7 week training system

Travis Pick Like A Pro In The Next 7 Weeks

My 49 day Travis Picking Boot Camp will work for you — even if you’ve tried everything else and failed.

Sound like 2 guitars at once.

Upgrade to a fuller & richer sound.

Gain ultimate thumb and finger independence.

Rapidly wake up the motor units controlling each finger.

Amaze your friends, enemies, and anybody standing within 100 feet

...using nothing but your guitar.

Playing in the style of legends like Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Tommy Emmanuel, and Mark Knopfler is easier than you think.

It just seems hard because you haven't yet trained your thumb and fingers to act independently of each other.

Think of how many times in your life you've used all five fingers as one cohesive unit to grab something — a cup, a ball, a doorknob...

You've probably done it dozens (or hundreds) of times today.

And that means you've done it tens of thousands of times this year.

Add that up over a lifetime and there's a saying in neuroscience that applies here: neurons that fire together, wire together.

This means that when you're doing any kind of fingerpicking that requires independent use of each finger — Travis picking especially — you're fighting the natural habits you've spent a lifetime programming into your brain.

This is why it feels so hard and so foreign to do.

But there's good news: it's easy to fix.

And it's possible at any age.

The truth is that your thumb and other fingers each already have individual, distinct representation in your brain's motor cortex.

This is a very good thing — because it means your brain is already built to naturally handle the unique fingerpicking style necessary for Travis picking. Like, right now.

You just need to deliberately train your fingers in a way that breaks these patterns in your brain — and finally wakes up the motor units that control each finger individually

And doing this doesn't take much time at all.

I've found about 7 weeks of 10-15 minutes a day is all you need.

After that it's like something CLICKS — and getting that two guitar sound feels natural, smooth, and effortless.

I'm talking about the kind of playing that makes people stop and go...

“Wait, how did you just do that!?”
"How long have you been able to do that?!"
"Play that again."

And it's a skill that just stays with you after it "clicks".

That is — as long as you train the skill into your brain the right way.

I've recently discovered an astonishingly effective way to teach Travis picking that essentially "hard-wires" the skill into your hands and brain in record time.

It requires 49 days — and 10-15 minutes of practice per day.

But once you've finished — that's it, you've got it.

You've now built true independence between your thumb & fingers — and will leave everyone wondering how you leveled up so fast.

If you've been struggling to get Travis picking to CLICK...

Then this training system is exactly what you need.

Introducing...

Travis Picking Boot Camp

49

daily lessons

10-15

mins/day

7

weeks to mastery

Travis Picking Boot Camp is a 7 week fingerpicking training system that takes you from wherever you are now — newer to fingerpicking, intermediate, advanced, and everything in between — and rapidly develops your fingerstyle independence.

It frees your thumb and fingers — step-by-step — with simple, fun drills that build from easier to advanced...

And "wakes up" the muscle memory that powers fluid, natural fingerpicking in your hands.

The way it works is very simple:

Daily Emails

When you join, you'll receive email assignments delivered straight to your inbox. Each one contains specific Travis picking patterns and fundamentals.

10-15 Mins of Playing

These daily email lessons link to videos inside the members’ area. Here, you’ll get TABS, a step-by-step breakdown of what to do, and an easy play-along for each day.

Repeat For 49 Days

And become a Travis picking master.

The reason this system works so well is because I'm not just throwing hours of video at you all at once and then leaving you to figure out the rest.

Instead you receive simple bite-sized lessons every day...

That require only 10-15 minutes of practice...

And, after 49 days, programs the full technique into your brain.

This method removes all guesswork.

I couldn’t possibly make it any easier — other than practicing for you. :)

Inside the course

Travis Picking Boot Camp is made up of 7 modules

Each module is drip-fed to you one lesson at a time over 49 days.

Module 1

Days 1-7

Travis Picking Fundamentals

Here, you’ll train the most important finger in your picking hand and build a rock-solid foundation that makes everything else possible.

