for it! Thanks for the lesson and tips mate! Is there anyone here who couldn’t do this and now can? I’d love to know how you got on CHEERS 🍻

[@davidmacleod9313]

I’m 67yrs old and am now getting pretty good at fingerpicking but arthritis or something is coming on fast and scares the crap out of me!!! Is there any secret to help? (Great lesson, btw! Thanks!)

[@EricSnissaert]

Whenever I started to learn the Travis Picking from other KZbinrs, I did't seem te be able to get it going fluently. These steps motivates me to give it another try. I have always been a fan of Paul Simon's guitar picking. I would like to learn Kathy's Song.

[@carolynharder6304]

Great lesson learned Travis Picking a few years ago but never had it demonstrated like you did, Thankyou so much, want to give it a try this week.

[@allanargamer5812]

I've struggled for years with this. Going to put all of this into practice right now. Extremely good video. Thank you

[@marshallgray2419]

Thank you very much I've been meaning to learn travis picking for a while now and i seem to have picked up some kind of rhythmic pattern using your step by step guide. I will keep chipping away at it. I Appreciate you 👍

[@lisamaloney9347]

I am wanting to learn John Denver’s music, have been playing since the late ‘80’s, when time allows, then quit playing for a few years, and trying to learn this technique, why I started off with Classical Guitar, played for a couple years in college. Now really committed to learning JD music due to his Travis Picking. Have an acoustic as well as electric.

[@cruzsoto4774]

Wow good for you Pbarry. I can play using Travis picking. However I've never Liked the way I sound. This tutorial is great, having better results, fun as well! Your right "it takes investment time". Thanks

[@sherrymarques7437]

Oh my gosh. This is so hpful. I love guitar picking and didn't know how to start. I love James Taylor style too, but have been struggling with the picking part. I taught myself to play a year ago, so I need all the help I can get! Thank you!

[@bustercherry8734]

I just started Travis picking a few months ago when i started learning some Blaze Foley tunes. Blaze is/was amazing. And you're right, it is so fun to play. So far i've learned Clay Pigeons, Cold, Cold World, Moonlight Song and Small Town Hero by Blaze. Clay pigeons and Small Town Hero are my favourite for sure. Still have a lot more by Blaze that i wanna learn yet.

[@TheCapthof]

Thank you, being a classical guitar player the PIMA really helps!

[@rafdecc]

I AM A 74 YR. OLD BEGINNER. AS SAID BY ED BERG COMMENT, ONE OF THE BEST TUTORIALS; HOWEVER, THIS IS FOR MORE ADVANCED THAN I. I SUPPOSE I SHOULD NOT BE MAKING THIS COMMENT, BUT I HUMBLY ASK WHEN PLAYING A SONG DOES A PLAYER FIND TABS FOR CHORDS?? OR DOES ONE FIND THE KEY THE SONG IS PLAYED IN THEN GO FROM THERE. ??IT LOOKS SO SIMPLE AND I SEE MANY PROFESSIONALS USE THIS SIMPLE METHOD. BEFORE I LEARN SOMETHING I NEED TO KNOW HOW SOMETHING WORKS. I HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT HOW THE GUITAR TRULY FUNCTIONS AS I HAVE NOT FOUND SUCH A TUTORIAL. THANK YOU I WILL TRY YOUR LESSONS. ALL I AM TRYING TO DO IS ACCOMPANY MY SINGING NOT BECOME A GUITAR PLAYER. WHAT IS THE SIMPLEST WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. I LOVE THE TRAVIS PICKING. SORRY FOR MY IGNORANCE.

[@spastikcuntflaps3750]

Thanks a million. Im very new to Travis Picking and was trying to play Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes where he Travis Picks and it was doing my head in. Come across your video and it all started to make sense. Its going to take some time to get where i want to be with it, but this video helped a ton. Thanks!!

[@DaveTaste]

Doing my head in. Midlands?

[@porkyfedwell]

This guy's explanations are head and shoulders above the rest!

[@johnf6545]

Surprising how good that simple pattern sounds, going to learn dust in the wind and some Simon and Garfunkel, cheers and thanks for the lesson.

