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

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  • čas přidán 19. 11. 2023
  • Learn Travis picking and you'll be able to play almost any picking tune you like. Named after the legendary guitarist Merle Travis, it's the most popular picking style in the world.This short tutorial will show you how to make light work of it. As always there's a method (a trick) to remembering what to do but trust me, it's really easy... when you know how! Click the link for my 'idiot proof' chord and finger position charts. They're free! www.bluenoteguitarschool.com/i...
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Komentáře • 369

  • @timothycarroll5846
    @timothycarroll5846 Před 2 měsíci +15

    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
      @JohnMcintosh-dm1gn Před měsícem +2

      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.

    • @timothycarroll5846
      @timothycarroll5846 Před měsícem +2

      @@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.....

  • @johnrains8409
    @johnrains8409 Před 5 měsíci +2

    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.

  • @maxb8695
    @maxb8695 Před dnem

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

  • @sharpsbattle
    @sharpsbattle Před 4 dny +1

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

  • @TheCommonSenseProfessor
    @TheCommonSenseProfessor Před 5 měsíci +14

    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
      @jysmtl Před 3 měsíci

      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
      @TheCommonSenseProfessor Před 3 měsíci

      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
      @jysmtl Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@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 CZcams 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 czcams.com/video/P6l3GKN6AEE/video.htmlsi=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!

  • @paulhughes3827
    @paulhughes3827 Před 6 měsíci +15

    Best travis picking lesson I have seen, thank you.

  • @howabouthetruth2157
    @howabouthetruth2157 Před 6 měsíci +40

    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.

  • @TheHarpass
    @TheHarpass Před 5 měsíci +10

    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.

  • @MarkFern-fc1eu
    @MarkFern-fc1eu Před 6 měsíci +2

    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.

  • @ihatemyjobman
    @ihatemyjobman Před 6 měsíci +7

    Would you consider possibly doing "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" by Dylan?

  • @michaelc3977
    @michaelc3977 Před 5 měsíci +4

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

  • @litotesone
    @litotesone Před 5 měsíci +7

    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!

  • @awjfagan
    @awjfagan Před 16 dny +2

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

  • @primevalprimeval
    @primevalprimeval Před 6 měsíci +14

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

  • @lou196t
    @lou196t Před 15 dny +1

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

  • @jimj.5099
    @jimj.5099 Před 6 měsíci

    Amazing Rob. Thank you.

  • @fennahrob6934
    @fennahrob6934  Před 6 měsíci +11

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

    • @GeriWardMusic
      @GeriWardMusic Před 6 měsíci

      I was just about to ask you that question. 😊

    • @tmurphy1000
      @tmurphy1000 Před 6 měsíci

      But much more difficult.

  • @2Langdon
    @2Langdon Před 6 měsíci

    Excellent, thanks!

  • @jplater9191
    @jplater9191 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Thanks this helps me a lot!

  • @hiddensoundcollective
    @hiddensoundcollective Před 6 měsíci +1

    awesome lil tune to practice, thank you!!

  • @lizrileychristiano
    @lizrileychristiano Před 6 měsíci +2

    Super helpful! Thank you!

  • @ConwayBob
    @ConwayBob Před 6 měsíci +2

    Great! This works!

  • @michaelheinz3954
    @michaelheinz3954 Před 6 měsíci +2

    Simply brilliant!

  • @primaveranz
    @primaveranz Před 6 měsíci

    Excellent Tute thanks!

  • @timegan470
    @timegan470 Před 5 měsíci +1

    This is terrific thank you Rob!

  • @886014
    @886014 Před 6 měsíci

    Brilliant! Thanks very much

  • @user-mc1ul9mo9f
    @user-mc1ul9mo9f Před 6 měsíci +2

    This is so useful. Thank you so much

  • @philipdutton785
    @philipdutton785 Před 5 měsíci

    Great stuff!

