TRAVIS PICKING - The most useful fingerpicking pattern, 6 easy steps!

Welcome to my Travis Picking For Beginners Guitar Lesson! In this tutorial, we'll learn how to travis pick on guitar, starting with the easiest fingerstyle pattern and building up from there. These exercises will help you gradually build the skills you need to play a ton of popular travis picking songs like:
Dust In The Wind: • "Dust In The Wind" Gui...
Let Her Go: • Let Her Go - Fingersty...
Landslide: • "Landslide" Guitar Tut...
The Boxer: Coming soon!
Don't Think Twice, It's Alright: Coming soon!
...and a TON more!
► "Travis Picking Exercises" Worksheet + TAB pdf available on my Patreon page: / travis-picking-6-55068929
► "Fingerpicking Mastery" covers everything from the most basic motions to the most useful fingerstyle patterns on guitar: goodguitarist.com/fingerpicki...
► Grab your copy of my FREE E-BOOK!
goodguitarist.com/learn-rhyth...
► Need help with the basic chords and strumming? My beginner guitar course will help you build a solid foundation one step at a time:
goodguitarist.com/beginner-gu...
Travis Picking Lesson TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 - INTRO
2:23 - STEP 1: PLACING YOUR FINGERS
3:15 - STEP 2: WARMING UP
4:37 - STEP 3: FOLLOW THE ROOTS
6:09 - STEP 4: ALTERNATING BASSLINES
8:40 - STEP 5: ADDING FINGER STROKES
10:03 - STEP 6: OFF-BEAT FINGER STROKES
12:40 - FAREWELL MESSAGE
The lesson begins with finger placement. Thumb on the 3 thicker strings. Index on G, middle on B, ring on high e.
Next we warm up with a "thumb vs fingers" exercise and get used to moving our fingers. Whether you are travis picking on acoustic guitar, or electric, this exercise is very important to be comfortable with.
Step 3 involves "following the roots" of each chord shape with your thumb. I also have a chart in my free eBook that'll show you all this information.
Next we practice alternating between notes with our thumb (the travis picking begins!)
After that, we can add some strokes with our fingers and we're travis picking! That's all there is to it!
I hope you enjoy the lesson! See you next time!
-James
---
goodguitarist.com/Travis-Picki...
/ goodguitarist
#TravisPicking #fingerstyle #GuitarTutorial

Пікірлер: 122

  • @Good_Guitarist
    @Good_Guitarist2 жыл бұрын

    Here are some songs you can practice travis picking with: Dust In The Wind: kzread.info/dash/bejne/lp6OmLCymMTTdNI.html Let Her Go: kzread.info/dash/bejne/p6dpqpmOorKqYsY.html Landslide: kzread.info/dash/bejne/g59rksOqftDIn84.html

  • @yoannardc2160

    @yoannardc2160

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi good guitarist can I request can you have a tutorial how to sing

  • @kbd2076

    @kbd2076

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks

  • @alisonium

    @alisonium

    2 жыл бұрын

    In the tutorial for landslide, I'm confused because it doesn't seem like it's travis picking. Is it?

  • @henryemilio4899

    @henryemilio4899

    Жыл бұрын

    Very nice and detailed teaching im inspired

  • @zzcanasta

    @zzcanasta

    7 ай бұрын

    @@alisonium No, it isn't Travis picking in the accepted sense of the term (ie the style developed by Merle Travis). 'Landslide' is a simple alternate picking pattern. Not a bad place to start, though, if you're new to fingerpicking.

  • @DrewAgnew
    @DrewAgnew2 жыл бұрын

    Would just like to say thank you, I’ve played guitar for over 50 years, I’m now 63 and have never been so inspired, you’ve given me the inspiration to keep practicing to master this unbelievable instrument !

  • @Peter-xy2io
    @Peter-xy2io Жыл бұрын

    59yr old here, a guitar player since age 13...while this lesson is for beginners, it helped a seasoned strummer like me! I used to only use my thumb and first finger as a hybrid picking style (in other words, it was all I could muster, and I learned how to fake it well). I'm now at the age where I have more patience with myself and a keen desire to play better. Much appreciate the patient and relaxed delivery and approach to the lesson! Kudos to ya!

  • @virtuaaliseppo6534
    @virtuaaliseppo65342 жыл бұрын

    This channel is just awesome. I'm so glad I found it! As a beginner guitarist and broke as hell, these videos just make my day. Thank you!