[@victor5435]

While I enjoy all your lessons - this one was the best. It is so amazing that once you have this down, it basically re-opens your entire songbook to something new and different. Well done and thank you

[@ricknelson6405]

I grew up all metal all the time in the 80s, then got invited to a bluegrass jam in the 90s. There was a guy there that was a fantastic fingerpicker and played some Chet Atkins songs for me. That really opened up a whole new world for me. Exactly as you say in this video, it is all about learning one thing, then adding one more note, then one more, then one more. With that being said, my two favorite Travis picked songs are "Windy and Warm" by either Chet Atkins or Doc and Merle Watson and "Ready for the Times to Get Better" by Doc Watson. Also, everything that Jerry Reed and Buster B. Jones has ever recorded.

[@alisonburns2836]

Thank you! And most importantly, thank you for explaining that it takes practice of the very basic steps over and over again.

[@joemkoenen]

Nicely done...slow and steady and don't give up! One of my favorite Travis picking songs is Hello In There by John Prine. Cheers!

[@cydneybrooks1284]

That’s what I was going to suggest too! A wonderful song. Love John Prine.

[@Brayden329]

This picking style is my nemesis... this might just be the tutorial to help me get it! Thank you!

[@at68250]

I'm Excited and looking forward on learning how to Travis pick I just Need to get my hands on a Thump pick

[@brentkelly9864]

Exactly the methodical, iterative, progressive procedural walkthrough I was looking for. Thanks so much!

[@lexor8498]

Definitely mr. Sandman for travis picking. Great song, great chords, great rhythm

[@toofypeg7931]

I read this Totally wrong and ended up searching Metallica!

[@alansimpson8962]

10 years and counting working on the thumb bass notes I'm getting there😊

[@rogerdodger5415]

You mean there’s a chance? I might be able to do this at some point? Thanks for sharing your gradient approach! This is a form I have always admired. 🙏

[@javkhaabaatar113]

Please post the next step. We just want to learn to play as you did at the beginning of the video. The melody is so nice.

[@richardhumby8704]

It's tough! Been messing around trying to travis pick and getting frustrated for some time. Found this really helpful. Too many vids on tube with different ideas, think i'll stick with this now. Thanks...

[@fitfiddlerz]

I have watched several teachers even Tommy Emanuel explaining how to travis pick. This is the first one that helped me by the step by step explanation. I got it.

[@beckys7876]

Deep River Blues Very helpful lesson for some muscle memory. Thank you🎸

[@jerseyjess6151]

Thank you so much for this inspirational tutorial, it's helped me so much, I'm definitely going to learn this if it takes all my life.

[@sherilynschneider]

Travis Picking has been my passion too. Love it! Thx for the video!

[@regor8274]

You are a good teacher. You get where the student is. Thanks.

[@paulallen7381]

great iv been playing the guitar for a long time allways wanted to play finger picking this is a great lesson thanks.

[@nednoah1]

The way you do the fmajor chord with the tip your index finger being past the 6th string like that seems easier than the way I've been doing it. Nice haha

[@damiantrodden3606]

great lesson I have been trying to finger pick for the pest part of 40 years never could get thumb independence, as soon as the fingers started to move, the thumb stooped.I just got back into playing the guitar hopefully this time i get it.

[@katryanaorange2092]

Best teacher on the tube 👏 thank you, love your videos and style

[@tew1705]

Just saw this and I'm trying to learn Travis picking myself. There's a video somewhere here on KZbin of Chet Atkins, and he says at one point that he started out just playing the top string and 5th string with his thumb 'for about three years.' It's hard to tell if he was joking or not - but I found out myself that the best way to improve is to repeat something tiny about a million times - for example, I'll spend 10 minutes straight JUST up-picking on the bottom string. Then another 10 on the second. I repeat for an hour's worth of that one simple technique. It makes a huge difference - but somehow, it seems to improve other aspects of my playing as well.

