DOWNLOAD ONLY - Merle Travis is one of the most prominent fingerstyle guitarists of the mid-20th Century. His instrumental prowess is legendary, but he was also a gifted songwriter, performer, and storyteller with a deep knowledge of American history.

In this lesson you'll learn some of the folk songs Merle Travis wrote and performed, beginning with his seminal Folk Songs of The Hills recordings from 1946. Unlike the rigors of learning Travis instrumentals, the accompaniments Merle played on Dark as a Dungeon and I Am a Pilgrim are easier to grasp and are an excellent introduction to his famous technique. All the hallmarks of real Travis picking are covered, including using a thumbpick, the Travis bass rhythm, and the system of chord shapes he used to facilitate his incredible sound. A brief history of his folk recordings accompanies this lesson.

Each tune is taught phrase by phrase and played slowly on a split-screen. Original footage of Merle Travis playing some of the tunes taught is also included. Tab/music booklet included as a PDF. 118 min.