Fingerstyle Patterns for Every Chord - using Travis Picking!

👉 Get the PDF cheat sheet for this lesson @ songnotes.net/...
👉 View ALL my other Travis Picking videos @ songnotes.net/...
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Looking for slow play-through videos also available showing each chord's picking pattern? I made that too! These are grouped by key, which is how you'll use these chords in actual songs:
▶️ Key of C chords - C, F, G, Am
▶️ Key of G chords - G, C, D, Em
▶️ Key of E chords - E, A, B7
View these videos @ songnotes.net/...
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Audience support makes these lessons possible... THANKS!
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In this video I want to showcase a new cheat sheet which shows a go-to Travis Picking pattern you can use while fingerpicking any chord in open position. Using this print-friendly guide, you’ll have an at-a-glance view of the alternating bass notes needed - plus some suggested filler notes on the thinnest few strings. Specifically, I’m talking about the usual suspects of major chords (C, G, D, A, E, B7, F) as well as a few minor chords (Am, Em, Bm).
In this video, I’ll give a quick overview of Travis Picking and walk through the different sections of the cheat sheet. Check out my other lessons (linked below) if you’re looking for some specific songs to play using this fingerpicking style. Finally, a big thanks to Rick for sending in the email request that lead to this lesson - I hope you find this helpful!
Timestamps for my main video lesson:
0:00 Cheat Sheet Overview
1:46 Travis Picking Patterns 101
6:39 Most Common Keys for Travis Picking
7:44 Advice for the Tricky “D” Chord

[@monkeysweeperguitar]

I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of making a D by fretting the 6th and 4th strings at the second fret (especially if I don’t need higher notes in the chord). Similarly, I play a G mostly by fretting just the 3rd fret of the low E. That allows me to free up other fingers to play melody along with the G bass note. This also makes transitioning from G to D (and vice verse) extremely easy. Hope that helps some folks.

[@chrishartmusic87]

Amazing lesson, very well put together and look forward to trying this out

[@skinnylatte2876]

I'm really happy to be a subscriber. Your lessons are helping me a lot! The discussion of the D chord is just what I needed, because trying to use Travis Picking on a chord transition that included the standard D chord was making me a little crazy.

[@cyrilmoussoki3193]

Happy birthday to you David

[@chrissinclair6407]

Thanks David I’m an old student and your a fantastic teacher cheers

[@chrisgarrity7578]

Love this lesson. I’m work through your lessons on Paradise and Clay Pigeon. Looks like 2024 will be the year to really learn Travis Picking.

[@michaelk7383]

I wish this was around when I first started.

[@Deogratias562]

Wow your a wonderful teacher thank you

[@tjstevens001]

Great job!

[@elirivsotier6977]

Excellent David

[@13Dollar83]

Thanks for that clear video, I get it. I just don't like tutor talking too much, Cos I'm not good at listening- I'm good at watch and learn.

[@AchtungMonkey]

Really good lesson, something I
want to explore more.

[@loulauer5853]

Thank you!

[@helencarson4680]

Happy Birthday David❤

[@dmagnin]

Thanks!!!!

[@2020coolkat]

Awesome vids man. Happy Belated Bday! -Joe from HHS

[@taiter]

Thank you for that

[@dwaynelasater2350]

Happy birthday!🎉

[@johnhaynes7790]

Hi David great lesson as always, was thinking of joining the membership, but I live in the UK, is that a problem? Thanks John

[@tjstevens001]

Is your expensive? I would be willing to purchase the pdf's

[@arthurrollins9234]

E major chord progression guitar

[@denyslommers5500]

Hello I am 73 years old an I try to play guitar. I like the travispickinh for every chord .How can I become only the patterns for example the chords CGEmE A D D7 Dm F without a membership. I want pay for it. Greetings from the Netherlands

[@garyrichard3545]

can you do a song called A place to fall apart by Merle Haggard?

[@sebastiaobellamio1388]

Gostaria de adquirir suas lições em PDF em português vc tem

[@2024TD]

Could you please do a lesson for Glen Campbell's version of Highwayman?
The Travis picking in that song is absolutely beautiful and I would love to see your spin on it!!

[@christianbond1561]

I’m a big fan of Kris Kristofferson I think this might help me

[@Lowdenjim]

There are hundreds of videos on RUclips using the generic label "Travis-Picking" which is a complete joke; Elizabeth Cotten (and a host of other Folk/Blues players) played finger style (inc alt-bass/treble picking) long before Merle Travis. Also Merle Travis only ever used one finger, so it's ludicrous to refer to finger style/fingerpicking as "Travis Picking" - how did the myth ever get started I wonder?