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

[@theTopCat-1]

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]

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.

[@theTopCat-1]

@@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]

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.

[@GTX1123]

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

[@mikemais84]

As a beginner with this type of picking I have watched a lot of videos. This is by far the best. You make it simple for those of us who have a problem wrapping our heads around the technique. Thank you so much for your time!

[@TheHarpass]

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.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

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.

[@litotesone]

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!

[@mvdeehan]

Now and again KZbin 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.

[@paulhughes3827]

Best travis picking lesson I have seen, thank you.

[@TheCommonSenseProfessor]

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]

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]

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]

@@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 KZbin 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 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmfPZHqBg5t0e6csi=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]

@@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]

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

[@robertjones7792]

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

[@carlthetruthwilliams9447]

very helpful lesson. As a Travis beginner and 30 yrs playing guitar your approach is the best I've found so far. Thank you.

[@johnrains8409]

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.

[@taperecorder3]

I have seen many so called Travis picking teaching videos, and they would go just too fast as to sadistically tease you,,,you broke it down to where a beginner even has a chance thank you

[@maxb8695]

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

[@1mistymorn1]

What I think is amazing is how Merle Travis used ONLY his thumb and pointer finger. There are few videos of him but it's clear to see his little finger, ring finger and middle finger were firmly planted on his guitar. How did he get so many notes our with just two fingers? Simply amazing. Now, Gordon Lightfoot was also an amazing finger picker, but used a different method. Thanks.

[@primevalprimeval]

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

[@nigelboothman6653]

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!

[@100srichey]

Very simple, straightforward tutorial. Thank you for putting it out there.

[@awjfagan]

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

[@lasentinal]

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.

[@bassoneman]

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

[@fennahrob6934]

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

[@GeriWardMusic]

I was just about to ask you that question. 😊

[@tmurphy1000]

But much more difficult.

[@jasonglover9848]

Thankyou for this Fennah, first time picking has made sense to me, love your relaxed manner

[@edbryan9205]

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

[@ron.v]

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]

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

[@BrettPenza]

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]

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.

[@pww6581]

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

[@Patrick_H.]

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]

Cheers Patrick. Appreciate the advice.

[@robertbaker1986]

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

[@lou196t]

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

[@stevefraioli4838]

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.

[@crashier]

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

[@lynnglidewell7367]

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.

[@michaelc3977]

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

[@dontbesodense]

I've watched so many videos on Travis picking , and your by far the best , might be because I'm from England too but the way to explain is perfect mate . 😊

[@pip461]

what a teacher , love it ,

[@thommeinert9072]

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

[@billphelan6028]

I am soooo indebted to you. I have been playing guitar inconsistently for 50 years, which is my fault for the inconsistent part. I picked my guitar out of the closet a few years ago and have been trying to learn Travis picking unsuccessfully, despite many attempts. All I kept seeing and hearing is that I needed to disconnect my thumb from the rest of my hand. I have worked on this way way way too much, and it always (mentally) felt that it was like learning to play the piano all over again. Your approach is simple, straight forward, and pragmatic. I am in the States and if you are in the UK, I need to know where you are because I want to fly to the UK and enjoy a pint or two with you. I am so grateful!

[@fennahrob6934]

Cheers Bill. I’m in Liverpool. (Wirral to be exact). 👍🏻

[@edarmstrong9389]

Great job, even a 74 year old student can remember 5243. Thanks for making it simpler.

[@rachelcook5697]

Lol got me beat, 51 and I'm like huhhh??

[@Therapyxx]

@@rachelcook5697 life hack - do the smartphone PIN with 5243 :D But for real I just thought about it and by this way I would recognize each pattern in few days without even taking a guitar in my hands. Just doing my pins with that lol

[@duranduran6456]

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

[@taffboyslim]

Lovely lesson. I will try this

[@antidotevaccine]

Great lesson im going to work on this thank you...

