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       Learning with basic beginning finger picking patterns

The idea here is to learn some basic beginning finger picking patterns.  So you will be
concentrating only on the right hand.  I strongly recommend that you tune your guitar to 
a chord so you don’t have to use your left hand at all.  That would is the BEST 
so you can concentrate only on your right hand (your picking hand).  
 
                           To tune to a D chord
  Use an electronic tuner is ideal, if you don't have one follow this below.

E string - tune down a whole step, to a D note 
               (fret E string on 7th fret - tune E string down to same pitch as A string)
A string - leave as is A note
D string - leave as is D note
G string - tune down a half step to F# note
               (fret D string on 4th fret - tune G string down to same pitch) 
B string - tune down a whole step to A note 
               (fret new F# string on 3rd fret - tune B string down to same pitch)
E string - tune down a whole step to D note
               (fret new A string on 5th fret - tune E string down to same pitch)

With this tuning you won't have to worry about playing the chords shown 
above the picking patterns and if you want to you can put a capo on the 
2 fret for an E chord; 3rd fret for F; 5th for G. Using a capo will also make 
fingering notes and chord easier to play because the strings don't have to be
pressed so hard.  

If you don’t want to do all that retuning, you can just play the chords shown.  
It’s not important right now what you do with your left hand, just as long as 
the chords that you play and the notes that you will be picking sound pleasing 
to the ear.  That way you will recognize the good sounding tones as you pick.   


Start by thinking in terms of picking patterns.  We will begin with patterns known
as "Travis picking". The "Travis pick" is a finger picking "style" that basically means 
you will be alternating between your thumb and fingers.  That is, you will pick a 
string with your thumb then pick a string with one of your fingers.  Then back 
to the thumb again on a different string this time, followed by another finger on 
another string, and so on.  (Merle Travis is where the "Travis pick" got its name but
actually he only used one finger and a thumb in imitation of his fathers banjo playing. 
But when I teach the Travis pick we will use three finger picks for reasons discussed 
on the  WHY learn to finger pick?  And HOW to learn page of this site.  
For our purposes we'll refer to this as "Travis picking." or the "Travis pick"
even though it isn't exactly the same way that Merle Travis did it.( click to review)   

There are many variations of the "Travis pick" or “Travis picking.”  Please try to 
learn as many as you can.  You will also find on this site other finger picking patterns 
that are not "Travis picking."  Your goal will be to learn one finger picking pattern 
(or variation) then go on to the next.  Once you’ve learned the 2nd pattern, go back 
to the 1st until you can play them both smoothly while changing from one pick pattern 
to the other in one continuous flowing rhythm.  Then add a 3rd pattern.  Learn 
to play all three changing back and forth.  Add a 4th and so on.  The changers
from one pattern to the next are small.  But by the time you get to picking pattern
#13 you will see a big difference from picking pattern #1.  Because you have made 
those changes gradually from one pattern to the next you will find the picking patterns 
are easier to learn.  It's like building blocks, because one picking pattern builds on the 
previous picking pattern and so on.    

By the time you learn the first nine Travis picking patterns shown on this site, you 
can start to think again about your left hand.  Then, you’ll be ready to actually 
play chords and make progressive chord changes.  I explain more about that 
after pattern #9.  Remember that now your only working on your RIGHT HAND skills.

Beginning Guitar finger picking Tab.  Patterns #1-4     (Travis picking patterns)

