Hi Mike, many thanks, you have just taught me to Travis pick, I’ve been tinkering with guitar for more years than I care to remember I’m 68 now & so wanted to play the Townes van Zandt Poncho & Lefty brilliant lesson kind regards from across the pond 🙏
Great to hear! I have an entire Travis picking playlist that'll get you up to speed. Let me know how else I can help! And if you keep getting value from the channel please consider support so I can keep em coming!
Hey man just wanted to say that this is a great lesson. I've been playing guitar for a couple months, but I've kind of been off and on as I think a lot of people are. This lesson though really gets me to actually want to play. I looked at your channel and I see that you did a couple other Townes songs as well and I'll be sure to check them out. Thanks again!
A compliment from Churchill, nice! But dude, did you really have to explode the civilians at Dresden? Thanks, inspiration is needed! Glad I could supply some. i've got a few Townes songs up. Any more you'd like to hear? Please sub, like, share and I'll keep posting!
@@MikesMusicMethod well you see sir I am a folksinger of fiddle and banjo music so I learn music by hearing it. Maybe you could do a tune i sing and play on the fiddle called Cruel War. It has a pretty melodic line to it. There are a number of recordings of it online.
You bet! lmk how else i can help. watch these first few as well as that Travis Picking Primer and you'll be folkin' and rolling. Please sub, like, and consider monthly support so I can keep helping out you and others.
aw, thanks Jo! I'll keep delivering. any other song next? Sub, like, share and please consider monthly support no matter how small, it buys me time to continue to punch out more fingerpicking tutorials!
Great lesson, man. I'm really struggling to wrap my thumb over the neck the F bass note on the F chord, but I'll keep working on it. I might have to bar the low F and the high C (on the B string) note.
It takes time. Long term you could invest in a more narrow nut width. Also...check out my video "that damned F chord, barre chords are overrated rated"
Hey Mike. I wish I had run into you before now. I have a serious issue with ADD. I find it easy to understand the way you play it out. Thank You & Regards from Ody Slim
Heck yes. There's a lot of different ways to learn. Too much is either based on tabs, or notes or chords. Some people need the very direct visual thing itself. You're welcome. Please sub and like and consider the tip jar, friend. What song could I help with next?
great job, however you don't cover the hammer ons, and variations with the left hand like you play at the very end. Can you do another video that covers those?
I'm looking for a lesson on how to play it like Townes does in that home video of him playing it at his place. Let me know if you find a video or tab on that. That's another level picking. I think they want to keep it secret.
I get this question a lot. I'll have to make a video on it soon. Sorry...no tips to convey through text. Just trial and error, watch how other guys play it, no hand is the same so everyone has a slightly different approach. Also what guitar you're playing can also make a fairly big difference. But as I said...I'll make a video called "that damned F chord" soon.
@@MikesMusicMethod Thanks! I'll give it a try and if I can post a video here I'll do so....I have a 21 Chord Chromatic so it should work just fine. Thanks for the tip Mike!
I hear the normal 1 5 thumb progression not c to a as e is the 3rd and the rest of the chords your doing 1 5 so why would c be 1 3. Its c g alternation not c e and you could use the g string or the low e 3rd fret to mix it up. In this song he uses the open g string tho
Good ear, daron! I didn't wanna get too lost in the woods on a level 2 picking lesson. I went back and did a more detailed breakdown that's pretty darn accurate to the live recording of Townes in Heartworn Highway here. Let me know if you catch anything in this video I missed: th-cam.com/video/9b8wCj_ws6Y/w-d-xo.html
Ah, my old Huss and Dalton. I had it for over a decade and bought it when gigging was a bigger part of the income. Then I had kids and realized that being paranoid about a guitar because of its price was not a price worth paying. But man those dudes know how to make em!
haha, no thanks. I did that for years and I'll never go back. I enjoy the tactile sensation too much without them, and I can't even say I prefer the tone. Plus 90% of my playing time is on a nylon string, which of course would be silly with the fingerpicks.
The gear for this recording was hardly amateur, but I'd say the guitar was at least half as loud as the vocal. ;) I'm happy with my progress over the last two years. Appreciate the feedback and I'll keep trying to improve. Would be happy to get some feedback on a newer video. Thanks, MP.
