Travis Picking Scales Exercise - The Landslide Series

[@jkvcrdr]

Wow! I had a dream last night, my angels told me to learn from the guy with the white finger picks! Thanks for this channel.

[@jkvcrdr]

You are "highly" recommended!

[@casaMariaPT]

"Time will make anything happen with guitar. Keep at it!" .....Jon Michael Swift 2017. I have adopted this as my practice mantra. Fantastic channel, thanks for sharing.

[@hammill444]

It's not actually true, but it is indeed a good practice mantra.

[@Maartenalbers]

pretty tough exercises but once you get it going the possibility's are endless.... Great stuff!

[@tomandersen4639]

This is super helpful, I also recently bought a Travis Picking a Country Guitar book. Hopefully, between KZbin videos, and this book, I can start getting a hang of this method.

[@kamakazikriss]

Great information!!! I love how you give us the goal, show it to us then break it down and show baby baby steps. Then you show us how to build on till you get there. Thanks

[@jonmichaelswift]

kamakazikriss no problem. It helped me a lot, so I’m happy to share!

[@thomasstevens6785]

What a guy!

[@buzzardjake2177]

Sweet!

[@rogerright9064]

I need to pass you onto all my guitar friends. You can't buy this level of insight into the song anywhere else.

[@aston9843]

Great video that I have (accidentally?) stumbled across. Feels oddly as if this was the perfect extension to the direction my playing was moving in. A whole new bag of tricks to experiment with. Thank you so much.

[@jonmichaelswift]

+Aston Kay For sure!

[@pollux004]

very important lesson here about learnign the alternate fingerpicking as it took me a long time to undo what i was doing wrong ,,much longer then it would of take me doing it right the first time,,,,great lesson an great teaching vidéo,,,,

[@ficheye00]

Thank you so much. I was really looking for a lesson to help focus on the alternating index and middle finger. Looks like I'll be staring at this for a while. I've had other people recommend the mirror too, so I guess I have to do it!! Thanks.

[@imadumas2]

You are a really good, patient instructor!

[@muhammedshifatshahriar1626]

One of the best lessons of youtube! thanks

[@CharlesMcGlade]

This series is a work of art per se.

[@jonmichaelswift]

+Charles McGlade No problem. I made it cause I liked it and I thought others might benefit from it.

[@natalieanniedias7856]

My like completed 1k like. Great viedo.. some great take aways:)

[@guloguloguy]

INCREDIBLE!!!! WOW!!!! GREAT Insightful lessons!!!! THANK You, VERY MUCH!!!!! AWESOME!!!!

[@jonmichaelswift]

guloguloguy 😌

[@terrytyler959]

Great lesson. THANKYOU.

[@n3bie]

Really glad I ran into this video! I've been working a lot on my Travis picking patterns, and I've been looking for a way to start incorporating scales into improvisation with those patterns and I think your advice will suit that end perfectly! Thank you so much!

[@jonmichaelswift]

+YetiShaman I never knew if I'd make videos that others needed...I just kind of made them. If it's doing something good for you, then the impulse has come full circle!

[@mdabubakarsiddique1755]

very very helpfully for beginner guitar player. tnx for ur guitar lesson.

[@jonmichaelswift]

different site For sure! I definitely found this idea to be really useful, so glad it helps you as well!

[@Archiegoodwin1928]

After several years of trolling KZbin for free lessons, I think this one is truly unique and extremely helpful. Great job. Any chance the tabs could be in pdf? Thanks!

[@jaylenskyler8721]

I know Im kinda off topic but do anybody know of a good website to watch new series online?

[@idrisarlo2200]

@Jaylen Skyler flixportal :)

[@jaylenskyler8721]

@Idris Arlo thank you, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :D I appreciate it !!

[@idrisarlo2200]

@Jaylen Skyler Happy to help :D

[@PaulScott]

Amazing set of videos so far. Both great but my vote is Lindsey B at the moment...will be seeing him at Leeds with the band soon. Love it! Thanks for the videos btw, really improving my playing with this and giving me the focus I need. Cheers!

[@joecittadino4267]

What about the 3rd finger on the right hand? ie: the ring finger. Do you incorporate 3 fingers of the right hand into the exercise? I assume at some point that is the end game?

[@romiocp732]

Great excercise man. Thanks

[@MegaGuitarpicker]

Sweet Carvin guitar!

[@bunnytracks55]

Excellent man. Thank you.

[@augustusbetucius2931]

Really helpful, and very well thought out and explained. One question - you describe the pulse for the first for variations as an eight note pulse. Why am I hearing those bass/thumb notes as quarter notes? This video is eight years old, I don't fully expect a response, but it would be great if you did.

[@Ivorymandingo]

good lesson, I've been trying to play some Bruce Cockburn songs and he does a lot of this sort of stuff. Hard to play !!!