[@benn2026]

Basically anything from Doc Watson. Deep River Blues is okay, but all anyone seems to talk about. I like “Moody River”, “Ready for the Times to get Better”, and “Bright Sunny South”, among others

[@eh3k]

So helpful, thank you for the video! I'm loving your Martin shirt & Taylor guitar combo!

[@davidturner9904]

Love it. How do we get to the next follow on lesson...please?

[@ak2010utube]

Really helpful lesson. The explanation of what fingers you were using to pick which strings could have been a bit clearer. Thanks for breaking it down so much.

[@charlierussell7887]

Nate said : (i)ndex on G, (m)iddle on B. Check the Tab Chart PDF in the link: it's all anotated clearly. (p) thumb on E, A D strings. Top E never played in this study.

[@khyllarcilla5504]

"Leader of the band" This is the exact lesson for the song i want to learn thankyou

[@ficheye00]

It ain't easy, but that's the simplest explanation I've heard yet, and you didn't neglect to point out the bass note change on the C chord. Now I'm going to practice this tonight.

[@KayBeee]

This will take some time to develop "chord-ination"

[@joseloferreira6556]

haha

[@scottdykema5385]

Lol very clever, "chord-ination."

[@TacticsTechniquesandProcedures]

I feel like you're just stringin' us along.

[@PatrickKelly-lz3pv]

but please dont fret if you dont get it straight away

[@Johnylancaster]

That is so bad

[@Rob-hv9kt]

That style sounds sweet! I know 1 pattern where I alternate 2,bass strings and alternate the B and the E strings on the tremble strings. Thanks!

[@tonydenson7585]

Hi Nate only just discovered this video it is so simple but so well done, loved it, helped me no end, as has been asked before where is the follow up video

[@garyreidmusic]

Hey this is great! I had forgotten my fingerstyle chops from a dozen years ago, and watching this lesson was very informative. Something to practice every day during the 2020 Quarantine...

[@beardedlonewolf7695]

I love finger-picking, I just started again after 2 years off and the pain in the fingers' tip is the worst, it pisses me off I have to stop after 15-20 minutes. But I want to learn this so much, thanks for sharing this!

[@jimmeymcgee2840]

Thank you very much awesome video love Tommy Emanuel playing an energy on the guitar he’s the one that has me on this kick an your video has given me real hope to accomplish this goal of Travis picking thank you.👍🏾🎸

[@dougww1ectebow]

Very nice tutorial, this is how I will work on getting this down. Best one I've seen so far.

[@Nik-ok9nu]

Thanks! This is a super helpful tutorial! I came here from learning Dust in the Wind. This is a great transition. Excited to get this down. Now fingers hurt and my hand is cramping! A little rest and I'll be back at it!

[@johnnybx3254]

Backed up to this lesson ! Thanks for the wonderful lesson 👍👏👏👏

[@jackcarter1897]

Travis picking was the first ever fingerpicking technique I learnt, and I can do it without even thinking. But out of all the fingerpicking techniques I've learnt, the Travis technique is the most superior and the one that can just make a song go from good to great just with you playing alone. Love it.

[@michaelnatoli5669]

Howdy. I'm happy to have come across your channel. Would you mind giving us a tutorial on Chet Atkins picking on "Do I ever cross your mind"? Such a exquisite tune, but I can't seem to nail the nuances. Any help would be awesome.

[@ex-Hort-23]

Just trying to learn finger picking. 71 years old and a definite challenge! I've always played rhythm strumming. But am enjoying the challenge

[@runningwithscissors0911]

Teriffic lesson from a good teacher. This is GREAT for a newbie like me who really wants to learn fingerstyle guitar. Thanks for keeping it simple and for the reminder that it takes time and practice ~ I get frustrated with my mistakes and what seems like endlessly slow progress.

[@MusoraOfficial]

Yeah, stuff like this takes so much slow practice that it can be very frustrating but it's the only way to go. I have to remind myself to enjoy the process. Slower is faster in the long run.

[@bluesbubba7429]

Thanks, I love your lesson and how you approached Travis picking.

[@mrshankly01]

Great lesson! Using a metronome that clicks on eighth notes really helped.

