Travis Picking Style

Travis picking is a fingerpicking guitar technique named after country music legend Merle Travis. The style involves a steady, alternating bass pattern played with the thumb while the fingers pluck melody or harmony notes on the higher strings. This creates a full, dynamic sound, mimicking the effect of two guitarists playing together—one handling the rhythm and the other the melody. Its rhythmic drive and rich harmonies make it adaptable to genres like folk, country, blues, and modern acoustic music. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century.

Core of Travis Picking

Thumb alternating Bass Notes: The thumb maintains a steady rhythm by alternating between bass strings, creating a strong foundation for the style. This consistent pulse remains unaffected by the melody's complexity.

Syncopated Melody: The index and middle, pluck higher strings to add harmony, often syncopated against the steady bass.

Example - April comes she will

In the example tab above, you’ll notice a consistent bass alternation. For the A minor chord, the bass alternates between the 5th and 4th strings. For the following three chords, the alternation shifts to the 6th and 4th strings.

Here is an example recording (still working on it, smoothy transition, speed etc~)