Travis picking offers one of the most graceful and versatile foundations in fingerstyle guitar, delivering that signature alternating-bass rhythm with melodic freedom. Here, we explore two refined patterns adapted for bare-thumb technique—no thumb pick required—allowing for a warmer, more intimate tone that’s especially well-suited to fingerstyle pop music and jazz-inflected playing.

With guitar tabs and practical guidance, these patterns provide an excellent way to develop independence between thumb and fingers while adding depth and swing to your arrangements.

Travis Picking

Travis Picking is a fingerstyle guitar technique named after Merle Travis. It involves playing a bass pattern with the thumb while plucking the higher strings with the index, middle and ring fingers.

Video

In the video I demonstrate all 4 patterns.

The Bass Line

Aside from keeping a steady pattern, there are a few ways to play the bass line. The most popular method is to use a thumb-pick while muting the strings with the palm of your hand. I play it using the flesh of my thumb without muting the strings. I have also seen guitarists play it with the flesh of the thumb while still managing to mute the bottom three strings. Each style affects the tone you’ll get. Find what sounds and works best for you.

Play the exercise below until you are comfortable with it. Practice it in a slow tempo at first. When the notes are clean, you’ll be ready to raise the tempo.

The High Notes

Now that we’ve got the bass line down, we are ready to start adding the melody and the harmony.

Merle Travis used only his index finger to pluck the higher strings. Chet Atkins used his index, middle, and ring, the way most players, myself included, do it today. In most cases, you would keep your index finger on the G string (3rd string), your middle finger on the B string (2nd string) and your ring finger on the high E string (1st string).

Pattern 1

Adding some high notes, while maintaining a steady rhythm on the bass.

Pattern 2

Changing the pattern of the high notes, while playing the same bass line.

Download the 2 Patterns from above + 2 more (4 pages) as PDF’s

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