Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed can only be described as the godfathers of fingerstyle guitar. All three not only pioneered the style, they also crafted the fundamental tools, techniques and stylings embraced by today’s modern fingerstyle guitarists. Anyone playing or learning fingerstyle guitar today must study the work and approaches of these three fingerstyle masters, and we can think of no quicker, or more effective way, to accomplish that than digging into Gareth Pearson’s Travis, Atkins & Reed Guidebook.
”Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed’s innovative techniques and creative approaches are a great asset to any fingerstyle guitar player or singer songwriter. I’ve spent my lifetime studying their work and now, In the Travis, Atkins & Reed Guidebook, I’m thrilled to be able to pass on the main principles and fundamentals of their playing and show you how to inject their techniques into your own playing. “
Welsh guitar phenomenon Gareth Pearson is already considered a virtuoso in the guitar world. He has already developed a distinctive style to his playing that has earned him the greatest accolades from world renowned players and music critics; he has been called a genius by Jan Akkerman, and Tommy Emmanuel was inspired to write a song about him which he named The Welsh Tornado. We are very proud to welcome Gareth to the family with his first TrueFire course, the Travis, Atkins & Reed Guidebook.
As you progress through the Guidebook, Gareth will demonstrate and teach 16 specific concepts and techniques that are signature to Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed: Travis Chord Shapes, Fretting With Thumb, Travis Right Thumb, Chord Turnarounds, the Giddy Up Uh Lick, Travis Index Finger,, Travis Fast Lead Lines, Travis Banjo Rolls, Travis Heavy Rolls, Heavy Roll & Bend, Atkins Groove Pattern, Open String Banjo Scale, Banjo Roll Single Lead, Atkins Triplet Roll, The Claw, and Chord Pull-Off Licks.
You’ll apply all of those techniques and concepts across a series of 8 fingerstyle studies (see descriptions from Gareth below). Gareth will first perform the study and then break it down for you section-by-section, technique-by-technique.
All of the key examples are tabbed and notated for your practice, reference and study purposes. You’ll also get Guitar Pro files so that you can play, loop and/or slow down the tab and notation as you work through the lessons.
Grab your guitar and let’s giddy up with Gareth Pearson!
Hi, I'm Gareth Pearson, and welcome to the Travis, Atkins & Reed Guidebook. Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed have shaped modern fingerstyle guitar to what it is today. The innovative techniques these three players came up with really stand out and are a great asset to every fingerstyle guitar player and singer songwriter. These styles can make your guitar sound like multiple instruments at the same time, making heads turn and toes tap, putting smiles on people’s faces.
In this course, I'll be showing you the main principles and fundamentals that I've learned from these three giants over the years, and how to inject their techniques into your playing. We'll be looking at how we build from playing the Travis thumb to incorporating our index finger, and I'll be teaching you the Giddy Up Uh lick.
Merle Travis was also an excellent soloist, playing lead lines with banjo rolls. We'll look at different Chet Atkins techniques, including his approach to playing rhythm. We'll study melodic banjo scales, banjo scale rolls applied to lead lines, and triplet lead lines. We'll then combine them in a tune called "We Fooled Them Again".
Finally, we'll be studying the clawing concept. With that, we'll be playing a few Jerry Reed type grooves I've created, like Polyphonic Funk, Hubba Hubbard, Take a Hike, Playing with Fire, and What I Said. So enough of the chit chat, go grab your guitar and join me as we open up the Travis, Atkins & Reed Guidebook!
2Travis Chord Shapes
Learning the Travis type chord shapes and how to fret them correctly is an essential part of the authentic Travis fingerstyle sound. He never played bar chords, achieving most of his voicing by fretting with the right thumb coming over the neck, fretting the low E and sometimes A string. Fretting two strings with one finger is a difficult technique to grasp if you're new to it (just like anything else really). So please, experiment with this using the tips of your fingers. It's an important part to master before adding the thumb. By doing this, you're utilizing your fingers to fret more harmonies and lead lines.
3Fretting With Thumb
Hopefully by now you're able to fret two strings at once. So now, try adding your thumb to fret more of these additional Travis type chord shapes. This is where it can get really difficult, so go easy on yourself, give yourself time, and be patient. And keep practicing, playing these shapes all over the neck!
4Travis Right Thumb
Probably the most recognizable asset of Merle Travis' guitar playing was his right-hand thumb technique. He made the most incredible beefy, honky tonkin' groove. Muting the strings with the palm of his right-hand, while his thumb pumped the groove, strumming down heavily yet effortlessly.
It's important not to articulate each note. You almost want to brush the strings right on the beat, but because we're muting (or choking, if you will), the sound you're making should come out "chunkier".
5Chord Turnaround
This is the Merle Travis technique, applied to some chords and a turnaround.
6Giddy Up Uh Lick
I don't know why I've always called this picking pattern the "Giddy Up Uh" lick. Perhaps it's because it always reminds me of riding a horse, whether it's the sound the lick creates without that open G string, or the actually playing of itself. After practicing this lick for some time, the right-hand fingering should become mechanical, and your fingers should gallop to the beat. Like most exercises, start slow then build up the speed.
7Travis Index Finger
As far as Merle Travis' melody playing is concerned in his fingerstyle playing, he only picked notes using the index finger. He would either play his melodies choosing to pick one precise string individually or by strumming two or three strings at once by brushing up with his index finger. By incorporating the index finger along with the muted thumb groove, we begin to create the illusion that there's more than one instrument playing.
This is a fun course and an important guide to playing Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, and Jerry Reed's fingerstyle technique. This is where to start to learn this style.
A lot of thought was obviouslyl put into the content which brings out important stylistic considerations.
G
gretsch1
Verified buyer
10/10/21
A great insight in to this style of playing presented by a first class tutor
S
seanprez
Verified buyer
10/08/21
There is so much to take away from Gareth in this instructional. He breaks down all licks, techniques and applications perfectly. I’m beyond happy with everything presented with this course!!
B
Bullit4345
Verified buyer
10/07/21
EASY TO UNDERSTAND
Very good. Love True Fire. Well worth the money.
M
mickyBoof
Verified buyer
09/18/21
Great collection
This compilation of tips, licks and methods used by the masters give the country style finger picking student is well presented and explained. A great adjunct to learning the styles.
