Easy Travis Picking Techniques - Guitar Lesson
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- čas přidán 31. 10. 2013
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Don Ross talks about fingerpicking patterns with a focus on Travis Picking in this lesson. He explains the pattern thoroughly and at a step-by-step pace so that it can be picked up by fingerstyle players of any level.
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OK folks. This video is 8 years old. I wasn't cutting my string ends much at the time. I tend to now. Hope everyone can let it go now. :-)
no
lll
Love you Don!
Very nice tutorial Don! Thanks!
Don Ross loved you ever since I first heard you in guitar class back in 96 or so. Pretty sure every single Canadian guitar teacher secretly wanted to be you.
Probably the best lesson I've ever watched - and I'm 60 years old. Don obviously has the 'chops', but doesn't try to impress beginners with his obvious talents. And frankly, this was pretty simple, even an old fart like me could follow along. I don't know if this is a style I'll ever embrace, but this was an awesome instruction video. Hands down - one of the best I've seen! Full of content and 'hands-on' lessons...
56 years old and starting to learn guitar. This video was awesome and I was making some music come out of my guitar! Thank you!
Justin Johnson also has a good video explaining finger picking that helped me out a lot. I wish you luck on your guitar journey.
@@michaelsmith9544 i agree. this has already helped me, and I just found this today.
A genius at his craft who a) is willing and b) is able to teach others?? What a brilliant person
Yorkshire Dave How kind! Thank you.
What are those picks on your right hand fingers? Glued on??
@@rayvoith1344 Artificial nails, yes.
GREAT LESSON!! They don't get much more better than this. He knows how to teach.
Don Ross is far more than a guitar teacher, he's the only person to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship twice and has around 16 solo records(Passion Sessions being my fav). When you have that strong of a resume you would think how you like to string your guitar wouldn't be an issue.
Don and Andy McKee and everyone else I've seen on that CandyRat record label, are incredible players. But Don and Andy just blow my mind.
@@fenderstratguy Micky blew me
Ohh wow!!! Congratulations Don!
I’ve been playing guitar for almost twenty years. I am sitting here speechless... speechless and for the first time ever, after years of trying to figure how to play fingerstyle I’ve finally GOT IT! and as soon as I connected if the sixth string, the floodgates opened. In the last twenty minutes I’ve been hammering on the sixth and fifth strings, sliding and playing songs I’ve been trying to play for years... I can’t thank you enough for this. You’re an amazing teacher sir. Can’t wait to watch all of your videos and toss coin into the Patreon and most importantly spread the word about your channel.
This is an excellent lesson. I've played fingerstyle for decades, but never learned this pattern (I started on "The Lee Shore" and "Dust in the Wind" and don't play much country.) But this is probably the very best pattern to learn first and is very widely used in a wide variety of styles.
For folks who want to know what's next, to continue where this lesson ends (and to start to get an idea what Leo K meant), I suggest these steps:
1) Learn a compatible pattern for the 5 root position chord shapes: C, A, G, E, and D. (In C, you move your 3rd finger every 2 beats. You've seen E and G, and A is like C. D is like A but omit the ring finger.) Learn to shift between chords (learn songs!)
2) Play the pattern two ways: stressing the downbeats on your thumb, versus stressing the middle and ring finger to get a more syncopated sound. (Find other ways too!)
3) AFTER you've really mastered the above and can do it in your sleep, change the picking order from (strings) 6-3-4-2-6-3-4-1 to 6-2-4-3-6-2-4-1
4) Learn patterns that instead of alternating all strings, that play two notes at the same time, like 6+3-rest-4-2-6+3-rest-4-1. This is almost identical to the original pattern, but the 3rd string is struck at the same time as the root, with nothing played in its normal time slot. A very small change that makes a very nice difference in the result.
5) ... and here's where Leo's message comes through: at each step, pay attention to the resulting sound, and as you evolve with LOTs of practice, learn to think about the sound rather than your fingers. When you start to get this going, you'll find you can think about the sound you want and your fingers will adjust, and you won't really know which finger you're using to play each note, you'll just know you're playing each note you want, right when you want it. You'll be able to flow between similar patterns without thinking fingers, but rather, PLAYING THE MUSIC that's in your head. At least, within a set of related fingering patterns.
6) Learn a completely new pattern and start these steps all over again, like I'm doing today! I suggest Dust in the Wind, which has a simple underlying pattern but adds a few nice nuances. You can start with just the simple pattern and everyone will recognize the song, and add the nuances as you can.
