Merle Travis performs "Lost John"

[sixstringpickin]

Can anyone explain to me how to play the thing he does between 1:29 and 1:36? How is this technique called? What is the picking pattern? I can do Travis picking, but I cant play that pattern. I would be very grateful if someone could explain this.

[MikeMandaville]

Some of you have drawn the conclusion that since Merle appears to be picking with only two fingers in this video, this demonstrates that he picked with only two fingers. This is a false conclusion.

Rita Hayworth appears to be singing in her movies, but she did not sing. Her singing voice was nearly always dubbed in.

Please note that I am not saying that Merle did not pick with only two fingers. I am simply saying that you will need better proof to draw such a conclusion.

[Jakes1185]

@MikeMandaville So you're saying that SEEING Merle Travis pick with two fingers isn't evidence enough to suggest that he picked with two fingers? What on earth are you talking about?

[MikeMandaville]

@Jakes1185 No, that's not what I said. For example, cheyennecrazyhorse has written "WOW !! And he's only pickin' with one finger and his thumb. Fantastic !!" There is nothing about that statement which is open to interpretation, regardless of your use of the word "suggest". The poster has drawn a conclusion which, in his own mind, is a solid one, and, I repeat, it is a false conclusion.

By the way, it certainly would be possible, but more difficult, to play this tune with only two fingers

[Jakes1185]

@MikeMandaville But he IS picking this song with his thumb and first finger. I am still failing to see your point.

[MikeMandaville]

@Jakes1185 The point is that, as in the case of Rita Hayworth, the audio portion of this video could easily have been dubbed in afterwards, and you yourself have no way of knowing if this was or was not done. A guitar player who knocks himself out trying to play like Merle Travis "with two fingers" would do well to realize that Merle himself did not necessarily play with two fingers, simply because his videos make him appear to be doing so. Again, Rita Hayworth did sing, but we didn't hear her

[Jakes1185]

@MikeMandaville That's a fine abstract argument, and most Travis-Picking songs are certainly easier picked with three fingers, but this line of thinking strikes me as being incredibly and pointlessly paranoid. This isn't the only youtube video that features Travis picking with two fingers. "Travis Picking" in the traditional sense, is thumb and fore-finger. Not to mention that this video seems obviously legit to me. I just think you're blowin' smoke.

[MikeMandaville]

@Jakes1185 Whether or not Merle Travis picked with two fingers is arguable, but that this video does not demonstrate that he did so is not. That you agree with me that it is easier to pick Travis-style with more than two fingers means that I have made my point. Since it is easier to pick Travis-style with more than two fingers, therefore, those who do so are not being paranoid. Those who do so are exercising their common sense. Common sense and blowin' smoke are two different things. Got it?

[Jakes1185]

@MikeMandaville Yeah, you're right. There are probably PLENTY of guitar videos taken during this period and overdubbed in such a way as to make people believe the player was better than he really was. And the moon landing is totally fake too. That's not paranoid. Or condescending.

[MikeMandaville]

@Jakes1185 Jakes, either you are joking, or else you know very little about the history of the musical recording industry. I suspect that you are joking. Regardless of that, back in the fifties, when this video was made, Les Paul, the guitar player, had a popular television series which ran for a total of seven years. Les Paul was not only the inventor of sound-on-sound tape recording, he was also the musician who made the most use of it. Those shows feature sixteen levels of sound. Okay?

[Jakes1185]

@MikeMandaville Your logic is bizarre. I mean that as a compliment. The point isn't whether or not it's technologically possible, the point is that I'm asking WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT? You're trying to suggest that there is some conspiracy at hand here, that there is some possibility Travis might have picked a song with three fingers on tape and then recorded himself on video playing with two. Ok, I'm done now. Last word yours.

[MikeMandaville]

@Jakes1185 Jakes, you probably will be interested in knowing that after viewing Merle's 1951 acoustic solo version of his tune "Nine Pound Hammer", I now am convinced that Merle did indeed pick with just two fingers. However, not only do I still maintain that it would be easier to play Merle's tunes with more than two fingers of the picking hand, I maintain that it would be easiest of all with five fingers. I also think that wrapping the thumb around the neck is not necessarily good form.

[MikeMandaville]

Ricky Carmichael wrote:

merle travis is turning this into a mockery of a more authentic kentucky banjo song about a jailbird who escaped from bowling green prison (which i believe is in missouri), and he was one of the first used as bait for the bloodhounds they sent on his track. I believe her outwitted the hounds by running round the most obscure of places where the hounds couldnt reach.

now aint that a fact.