![Pancho & Lefty: Play it Like Townes Van Zandt [Guitar Tutorial]](/img/n.gif)
I'm an old man of 71. Picked up guitar 2 weeks ago. Thanks for the help
You're darn welcome, Mirco. How's the homestead?
That’s cool. Enjoy! Hope you get into it and have a good time with it. Cheers from a 36 year old Dane. Played for about 25, but not enough.
More power to ya! it can be frustrating but dont give up!
Hi Mike, many thanks, you have just taught me to Travis pick, I’ve been tinkering with guitar for more years than I care to remember I’m 68 now & so wanted to play the Townes van Zandt Poncho & Lefty brilliant lesson kind regards from across the pond 🙏
Great to hear! I have an entire Travis picking playlist that'll get you up to speed. Let me know how else I can help! And if you keep getting value from the channel please consider support so I can keep em coming!
My go to man for Townes songs baby
Yup! I think I have over 30 townes tutorials at this point
Well done! I like how you slowed it down and explained each step in detail.
Glad it was helpful! can you play it!?
@@MikesMusicMethod I'm a 63 old fart just learning how to play, so it'll take awhile.
Excellent lesson. You've done an amazing job with this. Picking slowly through the chord progression really helped!
thanks, Conan! any other songs you'd like done?
Great advice, awesome classic song! 👍🎸🇨🇦
thanks Gerald. How's the picking? What can i do for ya next? Keep on the "travis picking playlist" and lmk how it goes!
@@MikesMusicMethod Trying to keep the picking clean. Love your YT channel, you have a great collection of songs thx👍🎸🇨🇦
Hey man just wanted to say that this is a great lesson. I've been playing guitar for a couple months, but I've kind of been off and on as I think a lot of people are. This lesson though really gets me to actually want to play. I looked at your channel and I see that you did a couple other Townes songs as well and I'll be sure to check them out. Thanks again!
A compliment from Churchill, nice! But dude, did you really have to explode the civilians at Dresden? Thanks, inspiration is needed! Glad I could supply some. i've got a few Townes songs up. Any more you'd like to hear? Please sub, like, share and I'll keep posting!
I really like your personality man I have Bern self taught but a teacher like yourself so easy going would have been nice for me 26 years ago.
hey, thanks Jeremy. appreciate that. any other songs i can tackle for ya?
@@MikesMusicMethod well you see sir I am a folksinger of fiddle and banjo music so I learn music by hearing it. Maybe you could do a tune i sing and play on the fiddle called Cruel War. It has a pretty melodic line to it. There are a number of recordings of it online.
Good stuff Mike! Thank you!
You bet! lmk how else i can help. watch these first few as well as that Travis Picking Primer and you'll be folkin' and rolling. Please sub, like, and consider monthly support so I can keep helping out you and others.
I like your style and ready for more.
Exactly what I need to learn this song that I love. Thank you for being a great teacher.. Jo
aw, thanks Jo! I'll keep delivering. any other song next? Sub, like, share and please consider monthly support no matter how small, it buys me time to continue to punch out more fingerpicking tutorials!
Dope video Mike thanks
you're welcome! anything else you'd like to see a breakdown for?
Great lesson, man. I'm really struggling to wrap my thumb over the neck the F bass note on the F chord, but I'll keep working on it. I might have to bar the low F and the high C (on the B string) note.
It takes time. Long term you could invest in a more narrow nut width. Also...check out my video "that damned F chord, barre chords are overrated rated"
@@MikesMusicMethod I'll check out that video. Thanks, man!
Thanks Mike ..
You're very welcome, Bob.
great lesson-thanks!
Glad you liked it! Check out this one. Think this one is a super helpful fingerpicking primer! th-cam.com/video/M1GG4Q4Hyiw/w-d-xo.html
Hey Mike. I wish I had run into you before now. I have a serious issue with ADD. I find it
easy to understand the way you play it out.
Thank You & Regards from Ody Slim
Heck yes. There's a lot of different ways to learn. Too much is either based on tabs, or notes or chords. Some people need the very direct visual thing itself. You're welcome. Please sub and like and consider the tip jar, friend. What song could I help with next?
great job, however you don't cover the hammer ons, and variations with the left hand like you play at the very end. Can you do another video that covers those?
