MIke Dawes - Merle Travis "Travis-Picking" Acoustic Lesson

The brilliant Mike Dawes is back with another incredible lesson! This one focuses on the legendary Merle Travis, and the extremely useful "travis-picking" style. GET TABS HERE: www.guitarworld... Check it out!

[@rodrigomatos2465]

I started learning this song a couple of months ago and I'm still only 7 minutes in 😂, but so far I've been practicing quite a bit and I'm surprised with my own progress Whoever feels like this is impossible to learn, don't give up! If a beginner like me can get this far, you can too!

[@pickerdad8402]

Great lesson Mike, and nice tune for Travis Picking. Interesting that the comments are split fairly equally between boggled and bored. What that tells you is that it takes a bit to get the knack, but once you do, it seems crazy simple. So if this is your first Travis Picking lesson, stick with it. Suddenly one day your thumb will do the alternating bass on autopilot while you pick out melodies on the on- and off-beats, and you'll find you can do almost anything with it. Merle Travis built a whole career off this trick and cowboy shirts. Start with the Merlefest crowd - e.g. Doc Watson - then move to the traditional Delta Blues Men - e.g. Mississippi John Hurt. Then you too can be bored with Mike's lesson and become the local guitar hero who can seemingly play anything, once you figure out the chords. (The chords are pretty predictable too).

[@DaveSmith-wn2kj]

I rarely comment on these things, but I have to say thank you. I've been a screaming metal player for years, and as I get older, tastes change. I followed your other video(s) of "Boogie Shred" and got that down in a couple of days. I always half-heartedly attempted Travis picking over the years, and never really got it. Thanks to this video I am now well on my way. The speed that you move and the explanations in your videos is perfect for me - and particularly helpful when you were teaching JustinGuitar - perhaps in the one-to-one videos you teach in a slightly different way, but I got it instantly. Straight to the point, no excessive talking (as many tutorial videos tend to be), and really, really useful. Keep up the fantastic playing. Thank you.

[@skone9965]

Your video is the one that finally did the trick. First part clicked for me in mere minutes. Thanks so much. Gonna play it a million times before I bite off the next piece...

[@mxmlapsh]

Many thanks to Mike and Guitar World magazine for such a great lesson!

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

This guy is my guitar idol. I mean, initially it was uncle Chet and aunt Leona that got me to love guitars and inspired me to try and learn how to play. But my greatest results came from hearing Mike Dawes play, his style is right up my alley and he gave me the big inspirational push i needed to pick the guitar up again after 6 years of absence. And to think there's a Mike Dawes lesson where he teaches the style of playing uncle Chet always used. The guitarverse is coming together for me. i have a lot of work to do but i have this man to thank for how far i've gotten.

[@mvansome]

first three seconds of him playing....30 hours of practice for me!!

[@davidhoxit4274]

That was fantastic Mike! Jerry Reed, Merle Travis, Tony Rice and many others still inspire me today. As well as yourself sir 😎🎶

[@drsteviejasengnsangma8739]

Real business of Travis Picking, very pratical though its hard to play. One of the best lesson on Travis picking.

[@house_church]

Anyone who watches a Mike Dawes video or sees him in person - should be given college credit. A lot of it!

[@derrio6871]

This guy is such an awesome guitar player !

[@bills48321]

Mike's guitar has great tone and I like the headstock as well.

[@tjl8884]

You can't go wrong with bear claw spruce soundboards. Especially if the luthier knows enough to put shellac on it and not lacquer.

[@chaputmi]

Cheers...been playing guitar for decades and have done a share of finger picking but this lesson was still very valuable...thanks!

[@marcushendriksen8415]

Bit late to the party with this, but seriously - what an awesome lesson! Not because of the actual content itself (which is still top notch btw), but because of that bit of gold about how Jerry Reed uses open strings to buy time to shift hand position. I'm already imagining various ways I can incorporate that into my playing, because the way I'm re-learning the fretboard could benefit from it, as well as the number of different sounds I can get from it. Liked, subscribed, and resolved to check out some of Mr. Reed's music :D

[@stevedowler2366]

Love your percussive style, Mike and the jazzy mellow tunes too. Just jumped onto your channel after hearing you on Anderton's playing the Sire guitars - yes, crazy low price for such beautiful instruments. Now to the Travis style. I first learned this thumb bass picking from the Folkways Elizabeth Cotten vinyl. For anyone looking for a different take, get some of her tunes on iTunes and listen to "Freight Train" and "Going Down The Road Feeling Bad". Then jump to "Vastopol" and the open D tuning on "Spanish Flang Dang". Once you've heard those and started playing them just by ear, check out the fact that she is playing a right-hand strung guitar left-handed! Now forget that and just play it your way. Her style is not "simple" but it is iconic and a great starting point before working on Travis' tunes. Most of all have fun.