[@jonmichaelswift]

True Story. I really like "January at the Halifax Airport Lounge" which has some great Travis picking melodic licks in it. These exercises were designed to open up exactly that kind of music, so I'm glad it's getting put to good use.

[@Ivorymandingo]

Jon Michael Swift Very cool. That is a great song but I can't play it...... YET!! thanks again for this lesson, it's very helpful.

[@jonmichaelswift]

Time will make anything happen with guitar. Keep at it!

[@lauramissimer2134]

Great lesson. Thank you!

[@jonmichaelswift]

For sure. I love this material and I'm glad to see it's been reaching people!

[@kingrobert1st]

Great lesson! Subbed.

[@mrheedoo11]

Wow I’ll be back , this looks advanced

[@jonmichaelswift]

it is, but it's also manageable if you break it down.

[@marciomarques8482]

Thanks!

[@bobbydixon4484]

damn this is great material! it works for my brain!

[@johnnybx3254]

Oh yeah! Thanks very much!

[@jonmichaelswift]

definitely

[@Billsingsong]

How did you learn to use the Finger pics I have the exact ones

[@Billsingsong]

How often do use the pinky finger pick

[@JohnJohnson-bo5sv]

I ordered some of those fingerpicks (forget what they are called?) from Ebay and never got them , I will try again they really seem to work for you.

[@jonmichaelswift]

Try to get them directly from the maker. Alaskapiks. Email me if you have any issues or questions.

[@hammill444]

Any chance of doing more simple Travis picking lessons? Something easier than the Landslide intro lesson?

[@ronperry691]

What kind of finger picks are those?

[@gerrycummins7176]

Real Nice thank You! Wondering what kind of fingerpicks you like? Use?

[@jonmichaelswift]

Alaskapiks!

[@markcrooks3669]

I am pretty surprised to note that all the teachers doing this stuff on the net fail to emphasize that one has to LISTEN TO THE NOTES UNTIL THEY SUBCONCIOUSLY COORDINATE WITH A FINGER POSITION AND ACTION

[@stephenmcconnell7868]

Sounded like "Tubular Bells around 17:00

[@richardvaughan9994]

So I’m wondering when does the thumb get played with the melody and when does it get played without? I noticed on the thumb you’re counting 1234 1234 so where in those numbers does the fingers come into play? On 1, 2, 3 or 4

[@richardvaughan9994]

If you wish to see where I’m at playing wise I’ve been playing for about 5 months and have videos all of my KZbin of my progress

[@donvandamnjohnsonlongfella1239]

whats on your fingers? I notice the thumb pic but are those some version of finger picks on your fingers as well?

[@jonmichaelswift]

Lol, this question never gives up. Here's my answer for all time. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5jOfKmLbZ2bkK8 Don't be a stranger, Jonathan

[@joecittadino4267]

What about the 3rd finger on the right hand? ie: the ring finger. Do you incorporate 3 fingers of the right hand into the exercise? I assume at some point that is the end game?

[@jonmichaelswift]

Yes and No. For this exercise it's not very helpful since this is focused on scales. It's generally easier to coordinate fewer fingers. If you watch Paco De Lucia play, he tends to play with a similar technique; thumb plays bass, two fingers walk melodies. He does it extremely fast but it goes well. A technique that would integrate the third finger is a tremolo like in "Recuerdos del Alhambra" or "La Sueno en la Floresta," but this exercise is more aimed at playing faster scales. It's honestly not that helpful to add the ring finger, since it's difficult to train the coordination with an additional finger. Does that make sense?

[@MrWeedpatch]

Okay what do you have on your right hand fingers because I need them? My finger nails are null and void. Thanks foryour help.

[@jonmichaelswift]

Sure. They are called Alaska pics. I actually made a video on them…

[@jonmichaelswift]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5jOfKmLbZ2bkK8

[@sarahtornai]

4:29 😨 will I ever be able to do this?

[@jonmichaelswift]

Sarah Tornai if you practice the right way for enough minutes!

[@hammill444]

"You'll get there eventually'? Not necessarily. I did try this for 3 months, an hour or so a day. Just never came together. Just curious---do you have another lesson for Travis picking at a more basic level?

[@jonmichaelswift]

I do, I would got to the earlier lessons in the Landslide series, or just start from the beginning. I also love a good challenge, so PM me if you'd like some personal help getting over the hump. I like to think I know enough to get anybody unstuck, and I'm always looking for a challenge ;-)

[@hammill444]

Thanks for the response. Perhaps I'll go back to the start---- and see how that goes.

[@jonmichaelswift]

The time is important, but you also have to practice the right way. I maybe should have explained that. To a certain degree, you should get better at practicing the more you do it, but it does help to learn known tricks for getting yourself in a better mental frame to absorb new info. A few key things, though you're probably heard them all before... 1. Go as slow as you can. Very, very, very slow 2. Break things down into tiny little pieces and slowly put them back together 3. Stay relaxed and make sure you're enjoying yourself, even if you push yourself to reach a new level. Negative stress makes you learn less. A few things to bear in mind. Don't be shy about asking for help at any point. Sometimes just one little bit of the right information can save a lot of wasted time. Let me know how it goes.