I'm looking for a lesson on how to play it like Townes does in that home video of him playing it at his place. Let me know if you find a video or tab on that. That's another level picking. I think they want to keep it secret.
appreciate the feedback. solid idea. i'll get to it this week.
done.
@@MikesMusicMethod where is this lesson with hammer ons
Thanks great lesson.That darn F cord with thumb over E is really tough any tips on that cord?
I get this question a lot. I'll have to make a video on it soon. Sorry...no tips to convey through text. Just trial and error, watch how other guys play it, no hand is the same so everyone has a slightly different approach. Also what guitar you're playing can also make a fairly big difference. But as I said...I'll make a video called "that damned F chord" soon.
@@MikesMusicMethod sending you a few bucks via paypal thanks
@@deadwood3764thank ya sir. I'll get to that damned F chord hopefully by next week.
You are a crazy genius bro. Don't hate me.
no hate here. Only for glue. I always hated using glue in art class as a kid.
Do another one, more advanced, and show how to play it like Townes does in that live video of him at his ranch or trailer or whatever his place was.
Done. Search the fingerpicking playlist!
here...th-cam.com/video/9b8wCj_ws6Y/w-d-xo.html
Chet Atkins planted his pinky...and so does Mark Knopfler...so, those of us who choose to do likewise shall be forgiven...
Well put!
I'm wondering if this method can be transferred to an Autoharp...I'm thinking yes! Great video!!
of course it can. Just find two notes in the chord and go back and fourth between them. I'd love to hear ya play it!
@@MikesMusicMethod Thanks! I'll give it a try and if I can post a video here I'll do so....I have a 21 Chord Chromatic so it should work just fine. Thanks for the tip Mike!
What are some good drum tracks to practice this with?
i just go to youtube and type in "xx bpm drum track". There are tons of apps but I'm not familiar enough to recommend any.
u r awesome
in this can the thumb does five 3, not five 4. it's an essential subtlety.
thanks, Jack. I have a more advanced version of this song where I break all that down.
I hear the normal 1 5 thumb progression not c to a as e is the 3rd and the rest of the chords your doing 1 5 so why would c be 1 3. Its c g alternation not c e and you could use the g string or the low e 3rd fret to mix it up. In this song he uses the open g string tho
Good ear, daron! I didn't wanna get too lost in the woods on a level 2 picking lesson. I went back and did a more detailed breakdown that's pretty darn accurate to the live recording of Townes in Heartworn Highway here. Let me know if you catch anything in this video I missed: th-cam.com/video/9b8wCj_ws6Y/w-d-xo.html
WHERE ARE THE LIKES?
haha. I need to post more! thanks, Lukav!
Obviously we share the same taste in clothing 😂😂😂😂 and guitar styles 😅
What guitar are u playing?
Thx for video
Ah, my old Huss and Dalton. I had it for over a decade and bought it when gigging was a bigger part of the income. Then I had kids and realized that being paranoid about a guitar because of its price was not a price worth paying. But man those dudes know how to make em!
Omg you are so funny
when i edit my videos I go between laughing out loud at my own ridiculousness to cringing at it. ;)
@@MikesMusicMethod haha I loved the plaid pants comment 😅
cute shorts
was I wearing jorts in this video!? I don't recall owning a pair in the last 20 years. ;)
Paint by number xerox machine
haha, what?
Now do it with fingerpicks
haha, no thanks. I did that for years and I'll never go back. I enjoy the tactile sensation too much without them, and I can't even say I prefer the tone. Plus 90% of my playing time is on a nylon string, which of course would be silly with the fingerpicks.
You’re not as funny as you think, but good lesson.
Thanks, Jim. Glad the video was helpful. But you're a mind reader? Sweet. So how funny do I think i am?
"When you play it fast, it sounds really cool". Yeah, if the guitar was even half as loud as your voice.
Amateur Hour.
The gear for this recording was hardly amateur, but I'd say the guitar was at least half as loud as the vocal. ;) I'm happy with my progress over the last two years. Appreciate the feedback and I'll keep trying to improve. Would be happy to get some feedback on a newer video. Thanks, MP.