  • @ahodamahingan1698
    @ahodamahingan1698 Před 5 měsíci +1

    This was really helpful.
    Thank you for sharing

  • @Kearflex1
    @Kearflex1 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Good stuff... Thanks for sharing

  • @chrismartenable
    @chrismartenable Před 6 měsíci +2

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

  • @2slwilliams
    @2slwilliams Před 6 měsíci +1

    excellent lesson!

  • @pww6581
    @pww6581 Před 6 měsíci +12

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

    • @Patrick_H.
      @Patrick_H. Před 6 měsíci +1

      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
      @pww6581 Před 6 měsíci

      Cheers Patrick. Appreciate the advice.

  • @user-jk5hr7dm4b
    @user-jk5hr7dm4b Před 5 měsíci +2

    Very helpful. Thank you sir!

  • @uskuleleukegroup3595
    @uskuleleukegroup3595 Před 6 měsíci +2

    Absolutely fabulous

  • @moshealex
    @moshealex Před 6 měsíci +10

    Amassing work, Rob. Very easy and helpful.👍

  • @LaudCranium
    @LaudCranium Před 6 měsíci

    thanks la. very entertaining and instructive.

  • @johnnymcnoodle27
    @johnnymcnoodle27 Před 6 měsíci +10

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

  • @stephenlong7122
    @stephenlong7122 Před 6 měsíci +2

    Wonderful lesson, thank you!

  • @alankenworthy9722
    @alankenworthy9722 Před 5 měsíci

    Wow, really helpful!

  • @paulmorrissey7569
    @paulmorrissey7569 Před 5 měsíci +1

    great Rob thanks

  • @cotiga-davidpompiliu-viore9725
    @cotiga-davidpompiliu-viore9725 Před 6 měsíci +7

    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!

  • @GuitarHeroWhatley
    @GuitarHeroWhatley Před 5 měsíci +2

    Brilliant lesson that, thanks 👍🏻

  • @Stevesoffthecouch
    @Stevesoffthecouch Před 5 měsíci +1

    Excellent thanks

  • @WilliamJDager
    @WilliamJDager Před 5 měsíci +2

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

  • @taffboyslim
    @taffboyslim Před 6 měsíci +2

    Lovely lesson. I will try this

  • @MrJasdog107
    @MrJasdog107 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Great lesson going to check out your channel.

  • @michaelbattaglia2512
    @michaelbattaglia2512 Před 6 měsíci +5

    Excellent lesson ! Simple and concise. Thank you.

  • @tjstevens001
    @tjstevens001 Před 5 měsíci +2

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

  • @SweetPicklenation
    @SweetPicklenation Před 6 měsíci

    Nice work!
    Thank you

  • @mojowilder
    @mojowilder Před 5 měsíci

    great tutorial!

  • @bassoneman
    @bassoneman Před 5 měsíci +2

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

  • @doodeen
    @doodeen Před 6 měsíci +1

    Thanks Rob.Excellent lesson.Cheers Jim

  • @user-ts6pj7iy6w
    @user-ts6pj7iy6w Před 6 měsíci +1

    So cool worth waking up for thankyou

  • @patgaff2536
    @patgaff2536 Před 2 měsíci

    Wonderful lesson once again.

  • @larrycannon6615
    @larrycannon6615 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Grate lesson great teach in style

  • @kingyugee
    @kingyugee Před 6 měsíci +2

    Thank you for this video! It's going great for me so far 👍

  • @dwayne5698
    @dwayne5698 Před 6 měsíci +2

    Great lesson!! Love finger picking songs.

  • @craigtordoff3658
    @craigtordoff3658 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Great stuff mate keep it coming 👍

  • @keithskelton5596
    @keithskelton5596 Před 6 měsíci

    Thanks
    Great tutorial
    Thanks👏🏾🙏

  • @jond.2868
    @jond.2868 Před 5 měsíci +1

    a great lesson

  • @lynnasche5147
    @lynnasche5147 Před měsícem

    Excellent Travis picking lesson ! Thank you !

