Thank you for this John. Have been working on some alternate picking stuff lately and noticed my pic hand fingers want to jump in there once in awhile to help my struggling left! Kinda cool when it happens. Anyway this video might , will, help with gaining more control of the pick hand fingers.
Thanks, Ron

Yes, Jared’s videos are often very good.
This is a good start. Just one remark: all the “patterns” presented in the video completely ignore the RH ring finger, which is an extremely important finger once you start playing actual melodies in this style. If you are just starting, no problem, but don’t stop there!

Happy picking!

Good video for someone first launching into fingerstyle and concentrates on the thumb striking just the 6th and 4th strings, which is a start. These exercises are all about freeing the thumb from the fingers of the picking hand and developing a rock solid syncopation. Sped here is not essential.
Joi, On rare occasions will I use the ring finger for my preferred styles.

Good find John,
Richard

If I’m hybrid picking would the RH ring finger come into play and work in those patterns or should I maybe look for a different technique. Thanks for the response Jean-Michel G.

If you use the hybrid method of fingerstyle MrO then certainly the middle and ring fingers are essential but if you want to follow those particular picking patterns then I would suggest the easiest way forward would be to drop the pick.

Richard

I fully agree with Richard: when hybrid picking you need the thumb and index to hold the pick, so you definitely need the middle and ring finger.

The standard classical guitar RH picking technique involves PIMA (thumb, index, middle and ring finger); this transposes very well to non-classical finger style, including the so-called “Travis picking”.
That being said, Merle Travis himself did not use the ring finger. In fact, he used to use his index finger only!

Guitar right hand technique is often a matter of preferences. Many great guitarists just don’t (or rarely) use the ring finger. That’s certainly doable, but I personally think that PIMA makes life a lot easier than just PIM, and I tend to recommend learning PIMA as a beginner. You will always have the option to fall back to PIM later if that’s more comfortable for you.
It’s more work, but it pays itself back.
But as I said, it’s OK to discover fingerstyle with PIM like in the video posted by John.

I will try again to “drop the pick”. Thanks Richard.

I’m just beginning to learn fingerstyle and recently posted my attempt on Chet Atkins Fingerstyle Lesson: Very Basic – LEG031 which is a version of Travis picking using thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. I’m going to definitely try these…thanks Charjo!

I found this video “interesting” – I say it that was because in my 30+ years of Travis Style playing, I’ve never gotten locked into patterns like this.
I’m sure that most of us remember the days that we didn’t have streaming video & audio, we didn’t have CD’s – no we used those hateful little devices called cassette tapes where we’d have to rewind and hope that we landed in the correct spot….
In the early 90s, I worked thru 2 books by Mark Hanson that used cassettes; Mark is an amazing player and equally amazing instructor on Travis Style and he broke it down in a manner that was simple enough that even I could grasp it.
I seem to remember that he used patterns in the first book, only to get your fingers moving & to develop the steady bass, whether its alternating or monotonic – and he used them for a short time as the instructor did in this video, to accompany. Mark didn’t stress their use because it becomes evident when you get into playing arrangements, patterns are rarely found/used – at least that’s been my experience.

If anyone wants to get deeper into fingerstyle, I highly recommend Mark’s books – The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking and The Art of Solo Fingerpicking

I totally agree Keith, whilst learning these fingerstyle patterns is useful from a practice point of view, they’re not generally used in solo performances other than accompaniment to a vocalist etc.
One of the reasons would-be fingerstyle players, who want to play blues and ragtime solos don’t progress is, the exercises they are faced with are often just plain boring. Students can be forgiven for wondering where all this hard work is going? what exactly is my end goal here?

It makes sense to learn and develop a variety of fingerstyle patterns if the intention is to accompany yourself or others but if it’s soloing that’s your bash, then start off by learning the more simpler monotonic or alternating thumb pieces by the Country Blues Players like Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson and Blind Boy Fuller etc. At least after all your hard work you have a passionate and spirited blues piece added to your playlist.

Richard

Keith had suggested Mark Hanson’s book to me awhile ago and I found it very helpful to begin my journey with fingerstyle playing. I had no idea where to begin and the book carefully lays out a course beginning with the inside-out pattern and then the outside-in pattern. I haven’t gotten much further than that yet but I looked ahead and see he begins to break free of patterns. It’s a very good book…thanks Keith!

A way to WOW!! your friends with minimal effort is to learn Dust In The Wind by Kansas

It uses some very basic picking patterns throughout and is relatively easy to learn.

