Another question about Travis picking

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by Joscefi78

That's what I meant - one finger and one thumb.

Cool. Just clarifying.

[LeftArm]

with a kind of frailing and clawhammer

This is clear in the video but I don't think I have seen it in any instructional literature. He kind of punctuates each line with it. I'll give this a go later.

one finger and one thumb.

one arm, one leg
one nod of the head
keep moving
we'll all be merry and bright.

Got this stuck in my head now.

[SprintBob]

Seems I read somewhere that Chet Atkins was asked why he does not Travis pick like Merle Travis and his response was something like "Well I have two more fingers so I might as well use them!". Regarding using the ring finger for fingerstyle, IME it's a good tool especially for solo fingerstyle music. I think that is why Mark Hanson's books encourage using it.

[Wooly]

Originally Posted by SprintBob

Regarding using the ring finger for fingerstyle, IME it's a good tool especially for solo fingerstyle music. I think that is why Mark Hanson's books encourage using it.

And that will be the next book of his that I will be getting into.

I have been trying to consciously use the ring finger in the patterns he shows. I'm getting a little more used to it.

[JonPR]

Originally Posted by SprintBob

Seems I read somewhere that Chet Atkins was asked why he does not Travis pick like Merle Travis and his response was something like "Well I have two more fingers so I might as well use them!".

Right.
Likewise, when playing Django Reinhardt tunes, one presumably wouldn't feel it necessary to disable the ring and pinky on one's fret hand...