Travis Picking or any finger picking, including playing classical pieces, involves exactly what you describe as a sequential series of steps that lead you into proficiency. Can I simply add that the other factor in getting good at this is DAILY practice!! This is what is called an "acquired skill." Very few of us are savants and if we were, we wouldn't be here. So along with this great lesson in finger style right hand technique, one need to exhibit the dedication and determination to make it past the learning stage into the performance stage. Practice, practice practice! Are you still here? Why aren't you practicing?
My brother is a Savant. We found out when his violin teacher said he was the best in the school, and we had never seen a violin. Then l left my guitar in the house and when l picked it up he had tuned it, and had no idea how to do it. So l took him to my guitar lesson, and 1st lesson the teacher said " every now and again l get a kid that can do it!" He could read music and play ? WTF??? He was 11 years old. He just knew how to read music without a single clue
Great lesson and advice. Certainly something to aspire to. Started playing at 49, two years in and finally feel like I’m getting there, thanks to tutorials like this. Thank you 🙏🏻☺️
The* thumbs up * tip for hand position is a real deal!!! I've had problems with my right hand when trying to learn F.P. & this brings it all into focus. It'a almost like the thumb has to be kept ahead of the rest of the hand like you are wearing a thumb pick. This keeps all digits in the correct channel or column, & not in the same column as the thumb. It also keeps you picking with the finger tip rather than too much to the side of the finger. This is HUGE ! I'll keep working on your whole video. Thanks so much. B.
Thank you, excellent advice! I've been playing 20 years and have a few sloppy/bad habits Travis picking is helping me overcome. You and Paul Davis both have different, but very helpful approaches. I appreciate you taking the time to share!
Very good lesson for finger picking. Concise, accurate, and detailed. Thank you! God Bless you, your family, and all the viewers on this channel and their family also!
What questionsvdid he clean up? He is def a great player, but he is not teaching travis picking at all in this video, this is finger picking, major diferences
I'm a very advanced shredder, but I never learned finger picking at all. This was EXACTLY what I needed; to hear that it's only a few binary options beyond the thumb alternating the bass notes.. I'm so happy I came across your lesson. Thank you!
The key is repetition of each pattern by itself. Eventually it becomes automatic. And the next step is to consciously and deliberately mix up the patterns. And after that, you will forget that there are patterns at all, and you are just making music.
Have you used the speed setting to slow the video down so you can watch the fingers in slow mo? I use full scree and slow mo. But I have been playing guitar for many years and this picking pattern has eluded me for a long time LOL
Great video! Funny, I've been fingerpicking for years, but didn't get that thumb position solved until recently. It really makes a world of difference! For players who learned the wrong way for a long time, it takes a bit of effort to re-train, but it's worth it.
Yeah, when I'm teaching lessons it's always one of the things I try to emphasize right at the beginning because it really solves a lot of consternation later on.
U are right it is easy, I'm 7 months into learning guitar. I didn't know what Travis picking was until yesterday. I want to learn landslide by Stevie Nicks,it came so naturally to me. I think I have found my playing style, thanks for the video!
This is awesome, so wished had seen this video before begin. Your so on point it’s simple but hard to break old habit. Focusing on just the thumb string changes actually harder than some slightly more difficult riffs, but the speed would have never gotten where I want it without doing this first. So glad I found your channel today. I think this is going to be a really big point . I even got out the metronome.
A great lesson on Travis picking. Dare I say that it's not be easy for some people. I sure don't find it easy. its all about getting the correct sequence for thumb and fingers. If you've been playing this picking method for a long time then yes it is easy.
For another good one watch tommy emanuel's fingerstyle masterclass video. He demonstrates a few excersizes that get your fingers to work more independently from your thumb
I'm a beginner I know about 14 chords just started learning I love fingerpicking More than strumming. I do not know any bar-chords. I guess maybe that will come with time. I would like to thank you for all your time and uploading and teaching
I belivee you might want to look into the different styles between Chet Atkins and Merle Travis picking. Chet's is an alternating bass. Travis was just a thump thump thump on the bass strings.
Thank you for the lesson. I've been playing guitar since 1976 but I've never practiced any kind of fingerstyle playing. I've always been into playing rock, metal, and blues and using the classic techniques used in those genres like alternate picking, sweep picking, etc. It's funny I can alternate pick like a pro but when I try fingerstyle I profoundly suck! LMAO As I get older I am liking and appreciating softer genres of music and songs like Fleetwood Mac's Landslide and would love to be able to Travis pick so I can play them.
I have been finger picking for decades. When I tried placing my thumb in relation to my index finger as demonstrated here, my wrist has to be bent at a 45 degree angle. This feels and looks very unnatural and is uncomfortable to hold for any time. If the guitar is held nearly vertically, it is a little easier, but not much. I'm going back to what works for me. Otherwise, a good lesson.
