Merle Travis ex. 1 question

[mm66]

I can't see Steve's fretting hand on the Merle Travis exercise 1 video! After the g, a, b intro, do I form a C chord, play the c and e note with thumb and then use my 3rd finger to play the G note (which is not part of the formed C chord)? Thanks for all help.

[mm66]

To clarify my question, Do I use my 3rd finger to hold down the g note on the 6th string and pluck with my thumb or do I play the open 3rd string g with my thumb? Sorry for the poorly worded original question. Thanks again.

[Triple-o]

I think that exercise 1 just uses the thumb to pluck the notes and the ring finger would fret the low G note. 

Normally On a C chord the thumb plucks the 5th string first and later the 4th string.The index plucks the 3rd string and the middle finger plucks the 2nd.

[mm66]

If by ring finger you mean the third finger, it is already fretting the c note on the fifth string in a formed open c chord. The exercise has 3 lead in notes (g, a, b)). Then it has a formed c chord but theres a g note in there. Does the 3rd finger hop from the c on the 5th to the g on the 6th? Thanks for any help.

[Triple-o]

Yes,the ring finger is moving back and forth.

When Playing a B7 chord the middle finger  would be alternating between the 5th and 6th strings. 

Mark Hanson has a book that might be of interest,”Contemporary Travis Picking”

[mm66]

Sorry to drag this question on but I'm talking about the Merle Travis exercise 1 in Session 10, Fingerstyle Guitar of the the Learn and Master Guitar course. Can someone answer my question about this specific exercise? The exercise shows a formed c chord (after the 3 note intro), but there's a g note in that measure. How do I play it? Thanks for any help.

[Blue Dog]

On ‎2‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 7:38 PM, mm66 said:

Sorry to drag this question on but I'm talking about the Merle Travis exercise 1 in Session 10, Fingerstyle Guitar of the the Learn and Master Guitar course. Can someone answer my question about this specific exercise? The exercise shows a formed c chord (after the 3 note intro), but there's a g note in that measure. How do I play it? Thanks for any help.

Sorry mm66 , But you move your ring finger from the C note And place it on the G and then back to the C note and then back to the G note. If you want to alternate .And pick it with your thumb. Hope this Helps.  Ps You can use your pinky and lift the ring finger. or come over to top with thumb. Ring finger is normal. But then it depends on the next chord shape . so the choose is yours .

Edited March 2, 2018 by Blue Dog

[mm66]

Thank you! I've been using my ring finger because I figured that would be proper technique and would keep me out of trouble down the road. Since its the first time I've ever put down my pick, I wanted to be sure. Thanks again and have a great day.

[V7#5b9]

@mm66 Moving your 3rd or ring finger between the 5th and 6th strings is certainly an option and you may need that ability, but in a situation when your 4th finger aka pinky isn’t doing anything, I would economize. Actually, @Blue Dog implied it in his post. For exercise 1 I would suggest an additional option. Here’s a C chord with the G in the bass. It’s a C chord in its 2nd inversion, but don’t worry about the theory of it at the moment. 

If you finger it according to the diagram, you won’t have to move your 3rd or ring finger at all. Even for Ex.2 you can hold this shape, just don’t play the sixth string or the low G note when you play the chord.

[mm66]

Very cool, but it took so long to learn exercise 1 moving the 3rd finger that I'll probably stick with it for now. Probably easier though, in the long run, doing it your way since you don't have to move. Almost got exercise 2 down. Can't believe I'm not using a regular pick! Have a great day and thanks for the info.