Add enough new patterns and variations and bingo, you're Don or Leo! (OK, I skipped a few hundred steps there.)
Thank you Don, you have such a great talent for teaching! There are not many, who can play so well, yet have the patience and clarity to take us back to the very basics and repeat the pattern several times. It has been very helpful!
Thanks for the friendly comments, folks. Those of you who are obsessing with my curly string ends need another drink. ;-)
I do the same things with my strings.
May I ask why you don't?
Don Ross hey don is the only way to purchase those lessons you have for fingerstyle on jamplay is to subscribe and be a member?
Don Ross I have to admit Don that initially I was annoyed by the strings then I reminded myself that we all have the right to personal expression. Now more than ever we need to be tolerant of differences and focus on what's important. You are a great guitarist and teacher. Peace
Don Ross I noticed your 1, 2 and 3 fingers appear to have false nails installed. How well do these stay on? I find regular finger picks to be a little clumsy and I can't grow my nails out.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. The best teaching on this I have seen. I feel like I can now learn to do this. I am willing to practice, but you have to know what it is you are doing and you show that very clearly. Thank you Don.
I realize this is an "old" video but as an old guy just picking up the guitar and learning this technique it is new an fresh! Of all the Travis picking videos I have seen so far, this one is the most comprehensive and well taught out there! Thank you soooo much!
Awesome man, you really set me up to learn finger picking, I've been playing rock and blues guitar for 28 yesrs, but never really got too much into finger style, now I will.
Finally, a wonderfully clear, methodical and usable explanation of the principles of Travis picking. I've learned more from this one video than all the others that I've watched. Kudos to the teacher. So many guitarists are really technically proficient but simply can't teach....and can't teach simply! Much appreciated. Thanks 👍
Hi Don, I've been playing for over 50 years. I can strum the hell out of a guitar, but I have never had the patience to learn how to fingerpick. After watching your tutorial I realized at 66 years old there is still hope for me. You're good!!! Thank you very much.
I want
Hi Don. Can't believe I found you! I recorded a load of your music directly from a radio show in Vancouver back in the early 90s! I have since lived in Spain for 15 yrs and am now back in my native Manchester, UK. I have never forgotten that cassette I probably still have somewhere - I wrote "Don Ross fingerstyle guitar" on it! Thanks for this video, I am taking up guitar again after failing and giving up too many times in the past. Your great teaching style is going to be a huge benefit for me! Cheers!
You’re a natural born teacher! My first attempts at finger picking came from McCartney’s Mother Nature’s Son and Blackbird, much simpler forms. After 60 years I may not be your target student but I have kids in my life who can truly benefit from your patient tutoring. Well done, and thank you! 😃
Dan, thanks so much for this - it's probably the clearest and best lesson on CZcams for demonstrating how important the PATTERNS are in Travis picking. So much you can do with two or three solid patterns. Great stuff.
This is seriously the best description I've ever heard. Explained so easily. Thank you so very much.
Hey Don, I remember you well from your days with the St Veronica choir back in the 70s. You inspired me to try learning the guitar back then, but it didn’t stick. I retired in 2017 and gave it another try. It stuck! Now I’m addicted to playing everyday. Thanks, All the best!
I've tried Travis picking on and off for years and never managed to nail it. Within a week of going through your video I'm finally Travis picking, and at a pretty fast rate too. Thank you Don,, you're the man!
Nice to hear. Sorry it took me so long to say so!
Amazing lesson, Don. Always fun when I'm able to pick something up to better myself as a player. Especially when it is taught by someone who makes it seem so easy. Whilst Travis picking is something that takes time just like anything else, you've given me a great step in the right direction. I made some great notes, and spent about an hour pausing and working on things while switching between my Tele and my acoustic. Thank you, again. Your teaching method is second to none. I wish I could find an instructor like yourself locally for stuff like this.
Thank you for this, I've watched alot of finger pick tutorials and this is the clearest instruction , and very friendly teaching style always helps too. Let's get too it!
Don Ross -- the first time I ever heard of you was about 3 years ago, when my newphew (a Berklee graduate) told me to search Andy McKee and Tight Trite Night --- I saw your duet of that with McKee. I never imagined a guitarist could do those things.
Now after watching and listening to your outstanding travis picking instruction, my respect goes to a whole new level. You're an incredible player--- yet also an exceptional teacher --- your virtuosity at both is indescribable. Of all of the travis picking lessons I've watched on here and on DVD's yours is by far the best. Your natural intelligence is clearly revealed here.
