Guitar Lesson: Travis Picking

http://www.creativeguitarstudio.com/

Andrew Wasson of Creative Guitar Studio runs through the idea of Harmonic Patterns with Latin guitar styles.

Hi Andrew, I was hoping you could follow-up on something that my own guitar teacher couldnt explain to me all that well. He is a rock player and this question is on a fingerstyle topic. It is called Travis Picking. There are some explanations Ive found through Google, but most of the YouTube videos Ive watched are just guys playing really fast and not really explaining it very well. Hope youll do a video on this. Thanks!
- Garrett, Cleveland, OH.

Thanks for writing in! Travis Picking is a fantastic pattern playing concept that can be built to high speeds and works well for many styles of music. Kansas had a huge hit called Dust in the Wind back in the '70s and last year Pearl Jam had a hit called Just Breathe - both were applying the use of Travis Picking. In the video, I cover the application of this pattern off of several string sets. I also cover a nice old time country music turnaround phrase.

The complete lesson article for this video is available on the Creative Guitar Studio website. Follow the link below for the FREE lesson material handouts:
http://www.creativeguitarstudio.com/lessons/fingerstyle/travis_picking.php

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[andysquyres]

Thanks for a really great lesson. Clear, concise, helpful!

[EstevanMusic]

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moments gone.

Dust in the Wind, great travis picking song.

[RHODOAN]

Travis picking was the first thing I learned on the guitar, even before strumming, thanks to a girlfriend and boss who both played. I learned it using the thumb and three fingers, 'though. It helps if you can learn to do it without bracing your hand with the little finger, giving you more freedom to shift the picking hand for different tones, etc.

[myautomobilefunk]

what is the difference between travis picking and chicken picking?

[jah60025]

Can't figure out why "MucusFelidae"'s post was flagged out -- he's right. This style is just a classic arpeggio style -- go listen to any Spanish classical or flamenco guitar. Simplified maybe, but my classical teacher introduced Dust in the Wind as a fun song to play AFTER I had been studying arpeggios for a while. And the hallmarks of this "style" sound a lot like what Robert Johnson was doing, and Travis's playing traces directly to Arnold Shultz...FWIW this vid is excellent, though!

[brotherWes]

Among the best lessons on YouTube. Thanks for the clarity!

[missliss1992]

Thank you! This is best description of Travis picking I have found.

[FullEffectDJ]

Super Incredible video... I have actually played through Dust in the Wind... and this makes it all make sense. Click on my name to see some of my Classical Guitar Videos. You Rock on Classical!

[explosivejohnny]

great lesson! thanks! much needed!

[TheKhannon]

Seriously, that was the greatest video about th etravis picking that I saw on the youtube. I'm from brazil and play guitar has a 1 year. Here I finally learned how to do it. Thanks man.