How I Learned to Travis Pick - ft. "Clay Pigeons" by John Prine

[@jimmunro2136]

My all-time favourite teacher.

[@thejmz]

Your lesson has helped me get the first 2 parts down...now for the hammer on. I've wanted to learn to Travis Pick for 20yrs. Thanks so much.

[@nickroper1917]

Came here after watching a recording of John Prine singing Clay Pigeons. So sad to hear of his passing. Thanks for breaking this down, going to take some beers to the summerhouse and meditate on learning this while we’re in lockdown. Stay safe 🙏🏼

[@theislanders207]

Super awesome content. I've always wanted to learn to Travis pick, and working through the steps on one of my all-time favorite Blaze Foley songs is just icing on the cake. You're a star.

[@marcbaskin3511]

I've been playing guitar for almost 35 years but never learned to fingerpick. I always thought it would be too hard or I'd need lessons. I picked this up in (pun) in an afternoon. GREAT instruction, and one of my favorite songs. I'll be contributing. thank you!

[@marcbaskin3511]

@JAMES DURHAM U.E. Thank you for the response! Just to clear things up first: I was young and nieve a month ago thinking I had 'picked it up' in an afternoon. I'm not completely fluid yet, but I'm close and get incrementally better every day, so thanks for the kick-start. It's funny, cause my first year in college back in 1995 I started to learn Dust in the Wind! I got discouraged by another guy in my church band who could nail it, and stuck to rhythm guitar this whole time. Silver lining: I'm a mean rhythm-man now :) I'll give Dust in the Wind a shot again ... now that I have the basic Travis style down I can probably nail it. Classical Gas: Ill be honest I've never listened to it start to finish until now ... something to aim at for sure! Thanks again.

[@burroughs334]

You described my story with Travis picking to the letters. Even the timeframe. Great way to frame the whole process. Good stuff, man.

[@danbarone7643]

I’ve always wanted to learn how to finger pick but could never get my brain to work my fingers. Your explanation on how to learn it makes sense and I will definitely start practicing your technique. By the way, your teaching style is perfect for me. You explain everything clearly but not so much like beating a dead horse like many other KZbin guitar teachers. Very nice.

[@joerye6271]

One of the best lessons I’ve seen in a very long time. Very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@barrysharaf3716]

Really great lesson!! I have 2 suggestions. 1. Fingering the full G chord (using ring finger on the low E and pinky on the high E) and then transitioning to the C with G base is great practice for so many other travis picked songs (e.g. Tomorrow is a long time and Girl from the North Country) and I think is useful to do here. 2. John Prine, I think is actually playing or at least fingering a D7 with a B base using his thumb over the top which is another common Travis Pick technique (e.g. Don't think Twice) and is worth mastering here instead of your awkward, funny D with a B base. This also allows your index finger to be in position for the hammer on. Thanks again for a really useful lesson.

[@barrysharaf3716]

It's actually an F# base with the D7, my bad.

[@terryturnell9637]

Excellent lesson, one of the most meticulously set up that I have seen. Great job I will be purchasing.

[@matthewreid618]

Thank you David. Please keep producing this great content. Love the Patreon page as well.

[@isaiahesparza2172]

Thank you so much man this tutorial has helped me so much and I can finally play the song !!!!🎉

[@wwflyfisher]

Best lesson I’ve seen on YT. Many many thanks for this.

[@SlowerFuse]

Well done. Thank you for your help on this Blaze Foley classic.

[@sp503]

This tutorial is fantastic! I'm pretty experienced with basic picking and I really wanted to learn this song, however Travis picking seemed impossible. Thanks to you I got the basics down within a few hours. Much appreciated :)

[@davecooke7868]

This is the best from all the others on utube .❤

[@arrowspellets2728]

Awesome lesson! A lot of heart in that song. "Tapped-out" Never here buddy, I know what them minutes mean for you guys/gals! Glad to see your SUBS moving up, you earned them!

[@richardhumby8704]

Been putting it off for years, time to knuckle down and pick. Thanks for another great lesson...

[@seminole9300]

I rarely comment on YT videos, but this was a thoroughly, well planned and presented lesson sir! From a former guitar teacher, I applaud what you've put together. I will likely be joining your Patreon soon. Well done indeed.

[@rrebein]

Great approach to a beautiful song. I love the Travis picking sound but have struggled to learn some of the more complex patterns. This is the way to do it, one step at a time. Would love to see you break down some other songs that use Travis picking, especially Snowing on Raton and If I Needed You by Townes Van Zant.

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

Love this dang song. Blaze Foley was one of the greats. I can alt-pick like a mad man but straight up Travis picking messes with my brain. I’ve put it off long enough, time to perfect it.

[@SQUAREDCIRCLE-dv5fw]

Thanks so much for this lesson, I can now pick the song using this pattern while singing it, that seemed impossible a week or so ago

[@beatricejosse3134]

You’re a great teacher 👍👍👍thank you so much !! With love from normandie 😘

[@briangallagher1760]

Great lesson. Thanks for advice. Something to work on.