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad to hear it!

  • @maraalvarez7695
    @maraalvarez76952 жыл бұрын

    James I was lucky enough to find you a year or two ago. You are such a generous and patient instructor. SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS POP UP......I'm so excited to get started with you on this!!! thank you SO much :)

  • @jenniferbennett4655
    @jenniferbennett46557 ай бұрын

    This is the best and easiest to understand teacher that I’ve found. He slows it WAY down and isn’t impatient. Thank you!

  • @barcelonared6898
    @barcelonared68982 жыл бұрын

    A very good teacher, easy to follow and to understand. Thank you so much!

  • @adeliaemailnelson136
    @adeliaemailnelson1362 жыл бұрын

    Great teaching. You explain it well and are easy to follow.

  • @mariannemacdonaldthankful
    @mariannemacdonaldthankful2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much. Travis picking is something I’ve always wanted to learn. I’ve watched others trying to teach but it gets so complicated…..with my old mind it is at times hard to follow… but I made it through your lesson without any trouble right from start to finish. I know it isn’t me, it has to be you and your teaching method.I just wanted to tell you that the way you teach is so easy to understand, Your charts are done so well. I’ve been on sites where one isn’t sure if they are playing the base alone or with the fourth string because the charts are hand done and one really can’t tell where the numbers line up. Yours are excellent, thanks for the time and effort you put into this video!!! I’m going to look at your fingerpicking mastery course. All the best Marianne

  • @darithlach1116
    @darithlach11162 жыл бұрын

    Your lesson are great and helpful for all student.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  • @otis7778
    @otis7778 Жыл бұрын

    a very good lesson for old beginners like me. well done with the tab in the video. big thx

  • @jerrymacias150
    @jerrymacias1502 жыл бұрын

    Man finally some who has help with Travis pick…. Please keep it up love it

  • @hillers54
    @hillers54 Жыл бұрын

    Great progression and so well explained 👏👏👏

  • @Miguel_ON65
    @Miguel_ON652 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for your lessons and material to learn. Greetings from Spain.

  • @HoldingOnToSoul
    @HoldingOnToSoul6 ай бұрын

    Everything changed for me when you said to break it down around the thumb picks! Amazing. Thanks.

  • @MrRatclima
    @MrRatclima10 ай бұрын

    Great tutorial. Talented teacher. Thankyou

  • @seamusdoran9851
    @seamusdoran9851 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you. Great lesson. Easy to follow. 👍👍👍

  • @inayatsama6059
    @inayatsama60592 жыл бұрын

    Awesome channel here. Great lesson by James. Thank you ✌

  • @marieobrien29
    @marieobrien292 жыл бұрын

    You are an amazing teacher. Thank you

  • @bmcpsd31
    @bmcpsd312 жыл бұрын

    Great lesson. Can’t wait for Don’t think twice.

  • @kertbert1
    @kertbert12 ай бұрын

    Excellent teacher. You make it easy to see you can make it. So inspiring a lesson.

  • @saltycat662
    @saltycat6622 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this! I was placing my fingers all wrong. You're a great guitar teacher.

  • @RajeevKumar-cq6ui
    @RajeevKumar-cq6ui2 жыл бұрын

    Great lesson. You've explained everything in a very simple manner.

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @young1939
    @young19392 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the lesson.

  • @OEW3
    @OEW3 Жыл бұрын

    Great lesson! Thanks!

  • @d.l.huntministries8131
    @d.l.huntministries81315 ай бұрын

    This is exactly what I want to do. To me you are god sent, thank you..

  • @robertbain5076
    @robertbain50762 жыл бұрын

    Excellent lesson!

  • @dieselman7453
    @dieselman74532 жыл бұрын

    Thanks lad cheers from Ireland 🇮🇪 great channel

  • @keithgiles7825
    @keithgiles7825 Жыл бұрын

    Great stuff. Thanks

  • @deeminor6565
    @deeminor65658 ай бұрын

    Thanks a ton for this great finger picking lesson! Appreciate your patience explaining all the steps!❤

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    8 ай бұрын

    Hello there, glad you liked it! Cheers

  • @tevfikobenozel1831
    @tevfikobenozel18312 жыл бұрын

    I've just discovered you, your channel is a gem.