  • @chrisgregory6050
    @chrisgregory6050 Před 6 měsíci +3

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

  • @nigelboothman6653
    @nigelboothman6653 Před 5 měsíci +13

    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!

  • @Leenie333
    @Leenie333 Před 6 měsíci +8

    Thanks for this excellent, concise tutorial that suits my attention span 😂 Well done! Happy to be a new subscriber and looking forward to catching up on more of your videos! 💜👍

  • @pip461
    @pip461 Před 5 měsíci +2

    what a teacher , love it ,

  • @indoors-outdoorshobbies
    @indoors-outdoorshobbies Před 6 měsíci +1

    Thank you for the help and inspiration to give it a go!
    Cheers,
    Kevin

  • @hearpalhere
    @hearpalhere Před 6 měsíci +4

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

  • @Jeronimo365
    @Jeronimo365 Před 6 měsíci +7

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

  • @standtallvets5386
    @standtallvets5386 Před 6 měsíci

    Good Job and Great Video!!

  • @brianosullivan5441
    @brianosullivan5441 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Thanks man !

  • @MikeHensley-sc3ns
    @MikeHensley-sc3ns Před 5 měsíci +2

    Earned a sub!! Good job and simply sweet and to the point. I dig it.👍🏼

  • @tomplaner1488
    @tomplaner1488 Před 6 měsíci +2

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

  • @kaidemen156
    @kaidemen156 Před 5 měsíci

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

  • @davidgallois5634
    @davidgallois5634 Před 6 měsíci +2

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

  • @DavidDMcLaughlin
    @DavidDMcLaughlin Před měsícem +1

    Really good teacher. So straight forward

  • @crashier
    @crashier Před 5 měsíci +2

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

  • @kingshearer2
    @kingshearer2 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Brilliant video thanks, Macca should watch this!

  • @peterjohnson5579
    @peterjohnson5579 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Thanks very helpful and informative

  • @jeffcole4783
    @jeffcole4783 Před 6 měsíci

    Wow, thanks this lesson.

  • @ismithies
    @ismithies Před 6 měsíci +1

    No nonsense, just great help and advice thanks Rob

  • @peterlewis2783
    @peterlewis2783 Před 6 měsíci +2

    Thanks Rob, that's a great pattern. 🤓

  • @michaelvassallo4841
    @michaelvassallo4841 Před 5 měsíci +1

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

  • @kralljazz
    @kralljazz Před 6 měsíci

    Thank You!

  • @rboyer1020
    @rboyer1020 Před 5 měsíci +1

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

  • @mvdeehan
    @mvdeehan Před 6 měsíci +1

    Now and again CZcams 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.

  • @timpage4212
    @timpage4212 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Very good Rob gonna have ago at this.

  • @jdfolbre
    @jdfolbre Před 6 měsíci +1

    Good stuff

  • @marktaylor2502
    @marktaylor2502 Před 6 měsíci

    very useful thank you

  • @allancerf9038
    @allancerf9038 Před 5 měsíci

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

  • @jonathanbazely8104
    @jonathanbazely8104 Před 6 měsíci +2

    I have a few styles of my own using this basic positioning.. very helpful indeed, thank you 🙏

  • @cinders1413
    @cinders1413 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Great thanks 😊

  • @lyndarosborough869
    @lyndarosborough869 Před 5 měsíci +1

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

  • @JonJll
    @JonJll Před 6 měsíci +1

    Bravo!

  • @AWM8
    @AWM8 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Thank you very much my friend for the tip. Greetings!

  • @markarman
    @markarman Před 6 měsíci +2

    Thank You.

  • @mradisic11
    @mradisic11 Před 5 měsíci +1

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

  • @joseuisley8090
    @joseuisley8090 Před 6 měsíci +3

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

  • @PaulJohnson-yw9gi
    @PaulJohnson-yw9gi Před 6 měsíci

    Top Man; I've seen a lot of these...this is/you are the best. Good job.

  • @robertbaker1986
    @robertbaker1986 Před 5 měsíci +2

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