[@tjstevens001]

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

[@chrisgregory6050]

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

[@joseuisley8090]

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

[@TheBluzeman]

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.

[@johnmacmillan627]

Many thx for such a great lesson! Gonna get my guitar and give Travis picking a shot

[@ismithies]

No nonsense, just great help and advice thanks Rob

[@Jeronimo365]

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

[@GuitarAdam]

Big Love - great song

[@michaelvassallo4841]

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

[@sharpsbattle]

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

[@davidgallois5634]

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

[@MarkFern-fc1eu]

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.

[@WilliamJDager]

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

[@johnnymcnoodle27]

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

[@hiddensoundcollective]

awesome lil tune to practice, thank you!!

[@rboyer1020]

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

[@michaelbattaglia2512]

Excellent lesson ! Simple and concise. Thank you.

[@Patrick_H.]

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.

[@doodeen]

Thanks Rob.Excellent lesson.Cheers Jim

[@HieronymousCheese]

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!!!

[@DavidDMcLaughlin]

Really good teacher. So straight forward

[@dwayne5698]

Great lesson!! Love finger picking songs.

[@allancerf9038]

Great. The outer-inner is immensely helpful. Thanks Fennah Bob.

[@ahodamahingan1698]

This was really helpful. Thank you for sharing

[@tomplaner1488]

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

[@icarusi]

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.

[@JB19504]

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

[@timegan470]

This is terrific thank you Rob!

[@kiowakeiffer1]

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

[@chrismartenable]

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

[@retinalcircus]

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

[@GuitarHeroWhatley]

Brilliant lesson that, thanks 👍🏻

[@debbowen-saunders9886]

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!

[@pyroguitars1296]

Great. I tried 4 of my usual guys on this. But this is the best. Thanks. I've subscribed, so you're now one of my guys. Right, off to learn Dear Prudence. 😊

[@johnmacmillan627]

Thx for the great lesson! Gonna get my guitar and give Travis picking a shot

[@michaelheinz3954]

Simply brilliant!

[@cotiga-davidpompiliu-viore9725]

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!

[@philipduttonlescorlett]

Great stuff!

[@GuitarraestiloLuismi]

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.

[@Kearflex1]

Good stuff... Thanks for sharing

[@MrJasdog107]

Great lesson going to check out your channel.

[@larrycannon6615]

Grate lesson great teach in style

[@hearpalhere]

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

[@scubapod]

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

[@kaidemen156]

This really simplified Travis picking for me, thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@davegray1364]

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]

Check out Chet Atkins.

[@mradisic11]

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

[@adamskaboy]

You’re correct about Lennon and Travis picking….I learned Julia, Dear Prudence and a couple others after delving into Travis picking… Good lesson…always looking to improve… Travis Picking is great with alternate tunings as well when you’ve got it down some. Glad I discovered your channel…

[@lyndarosborough869]

Thank you for this … great intro into this style … just shared this with my brother… and subscribed too ! … thanks again ! 🎶

[@moshealex]

Amassing work, Rob. Very easy and helpful.👍

[@Andrew-ez9cp]

Enjoyed the lesson im knew to fingerstyle good stuff

[@lynnasche5147]

Excellent Travis picking lesson ! Thank you !

[@MarkBartlett-s1l]

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

[@robertleJaxon4667]

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

[@lizrileychristiano]

Super helpful! Thank you!

[@kingshearer2]

Brilliant video thanks, Macca should watch this!

[@danrowe79]

Great lesson, especially like your suggestion to practice right hand with muffled strings. Thank You!!

[@stephenlong7122]

Wonderful lesson, thank you!

[@frankpatellaro3163]

Hey! I really like your method! You can really connect with your audience! You have really motivated me to keep at it, and know it’s possible to learn! Many thanks! Frank

[@uskuleleukegroup3595]

Absolutely fabulous

[@napadave58]

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]

Have a look at my tutorial for Ragtime Boy.