  • @jennakuebler8498
    @jennakuebler8498 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you SO much for this tutorial! I've always just given up on Travis Picking because I've never been able to get it down from other tutorials. This built so slowly and gradually, I was motivated to stick through it and want to keep coming back to practice it. Thanks for showing me I can master this instead of being weighed down by the insecurity that has mastered ME instead. So happy!

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    Жыл бұрын

    Hello Jenna Kuebler. This might be one of the most well-written comment I've ever received. Wow, I'm blown away! "the insecurity that has mastered ME instead". yes! We are not going to be victims of our own insecurities. Preach!!!

  • @C4Clonk
    @C4Clonk2 жыл бұрын

    It would be wonderful if you could make another lesson on how to take Travis Picking one step further. Like in the songs you mentioned at the end. Great video!!

  • @robertdavis1255
    @robertdavis12556 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing....I am 80yrs old & enjoy playing guitar with the finger picking patterns...some chords I now have trouble with as I have arthritis & fingers are not as flexible but I compromise... cheers 🦘🦘😊

  • @hailekewedom7171
    @hailekewedom7171 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the lessen. It's esy to follow the rulle.

  • @nicolen.9642
    @nicolen.96422 жыл бұрын

    So far, I've failed on "Don't think twice"...I think it's a lot harder (to me) than "Dust in the Wind"...I started late in life so I gotta catch up. Thanks James for this helpful lesson 🎶🎶🎶

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    Dont Think Twice IS harder than Dust. Keep it up!

  • @nilufernorsworthy3425
    @nilufernorsworthy3425 Жыл бұрын

    I cannot thank you enough! This one and all of your lessons are excellent. I am so happy I found your page. I also greatly appreciate your genuine effort in teaching, Thank you

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey Nilufer, I'm so happy you found me, too! Keep checking back - we have lots more coming. It's a labour of love for me for sure. What are your favourite songs?

  • @nilufernorsworthy3425

    @nilufernorsworthy3425

    Жыл бұрын

    Well, my goal is to play jazz music. I have a long way to do that I know. I just started. I am having so much fun with all the things you are teaching: learning to strum and definitely I am challenged by fingerpicking... I am thinking to join your paid lessons soon. Thank you for being so good, you are a great teacher!

  • @nirmalamarak9386
    @nirmalamarak93862 жыл бұрын

    Very nice 🙏

  • @Danny-xk5wj
    @Danny-xk5wj2 жыл бұрын

    I strive to play like this, hopefully ill get my shit together and actually practice on my technique instead of songs. Love you James u have exelente tast in music, much love bro

  • @brendachristopher2693
    @brendachristopher26932 жыл бұрын

    You're the best!

  • @jimmeymcgee2840
    @jimmeymcgee28405 ай бұрын

    Awesome lesson ! Wish I found you 8 months ago when I decided I wanted to do this style of playing. This lesson will fill in some gaps and give me a better understanding and foundation I’m determined I’m gonna be a mad man at this style! Just subscribed I’ll check things out we will definitely do business in the future excellent job young man thanks!👍🏾🎸

  • @betsymark5624
    @betsymark56242 жыл бұрын

    Love your lesson.

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! 😃

  • @wespeakforthetrees
    @wespeakforthetrees Жыл бұрын

    Dude I just subscribed. Thanks. Been trying to master the Travis picking style for the last few years and this helps. Thanks for posting this well thought out and well produced video. Keep up the great work!

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey thanks! If you want to take it a step further, friendly reminder that I offer a full course on this as well. Let me know how your progress goes. www.goodguitaristcourses.com/fingerstyle-guitar-course I will continue to offer more free content as well. Cheers, James

  • @sandra.wonderfulduetbull6469
    @sandra.wonderfulduetbull6469 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful teaching 💕🌺🇺🇸🥀🙏🎶🎶🎶🎶

  • @Think_For_Yourself_
    @Think_For_Yourself_2 жыл бұрын

    Subscribed!

  • @sriley53sr
    @sriley53sr Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! 👍😀

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    Жыл бұрын

    You're welcome! Always nice to get some acceptance from the Cool Kids!

  • @lawkids2
    @lawkids25 ай бұрын

    I'd like lessons. Got this now tho and thank yoy!

  • @wespeakforthetrees
    @wespeakforthetrees Жыл бұрын

    Okay man this is actually useful. Thanks for spelling it out for me!

