Syncopation or off beat notes. For these exercises count 1-2-3&4. Play the off beat on the &. All examples below are using a C chord. Use a metronome. Focus on timing.
p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------0-----------------0-----------------0-----------------0----
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A--3---3---3---3-----3---3---3---3-----3---3---3---3-----3---3---3---3--
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4
Add a pinch on the 1st beat.
m m m m
p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B--1-----------------1-----------------1-----------------1--------------
G------------0-----------------0-----------------0-----------------0----
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A--3---3---3---3-----3---3---3---3-----3---3---3---3-----3---3---3---3--
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4
Use an alternating bass line.
p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B-----------------------------------------------------------------------
G------------0-----------------0-----------------0-----------------0----
D------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2--
A--3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4
Use a pinch and an alternating bass line. If you get lost use your thumb to get you back in time, then continue adding the off beat notes again.
m m m m
p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p p p p i p
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B--1-----------------1-----------------1-----------------1--------------
G------------0-----------------0-----------------0-----------------0----
D------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2--
A--3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4 1 2 3 & 4
Add in another off beat note. For this pattern count 1-2&3&4.
m m m m
p p i p m p p p i p m p p p i p m p p p i p m p
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B--1---------1-------1---------1-------1---------1-------1----------1---
G--------0-----------------0-----------------0-----------------0--------
D------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2--
A--3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 & 3 & 4 1 2 & 3 & 4
Basic Travis picking pattern. For this pattern we would count 1-2&3&4&. Again, if you get lost use your thumb to find the time again gradually adding in the off beat notes.
m m m m
p p i p m p i p p i p m p i p p i p m p i p p i p m p i
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
B--1---------1-------1---------1-------1---------1-------1----------1---
G--------0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0---------0-------0
D------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2---------2-------2--
A--3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3---------3-------3------
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 2 & 3 & 4 &