Help me understand Travis picking

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:13 am

For some reason I just can't get the hang of Travis picking. I've got my little take on it but it's not the real thing I don't think. For the life of me I can't seem to get the pattern down that Roger does on Echos. He is too darn fast! Does anyone here travis pick? How did you get it down? I need advise. BTW, my way of playing TTT or echos,whatever, is just flat pick only. I think if I could understand TP more I would go to the finger picks as well.

Cole

janglebox · Post by **janglebox** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:38 am

Travis picking, essenially, is playing a melody line while maintaining a syncopated rhythm. If you want to emulate McGuinn's style, you really need to use finger picks along with a flat pick. I can get suitably close using just a finger pick on my middle finger; Roger adds a second finger pick on his ring finger.

A quick, basic primer on Travis Picking can be found here:
http://www.guitarland.com/Travis.htm

janglebox · Post by **janglebox** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 9:41 am

And, of course, Roger lays out his whole style on his video.

http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=989&prodType=

kojeve · Post by **kojeve** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:37 pm

The most comprehensive/accessible books on Travis picking are by this guy Mark Hanson, who wrote "The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking," and "The Art of Solo Finger Picking," among other titles (Pub. Accent on Music). Basically, it's an alternating finger pattern: down with the thumb/pic, up with the fingers, in a number of different patterns. I use a plectrum w/ "alaska picks," which go under the nail. Much more comfortable than metal finger picks, in my opinion...

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 2:24 am

Thanks Craig, I'll check that book out! BTW, welcome to the board.

Cole

kojeve · Post by **kojeve** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 3:41 am

Thanks, and good luck with the pickin'!

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:13 am

Thanks Craig, I'm going to need it!

Cole

6l6 · Post by **6l6** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:40 am

I had my college roommate at the Univ. of Colorado teach me Travis picking back in 1964.

I think the easiest way (and what I did) to get the pattern down is to listen to early Peter, Paul & Mary recordings. Songs like "Don't Think Twice", "Early Morning Rain", and "Puff the Magic Dragon" will get your ear hearing the pattern.

From there, you'll be able to develop your own style with Travis as the base point.

Good luck and stick with it because the end result will make you stand out in the crowd!

6

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:42 am

That's good advise Bill! I drag out my PPM albums and have a listen.

Cole

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:43 am

That's I'll not I....d'oh!

6l6 · Post by **6l6** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:43 am

I would also recommend any of Happy Traum's tapes/DVD's on Travis picking as a great way to learn the style.

Go to:

www.homespuntapes.com