Travis picking lesson (Puff)

In this video Ill show you the Travis picking pattern. I'll break it down into two basic steps. Using a G chord we pick first the 1 and 6 string together, followed by plucking the 4 string with your thumb. Note: you must use your thumb here. The second part consists of plucking 2 with a finger then 5 with thumb then 1 with finger then 4 with thumb. Pluck the high strings with index and middle fingers. Some people just use thumb and one finger but I'm trying to show you with thumb and two fingers. Sometimes I used only thumb and finger. Whatever works for you. Most important is use of thumb as indicated. The other way to think about it is to consider what the thumb is doing alone. On the G chord it is going 6 4 5 4 6 4 5 4. It is helpful to remember this to achieve smoothness throughout the pattern. For the next chord D the pattern is the same except your thumb moves everything over one string. So it is 1 and 5 together 3 with the thumb then 2 4 1 3.

Lastly I show using this pattern on the chords of Puff The Magic Dragon which was how I first learned this. G D C G C G A7 D7 G On a sad verse substitute Bm for the D. This pattern can be used for loads and loads of tunes. Other examples: Helplessly Hoping, Don't Think Twice, Freight Train, Circle Game, Last Thing On My Mind. Hope this helps. Happy picking. Once you get the strum try it with C G then Am. Sound familiar? It's the start of Don't Think Twice.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• travis
• sw94929
• guitar
• stan
• wells

[malayabiz]

perfect i can learn it :D thank you so much :)

[SW94929]

@malayabiz You are very welcome!! Have fun picking and thank you for your nice comment.

[ThePumalives]

i'm sorry friend, but travispicking is two fingers, not three or four that's classic fingerpicking.

[SW94929]

@ThePumalives The term Travis picking is more about the alternating bass notes with the thumb and the syncopation of the other notes than how many fingers one uses. The other notes might be played with one, two or even three fingers. You are correct that Merl Travis played mostly with a thumb and one finger.

[serena1523]

the written part was so useful as well as the video. thank you!!!!!

[SW94929]

@serena1523 Thanks so much for your comment! Happy picking!

[Gingerjake2]

Well it does make lots of sense! Let's face it - the notes are there & so are your fingers, so it's really only a matter of watching & listening. But I like that I can do a sort of dueling guitars with you.

It's actually better for me without the chatter. Speaking for myself only, your instruction in the info area is all I need.

[SW94929]

I was hoping it made sense w/o any words. Most fun you'll ever have with your thumb. Thanks and one other tip is to practice the strum on open strings so you can do it lots w/o killing your left hand.

[Gingerjake2]

Oh terrific! I need to have a talk with my thumb...maybe threaten it to lead & not follow. LOL!

Thanks Stan, this really is great! Kind of nice not having to sit thru' a lot of instructional talking but just be able to pick along...if possible. ;)

[SW94929]

that's great! i bet you picked it right up too. perfect for your guitar. my first try at a tutorial. I used to call it the Puff the Magic Dragon strum but Travis is much more cool.