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Travis picking (alternating bass)

Travis picking keeps a steady alternating bass with the thumb while the fingers add melody notes in between. It is the classic fingerstyle sound of folk and country.

×321
C
×231
Am
1342
F
213
G

Live: C, Am, F, G in the Travis picking style. Slow it to 0.5× to follow the hand.

How to count it

The thumb plays the root on 1 and 3 and another bass string on 2 and 4. The index and middle fingers pick the 3rd and 2nd strings on the &s.

Meter 4/4, typical tempo around 100 BPM

Tips

  • Learn the thumb alone first until it runs without thinking.
  • Add one finger at a time. The pinch on beat 1 (thumb and a finger together) comes last.
  • Rest the palm lightly on the bass strings for the muted, bouncy sound.

Use this pattern on your own song

Paste or snap any chord sheet, pick “Travis picking” as the style, and the hands play your song with it.

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