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The key to learning these songs "off the record" is to LISTEN—very,
very carefully. OK, you're saying to me now, "No kidding, dummy," but
I bet most of you don't listen as well as you are capable of—I didn't!
Some people are great listeners. They naturally have a brain with that area
pre-developed (and then spend time developing it even more), and maybe even have perfect
pitch. In any event, they hear things that are amazing (Brian Wilson of the Beach
Boys has that kind of ear).
Then, there are people who are not great listeners, but think they are. (This probably
carries over into their personality, as well!) You know the type; listens to it once and
says "That's easy. I've got it" and they aren't even close—but don't DARE
try to convince them otherwise!
Then, some people refuse to learn music note-for-note because it "cramps"
their creative style, so they turn off that part of their brain—to the point that
they cannot do it at all. Too bad for them, because it's an egotistical way of looking at
music. There is so much to learn from every single person that came before us, and thank
GOD above it's all recorded very nicely for posterity.
Then there's the rest of us. I thought I was a good listener, until stuff was getting
past me that other people pointed out ... "Didn't you hear the A in that G
chord?". So, I trained myself to be a much better listener. The key? GO
SLOW.
Listening really well is difficult for most of us to do untrained, but it's not
difficult to learn. It takes time and practice and possibly a few
tools. A portable tape player with a widely variable speed adjustment thingy
(that's a technical term) is one. They're pretty expensive. SONY makes a good one
(TCS-430), but it's about $100 and hard to find. It has a built-in stereo microphone
and other goodies, and it's a SONY so it'll last no matter how many times you drop it
(well, almost). Ibanez also makes a series called "Rock 'n Play" and it
comes for either guitar, bass or voice. They have quarter-inch inputs so that you
can plug in your instrument or microphone, they come with built-in effects like chorus,
compression, overdrive, etc., and the guitar one will slow you down a full octave in
addition to the standard half octave variance (total, in either direction, that is.)
Again, the cost is from $110-$130 and only available in music stores.
I have been travis picking since my best friend, Nanci Levi, insisted I
learn how in order to play Marcie along with her in 1968 at the age of 14 on my
Silvertone Acoustic ... no easy task! (She was pushy, but she was right!
Thanks, Nanci, wherever you are!) So it comes pretty naturally to me, but I could
understand how it can be difficult and confusing. In any event, e-mail me ... I'll
try to help in any way I can.
Before you start, there are a few things you need to know.
1. Strings are numbered 1 thru 6, #1 being the thin, high "E" string, and #6
being the thick, low "E" string.
2. When picking with the thumb, always pick downward on the string; all other fingers
pick upward on the string.
3. For the most part, unless you want to get advanced, you only need your thumb, index
and middle fingers for travis picking. Yes, many people use the ring finger (and some, the
pinky!), and with some patterns you may need to, but it's not usually necessary.
4. Memorize the pattern, going very, very slowly so that you can play it perfectly,
then increase your speed gradually. Don't become impatient! It takes a while.
After you have the pattern memorized, repetition is your best friend. You don't have to do
it over chord changes just yet, just continue to gradually build speed with the
pattern. If you are making a lot of mistakes, then you are going too fast. Slow
down!
The most common travis-picking pattern I know goes as follows (do it over a G or E
chord, if you must):
- Pick #1 and #6 strings together with your thumb and middle finger
- Pick #3 string with your thumb
- Pick #2 string with your index finger
- Pick #4 string with your thumb
- Pick #1 with your middle finger
- Pick #3 string with your thumb
- Pick #2 string with your index finger
- Repeat steps 1-7 over and over and over and over and over!.
You always use all three fingers, even if you're picking over only 3 strings. Usually,
the thumb plays the bottom strings #4, #5 and #6; the index finger plays strings #2 and
#3; and the middle finger, almost exclusively plays the 1st string (or the highest
string, as in certain chords, you may have to mute the 1st string).
Once you begin playing chords over this pattern, you will notice that you'll need to
alter the position of your thumb on the bass string. For example, if you're playing a
"D" chord, you cannot use that 6th string for a bass note because it is an
"E". So you'll need to know where your bass string notes are in any given chord.
Also note that the root note of the chord is almost always played
first.
You'll want to alternate your bass strings, as a bassist does. It's a really nice
effect, so I urge you to give it a try when you're ready. The bass string usually
alternates on any possible combination of the 6th, 5th and 4th strings. It's very easy to
learn and once you've got it, you'll do it without thinking about it.
- In an "E" chord, the 6th string is played first, then the 5th. This is also
true of any barred chord with the same position (barred "F" for example)
- In a "C" or chord, the 5th string (C) comes before the 6th string (G).
- Same for an "A" chord, the 5th string (A) comes before the 6th string (E).
This is also true of any barred chord with that same position (barred "B").
- In a "D" chord, the 4th string (D) comes first, THEN the 5th string (A).
- In a "G" chord, the 6th string comes first, and then the 4th string, because
string #5 is a "B" note, and though it makes up part of a G chord, it is not the
alternating note! A "D" is the right note.
- E-mail me if you need help!
Again, it took me years to learn to fingerpick, so please be patient. Perhaps you'll be
more adept at it than I was—or more diligent—so you'll learn it faster than I
did, but I have to warn you, it has much more to do with dexterity than with musical
know-how. I've tried to teach this to people who I consider far better musicians than I
could ever be, and the frustration nearly brought them to tears!
BE PATIENT!
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