-

Thank you for letting us know hat this song is about. Appreciate it.

[rickjolley]

Dont you just love those lace up boots!!

Rick Jolley

Colorado Spgs

[ImJMadness]

dude this is the stuff me my cousin and my grandpa jam to at family reunions

[mountainat85]

man can this guy play!

[ELVIS4221]

do you have a version by Doc Watson

[UncleErnie71]

"I usually play that part on the jug." Love this guy.

[mountainat85]

Wow! love this guy's music. Just discovered him.

[RohanSimpsonBlack]

this dude is fucking chilled. awesome

[billga2010]

He had such class. The boots. The rocking chair.

[PopExpo]

that was fucking amazing! merle and chet never get as much respect as say....SRV or Clapton or hendrix even though i think chet and merle had way more skill. i mean listen to that he had the whole band in one guitar and his voice. rare these days.

[justmusicandme]

What a talented singer and picker!

[conigjo62]

I am NOT a country music fan.. BUT this song is great. Merle Travis is a huge talent!!!

[AgentCarter]

@conigjo62 well like a lot of tunes from this era, this song has a lot of jazz influence.

[lechbarh]

I LOVE THIS----so simple and pure and awesome-----he picks like the Reverend Gary Davis----I LOVE THIS SONG---I learned the guitar part but can't remember the lyrics----i have to make them up everytime i've played it-----I wish more people could understand how great music like this is

[pissballs]

1:30 to 1:36 does anyone know that technique? I've seen Eddie Pennington do it but I'll be darned I still haven't found out how its done. I'll just have to keep watching listiening and practice till I get it. Merle could make those strings resonate in a way that made him so good.

[bluesman1981]

@pissballs dude he just uses his thumb and index finger, if ya want i'll give ya few tips, before i heard of merle i was playing kinda like this, it's kinda tricky, but hey i'll do my best to tell ya what little bit i know

[roserofe]

Thumbpickers rule!

[welder541]

The way music USE to be. I sure do miss it!!!!

[justavid]

Is this the DVD that contains the song "Nine Pound Hammer" that he sings after taking a long breath? That video used to be on youtube but the person closed his account and now is not available. Can you upload that song? It's the one where he is sitting down, probably after this song or before it.

[matetune]

he is the man:-)

[daffydoug]

Man I LOVE this old classic stuff!  This is TRUE American music!!!

[gittar1]

when i saw "from here to eternity ".. i was "hooked "! been playing ever since . gm

[pissballs]

Merle had a smooth picking hand he was definately playing in the pocket. What a class act he made that acoustic hum some jingles! I like some of the fancy technical banjo rolls and techniques from other players but the travis style feels and sounds pure to my ears!

[bongfodder]

I'm having a bit of trouble translating that idea to electric as the bridge is so far displaced,any tips?

[29cc1]

Great stuff!

[dressrehearsalrags]

If anything could be said to be a marker of cultural decline in America it's the horrid fate of pop music. Where once quality and talent prevailed, stupidity and the lowest common denominator hold power. How very sad.

[bgredneck90]

Hell yeah what a great picker, and im from Bowling Green! I know a few lost johns

[welder541]

Thanks for posting this. Merle will live on forever with these wonderful old clips for everyone to watch and enjoy. What a great musician and performer. God Bless You Merle!!!

[pnessgtr]

2:36

[chalkeywhite1]

Dear MrRickycarmichael, I was wondering if you could inform me whats it like being a complete twat?.

yours faithfully.

Dennis White

[TitsJuggernaut]

fuck. yes.

[101Volts]

"I usually play that part on the jug" :)

[williamanesbitt]

Wish I could mock like that.

[MrRickycarmichael]

merle travis is turning this into a mockery of a more authentic kentucky banjo song about a jailbird who escaped from bowling green prison (which i believe is in missouri), and he was one of the first used as bait for the bloodhounds they sent on his track. I believe her outwitted the hounds by running round the most obscure of places where the hounds couldnt reach.

now aint that a fact.

[BrutusJones]

For sure Mr. Travis has influenced some big names.

[MilesPittman]

How surprised would we be if the country stars of today could hold our attention like Merle Travis just did? And cause our feet to tap with only an acoustic and thumb pick!

[Jj2dajays]

nice!!

[MarijnvdZaag]

2:38!! I love it :)

[youngcremona]

This is just tooo good.

[cyjon007]

You can tell he's spent many an hour doing just what he's portraying there... Outstanding!