I can't thank you enough for posting this lesson here on CZcams. It's a privilege to learn from a man of your exceptional talent.
Thanks for this video. I am improving nicely. You are a master guitarist and a master teacher of your art. Thanks so much for your detailed method into the travis picking pattern. This is great for people that goes beyond your personal interaction groups.
After exploring all Google and CZcams lessons about Travis picking..finally one real understandably and usefully lesson.You are a great teacher dude!
You my friend are a very good teacher. I have fake finger picked for years but am now ready to take my time and discipline my self to learning proper regimented techniques... no cheating what so ever. I believe your eloquence on finger to string dynamics will help me accomplish my goal. Thank you!
Wow, thank you, this was very helpful to me.
Love that lesson on picking! Don Ross is so cool, and he speaks slowly. He makes something quite complex, much easier with the tone of his voice, and clear explanation, for a beginner. It's a bit long, but I enjoy watching it over and over, weeks after weeks. And I grasp a few things each time, while practising. Thank you so much!
-Pascal
Don, you're awesome! This is such a great lesson. I was able to follow along and pick up some speed. I'm not quite where you were at the end there, but I see how to get there, and I have a road map to layer on complexity. Your careful, patient explanations just work. Thank you!
This is the best guitar tutorial I’ve ever seen. Felt like a real lesson 👏🏻
I think this is the best sounding acoustic guitar that you can hear on CZcams
Beneteau
I like the sound of it as well. is that a breedlove?
I feel like I just stumbled on a pot o gold. Absolutely fantastic instruction. A real gift from a sublime player!
this is a really good lesson, showing all the angles of the fret and going over it slowly with individual picks works for me
A terrific instructor...one of the best I have witnessed on YT. Methodical, clear, soft-spoken, patient, and, humble.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for the positive words! You can find more of Don's courses on our site: www.jamplay.com/guitar-teachers/107-don-ross
From time to time among many, there is someone like Don Ross, who explains his teaching, crystal clear, he is the person who can save the student years of study.
Thanks so much for this video. We all love your music, and in addition, you're a great teacher who's easy to listen to and follow. We look forward to all of your videos, Don. Blessings.
Hi Don, thanks so much for this wonderful lesson. I tried 2 others but you seem to build the Travis style in just the right way. Greatly appreciated.
Love your guitar btw!
The absolute best and most effective way I've ever seen someone teach Travis Picking. You provided a great music theory background that actually was so helpful in explaining how to play the pick. Love this !!!!!!!!
Don, you have a very calming demeanor which makes it easy to focus on your fingers and what you're saying. I've learned that lesson easily. Thank you!
This is exactly what I needed.
Thank you
This is the best lesson I've ever seen on Travis picking. The mystery is solved! I can actually do this! Thanks!
Wow... this is a hidden gem on YT. Hands down the best picking video I've seen amongst many I've seen- truly a gem here
THE BEST Travis Picking instructional video on CZcams!
Gotta love it when virtuoso extraordinaire Mr. Ross, says “It makes it a lil challenging”...gives us mere mortals a glimmer of hope 🙂
Are you a squirt boy?
Mate, that was a wicked lesson. You certainly have the gift of teaching.
Don ,I so appreciate your methodical approach to teaching us slugs how to Travis pick. You have a gentle and patient way in your style of teaching that makes learning easier and fun to boot! Keep up the good work.
What an amazing teacher!
I'm thirteen and I just started playing guitar but you made this super easy and fun and after an hour I was able to go really fast while doing this and switch chords quickly, too. Thanks!
Thanks for the learning pace and not going so fast, as many others do. 75 here and just getting into finger picking. Flat picked all my life, so a change, well for the right hand. Never dreamed a right thumb could cause so much grief.
Im doing 15 minutes a day of focused travis picking practise, broken up into 2.5 minute intervals, its crazy how quickly you can learn it if you force your brain into focusing solely on a task like that, try it out sir :)
czcams.com/video/V_Aq5JBSuuU/video.html
Its not about the age man, its about the relaxation in your hands every time you try. The difficulty of the process needs to be accepted, but thats not the main point of practicing, you cannot start a task always telling yourself that what you are doing is so hard, so complicated... You have to remember always that music is for human joy.
Finally... an ocean of videos... I happen across this lesson.
