Practice Log
Learning to Travis Pick with "Clay Pigeons"
Lesson #173
Video Overview
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Editorβs Note
Around 2017 or so, it became painfully obvious that (a) I was falling deeply in love with so many songs that required Travis Picking; and (b) I had zero experience with the Travis Picking technique, and kept putting off learning it. Summer of 2018, the dam broke - and βClay Pigeonsβ was the song that got me over the hump. In this entry into my Practice Log, Iβll show you some of the exercises I used to get familiar with the technique, and eventually gaining the ability to play the βClay Pigeonsβ intro in the style of John Prine. These exercises are based on G, C, and D chord shapes.
Start with these chords
The first two chords youβll want to learn are the G and C (technically, the C is a βC/Gβ - but weβll refer to it as a C for simplicity going forward). The great part about these two chords, is that your left ring finger stays in the exact same position for both chords. The only βtransitionβ you do is putting your left middle & index fingers down for the C, and then lifting them up again for the G.
E ββββββ E ββββββ
B ββ0βββ B ββ1βββ <= Left index f.
G ββ0βββ G ββ0βββ
D ββ0βββ D ββ2βββ <= Left middle f.
A ββββββ A ββββββ
E ββ3βββ <= Left ring f. E ββ3βββ <= Left ring f.
G C
Next, letβs add this D chord (technically, itβs a D/F# β but again, letβs keep it simple and refer to it as D). This one is trickier, because youβll need do a bit more finger re-positioning than you will when playing the C & G. First learn this chord by itself, then practice going from the G or C to this chord, and back again. If this chord totally stumps you, ignore it and follow the rest of the lesson only using the G and C chords.
E ββββββ
B ββββββ
G ββ2βββ <= Left ring f.
D ββ0βββ
A ββ0βββ
E ββ2βββ <= Left middle f.
D
Start with the right thumb, by itself
The first thing youβll want to do is practice the alternating bass-note via the right thumb - and not bring in any additional right-hand fingers just yet. For each tabbed sequence below, study & practice this repeating thumb pattern for each chord shape. Again, if the D gives you trouble, you can skip it.
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ
G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ1βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ2βββ ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββ
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ
C 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββ2βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ
A ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ2βββ ββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ
D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Adding a pinch on the 1 count
Next, letβs take things a single step further - by playing the second string with our right middle finger on the β1β count of each measure. The important thing to realize here, is this creates βpinchβ between our right middle finger and our right thumb. That is, both notes are being played at the same time. Everything else (the repeating right thumb) stays the same!
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ0βββ ββ0βββββββββββββββ0βββββββββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ1βββ ββ1βββββββββββββββ1βββββββββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D ββ2βββ ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
C 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
For the D, just note that weβre using our right index finger instead of our right middle finger (this makes things easier on the left hand, since no left-hand note is required on the B string).
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββ2βββ ββ2βββββββββββββββ2βββββββββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ <= right thumb
A ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ2βββ ββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ <= right thumb
D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Adding a β2 +β note
After you have the βpinchβ addition mastered, the next step is to add a single note on the β2 +β count of each measure. For the G and C chords, this new note will be with a different finger than is used on the βpinchβ 1-count note.
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ0βββ ββ0βββββββββββββββ0βββββββββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββββββββ0βββββββββββββββ0βββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ1βββ ββ1βββββββββββββββ1βββββββββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββββββββ0βββββββββββββββ0βββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ2βββ ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
C 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Weβll keep the D the same as before - no changes. Again, this keeps things easy for the time being.
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G ββ2βββ ββ2βββββ2βββββββββ2βββββ2βββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ <= right thumb
A ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ2βββ ββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ <= right thumb
D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Changing the picking order
If you want to take it even further, a good next-step is to keep the same notes you just played - but change the right-hand picking order. For example, here I swap the order that the right-hand middle and index finger are played. Compare this to the prior tab sequences to see what I mean. This starts to show you how far you can mix up the sound by making very small changes.
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ0βββ ββββββββ0βββββββββββββββ0βββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββ0βββββββββββββββ0βββββββββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ1βββ ββββββββ1βββββββββββββββ1βββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββ0βββββββββββββββ0βββββββββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ2βββ ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
C 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Add hammer-ons and you have Clay Pigeons
To wrap things up, let me show you one more change - and how this maps to what youβll hear in John Prineβs version of Clay Pigeons (add capo 3rd fret to play along with him).
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ0βββ ββββββββ0βββββββββ0h1βββ0βββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
G 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ1βββ ββββββββ1βββββββββ1h3βββ1βββββββββ <= right middle f.
G ββ0βββ ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ <= right index f.
D ββ2βββ ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββ <= right thumb
A ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ3βββ ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ <= right thumb
C 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Hereβs the D he plays - note the new note needed on the B string (1st fret) with your left hand. A bit tricky! But master it, and oh the fun.
E ββββββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
B ββ1βββ ββββββββββββββββββ0h1βββ0βββββββββ
G ββ2βββ ββββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ2βββββ <= right index f.
D ββ0βββ ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ <= right thumb
A ββ0βββ ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
E ββ2βββ ββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ <= right thumb
D 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
John Prineβs βClay Pigeonsβ intro tab
Hereβs the full tab of John Prineβs βClay Pigeonsβ intro. Note, youβll need a capo on the 3rd fret! You have a lot of sequence that repeat themselves here (e.g., the G and C measures) β itβs really the D sequence that changes between part 1 and part 2. See my video lesson for reference, and good luck!
Part 1 of 2:
Capo 3rd fret
E ||ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
B ||ββββββββ0βββββββββ0h1βββ0βββββββββ|ββββββββ1βββββββββ1h3βββ1βββββββββ|β
G ||ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
D ||ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ|ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββ|β
A ||ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
E ||ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ|ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ|β
G C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E β|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
B β|ββββββββ0βββββββββ0h1βββ0βββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββ0h1βββ0βββββββββ|β
G β|ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββ2βββββββββββββββββββ2βββββ|β
D β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ|β
A β|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
E β|ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ|ββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ|β
G D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Part 2 of 2:
E β|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
B β|ββββββββ0βββββββββ0h1βββ0βββββββββ|ββββββββ1βββββββββ1h3βββ1βββββββββ|β
G β|ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
D β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ|ββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ2βββ|β
A β|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|β
E β|ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ|ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ|β
G C
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E β|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββ3βββββββββββββββ||
B β|ββββββββ0βββββββββββββββh1ββββββββ|ββββββββ0βββ3βββββ0βββββββββββββββ||
G β|ββ0βββββββββββββββ2βββββββββ0βββββ|ββ0βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ||
D β|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ|ββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββββββ0βββ||
A β|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ|ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ||
E β|ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ2βββββββ2βββββββ|ββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ3βββββββ||
G D G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Good luck!
I hope this was helpful for you. As always, when chewing off bigger challenges for yourself - find ways to make them easy by breaking them into approachable steps.
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Nov 1, 2020 β’Β Lesson #335
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G finger position guide
Tips & Technique
Oct 25, 2020 β’Β Lesson #334
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Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd
Oct 23, 2020 β’Β Lesson #65
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Father and Son
by Cat Stevens
Oct 18, 2020 β’Β Lesson #333
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Layla (acoustic)
by Eric Clapton
Oct 11, 2020 β’Β Lesson #103
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