[@faidaOnline]

Mike you are special, God bless you.

[@AdrianFarrell]

What an awesome etude in the style

[@soulvaccination8679]

Takes some getting use to but I think I can get it.Thanks for this

[@solfeinberg437]

Very tasty selection. I shall enjoy savoring this.

[@danielemory82]

Love it, thank you, glad I found this one on Travis picking. Fantastic guitarist Mike, thanks.

[@colbywilliams296]

been a shredder all my life.....zakk wylde and John 5 got me thinking.....this is great.....gonna add this to the arsenal.....great job!

[@mrjimmienoone2130]

You are a fantastic teacher!!

[@BreadLightPray_EWFMgtr]

I think the ultimate objective is to learn to use your right playing hand fingers independently of each other while each finger can also create its own subtle tone differentials. Travis picking is a great place to begin to learn the techniques of playing hand finger independence. Next, learn to unlock the musical secrets of the fretboard with your left hand, and you just might get to the beginning level of learning to play like Mike Dawes !❣ but you're still not at the place where you can slap, tap, scratch &per-cuss @your guitar and make that sound musical !😕 Ând oh yeah, learn to play all your melodies using harmonics only !😰 then throw all those techniques into a bag give it a good shake &mix it all up real gudd so that each time you pick up your guitar it will sound like a unique improvisation, so that the same tune will never sound exactly the same way twice 😲😵 (if you don't want it to)😉 And finally, throw in some good luck for good measure, might be a good way to achieve it all !😊😉

[@solomongrail7039]

Mike, that's nice! Thanks for putting this one here.

[@davidwright8989]

Blues; I'll tell you why. It's what gave Martin's first guitar in America, the Dreadnought body acoustic guitar; which evolved the instrument it's capabilities when a piece of glass and brass was put on and Capo. Delta Blues was born. Robert Johnson; was the first icon of Guitar Mastery. Including Supernatural Tales.

[@rezende941]

Great swing - excellent.

[@infernalshadow5904]

10:00 replay button

[@robertlee8042]

Always helps to play THROUGH what you’re going to teach so people can decide whether to watch more.

[@AlexWardi]

So friggen good.

[@gwh0]

Unlock a lot of Dawes. Great!!

[@larrylyons9362]

Great stuff man, thanks!

[@JoJo__99]

youre a beast. thanks for your lesson, very good lesson.

[@ASHWANIKUMAR-wl4nw]

Impressive playing

[@erictorresKM4B]

Did anyone hear Mike say "you're going to open alot of 'Dawes'" around 2:00? Lmao

[@solfeinberg437]

He should've 'cause that'd be funny - but I'm pretty sure this is just an accent and his r seems to have absconded. Maybe he's British?

[@eduardorodriguez4899]

That’s a gorgeous looking guitar

[@aaronwebb1548]

It's a Cuntz! He doesn't sell many guitars in English speaking countries...

[@marcusaurelius4526]

mike dawes more from you please!!! you're a fucking awesome dude and teacher :D

[@gilbertrakotomalala40]

Excellent thanks a lot for this

[@manueltorres4815]

For a beginner like me, "nice and simple" is like a kick in the teeth for me right now 😂😂😂😂😂

[@BV_Beve]

Stick at it, it will get better :)

[@sheldonwilliamshalladay6868]

You will get it, if you want it my friend. All that separates the men and the boys, or women from girls. Is the distance they are willing to go. You can do it.

[@jilmarialitzgaari9078]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@koreyavallon5762]

Good riddance by greenday is easy

[@Frankowillo]

@Korey Avallon: Of course it's easy, it isn't Travis picking.

[@solfeinberg437]

I'm at 2:52 and I'm wetting myself. I've been playing folk guitar and studying books from the 60's. Anyway one of em discussing this technique of holding down the base line with the thumb while the fingers "go to town on the upper strings".

[@vladbog0]

The Great lesson, thank You very much!

[@guitarDad100]

Excellent

[@mintonmiller]

I have to rewind and pause a lot because you leave a lot of thumb movement in the explanation. That being said,I appreciate what you are doing very much because the double thumb style here is not tought on other so called Travis Picking videos. Your slowed down walk throughs could be a little clearer, but then again, this just means I have to put out a little more effort on my part to get it and I can and will put out that effort.

[@mintonmiller]

So, I just discovered the link to tabs and further explanation. So never mind. I'm finished whining now. Back to practicing.

[@b.j.surfdog3724]

Hey, I just saw him to a guitar duet using one of those Tonewood amps. Nice song. this is interesting 2.

