Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is a constantly updated blog which contains all the resources you need for: learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, and how to learn guitar scales.
If you want an all round picking technique for guitar, choose Travis picking. The Travis referred to in the name is Merle Travis, the country guitar legend who not only invented a guitar picking style but also had a few hits with his songwriting. Travis picking originally just used the thumb and index finger but was extended to the use of the second and third fingers by Chet Atkins in the mistaken belief that Travis could not possibly be getting his sound by the use of just one finger.
The basis of Travis picking is the alternating bass. This is because finger picking on the guitar was inspired by ragtime piano playing. It might help you to get the spirit of Travis picking if you remember that.
An accomplished Travis picking guitarist has a whole range of picking patterns he can use to accompany and solo with. To begin your Travis picking journey you will need to learn one picking pattern and get it flowing smoothly. The basic idea is that the thumb keeps the rhythm going while the fingers pick the melody and the grace notes.
To start practicing Travis picking, fret an A minor chord with your left hand and pick the open fifth string with your thumb while at the same time picking the open first string with your second finger. That's your first beat.
The next beat is made up of two movements: pick the fourth string with your thumb (that's half a beat) and pick the second string with your first finger (another half a beat).
Pick the fifth string again with your thumb for half a beat and then pick the first string with your second finger for half a beat.
The final of your four beats is: pick the fourth string for half a beat and then the second string with the first finger.
The tab looks like this (remember you're holding an A minor chord:
e-0----------0-----------|
B-------1---------1------|
G------------------------|
D-----2---------2--------|
A-0--------0-------------|
E------------------------|
Even if you have no experience with guitar finger picking, you should have this pattern repeating itself nicely within a week. Of course, you can try it out on different chords and vary the strings you pick. Don't try to go too fast at first, because you need to be very comfortable with the way your fingers are moving on your guitar before you attempt any Travis picking at high speed.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
Why Yamaha Djx Keyboard When You Can Use Psr Keyboards?
By: Suresh | 29/12/2009Yamaha DJX keyboard was launched many years back and was meant primarily for users interested in dance music. Its availability is no longer assured and a PSR keyboard may be a better alternative.
4 Definite Reasons to Own a Yamaha Np30 Portable Grand Digital Piano
By: Suresh | 29/12/2009The Yamaha NP30 portable grand digital piano is a great value-for-money instrument. Here are the four reasons why you should own one.
Get a musical feel out of the mobiles via MP3 ringtones
By: Nisha Garg | 29/12/2009Time has come when old modes having fun and relaxing mind has to refreshed with the more convenient and ultimate options which can always keep the mood rejuvenated at any point of time.
Naturally Ringtone | Selena Gomez & the Scene
By: Daniel Sitar | 29/12/2009Naturally Ringtone by Selena Gomez & the Scene is an awesome choice for your next ringtone. If you want to download Naturally Ringtone on your phone, you need to read this article. Naturally Ringtone | Selena Gomez & the Scene
Somebody To Love Ringtone | Leighton Meester
By: Daniel Sitar | 29/12/2009Somebody To Love Ringtone by Leighton Meester is an awesome choice for your next ringtone. If you want to download Somebody To Love Ringtone on your phone, you need to read this article. Somebody To Love Ringtone | Leighton Meester
One Less Lonely Girl Ringtone | Justin Bieber
By: Daniel Sitar | 29/12/2009One Less Lonely Girl Ringtone by Justin Bieber is an awesome choice for your next ringtone. If you want to download One Less Lonely Girl Ringtone on your phone, you need to read this article. One Less Lonely Girl Ringtone | Justin Bieber
Top 10 Guitar Tab Sites
By: Lee Dobbins | 29/12/2009Top 10 Guitar Tab Sites
Beatles Guitar Tab Site
By: Lee Dobbins | 29/12/2009Beatles Guitar Tab Site
Acoustic Beginner Guitars
By: Ricky Sharples | 03/12/2009 | MusicAcoustic guitars are great to play and very family- and neighbor-friendly but beginner acoustic guitar players need to be careful when buying their first instrument. This article covers the main points you need to think about as a beginner guitar buyer.
Tab Guitar Software - Some Choices
By: Ricky Sharples | 26/11/2009 | MusicIf you have started composing your own guitar music you are probably looking around for some way to write your own tabs. There are programs that generate guitar tab and even play them for you as MIDI files.
Learning How To Play The Guitar - What You Need In Your Head
By: Ricky Sharples | 23/11/2009 | MusicIn your transformation from a guitar enthusiast to a guitar player you need to acquire some knowledge. Becoming an authority on the guitar and guitar music is not stricly necessary in order to learn how to play the guitar but this knowledge will help you on the way to finding your direction as a guitar player.
Learning How To Play The Guitar - Muscle Memory
By: Ricky Sharples | 19/11/2009 | MusicMuscle memory is a term we use to describe the process our body uses to learn new skills. So as guitar players we can improve the learning process by taking a special kind of care when we practice with our guitars.
Guitar Notes Made Easy - How To Make Sense Of Guitar Notes On Tabs
By: Ricky Sharples | 15/10/2009 | MusicThis article is for beginner guitar players who want to sort out the confusion they feel when they are confronted with guitar tabs. The notes on the guitar tab are not hard to learn once you learn the basic principles involved.
Popular Acoustic Guitar Songs
By: Ricky Sharples | 06/10/2009 | MusicPopular acoustic guitar songs do not always start out being acoustic or popular. It takes a guitar player or singer who can bring something special to make the song appeal to an audience.
Tab For Spanish Guitar - What To Look For
By: Ricky Sharples | 06/10/2009 | MusicDespite the growth of many other guitar styles over the years, Spanish guitar music still has a hold on music lovers' imaginations. If you have some experience as a guitar player and want to try your hand at playing Spanish guitar, this article will help you with the names of some artists who are renowned for their interpretations of Spanish music.
Country Tab For Guitar
By: Ricky Sharples | 01/10/2009 | MusicIf you are a country music fan who wants to learn to play your favorite songs, this article recommends some great sources of tab for country guitar music. Whether you just want to strum along to cowboy songs or if you want to learn some nifty guitar licks. you will find what you need here.