Travis picking has a more syncopated beat or rhythm, it involves having an independent thumb that plays a bass line while simultaneously picking out lead.It involves the thumb doing a boom chuck a boom chicka boom chicka rhythm well simultaneously picking out lead. That's not what this guy is doing He's just doing an ordinary finger-style role.
This reminds me of something shooting instructors say when teaching how to draw from a holster then shoot quickly and accurately. "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast."
This is such a great lesson... I would really, hugely appreciate it if you can do this SLOWLY (!!!!!!) changing between chords... just a basic G C D G would be immensely helpful... thank you so much! xx
I highly recomend you learning to travis pick elsewhere, Try starting with Marcell Dadi teaches Fuller Blues...this video here is great but it is not in anyway travis picking
Anytime...check out and subscribe to my brand new chanel...search for "guitar rag drummer joe" also check out Thom Bresh he has some teally great stuff
Nice finger picking lesson and I’m sure many benefit. Problem is this “Travis picking” doesn’t sounds like anything Travis ever played because it’s not how he picked.
You're quite right. It's not how Merle Travis, Chet Atkins or Tommy Emmanuel play with a Travis Picking technique. Aside from using a thumb pick and palm muting the notes played by the thumb - there are other glaring differences between their way and this way. Standard Travis Picking is a syncopated rhythm that "swings". The method shown here has a "straight" 1/16th note rhythm popularized by great players like Leo Kottke, Paul Simon and Lindsay Buckingham. The "Dust in the Wind" version of Travis Picking is also a "straight" way to play this rhythm. See Tommy's tutorial to make Travis Picking "swing": ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-u0ocjT3gObE.html
Merle has passed, as did his brain... This gentleman has shown at least six ways to approach this type of playing and they are all valid....Chet learned some of his technique from Merle, but he varied it and made it his own... Tommy, and Jerry were influenced by Merle but refined it suit themselves.... If you looked at the over all instead of complaining about minute differences, you might gain Knowledge instead of sounding retarded ..
I’m 84 yrs. Old I have over searched and still tough on has & melody simultaneously. I can certainly repair much of my technique by following this protocol. Who is this doc Watson 3 time learner what a jerk. Doc Watson,Tony Rice
You don't state if you are playing thumb + 2 fingers / or thumb + 3 fingers. It seems like you are using the former setup. What are your thoughts on these two playing methods ? Also when fingerpicking, are you using the pinky finger as a hold-down to the guitar sound-board. Would you suggest that is a good idea ?
So there’s really almost nothing you can’t play with thumb and 2 fingers but there are just some things I find easier with 3. I think anchoring with your pinky is fine, sole great players do it.
To really play like Travis you need a thumb pick, also you are using two or three fingers he used a his thumb and just one finger, he could do more with a thumb and one finger than most guitarist can do with thumb and three fingers.
I’ve been playing fingerstyle for a while now but can’t seem to get rid of the scraping sound the nail of my first finger makes on the third string. I hear it too with your playing but not as intrusive. Any suggestions on how to minimize that sound? I’ve tried various nail shapes and angles of my picking hand. Very nice lesson, right up there with Justin Guitar! Thanks!!
You remind me of the guys who say Lindsey Buckingham is fingerpicking wrong. Clasical guitarists, the original finger style guitarists, don't use the thumb position you suggest. While it may work for you, it's not the only and not necessarily the best way. I and many others don't play that way. BTW Merle Travis played his "Travis Picking" with thumb and index finger only.
You have quite a long thumb. I notice too that you say "It's as easy as that". LOL:). Everything is easy when you know how. I agree with others....you go way too fast for "us beginners". I have always struggled with finger picking & I have tried like hell as it is a beautiful sound. It is like the strings are "singing" the song. It is the thumb placement. I have tried every which way & with the thumb out front as far as you show it, hence my comment about your long thumb, I just can't seem to get it happening. I just "trip " over my fingers. :)
@@glorioskiola Thank you Glori. I do do that but it is just my unco fingers not wanting to cooperate....LOL :) I have always struggled with strumming rhythm & playing the chords at the right time & timing to the beat. If I throw in singing it throws me even more. Too much multitasking for this male LOL. So to try getting my individual picking fingers to do what they are supposed to is very hard. Even more so at speed. I must have got kicked out of the class room when god gave out those abilities. Take care, stay safe :)
My sympathies to you . I'm 70 and trying to get the hang of Travis picking . Over our five week lockdown I wanted to come out of it with something ! I got as far as the bass picking , but just recently am giving it another go and am encouraged by sometimes ' getting it ' a bit . Its a bit like learning to dance I think ,,,,It takes a while for it to fall into place ... anyway good luck with it ...keep practising is of course the key .
@@maxmiguel500 Thank you for the encouragement. Yes practice makes perfect, so they say. It is crazy how some people just have the gift & can pick it up quickly while others of us have to work damn hard & still don't quite get it. I will keep trying though. Cheers :)