[@perezmiguelle227]

Great lesson. Ima try it when and I'd I get a guitar again. I can tell that your lesson plan is workable and you took a lot of thinking and practice yourself to develop it. Thanks

[@stuartarnold4495]

thanks for this lesson I didn't see it until "freight train" video.great

[@marcsolomon3082]

excellent breakdown. I haven't seen this lesson shown so well as this.

[@waynecaswell5727]

Have purchased several of your courses. All are great. How about a John Prine song maybe "I Remember Everything."

[@beauthentic7493]

You are an awesome instructor

[@laureanolozarubio3137]

Muy buena lección, maestro. Muchas gracias.

[@ronbrummett]

Short story: I started playing in 1965. Stopped. in 196?. Restarted in 1971 when introduced to Travis style. Did some gigs in VA. Skip to 2014; had an ischemic stroke. Left side (fretting hand) wants to remember what it did prior. I have found this video very rehabilitating. Jump ahead: I created a FB group for people like me. FB is evil! Said goodbye to MZ. Summary: stroke survivor seeks understanding mentor to play/noodle like before neurological incident. Only seeking awareness/understanding/compassion for folks like me... I enjoy playing. Have a Martiin from1971 in my collection. My left hand yearns for that Martin, but my spasticity says something less rewarding.

[@karinberryman2009]

That’s very frustrating but you haven’t quit. Isn’t it great when someone comes along who understands how well you’ve done with the circumstances you’ve encountered!

[@rodstoakes1691]

I learned this style by learning "I am the light of this world" by Rev. Gary Davis. If you can play that, you can play anything.

[@thorny3218]

After 25 years of playing, I’ve learned that I know little. I mean I’m alright. Friends and acquaintances say I’m good, however I feel like my playing is lacking the roundedness that fingerpicking provides. I can do some, like to play Metallica’s nothing else matters for instance. But I need to really practice this stuff. When I get home from work I’m gonna give it a go.

[@manolocamir]

Great!!Thank you, Maestro. Saludos desde España

[@michaelogden5958]

When I was a teen, I played guitar (more or less) and have stayed with it sporadically. At every jam session there would be guitar players and bass players everywhere, but drummers were hard to come by. So I borrowed a cheap drum kit from a buddy. He taught me the basics but there is/was a basic "rock" beat that took me FOR-EV-ER to work out. One day it clicked. All during my teens and 20s I was "the drummer" in impromptu and weekend warrior bands. Anyhow... Travis picking, for me, is that rock beat. Now that I'm retired, I will see if FOR-EV-ER and my Swiss Cheese brain can team up and learn how to actually do Travis picking. Cheers!

[@chrisberg4952]

Julia by John Lennon One of my favorites.

[@mitchellkaye9619]

Great lesson. Very clear and easy to follow. Thanks

[@stephensharma4994]

i am learning dust in the wind ,,,, its a bit hard but .... i am keeping at it .

[@BenderIsGr8]

I have been trying to find a way to learn to play Travis style! Thank you! Brad Paisley plays a majority of his acoustic parts with Travis picking, but no thumb pick.

[@dimwitsadvocate6264]

I like this idea for learning Travis picking. I subscribed and turned on Notifications (and Liked).

[@MrIvisaurus]

Ahhhhhh so that's what it's called!!! I've been learning this for the past 6 months passenger does alot of this

[@mrpiccolofan2]

Great lesson. 🤩🙏BTW, favorite song for Travis Picking is RHCP's "Road Trippin"

[@spangas5799]

Great breakdown!

[@BasedBrainrot]

Some examples of guitarists who use travis picking include: Merle Travis (All the Time) Chet Atkins (All the Time) Mark Knopfler (Sometimes) Arlo Guthrie (Sometimes) Stephen Stills (Sometimes) Bob Dylan (On a few Songs)

[@denverbevins4052]

Anything by John Moreland. "You don't care for me enough to cry" is a great example.

[@CarinaDeJesus1]

Thank you very much, I'm going to practice this today 🤗🤗🤗😍😍👏👏👏