As aSitarist for 40 years and always loved noodling on the guitar. This instruction is superb. So glad i stumbled on this. Thank you. Im looking forward to hrs of fun exploring this picking style. rare to find such clarity in instruction.
Best Travis picking lesson I've experienced, thank you.
Watch Tim Lerch's Travis picking video. He cuts the talking and covers the more distinctive Travis licks.
Hi Don, you can tell from your lesson that you are an incredible guitarist. You are that good you don’t have to show off all the time just to prove it on your video. Your video is done really well. Clear, with all the important angles covered. And the pace is just perfect.Thank you for posting this great finger style lesson. Cheers Brent
Thank you so much. Your calm manner is just what I need to get my head (and fingers) around this. After trying this out and failing a couple of weeks ago, I went back today and gave it another shot and I managed it. Brilliant video.
Dear Don Ross,
Thanks to you I'm now a fingerstyle
guitar player. This video was so helpful, really helped me to get to know the basics of travis finger picking.
Thanks so much!
Greetings from Germany,
Jens
Great lesson- its so nice to have such slow, clear instruction! Thank you!
This video is one of the best one's on Travis picking I've seen on youtube. I'm a blind guitar player. I've always loved to listen to pickers like Dock Watson and have always wanted to try Travis picking. Don, thanks so much for telling exactly which finger goes on which string. So many videos that teach Travis style are to visual for someone who can't see the strings or what the teacher is doing. Your guitar is very good as well with wonderful tone. It sounds like maybe a martin d18, or maybe a d28. Thanks again for a great video and I'll enjoy getting better at finger style.
We are so glad this video worked well for you Joshua!
How did you figure out where to leave a comment?
I use screen reading software on my computer which reads me the text on the screen. When I read the comments and I want to put up my own comment, I can easily find the edit box by either down arrowing and pressing enter, or I could just hit the letter e for edit then hit enter to comment.
67 years old and loving it - Thanks for the insight - I’m on it! 🎸
Man, best lesson on Travis picking I’ve found so far! Thanks for the knowledge.
Great organization, great voice, good sound... one of the best , easiest to follow finger style demos online... I have your album in my car Don and play it all the time!! Thanks for this!!!
Thanks Don for breaking down this concept in such a way that your delivery of lesson is inspiring for us picker wannbes to succeed!
Thank you for this gift tutorial, Don Ross. You are a Titan of this art form who has shared so much more than your method with those of us who are struggling to master the intricacies of the guitar. You have deconstructed guitar picking for me like no other.
I cannot imagine a lesson more perfectly done. Thank you so very much Mr.Ross...
This guy is a wizard! I can’t believe my fingers are doing this 😭 ty 🙏🙏
It’s your patience that makes the lesson work so well. Thank you so so much
Thank-you, Dan; this vid is absolutely the best intro to Travis-style picking that I have, yet, seen on the internet. Fantastic job!
Thank you very much Don. Finally, I'm starting to get it. Your patience really helps
Thanks for teaching a 69 year old how to fingerpick ,,,travis style,,,,much appreciated,,,many thank ...
Stormin
Nice
S t o r m i n
I'm seventy and got a channel here. lol :-)
Ron
Agreed, I'm 68 ;)
nice
I think I got it.
Explained slowly enough and clear enough to get it.
Thanks
Bravo ! Signore. Sei grande, da Vero. Grazie di cuore.
Such a wonderfully clear and concise lesson taught at just the right speed and appropriate length of time allotted for learning each new step. Perfect!
Thank you for this tutorial…for the first time Travis Picking makes sense :) Very thankful for your detailed walk through of each string and the different chords!
I know this is old.. but thank you! Such a simple picking pattern that can be modified for almost any chord. This is what makes CZcams great.
One of the best guitar video on YT
Thank you, this lesson has been so helpful as a starting point for me.
Excellent lesson. I really like your demeanor and simplifying of picking patterns. Your music is awesome!
Thank you for this excellent lesson. I really needed someone to break it right down for me! I wish comments by trolls would just delete themselves!
Great video. Thanks for posting. Much information and detail presented. I will have to return later for additional processing.
Thanks to Don Ross and JamPlay.com for all those who helped in this video presentation. With great CZcams presentations like this, the future of music and musical talents will grow exponentially. One regret in my life is I did not have such presentations available. I have tried guitar lessons by a number of music teachers, and they cannot match the presentation here. Thanks for this kind of lesson to people who love music and are willing to practice to develop themselves. Again, thanks Don and everyone else involved for posting.