[@LeBeouf89]

Great lesson. I recently started playing again after a ten year hiatus. I was able to learn this within a week with your excellent breakdown of the techniques involved.

[@darrenkerton9837]

Thanks for this. Just spent weeks nailing the Travis picking bit for speed of the sound of loneliness - I finally have a transferable skill 😁 a great well thought out lesson, cheers

[@codyjackschwartz1712]

not the easiest song, but conveyed in such a helpful way! much love, david!

[@TheBoomtown4]

Skip to 13:31 and it’s all there for John Prine version.

[@mandomonica]

Nice work, thank you. I like your teaching method of starting simple.

[@alyshahahn9507]

Thank you thank you thank you!!! I’m an absolute beginner and this is incredibly helpful to me. The way you teach is amazing. Thank you again!!!

[@lisacollen6039]

Thank you! I love your lessons, so easy to listen to and follow.

[@jasper_north]

By the way love the way you include the brain and how difficult it is. Realy is. Looks so simple but is is not.

[@simonrees-goddard-bv4tv]

Really good tuition. Thank you

[@douglaslay7487]

Been waiting a long time for this awesome lesson and we get a Foley/Prine combo - two of the best ! Would love to get Blaze Foley's Cold Cold World lesson in the lineup. Never found anyone on KZbin do a lesson for it. Keep the Prine coming as well. You have the best lessons on YT and excellent job on this one.

[@bermbo]

I’ve been wanting to learn finger picking for many years now but really struggle to follow most videos on KZbin. I’m happy to say I’ve actually managed to learn this one in the matter of 4 weeks! Thank you very much sir. Your teaching style is perfect! Nice and slow. Any chance you could do some more John prine songs ? How lucky, that’s the way the world goes around. Keep up the great work 👍

[@rachelgutierrez6396]

Thank you! I’ve tried to learn that song several times. This is the only lesson that helped.

[@delboy8833]

Great lesson, so clear and understandable, worked a treat for me... Thank you

[@marvinbrown9878]

Just Subscribed -Your lessons are very easy to understand and play along with -Thank You so much !!!!!

[@mutantinfant]

Well appreciated, Thank You!

[@johnrushton169]

This guy is a great teacher

[@revrendtimtom]

Best practice video EVER!

[@boulderdesigner]

What ax excellent lesson David! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@thejmz]

Ok - i'm just starting this, but what a great breakdown. You're a gem! I'll let you know when/if I master it.

[@jonasmackenzie7842]

great teaching, i just wish you showed the second pattern instead of the first. My brain is stuck on the first one lol

[@demetrioxray]

Very awesome lesson and nice to practice.. Thank you, sir.

[@thefas]

Awesome video man! Your tutorials are really helping me a lot

[@gavinmathew7491]

Your guitar sounds fantastic. Thanks for the lesson.

[@Rogijimbex]

Really well done - thanks so much!

[@stinsoncarter]

Really great lesson but that last bit about the little D riff and getting that while playing bass with the thumb--would love some elaboration there. Everything but that worked for me, but that little bit was a wrench in the gears.

[@chrisunderhill3739]

Could you just add the tab for the last bar, starting at 24 secs. I know its not part of the intro -but it finishes the clip so nicely. many thanks David

[@michaelpowers8086]

What makes John Prine's finger style a challenge to play is he only uses his thumb and forefinger when plays. Everyone pretty much uses their middle finger on 2nd string, and ring finger on first string. The fact that he uses only 2 digits creates what I view as gaps or holes in the 1st-3rd string melodies. I'm certainly not suggesting it's a good idea to learn the songs by creating a thumb-forefinger-only method, however, throughout many of his songs, you have to resist the urge to strike that first or 2nd string with your ring and middle finger. Just remember that those digits are not at his disposal when he's playing.

[@parneypots]

Appreciate your candor as you learn with US

[@gogetjill]

Working on this - thank you for sharing. Quick question though... Does it matter if I just use my middle finger for the non-yellow notes? Not sure why, but that feels most natural for me but I don't want to set myself up for problems down the road and have to re-learn this.

[@bluemarge78]

Brilliant lesson

[@nataliehanesmusic]

can you please explain the hammer on part again? you went over that very briefly. I have it down until the hammer on part around 13:53. You never say what string to hammer on to! I think its the B string on the first fret? I'm so confused

[@tamireisenbach-budner7125]

For G, you put the ring finger of your left hand on the sixth string of the third fret. with your right hand, you put your thumb on the sixth string, your index finger on the second string, and you pinch at the same time. Then here comes the hammer on - halfway through that note (without playing another one) you slam the index finger of your left hand onto the second string of the first fret, the string your right hand index finger pinched only a second ago

[@nataliehanesmusic]

THANK YOU!!!! that was very helpful :)

[@markfeinberg684]

I too an so saddened by John's passing, but with this lesson you help me learn the song and keep John alive for everyone who will listen to me play it someday. Thanks very much for all your effort and patience!