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey yeah, it's more simple than some people realize.

  • @RhinoRuns
    @RhinoRuns2 жыл бұрын

    This is the style of playing I want to learn next! So thank you for the lesson. I’m still very much a beginner. I just joined your Patreon to get the full lesson … it’s going to take a while to get this down. I think you make the best lesson videos. Very easy to understand and follow. Thank you!!!

  • @andrepotts3898
    @andrepotts38987 ай бұрын

    Maybe 2 years ago the link was free, but now I have to pay $2 that is R54 for south Africa. But eteher way thank you for teaching on the channel, so far the easiest way

  • @VikingMan222
    @VikingMan2222 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I watch people who can do this and it just looks like witchcraft. Thank you, I'm on the track now... More please.

  • @Stevemind88
    @Stevemind882 жыл бұрын

    Amazing teaching on picking! New subscriber from me.

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    Welcome aboard!

  • @arunprakash7747
    @arunprakash77472 жыл бұрын

    Tnq u sir

  • @kathbiddle-dutton7069
    @kathbiddle-dutton70692 жыл бұрын

    Love picking … I’m struggling with strumming…..would trying picking be ok or no ?? Do I need to get strumming in order to move onto picking ?? And looking for link you mentioned This land is your land ? Yes more picking please 👍

  • @CarlWinter-oy8uf
    @CarlWinter-oy8uf5 ай бұрын

    Sounds superb---do you have tab for your Travis picking pattern ?

  • @sunroameroverland
    @sunroameroverland Жыл бұрын

    On your course’s, do you have to access on the web or is it downloadable for using offline. Thanks

  • 8 ай бұрын

    Thanks... I need to learn Travis picking... I have tried so much, at no avail... There's a mental block in place 😂

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    8 ай бұрын

    Hello Fabio... let's work through that mental block!

  • @chiconeededthemoney
    @chiconeededthemoney2 жыл бұрын

    I just started giving on your patreon page.

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much!

  • @MegaJeromino
    @MegaJeromino2 жыл бұрын

    Hi James. Thanks for your vidéos Which is the name at 4´. Please thanks.

  • @hachiman7522
    @hachiman75222 жыл бұрын

    Heyy, could you do a tutorial on Perfectly imperfect by Declan J Donovan? I've been looking for it for quite a while now, I'm a beginner so it is hard for me to make one by myself. I would love to sing this song to someone that I care about a lot. I would be really grateful if you can make one :)

  • @GillyWallace
    @GillyWallace4 ай бұрын

    Just subscribed but cannot find a link to your E Book. Great tutorials, very inspirational for this beginner guitar player.

  • @brianfindlay2925

    @brianfindlay2925

    4 ай бұрын

    If I remember rightly I downloaded the ebook from the website. The link is also beneath this video.

  • @sandra.wonderfulduetbull6469
    @sandra.wonderfulduetbull6469 Жыл бұрын

    I hope I don’t lose this site. 🌺🇺🇸🎶🥀🙏🎶🎶🎶🎶

  • @sgtmajorburtontruxel1497
    @sgtmajorburtontruxel14972 жыл бұрын

    How would you incorporate individual strings in a 3/4 time, I can see how with Base and plucking all strings. This style individual picking strings to leave out a "chorded" note.

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    3/4 time really throws a wrench in the gears! Generally you would either exclude what's on beat 3+, or 4+. It's not perfect, but usually works for a lot of stuff.

  • @amyalexahub
    @amyalexahub6 ай бұрын

    i cant find the free worksheet on your patreon. everything says you have to upgrade to unlock

  • @hokacorndancerhawkeyes2019
    @hokacorndancerhawkeyes2019 Жыл бұрын

    I love your Guitar Tutorial's easy-to-learn for a disabled senior and thank you,. I tried to download the eBook a few times and says my email is confirmed, but there are no eBooks, and how can I get the free eBook?

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    Жыл бұрын

    Could you please email me at info@goodguitarist.com?

  • @bluesgirl01
    @bluesgirl012 жыл бұрын

    Would really like to learn Susie Q the way you play it in the intro.

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    Great suggestion!

  • @fernandoduarte8523
    @fernandoduarte85232 ай бұрын

    SUBLIIIIIIME!

  • @dieselman7453
    @dieselman74532 жыл бұрын

    😍😍😍

  • @logarithm0
    @logarithm0 Жыл бұрын

    How to add a melody over this?