Ditto!
Great lesson ! For those complaining it's too long etc, maybe they are too "advanced" for this. For me, it was perfect. It's like a teacher sitting in front of you teaching.
Many thanks again for the effort, Don. Keep it up !
You have no idea how much this has helped. I have been learning guitar for a short time but I don't enjoy or feel comfortable with strumming. I felt finger style was a better choice and your instruction is so clear and easy to follow. I really enjoyed this video. Thank you so much.
THis is my new favorite picking pattern! You rock, thank you!
Intelligent, articulate, and clear. Good detail, good instructor. This guy is great.
He has a bad habit of making a sucking sound when he talks.
@G Kess
A bad habit of making a sucking sound... really?
So you want him to change how he talks so you are pleased? Come on, man.
If you don't like how he talks, then don't watch his videos. Also, if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything.
This is the best tutorial ever on Travis Picking that I have come across!!🔥🔥 Just one time watch was enough to really understand Travis Picking. Explained it so simply and amazingly 🙌🙌
Thank you- for keeping it down to Earth !
FANTASTIC TEACHER relaxed and clear explanation lesson,and thank you
one of the best, i agree
Thank you!
@@mragunathan1627
Agreed. Great lesson, to the point and paced so that anyone can follow.
Many years ago I met a beautiful woman who forced me to listen to your gifted guitar playing. I picked up a guitar took lessons and I have just recently rediscovered your music . She’s long gone but my interest in playing guitar is still here . Take Care Don Ross .
Thank you for explaining multiple aspects of this and giving information that will help apply it to all of my playing
Excellent lesson. I have learned so much from this. Thank you.
These are the songs I practiced to get comfortable with Travis picking:
April Come She Will - Simon and Garfunkel
Going to California - Led Zeppelin
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel
Kathy's Song - Simon and Garfunkel
Never Going Back Again - Fleetwood Mac (Save this one for last, trust me)
Thanks for some extra info on good music to help improve
Don"t forget Dust in the Wind!
Classical Gas
Enjoyed every second of that video. Great teacher who really broke it down step by step. Thank you very much!
Der Mann ist nicht nur symphatisch sondern für mich als ,,blutigem" Anfänger ein toller Lehrer, der mich die ersten Schritte zum Travis Picking erfolgreich gehen liess.. . . . .Danke dafür !!!
NOW I understand Travis picking - great explanation. Thank you! And the three camera angles - VERY helpful!
Don, you're as great a teacher as you are a player. Your approach is calm, friendly and accessible for anyone at any level. Thank you so much for making it easy for even the most challenged student to learn guitar!
I've been playing for 7 years and still struggling with Travis picking. This lesson really enlightens me. Thank you!
GuitarCailuong its all about the thumb!!! Keep practicing! You got this!
It was 1999 or 2000 when i first heard Don Ross and Tommy Emmanuel in vinyl cassettes, in the album Fingerstyle, i instantly fell in love with fingerstyle playing!!! ... Thank you for opening this world to me!!!...God bless you guys!!!
Hands down, the best finger picking instruction I have found!
Hi everyone. So many people are asking about the artificial nails on my picking hand. I buy kits that consist of pre-made artificial nails, glue and a file. There are a few different brands, including "Kiss" and "Nailene." The nails are too thin to be useful with only one glued on, so I double them up by gluing one on top of the other on my nail, for double thickness, then all is well. I can do my own nails (three of them) in 10 minutes. Going to the salon and getting them done makes for longer-lasting, more natural-looking results, but is expensive and a problem if you break one on the road as you spend a crazy amount of time in a foreign country hunting down a nail salon! :-)
+The Subscriber Beneteau
Thank You, Don! FINALLY -- the gods sing out and the angels weep! -- someone who has all the qualities of a superb teacher: clarity, patience, foresight, and an understanding of how to explain things in a way that even my cat can grasp. I've been fingerpicking for years - well; really more of a strum & pick - but I never had anyone tell me how to do it confidently and economically. May all the blessings of the Buddha befall you!
And thanks for the information on the artificial nails. I've been wanting to get away from steel fingerpicks for years, but didn't know anyone to ask about it.
Hi ! Can u please make a video showing all about how to put those artificial nails ?
"The Ever-Ready Bunny" I love it! Thanks for the video!
Avoided Trademark infringement on that one. Lol
Really excellent lesson. Thanks! 😀
Thank you for your time helping us. You are a great teacher, Clear and easy to listen to.