[@seanzie51]

What about Blaze Foley, dog?

[@markfeinberg684]

@@seanzie51 i just learned of his passing. He was a great writer and performer and it is sad that he's gone.

[@seanzie51]

@@markfeinberg684 just teasin' ya. It is indeed sad but at least we have their music. :)

[@jasper_north]

Same chords as all the best from John Prine? How long before that thumb becomes separate from the fingers. I play every day...hours. 2 months? Omg takes forever.

[@hammill444]

I can't answer that question. But I know this: I've been trying to learn it for decades and still cannot do it.

[@davidmckean955]

Coming from someone who's really accomplished with finger picking and has taught other people, for most it never becomes separate. It's a trick like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time, you can't actually do it but you can fake it by patting your head after each rotation of rubbing your stomach.

[@jasper_north]

@@davidmckean955 totally agree. I have been practicing 36mths now almost every day and it is slowly starting to feel natural. However still no consistency!!! Dang!!

[@jasper_north]

3rd comment. Thank you... I feel not alone anymore ...practicing in my car going to work an hour earlier. So frustrating so difficult. It will come. One day. It may even take the whole summer.

[@vermaaditya]

Hi, can you help me the song on a ukelele? Awesome lesson btw!

[@daniazkengaua]

Really good teaching. congratulations!! but I think there's one thing wrong. In the last step when you add the ''0h1'' on de G and ''1h3 '' on the C . When I listen to the song I can clearly heard Blaze playing the reverse version for what would be ''1h0'' on de G and ''3h1'' on the C

[@JakeSpeed1000]

Excellent

[@jonathanburham5029]

This is an awesome lesson! Do you have a break down of the intro you play at :24-:27 sec?

[@chrisreisdorf1722]

Thank you....you have the best lessons and instructions on youtube Do you do skype lessons and how do I get additional information Oh...would you consider a lesson on Laundry Room by the Avett Brothers

[@anotherjoshua]

outstanding lesson

[@gavinmathew7491]

Brilliant. Thank you.

[@mlwsf]

Why not use your thumb for that F# in the bass for the D chord? But maybe that's just a Steve Earle, Guy Clark trick.

[@T.C..]

Awesome, can you teach us Dust in the wind?

[@vlad1krakov]

THANK YOU THIS HELPED ME PLAY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS AYYAYAY

[@katokhaelan4881]

OMG thank you for this!

[@chrisunderhill3739]

Can you tell me a little about your Taylor guitar - it sounds so mellow

[@rickshade6052]

Thanks!

[@songnotes]

You’re very welcome! Thanks so much for the tip 🤘

[@googleisfascist9278]

Gonna try this Travis Picking out again. I remember trying to learn Never Going Back Again by Fleetwood Mac and had to give up

[@fredobrien_iceh5537]

Never goin back again is very hard, I tried a long time to play it, this is definately easier, I would also recommend dont think twice it's alright, that was first song I got travis picking on

[@dbskal1]

Thanks. Well done.

[@ElizabethYoung-p6q]

Does anyone in the world know the harmonica tabs for this song? Plz help Omgggg I’d pay money

[@vincentverhoog8312]

Nice lessen, it is really hard to be consistent.

[@scottliam]

Great video man! Can ya do some songs by The White Buffalo?

[@alanrussell3054]

Great lesson thank you

[@danrodgers1817]

exellent lesson thanks

[@jrangel566]

Thank you! btw, the playsongnotes.com/practice/3/ link is outdated. Does not work.

[@gorillashorts1311]

Great... and thanks.

[@dakotahstr]

I'm a beginner fir Travis. wish this was a tad slower and close up better.

[@joshuasouth4967]

thanks!

[@yorksteraz]

I'm glad I found a guy with the knowledge of John Prine's style. Now to find a guy who doesn't talk so much. That would be GREAT!!!

[@charlesirvine7592]

Is Just John a short form of Just an Ass?

[@Sam-qn4ly]

notes and tab link down :(

[@MrBEEOUTCH]

Learned it but can't sing along with it.

[@pickleball_tomorrow]

I can not understand the hammer on!!!!!! Ahhh

[@ryanleahy9538]

I went into this thinking your name was Travis Pick

[@markberman5703]

Great lesson - I'm just learning to play so instead of thinking of "just keep my thumb going on the beat" I just look it at like part of a pattern....however, I feel you spent a lot of time going over the basic structure of the pattern - 14 minutes - then rushed through the hammer and the alternative patterns - 3 minutes - I wish you spent more time showing us the alternatives and moreso the hammers - and play through it slower so we can grasp it and not have to hit pause so much - but this was a really clear lesson and just what I was looking for.

[@maxbrinckman8355]

Got to hammerons fine then fell off

[@wealldieatthehandsoflovedones]

I love me some blaze. Thank you

[@johnprickett8140]

Brilliant! Thank you.

[@roythompson4621]

Brilliant! Thanks