  • Master the #1 secret to making your fingerpicking finally CLICK.
  • The "CLAW" technique every guitarist should know. (I first discovered this listening to Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins. I’ll show you how it works together with Travis picking.)
  • Wondering whether to use nails, no nails, thumbpick, finger picks, hybrid pick, or no pick? Here’s exactly what to do and how to avoid the common roadblocks.
  • If you're a fan of Delta blues musicians like Robert Johnson, Son House, and Mississippi John Hurt... You’ll LOVE these “Dead thumb style” fingerpicking drills. (Picture your thumb playing so steadily – they could calibrate the world clock with it!)
  • Confused about how to match your fingerpicking hand fingers to strings? Get a proven roadmap so you can stop worrying and start playing.
  • A simple mistake that destroys your chances of learning Travis picking. (Many of my in-person students kept making this mistake because of YouTube influencers. Once I showed them this one change, their fingerstyle control, timing, and natural motivation shot through the roof!)

Module 2

Days 8-14

Building Your Groove Engine

Next, we turn that foundation into a driving groove engine. This lets you create "backing" for any song.

  • The 4 most important alternating thumb patterns for Travis picking. (I combed through thousands of songs and boiled it down to just these 4 patterns. Learn them and skyrocket your fingerstyle playing.)
  • A little-known way to deepen your sense of rhythm and strengthen your groove in any music you make.
  • How to use Call & Response in fingerstyle
  • A quick trick to “spice up” any fingerstyle pattern.
  • Do you have old fingers, hands, or struggling forearms that don’t always cooperate? Good news. These patterns sound amazing at ANY tempo, which means you can play them fast, slow, or anywhere in between. You’ll sound great... every way!

Module 3

Days 15-21

Thumb Independence

This stage hands you the breakthrough most guitarists never reach. You’ll train your thumb to run on autopilot so your fingers are free to move independently on top.

  • A mighty fingerstyle blues groove Scotty Moore used behind Elvis Presley to create a smash hit. (This lesson equips you with many skills that carry over to countless famous songs.)
  • 3 simple techniques that form the backbone of (almost) all fingerpicking styles.
  • Hypnotise your audience with the magic of fingerstyle. (They'll say, "I can't believe it's only you playing!")
  • The #1 mistake players make when they begin learning Travis picking or Chet Atkins' style. (HINT: the old-school masters used duct tape to immediately stop this.)
  • How to combine Travis picking with bar chords.
  • The exact thumbpick I use.

Module 4

Days 22-28

Turning Patterns Into Music

Now we connect the dots. You’ll crack the code on how these patterns show up in your favorite songs.

  • An exact fingerpicking pattern Mark Knopfler used to learn Travis style. (Take the same path the Sultan took to fingerstyle mastery.)
  • Old tricks I learned from Frank Sinatra's guitarist about how to accompany singers. (This one lesson alone could potentially turn you into the BEST accompanist in your town.)
  • How to play Chet Atkins' "Boom Chick" and why it's NOT a fingerpicking pattern. (He used this on countless famous recordings like “Windy & Warm”, “Freight Train”, and “Mr. Sandman”.)

Module 5

Days 29-35

Fingerstyle Flow & Creativity

Here, you'll learn how to use the patterns to flow between chords and unlock your own innate creativity.

  • How to integrate chords and Travis picking patterns – so you can freestyle or play any song you want with a whole new sound.
  • The easiest way to start playing walking bass lines with your fingerpicking-hand thumb. (This turns you into a one-man band.)
  • How to sound like 2 guitars at once.
  • Have you been a "strummer" for 50+ years? If so, you’ll find this program a godsend for turning yourself into a competent fingerpicker.
  • Fascinating fingerstyle techniques used by blues masters like Blind Blake. (For example, play a “two-finger pinch", and pop the strings with a swing rhythm. You’ll instantly get an incredible ragtime sound.)

Module 6

Days 36-42

Refinement & Control

This stage takes you from sounding good to sounding great. You’ll clean up your timing, touch, and consistency so your playing sounds smooth, polished, and professional — without overwhelm or confusion.

  • Getting good at fingerstyle requires lots of HARD practice, right? WRONG! Here's how to make your fingerpicking faster, smoother, and sound more polished – with 70% less effort.
  • Exact step-by-step exercises to develop an almost freak-like “finger independence” so you can play anything you want.
  • Crack the code on what looks like magic to the average bystander.
  • A sneaky way to make WRONG notes sound RIGHT while also smoothing out your chord changes.

Module 7

Days 43-49

Travis Picking Mastery

Finally, we bring everything together. You’ll combine thumb, fingers, rhythm, and melody into one seamless sound—and emerge a confident, complete Travis picker.