  • @nicolen.9642
    @nicolen.964211 ай бұрын

    Thanks James. Right now, I'm trying to figure out a travis picking of a song for which there aren't tabs. I play Dust in the Wind and the likes but the song I want to play had no instructions. So how do we "guess" the strings to pick? Thanks for your lesson!🎶🎶🎶

  • @bazthehandyman

    @bazthehandyman

    9 ай бұрын

    Basically pick out any string in the chord and avoid any strings that don't apply to the chord.For example in a d chord pick any string except the low e,unless you are bringing your thumb on to it,in which case it fits the chord.

  • @nicolen.9642

    @nicolen.9642

    9 ай бұрын

    @@bazthehandyman Thanks, got it!👍

  • @bazthehandyman

    @bazthehandyman

    9 ай бұрын

    @@nicolen.9642 great stuff.

  • @ksmith2852
    @ksmith2852 Жыл бұрын

    What effects are you using? If you play the exact same thing on an acoustic guitar..it sounds nothing like this..why?

  • @tariqosman2913
    @tariqosman2913 Жыл бұрын

    How do i get the free ebook

  • @youtube.commr.cheranmixtv
    @youtube.commr.cheranmixtv2 жыл бұрын

    👍👍👍

  • @Bradnick930
    @Bradnick9302 жыл бұрын

    What is the alternate bass note for D chord? Do you play 4th string then 5th string or the reverse?

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    For D, there's 2 options usually. The root is always D, and the alternate can be the G string, or the A string, depending on the song/what feels good.

  • @Bradnick930

    @Bradnick930

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Good_Guitarist Thanks.

  • @gstief100
    @gstief1009 ай бұрын

    I don’t see the links

  • @buddyrye9190
    @buddyrye91904 ай бұрын

    You lack the complete picking pattern for dust in the wind, but good sample size of songs.

  • @randyjam47
    @randyjam47 Жыл бұрын

    Ed, you are a gifted teacher but I only see comments on this site, no links to the helpful instructions you refer to in you talk. Also, I can't find your book on Fingerpicking Mastery ...

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    Жыл бұрын

    Hey Randy, could you please send me an email at info@goodguitarist.com and I will get you sorted?

  • @bernievail603
    @bernievail6032 жыл бұрын

    You keep referring to links down below but I can find NO links down below

  • @Good_Guitarist

    @Good_Guitarist

    2 жыл бұрын

    KZread changed the layout on mobile, and it's a bit hidden now (annoyingly!) You have to click on the title of the song and the description should pop out. Then click "read more" and you'll see I have a whole writeup that I made, detailing many things about this lesson. If you still need help opening it, search "how to view KZread description" on your favorite search engine, and you'll be able to find a guide for it.

  • @wesloegering9137

    @wesloegering9137

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Good_Guitarist your work is excellent and I have decided to join your Patreon feed. Need a link. Thanks

  • @Ones_Complement
    @Ones_Complement7 ай бұрын

    Top tier video.

  • @jalenandrew2387
    @jalenandrew23872 жыл бұрын

    8:41

  • @thorny3218
    @thorny321813 күн бұрын

    I can play the guitar like a mothafuckin riot! -brad

  • @victorfurio3715
    @victorfurio37152 жыл бұрын

    Where's the travis chart?

  • @Alrukitaf
    @Alrukitaf9 ай бұрын

    12:18

  • @marieobrien29
    @marieobrien292 жыл бұрын

    I need to get practising. Marie 67 year old

  • @stoutblackcat
    @stoutblackcat11 ай бұрын

    Merle Travis picked with his thumb and index finger only. Why is it never taught that way

  • @danvitale1825
    @danvitale1825 Жыл бұрын

    That is finger picking, Merle Travis played thumb and index only, with a steady bass 1-5 on the thumb. Different than what you are teaching.

  • @LYJrb819
    @LYJrb8192 ай бұрын

    ok.Sat,25.5.2024

  • @yjersey
    @yjersey4 ай бұрын

    Part 6 was totally unclear to me

  • @tonygarner3942

    @tonygarner3942

    4 ай бұрын

    Get off the cigarettes and try again!!

  • @Henrix557
    @Henrix557 Жыл бұрын

    more talking, less tutorial

  • @NickSerritella
    @NickSerritella4 ай бұрын

    Goes too fast like all the others no help