[@danielroth1]

Thanks for the great tutorial. What guitar are you playing?

[@danielclark4314]

I'd like to know that too!

[@aaronwebb1548]

Late to the party, but it's a Cuntz. Made by a proud German builder who won't change his name, hence they're not very popular in English speaking countries.

[@Frankowillo]

This is a good lesson by an excellent guitarist, but it's not a "rank beginner" lesson. Tommy Emmanuel gives a really good beginner Travis picking lesson.

[@aldosofyan]

your guitar sound great

[@pb741]

What kind of strings do you use ?

[@kingrobert1st]

Can you do a tutorial on Alice's Restaurant?

[@christianarial1765]

Bahama cruise... Bahama cruise... Bahama cruise... With The Zombies, Alan Parsons and Moody Blues? Yes, please.

[@Ellio1862]

He stops waffling at 2:30 if you just want to see the lesson.

[@lethaihien12345]

nice !

[@murrayfisher3599]

So what is that arpeggio called? I have the notes ab/g#-g-db/c#? I don't know of an arpeggio with a half step interval? Like what kind of chord is that out of?

[@bc1441]

Great lesson!

[@BossPeddler]

Great thanks

[@musicrat51]

The best!

[@Rob_Haarlem]

It is funny to see how every figure starts off as complete chaos in my head and slowly starts to unraffle

[@douglasbarton6597]

Travis picking with Tom Bresh kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmfPZHqBg5t0e6c

[@Nichoalsziv]

The link for tabs is broken it should be this: /lessons/how-fingerpick-merle-travis also googling that will give the correct link with the tabs.

[@Hrafnaflokii]

Dammit. I don't have the slow-down video option on android. Anyone recall that scene from the film "Amadeus" where Salieri writes down the scores of "requiem" for Mozart? "You're going too fast, too fast, too fast! I don't understand!!".. well, yeah...

[@PabloAlejandroMusic]

This one is really hard but not impossible

[@jasper_north]

I still have trouble keeping time; you recommend to emphasize / accent more on the 2nd beat? (Besides the metronome and playing along ofcourse)

[@stephen285]

mike do you like this song to listen to?

[@trick58]

Haha, Mike Dawes is too good. Don’t lose heart. If you are new to finger picking, there is nothing simple here.

[@fahadsalimsaidal_jabri3720]

Thanks 👌🎸

[@CaBdosdos]

Great playing and explains the CONCEPTS well but the speed and intervals in which he lays them out is not good easy tutorial.

[@ronshaw76]

I subscribed to guitar world, so I could see the tab for Mike’s awesome lessons, but can’t seem to find any links that work to use as a reference. Can anyone help? Thanks! 😊

[@Wilma1529]

Is Mike Dawes illustrating an E 7 or E Major 7? Or both? Also @ 3:45 double pick on G hammering the B string the D fret? I am ahead and behind the beat but not spot on. Am i right? Give me a shout somebody

[@phyfts]

Does he use his thumb nail while doing this technique? Or flesh side of his thumb?

[@tuhhahmiss]

I think when he plays it unmuted, he relies more on the flesh of his thumb but switches to using a bit more of his nail when he mutes it. I could be wrong though.

[@phyfts]

I actually thought the opposite. Because it feels very weird using the nail when the strings are muted when I play it. I'm not sure either.

[@chris4087]

Awesome lesson I'm sure. But over my head at the moment I'm gonna go jump back in the shallow end. Or maybe even the baby pool.

[@Direlake]

Turmoil anyone?

[@wc.1212]

From now on, 4 hours of practice until i can play the entire song.

[@ManosRK]

Is this series available on the website also or in the magazine only ?

[@guitarworld]

This is available on the guitar world website too, and includes tabs : www.guitarworld.com/lessons-acoustic-lessons/how-fingerpick-merle-travis/29446

[@ManosRK]

Sweet!!! I didn't show any links in the description so I thought I'd ask.

[@Max-cd8ii]

@@guitarworld The links leads to a 404. Any chance there is an updated link still 4 years later?

[@Max-cd8ii]

Never mind, i found it www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-fingerpick-merle-travis

[@christianarial1765]

Liking that guitar, Mike. What make and model is it?

[@shooting.street]

Looks like an Andreas Cuntz guitar to me. I hope one day I can justify buying one!

[@royser2449]

Hi Mike, what make and model is the sound hole pick up you are using. Thanks RG

[@justind1470]

Royser its a dimarzio, check out his website

[@BhargavaMan]

I always called this technique "Ewan Dobson Picking"

[@hiatusxhiatus7782]

Time 2 vibes am i right? ^^

[@ashishthapa7261]

I thought you were Shaggy of scooby doo

[@grodperspektiv8946]

What´s the difference between this travis-picking and chicken-pickin´ ?