  • Master the ability to combine alternating thumb parts with melodies on top.
  • An old diminished chord trick (used during the 1900-1920s) that instantly creates a bluesy, ragtime sound.
  • Learn patterns and drills that apply to (almost) any type of playing you will ever do with your fingers.
  • Jerry Reed’s mind-blowing guitar style meets the blues. (Learn exact tips and tricks that made the "Guitar Man" one of the greatest 6-string innovators of all time.)
  • How to add killer blues licks to basic fingerpicking patterns and turn heads.
  • And much, MUCH more...

The secret sauce

49 Daily Exercise Emails

The reason I can guarantee you the results I've promised is because of how Travis Picking Boot Camp is taught.

I've found that most guitar courses just throw a huge vault of lessons at you and say "good luck". The result? Most people fail to get through the first few exercises before giving up.

I've found it's far more effective to receive just one small assignment per day — in the one place you're checking anyway: email.

So every day of Travis Picking Boot Camp, you'll receive one email from me — with that day's 10-15 minute lesson and links to videos, TABS, and sheet music to complete it.

This means you'll actually do the work.

And in just 49 days, you're a Travis picking master.

The best patterns

My curated collection of the most IMPORTANT Travis picking patterns of all time

Here's the deal: there are endless Travis picking patterns you can find, practice, and play with.

But a lot of them are garbage.

And even worse, practicing the wrong patterns can make you sound mechanical, stiff, and boring.

I've combed through thousands of fingerstyle patterns & songs and distilled them down to the most important Travis picking patterns that are used in the songs you actually want to play.

Every lesson covers one of these — so when you've finished the training, your fingers not only play them automatically...

But they're yours to reference forever.

Help & Support

And direct access to me

Anytime you have a question, a comment, or even a success story, simply add a comment on the lesson inside the members' area and I'll reply to you right there.

Just getting the solution to one problem you've been struggling with can make a HUGE difference.

If there are things I can help you with, I’m here for you.

Value: Priceless

Included with Travis Picking Boot Camp

Your transformation

After 49 days, here's what you can expect to happen:

Travis picking will feel natural and automatic.

You’ll have developed a new level of fluency, control, and confidence like you’ve never had before. Ultimately, this new independence can apply to ANY style of music you want.

Playing by yourself will sound full and COMPLETE.

My focus is on making sure your playing sounds like the classic Travis picking style — two guitars playing at the same time.

You'll feel confident in the art of Travis picking (and experience complete independence between your thumb and other fingers).

You'll have trained with (and have in your possession) a collection of the best Travis picking patterns of all time — which is the key to playing any song in this style.

People will be going, "Wait... how are you doing that!?"

This is by far the most fun part. Everything will CLICK and that complex, multi-guitar sound that blows people away will be unlocked for you — and feel as natural as strumming.

...all for less than the cost of a few in-person lessons.

Listen, you already know Travis picking is one of the most impressive-sounding skills to have in your arsenal. It's the fastest and easiest way to upgrade your playing and blow other people's minds.

This system will save you thousands over lessons from an in-person instructor — with the benefit of learning from a world-class teacher (me), in a unique system that is proven to rapidly "wake up" your ability to use each finger independently... at any age.

If it doesn't work? You've got 30 days to get your money back.

I stand by every promise I've made on this page.

Now it's your turn to take action.

I can't wait to see you on the "other side".

Jon

Start your Travis picking journey today

Follow the simple daily 10-15 minute exercises that are dropped into your inbox for 49 days and that's it — you're done. This skill is yours for life.

Complete 7 week course

$497

$297

One time payment

Unlock true independence between your thumb & fingers — and become a Travis picking pro through simple daily exercises in just 49 days.

Includes:

  • 7 training modules
  • 49 daily email assignments
  • Videos, TABS, & sheet music
  • Jon's curated collection of the best Travis picking patterns
  • Lifetime 24/7 access and updates
  • Help & support directly from Jon

30 day money-back guarantee

Secure payment

Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Travis Picking Boot Camp right for me?