As the story goes, Kerry Livgren was practicing Travis style patterns and his wife commented that he should write lyrics to what he was playing. He explained that he was only playing some very basic fingerstyle exercises but she continued – Maybe so but what you’re playing is nice

And as the saying goes – the rest is history

This thread is now beginning to highlight a few of the better Travis Picking tutorials available online today. I’ve always thought this one by Paul Davids ranks among one of the best. It’s clear, concise and slowly builds up to a catchy piece through the chord sequence.

I would recommend to new students to practice the earlier sections separately to ensure each stage is embedded into your muscle-memory before moving on to the next part of the progression.
Good luck, it’s great fun to play.

Richard

The late Marcel Dadi is the guy who introduced the Chet Atkins picking style in France and made me quit classical guitar!

In the video below he teaches Merle Travis’ “Fuller Blues” (in English!). I think this is one of the best videos about the genuine Merle Travis style. In particular, he stresses Travis’ peculiar way of playing chords as well as the fat thumb attack that is essential to his sound. I often say that Travis picking is alternate bass picking on steroids.
This video is clearly not for beginners!

I can appreciate that’s not for beginners, I bought a copy many years ago and it’s pretty advanced stuff.
Shame we lost him some years back.

Richard

Jean-Michel G wrote:

Castor oil three times a week (or daily for intensive care) works miracles to make nails stronger. Olive oil is also effective.
You may also want to look at the Savarez nail kit.

Castor oil….ugh!!! That’s the hair of the dog!!! That used to be a home remedy for many things but I wasn’t aware that it would strengthen nails.

John earlier you mentioned the bass strings are played with the fleshy part of the thumb – I develop a callous on the edge of my thumb right where the rounded part of the nail meets the straight part… If that makes sense. It gets so thick at times that I have to trim it with clippers

I use nails on steel strings but I have to reinforce because my nails are also fragile. I’ve tried biotin and other supplements but nothing helped so I have been using James Taylor’s method along with adding a resin made by RC Strings. When combined with super glue, its nearly as strong as finger picks. I can even get a decent volume on my resonator which isn’t easy to accomplish, definitely not happening with bare fingers
I only cover about a third of the nail, never anything near the nail bed and I always clean with alcohol to dispel any moisture so as to avoid fungus under the nail

https://www.stringsbymail.com/rc-strings-nr45-resin-powder-17213.html

Jean-Michel G wrote:

Just to be sure: the castor oil isn’t meant to be swallowed, just used as a polish!
Otherwise, you’ll get a very different effect LOL…

Thank you for that verification!! I knew it was best to not ingest it because I knew many in my younger days whose parents felt that castor oil was a great remedy and let’s just say that my friends were moving quickly during their days 😂
My son used to take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar daily – using a spoon and not a capsule – chasing it with a glass of water…. Cured his acid reflux and heartburn but again – that’s the hair of the dog too!!

I remember only too well as a child every Sunday evening a teaspoonful of Castor Oil was given followed quickly by spoonful of sweet tasting malt.
Of course these were the days well before vitamins and over-the-counter medicinal remedies were available.

Richard

Is it just me, or this thread is entering a very bad spin? 🙂

Yes Jean-Michel you’re correct. Back to the original thread, this next Travis style video by the famous Tommy Emmanuel also ranks as some of the best for beginners.

Richard

As many of you may know I am trying to learn fingerstyle including classical. My fingers and thumb were getting blisters, not calluses. So, I just wanted to say that due to Keith and Richard and all the rest of you with all the comments about using nails or flesh, I decided to get a nail job. My nails are very thin and brittle and crack and chip very easily. They don’t grow straight and tend to curl down.

I went to the nail salon with my wife today and they used some kind of liquid – glue or something else – with some fiberglass powder. They said they have done this for several of their guitar playing clients. Now all I have to do is to learn how to play fingerstyle! 😜

Hi Joe, as I’ve mentioned above in this thread, when playing fingerstyle blues and ragtime pieces, I only strike the strings with the flesh part of my digits.
I use either Fred Kelly or Dunlop thumb picks on certain pieces and generally have to shape them initially to suit my picking profile. Getting used to thumb and finger picks takes a while and patience is needed while backing off the normal attack on the strings as they’re much louder.
I played bluegrass banjo for a number of years and a thumbpick and fingerpicks are essential. I always used a plastic Dunlop thumbpick and metal Dunlop fingerpicks at .0225 gauge. All of these picks need initial shaping to suit your fingers.
I did try the new Black Mountain hybrid pick recently for guitar, to say it was a useless purchase is putting it mildly but I had to give it a go.

Best of luck with your pursuits.

Richard

Hi Richard, I’ve tried using the fleshy part of my finger but I don’t get much volume and it’s difficult for me to get my finger between the strings and strike the one string I want to ring. Plus I easily get blisters which slows down my practice.