[@royalcorn8120]

what type of finger picks are you useing

[@jonmichaelswift]

Alaskapiks. I've got a lesson on them called "What are those things on your fingers!?"

[@textucker1158]

jon.what picks are you using

[@jonmichaelswift]

alaskapiks. I'm making a video on them soon, so stay tuned!

[@ffrankk]

@@jonmichaelswift grow nails :-)

[@knockitofff]

Tune up and get back to me

[@maddyriaz]

8:40 lmao

[@thecastle09]

You’re awesome. But I’m not ready for this yet.🤬👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

[@duncankennedy5900]

Great piching but why are you calling it travis style if you look more closely you will notice he only uses his thumb and nose finger even chet atkins would have struggled to use a pinky pick,wish I had your talent though.keep pickin, cheer's Dr Kennedy .

[@afrikan1000]

Arnold Schultz Fingerstyle Picking-so-called Travis Picking How can someone be a discover of a place that is already inhabited by people AND how can someone be credited as an inventor of the wheel for re-inventing it . For the record, it is unfortunate that this style (thumb-picking style) of guitar playing is credited to Merle Travis and NOT " Arnold Schultz" who is the real creator of this method of guitar playing. Arnold Schultz (1886-1931) born in Kentucky developed the "thumb-style" method of playing guitar that eventually evolved into the Kentucky style for which such musicians as Chet Atkins and Merle Travis would be known. Shultz taught his guitar methods to Kennedy Jones, who disseminated the "thumb-style" methods further. His methods were passed down further to Bill Munroe. Merle Travis and Ike Everly, among others. How can someone who is the beneficiary of an artistic form that existed before he was born be its creator/inventor ?????? This is a clear example of "CULTURE BANDITRY" !!! Literature Source : Flippo, Chet (2004). "Arnold Shultz". In Paul Kingsbury; Laura Garrard; Daniel Cooper; John Rumble. The Encyclopedia of Country Music. County Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Sourcebooks, Inc. p. 484. ISBN 0-19-517608-1.

[@jonmichaelswift]

I gotta be honest, I've never even heard of Arnold Schultz. It seems I have some research to do in order to understand my roots. That being said, I don't expect I'm going to go changing what I call it in practice because nobody would understand me. Subject vocabulary in any field is littered with misnomers and miscrediting via the Matthew Effect, etc. It's a way of communicating though, and unless I look into this and find out that me calling it "Travis Picking" is robbing somebody's bread off the table, I don't see any changes coming for what I call it.

[@ender2999]

Lol, lancelot just got owned.

[@robhand7205]

Why would you think it is a good idea to have a tutorial with a capo?

[@beehappy7797]

Play as you like, but do not call it Travis picking. That is bullshit.

[@bohemian46]

"Locrian Scale" and Travis picking .? Really ? Complexified?"I'm proud of this"What utter new-age, sock-head bullshit..

[@afrikan1000]

The "Blues" is the foundation for most major genre of music (reggae, country, rock, metal, jazz, R & B etc). Many (including those who use the social media) , not some have benefited from the artistic creativity of black people in america. While there has always been borrowing of ideas from various cultures it is disingenuous when an individual or a particular group of people attempt to claim things (i.e cultural products) that they did not create. There is no such thing as Travis fingerstyle picking, he (Merle Travis) and other white musicians were greatly influenced by black blues guitarists of the day who often used the fingerstyle method to play the blues. Culture banditry cannot be supported.

[@jonmichaelswift]

While I generally agree with your statements, I would prefer to hear a concrete suggestions for change. Cultural misappropriation is something I'm very concerned about, but it cannot be changed without thoughtful, concerted and sustained action. As a KZbin creator, I'm aware that the statements I make set a precedent and I'll also grant with little argument that white musicians have likely been unduly favored with credit for creative contributions to American music which they may or may not have been responsible for. That being said, norms for discussing guitar techniques are not the only issue I'm concerned with at a given time and I would appreciate some constructive thoughts about action that I can believe and get behind. I don't take a ton of interest in having historical discussions in a comments section because it is too informal and it's important to be precise when discussing these issues. Feel free to email me if you wish to discuss further.

[@adanacman666]

and the black blues was inspired by irish jigs and gaelic music so it all comes full circle

[@Ilikepicking]

Someone started somewhere with the concept of vibrating a string and hence we all play from that concept.

[@texma6498]

Did this guy just say "complexified"? Good God, if you are going to teach, you need to learn the English language first!!

[@jonmichaelswift]

TEX MA As if the only way to communicate a concept is with words from the Oxford English dictionary…

[@claytonking70]

Why did you not understand him?