It's best to download the Audio samples.  Use them to help get the rhythm of the finger picking pattern.             (These samples are mp3 formatted at 64kbps, 10 to 15sec. in length, and average about 100KB) The hand position for the Travis picking patterns on this page uses the FIRST POSITION      What is that?     Read Finger Picking Hand Position to find out before beginning the picking patterns. Guitar finger picking Tab.  Picking Pattern #1  (Travis pick)         Start this Travis finger picking pattern by pinching 4th and 1st strings in each measure.                (the notes "d" and "f #" for D chord)        Notice that both measures are the same.  Repeat over and over until smooth and rhythmic.        Start very, very, very slow.  Speed will come in time.  Don't rush it.  Remember and use the  RULES for LEARNING how to finger pick found on the above mentioned page that you should read..                                     Audio samples / Slow / Medium / Fast      D   chord E  II----2-----------2--------I---2------------2-----------II    B  II---(------3-----------3--I---(------3-----------3-----II     G  II-*-----2-----------2-----I-------2-----------2------*-II    D  II-*--0--------0-----------I---0---------0------------*-II    A  II-------------------------I----------------------------II E  II-------------------------I----------------------------II          2  T  1  T  2  T  1      2   T  1  T  2  T  1          T                        T        (Pinch)                  (Pinch) Guitar finger picking Tab.  Picking Pattern #2   (Travis pick)         Pinch to start this finger picking pattern in the 1st measure, but not the second.           Repeat both measures over and over          until smooth, continuous rhythm.         Then try playing without returning to the first measure,          that is start with the first measure then repeat the second          measure three or four times before returning to the first.                                       Audio samples / Slow / Medium / Fast /         D   chord       II----2----------2----------II-------2-----------2-----------II       II---(-----3-----------3----II-------------3-----------3-----II   II-*----2-----------2-------II-*--------2-----------2------*-II      II-*-0--------0-------------II-*--0-----------0------------*-II   II--------------------------II-------------------------------II   II--------------------------II-------------------------------II          2  T  1  T  2  T  1          T  2  T  1  T  2  T  1      T     Guitar finger picking Tab. Picking Pattern #3   (Travis pick)         This finger picking pattern is the same as exercise #1 except you alternate the bass thumb          from "d" string to "a" string.  When learning this pattern you want to concentrate on the          bass notes as you increase your finger picking speed.          "Think" about the "bass pinch", but just let the other notes happen.                                         Audio samples / Slow / Medium / Fast /          D   chord II----2-----------2---------I--2-----------2-----------II    II---(------3-----------3---I-(------3-----------3-----II II-*-----2-----------2------I-----2-----------2------*-II     II-*-----------0------------I-----------0------------*-II    II----0---------------------I--0-----------------------II II--------------------------I--------------------------II       2  T  1  T  2  T  1      2  T  1  T  2  T  1       T                        T   Guitar finger picking Tab. Picking Pattern #4   (Travis pick)          Pinch to start this pattern, alternate the bass thumb, second measures you don't pinch.            Again, "think" about the "bass", and just let the other notes happen as you play.              Repeat over and over until mastered.  Concentrate on the thumb learning these.                                    Audio samples / Slow / Medium / Fast /          D   chord II---2-----------2---------I-----2-----------2------------II   II--(------3-----------3---I-----------3-----------3------II   II-*----2-----------2------I--------2-----------2-------*-II     II-*----------0------------I--0-----------0-------------*-II     II---0---------------------I------------------------------II       II-------------------------I------------------------------II      2  T  1  T  2  T  1      T  2  T  1  T  2  T  1      T                                                    Now try these exercises: After you have these basic guitar finger picking patterns down and you can pick them without  interruption, there are some things to help you further imprint the picking patterns in your mind.   Accent individual notes each time as you pick a pattern.  For example in Pattern #1 start by  accenting (or picking harder) the fist notes (those you pinch) more then the rest.  Do that each  time you come to those notes.  Next, accent only the second note.  Which would be the "a" note  in this case, picked with the thumb.  Accent it every time you hit that note and donot accent any  other notes in the pattern.  Then do the same with the third note.  Accent it and no others in the pattern and so on until you have learned to accent each note individually in the pattern.    This will not only help in memory and coordination, but it will also help later when you want to  perform certain licks, chord progressions and add melody lines as your finger picking a song.   Another exercises -  This is to help you increase speed. Begin picking a pattern and as you do continue to increase speed gradually. Go faster and faster until you are going as fast as you can and keep picking for as long as you can and as fast as you can without making any mistakes.  If you begin to make mistakes -                                        Then- STOP!!! Start again very slowly and pick all the strings very hard, as hard as you can as you increase speed. When you start to make mistakes STOP!!!   Start again, very lightly this time, picking the strings very faintly, as you increase speed.  Go as fast as  you can and as lightly as you can until you start to make mistakes and STOP!!! You will notice that your speed and ease of playing will improve as you do these exercises. By going back and using a metronome you will actually see your improvement in speed. After these exercises, your metronome will show you that you have improve.  GOOD JOB! These variations in approach will help you to learn new pick patterns and should be used for all of  the patterns you attempt to master.   Remember - Do not practice the pattern wrong. Also - Do not practice a new pick pattern more then 15 minutes.  Your mind will learn best while fresh.  So don't overdo it. Remember the HOW to LEARN rules.  If you want to practice a new pick pattern more then 15 minutes in a day that if fine. Just keep each practice session to 15 minutes.  Practice four (15 min.) times a day and you  will have practiced one hour on a new pattern that day.  You will make fast progress at that rate.  Remember it takes time to learn.  Look at your progress on a monthly basis.  You'll be supprized! To help you more: Keep reading the information on this site over and over again.   You will find that as you practice picking and you go back  and reread the material, that all of a sudden what didn't make scene before now has more meaning.  Your experience will be helping you to better understand what it is your reading about. Also don't forget to LISTEN to other finger picking guitar work done  by accomplished finger picking guitarists.  This will help you when you  practice your patterns, so that you can get that "SOUND" the way you  hear them do it.  This can be done when not practicing.  It is enjoyable,  easy, and it's incredibly helpful too.  Plus you can do that for as long as  you wish.  Please purchase my CD's for a good start at LISTENING. One CD Relax And Reminisce with TWO sets of customized finger picks - Total $22   (Another good deal Most popular buy on this site - Free shipping *  - you save $6.50)        If you need MEDIUM finger picks or LEFT HAND thumb pick please include an email stating so.                  Otherwise you will be sent LARGE RIGHT HAND picks.  To measure click hear.                                               With red velvet pick bag > $24.25                         *  Red Asterisk means only shipping in lower 48 United States is free.  Otherwise please email me with transaction.  Did you make a copy of the "rules for learning" on the finger picking page? Click on Rules For Learning.   (New window)   It is very important if you are just beginning finger picking.  Following these "rules for learning" will make for the BEST and FASTEST possible learning of new Pick Patterns. Have any comments about my site......    Sorry but I have removed my email address from my web site because I had 9242 Spam emails today (Nov. 2006)  I can't take that kind of abuse anymore. If you make a purchase I will send you my email address so you can ask me questions.