Richard G wrote:

I use either Fred Kelly or Dunlop thumb picks on certain pieces and generally have to shape them initially to suit my picking profile.

When you say that you always shape the finger picks do you mean by bending them or filing them or both? I could file the plastic picks I currently have but I don’t think I can bend them which is what I really think would help. They are curved way too much and wind up getting my finger stuck under the string.

I was watching some videos about different picks and I noticed many people wear them so the pick part is under the flesh of their finger while I’ve been wearing them with the pick part over the fingernail. I’m not sure if there is a right or wrong way…I guess it must be whichever works.

Hi Joe,
I always have to shape the plastic thumbpicks to suit, first of all I buy the closest that fits my thumb reasonably tight. I will then file the end to suit my preference, making sure of a smooth finish. I don’t alter plastic thumbpicks these days but you can re-shape them by immersing them in ‘hot water’ for a few seconds, which softens the plastic, then quickly re-shape the pick while it’s pliable and then leave to cool.
I only ever used metal fingerpicks playing banjo and at .0225 gauge, they’re bendable anyway.

Richard

Thank you Richard. Especially about the tip using hot water to shape the plastic picks. I received all the different picks I mentioned previously and am trying them out now. My first impressions are the Alaska and butterfly picks require a certain length of nail to remain fixed in place. My nails frequently break and I don’t have enough nail to use them. The Fred Kelly picks are pretty good but they’ll take some time to get used to because they’re so think they feel a little awkward separating my fingers. The metal ones at first seem best because they’re easy to shape and fit each finger but even they are taking some getting used to.

I tried playing with my own nails today and sure enough one of them chipped. If I can’t get accustomed to using finger picks I think it will be impossible for me to learn finger style playing.

JoeD1 wrote:

I tried playing with my own nails today and sure enough one of them chipped. If I can’t get accustomed to using finger picks I think it will be impossible for me to learn finger style playing

Joe

Go back and look at my response above where I used James Taylor’s method
Super Glue with the fiberglass or silk mesh sets up really hard and I can get volume from the strings almost as good as finger picks
When I add the resin powder with Super Glue on top of the mesh, it gives such an attack on the strings that I can’t hardly hybrid pick on electric because it’s so loud

JoeD1 wrote:

GnLguy wrote:

Go back and look at my response above where I used James Taylor’s method

Thanks Keith. I was afraid my nails would get super thin like they did when I had them done at the nail salon. I assume because you’re not covering the entire nail that doesn’t happen?

It says in the video to create 6 layers…layers of what? Glue? Fiberglass mesh?

Joe
I only cover half or less, never into the light colored portion on the nail at the base. I never had an issue with my nails getting thin but you can monitor that
I do a layer of mesh with Super Glue; while the glue is wet, I’ll press it into the resin powder, add more glue to powder. I repeat this until I have maybe 2 or 3 layers of resin

One thing that is important is to have nail glue that has a brush for the resin part. I use ultra control Super Glue for the initial layer with the mesh, that seems to adhere to the nail better
This type of nail setup typically stays on about 2 weeks but my playing style is a bit aggressive with the way that I hit the strings with the back of nails pretty hard to strum

Hope this helps

Keith
aka GnLguy

All these finger picks are, in my opinion, way too long; my nails barely stick out of my fingertips. It’s arguably harder to play with shorter nails, but they don’t break as easily, and the tone is better (longer nails bend and loose energy so the sound is softer).

Your overall health condition and diet have an impact on the strength of your nails. If you need to reinforce them, in addition to caster oil I already mentioned higher up in this thread, I can also recommend the nail care products from Ecrinal which I used once with success. The one to use depends on your specific needs. Talk to your pharmacist.

Also make sure you don’t only cut your nails but also file them carefully so they are perfectly smooth. The slightest notch will cause the nail to break on steel strings.

I agree Jean-Michel, those picks are too long. I haven’t filed and shaped them yet. But I don’t think they will work because I can’t feel the strings and that’s important to me. Without that tactile feel I have difficulty knowing which string I’m on.

I’ve tried to keep my natural nails just barely long enough to extend over the flesh of the tip of my finger. They still chip/split/crack. I don’t like using the flesh of my finger because I can’t get the attack I like and it causes blisters quite easily. It creates a vicious cycle, get blisters/wait until they heal/get more blisters.

I really liked the Fred Kelly picks but they were so thick around my fingers I couldn’t easily pick without bumping into the next finger. The metal picks were better but they’re not comfortable for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

It might just not be worth it to me to struggle learning finger style and I may just stick with flat picking.