While this course has a 100% money back guarantee, I'll be the first to admit that it is NOT for everyone. So to save you some hassle:

Travis Picking Boot Camp Is NOT Right For You If:

  • You are a complete beginner. (This course assumes, at minimum, you have calluses, you know some chords, and have previously tried a few fingerpicking patterns.)
  • You don’t want to improve your fingerstyle independence.
  • You want to use a standard flat pick and grip it between two fingers. (This program is all about playing with your fingers and/or thumbpick, NOT hybrid picking.)
  • You’re looking to learn a bunch of arrangements. This program focuses on the skills needed to play arrangements, NOT arranging them, or copying arrangements.
  • You’re looking for a magic bullet to play like the greatest fingerpickers of all time without practice. (Sorry, that doesn’t exist.)

Travis Picking Boot Camp Is RIGHT For You If:

  • You want to finally learn Travis picking and play it with confidence.
  • You’re willing to commit 15 mins each day to put in the reps, and unlock the #1 secret to making your fingerpicking finally click.
  • You have some experience playing fingerstyle and want to go to the next level.
  • You’re looking for a SYSTEM, not random tactics.

Will this work for acoustic & electric guitar?

Yes! This program works for both. I wanted to debunk the myths of fingerpicking being only acoustic and show you what’s possible with both acoustic and electric guitars. So, if you’ve got 6 strings, you’re all set. Everything in this program can be played on both acoustic and electric guitars.

What makes this course better than every fingerstyle program out there?

Travis Picking Boot Camp is the world's simplest, fastest, and most effective Travis picking training system. No other program shows you how to re-train your fingerpicking hand this systematically. You’ll learn all the best Travis picking patterns through DAILY lessons that leave no stone unturned. Plus, you get all the TABS, play-alongs, and complete materials to make the entire process a walk in the park.

How is the course delivered?

After you purchase Travis Picking Boot Camp, you'll be able to log in and see a few preparatory videos right away. From there, the course is set to start on the following Monday. I do this so you can start fresh on a weekday. You wake up in the morning and complete the first assignment. Then from there, you'll get an email each morning for 49 days.

These email assignments will link to matching videos with TABs that explain each assignment. I also play through the exercises with you. So all you have to do is follow along and play the easy daily lesson with me.

I have Essential Fingerstyle Guitar System, will this help me?

Yes! Travis Picking Boot Camp is designed as a higher level.

Essential Fingerstyle Guitar System is all about the fundamentals of fingerstyle and is a much broader course.

Travis Picking Boot Camp dives specifically deep with Travis picking and the concept of finger independence. A vital skill for fingerstyle mastery.

Should I take Essential Fingerstyle Guitar System, before I take this?

Yes! If you have no experience playing fingerstyle. That program is going to cover all the fundamentals of fingerstyle guitar and is easier. Travis Picking Boot Camp is not designed for beginners. It’s designed for those who are familiar with the fundamentals of this style.

Is my health or age an issue?

The great thing about music is that it's proven by countless studies to IMPROVE your overall health, by boosting your mood, reducing anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improving sleep quality, mental alertness and memory... following the course will boost your energy and motivation by working toward a goal. Plus the daily exercises will keep you inspired. And since you can review any of the lessons any time, because everything is recorded for you, AND you can get all your questions answered, you will benefit at any age.

I'm not great with computers, will I be able to participate?

If you can check your email, and click on a link each day to go to a lesson, then yes, you will absolutely be able to participate. All you will have to do to participate is get the emails, and then simply log in to your private member’s area.

What if I get stuck, can I ask a question?

Yes! You get all your questions answered. This is only available to course members. You can NOT get this on YouTube...

Anytime you have a question, a comment, or even a success story. Just add a comment below any lesson and I'll be able to see it and reply back to you right there!

This is honestly one of my favorite parts about the program because I can help you more directly so that your experience with the material is as complete as possible.

What happens if I miss a day?

Listen, life gets in the way. I totally expect you to miss a day here and there in the 49 days. Just keep going forward if that happens — don't try to "make up" for it.

But for best results, I recommend setting up your "Travis Picking Boot Camp ritual" to be first thing in the morning, every morning. A few minutes of practice after waking up is surprisingly easy. And it makes this process completely routine — a habit. After 49 days, you'll be glad you built the habit.

Is there a money-back guarantee on this course?

Yes — if you get into the program and realize within the first 30 days after purchase that it's not the right match for you, just shoot me one email and you'll get all your money back, no questions asked.

I stand by my courses and know this is the single best Travis picking resource on the market — but understand sometimes it's not the right fit, and that's cool too.

© 2026 Jon MacLennan