[@misterh55]

Grodperspektiv I believe chicken picking is when you use a pick and fingers as opposed to thumb and fingers.

[@ASHWANIKUMAR-wl4nw]

Mike sir owsem

[@pak40l46]

Merle used only his right thumb and forefinger to make all of his great music.

[@bwoosiemowani9477]

whats with the wood on the bottom part of your guitar where the cut-out is? What is that, (a repair?) cloth, leather, or different type of wood? and why?

[@ApiolJoe]

I think he added a piece of raw wood there to have different sounds for when he uses percussion or scratches sounds in his play. Can hit there with nails without injuring the woody lady too.

[@_Dio_Brando_69]

It's his "scratchpad" as he calls it, and he uses it to get a very specific scratch sound to add an extra subtle nuance to his playing style

[@jamesdahl6949]

Love your playing but you kinda rush through it. Instead of saying what fret you’re sliding up to, you say slide up to here but have no inlays or fret (quick and easy identifiers) to see from this end. Just makes it frustrating for someone to follow along without constantly pausing to see where you’re at. All and all you still get a thumbs up. Thanks

[@em-rg3xf]

Totally agree, its a bit half hearted on his part, i had to go to 0.25 speed a few times just to make sense of it. Annoying

[@coreymihailiuk5189]

A very informative lesson but way too fast! I have been playing since 1969 and I couldn't pick it up so imagine someone who is a beginner trying to follow this. SLOW DOWN!

[@scottsdale90]

The link to the tabs doesn't work. :-(

[@wilcoxric]

www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-fingerpick-merle-travis

[@hafeez1hammad]

does anyone know the tune playing in the intro of this video?

[@konstantinoslagaros]

do u know which song's cover is it at first?

[@wardkdouglas]

If you haven't figured it out yet Hammed, it's Mike's cover of "Scarlet" by Periphery

[@wardkdouglas]

+wardkdouglas Sorry, Hammad*

[@hafeez1hammad]

+wardkdouglas thank you brother ....

[@patelrestilla7311]

What’s the strumming pattern?

[@douglasbarton6597]

Travis picking with Tom Bresh kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmfPZHqBg5t0e6c

[@MrDuliajan]

Ya forgot the mention the Base notes ... I can't figure em out

[@BobLoblaw1985]

Tabs not found. Brilliant.

[@kornbread5359]

What even is a guitar

[@musicletters7214]

percussive click... because it is 2016 :-) what is in 2017?

[@Zach-mv6it]

If you actually want to learn look up Thom Bresh or Tommy Emmanuel.

[@trick58]

Zach Everett I’m glad that Mike Dawes took the time to put up his lesson. It’s his style and I appreciate the sharing. I agree that Emmanuel is a gifted instructor and he has a lot of lessons online. His humility makes it more comfortable for me. Both are great musicians.

[@ErezBatzon]

nice and simple my a**

[@mymartind35]

This isn't hard. Just get that thumb doing what it's supposed to do and you're 90% there. Tune to an open "G" chord and do an alternating bass line with your thumb while watching tv. I've taught a lot of people how to do it.

[@mirostanimirov8952]

"All you have to do is practice" Really ?😲 And I was thinking that just watching you being cool is enough...

[@hUgO6191]

And yet everyone complain that they will never get as good as this guy might as well throw the guitar in the garbage. "all you have to do is practice" is something that a lot of people don't realize is what it takes to get good rather just moan

[@joaquingonzalo1945]

fuck, I cant do it ☹

[@RatzTeeth]

Slow down kimosabe

[@ezioauditore6176]

you need to be intermediate pro player to do what he does.... because its definitely not for beginners amateur..... like me😦

[@soultylive]

Right. The best picking lesson I've seen so far when you really start from the beginning (assuming still you know the basic chords with your left hand) is from Richard Smith on the following link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHm9npaNed-Jj9U

[@troysmithfr]

Look at his nails...

[@theminecraftruler123]

they're amazing!! a great fingerpicking tone and feel usually comes from having long shapen nails to accent and round out the tone. It's basically like the best kind of pick on all your fingertips! I really love having long nails when playing flamenco or classical guitar.

[@tommybear4458]

Mike Dawes lessons are not for beginners. Haha

[@mickvictor]

Nothing to it! lol😂

[@burroughs334]

This guy’s hands are hard to watch.

[@rossmelanson6999]

He’s a girley man!! lol 😂

[@AmericanGwyn]

What kinda communist could down-vote this gorgeousness?!