[scd574]

Awesome Guitar Work!! I Had Never Heard His Stuff Until I Got On You Tube.I Wish I Could Play Like Him.Thanks To Who Posted This.He Reminds Me Of My Late Uncle He Could Play Like This!!

[idaltuguy]

Actually, you have. You just don't realize it. Many of those little breaks you heard in Rockabilly/ Rock & Roll, emulated Travis Picking sound. Also the break on "Lookin out my back door" by Credence Clearwater Revivial (which emulated Rockabilly, of course) took its influence indirectly from this.

[scd574]

Oh Yeah! Cool Thanks For The Info. Thanks For posting This Because Like I Said If I Wouldn't Have Seen It Here I Wouldn't Have Seen It At All. This Guy Reminds Me Of My Late Uncle He Could Pick Just Like Him.

Shawn Downs-scd574

[idaltuguy]

Sure. :) That's awesome that you're uncle could pick like MT. It's always great to hear that style.

[floppyd0g]

This is wonderful. Justin Townes Earle is doin' a similar kind of thing now. He does a great "So different blues".

[curzmg]

Anyone have any chords too many 7s and crazy walking bassline it would take forever to work out?! Merle Travis is a guitar god

[daveball147]

i know the doc watson version is just Emaj A7 and B7with an F# root i dont know the exact order but i knwo those are the chords

[Beemerboy324]

And notice that he does the whole song using only the right thumb and index finger.

Love the fly lineman's boots.

[DarkNowInDachau]

The first time I ever heard Merle Travis, I was wondering "Who's playing with him?"

I was floored to find out it was all him...

[puika1987]

This is one great footage. Thanx for sharing! Always love waching legend in action :-)

[AppalachianSC]

He was long gone...

[oxybent]

If I had not seen it I would not have believed it, that one finger and one thumb could do that.

Well, sorry, missed out the third element.....

[AppalachianSC]

Where can I find this on DVD?

[oxybent]

Well, I keep watching that over & over &.......

Have you got any more from that session?

Great stuff!

[Dorian8va]

Great share Danny- wow, I gotta try the thumb pick- sounds great-5 and fave......

[OldTimeVoice]

Great video i really enjoyed it 5*****s Thanks

blu65 for sharing.....Colin.

[weeyin1155]

Wonderful share! Thanks to oldcountrytunes!

Glowing stars and hugs from us..Jan and Susan.x

[jtls8]

Just an awesome video*****

Thank you blue65gibson for sending.

[mskerripa]

This was great!! *****

[oldcountrytunes]

To my favorites and to some friends. ***** and thanks.

[allshookup77]

Excellent classic video, I enjoyed it very much! ... FrAnK (5*****)

(thanks blu65 for the share!)

[sherrywine1941]

This was great!! (5*)

Thanks blu65gibson for the share.

[blu65gibson]

grrrrrreat!

[CherokeeMusic]

Merle Travis could pick circles around anoyne in the business.

[banjohead62]

have you ever aeen anything that looked more natural, i had the honor of meeting and talking to him. a true american icon!

[landlifter]

downright great!

[mida87]

Good old times when people had some sence of humor in them. Just great!!!

[grimaldi07]

Extra !!!! Merci à lui et sa contribution au picking^^

[Bidonsleague]

Che meraviglia!

[andrewjeff]

è vero era bravissimo

!!!

[cheyennecrazyhorse]

WOW !! And he's only pickin' with one finger and his thumb. Fantastic !!

[whispperson]

Classic,Classic,Classic

[Ezekiel16banjo]

merle travis is the best. i'm lerning how to play merle travis guitar

[RaggedTime]

He fully deserves having a picking style named after him.

[ZenManOh]

I agree, how about we call it Travis Picking.

[dtv21]

So few views for such a fantastic performance.

You can find this clip and a few more on

a Marcel Dadi video lesson put out by

Stehpan Grossman's guitar work shop.

[rickjolley]

Don't you just love those woodcutters lace-up boots he's wearing. Don't see them much. Merle used to wear high cowboy boots with his pants tucked into them, and he looked good. (Makes me look silly!)

[rickjolley]

there are a lot of versions of this --- Lonnie Donnigan, Doc Watson, but none them are as good as this one!!

[funstuff2006]

Anybody know where sheet music for this arrangement can be found? (music book, tab, or otherwise.)

[grfellows]

There was a video on youtube that I particularly liked of Merle playing Muskrat does anyone know what happened to it?

[grfellows]

Bloody hell!