by Mike Pumphrey in 1963 . . .

(For another ecellent explanation of the Slap Strum technique, visit Joe Bethancourt's site.  Joe is an old friend of Travis and an excellent guitar player!)

I don't claim to be an expert on Bud and Travis guitar styles and ability since I never saw them play and have (unfortunately) never met either of them. However, as an avid fan (and, as half of Mike and Alan, two Bud and Travis wannabes at that stage of our lives), I have worked out and used many of their techniques - especially the slap strums.   B&T typically used 4 different "Slap Strums" in their music.    I have played each slowly and made them into soundfiles, and then repeated the first example at a typical "La Bamba" tempo. The soundfiles are recorded in "telephone" quality to reduce loading time.

At first hearing there seems to be little difference between the first example, referred to as the "single" slap strum, and the second example, which we call the "double."  However, if you listen closely, you will hear a difference in the rhythm between the two.   Example one, the single, is in La Bamba; example two, the double, is used in Sloop John B.  A third example is typical of the strum used for La Vaquilla Colorada while the fourth is the type used in Ay! Jalisco.  Example one, the single, can be used on virtually every up-tempo song - Myra, Angelico, San Fernando, Delia's Gone, etc.

From listening to the albums, it appears that B&T would sometimes employ two different versions at the same time - Bud on one, Travis on the other. This makes for a very exiting and complex-sounding arrangement that they used to great effect.  Of course, Travis could read all this and say, "That's not what we did at all." I would be proud to be corrected by him!

How to play the "Single" ( I wish I could take pictures but.):

You'll be slapping the guitar with your palm and fingers flat, palm striking the guitar at the point where the fretboard meets the soundhole.  You'll strum with a repeating up and down hand motion - down stroke with middle and ring finger; up stroke with back of thumb.

Example One: The "Single" (140k)

To perform the "Single":
Strum down with the middle and ring finger, slap with palm;
strum up with middle and ring finger (using "pads" of fingers),
strum down with middle and ring finger, and
strum up with back of thumb, slap with palm.

Repeat very slowly until you learn the pattern.  Then work up the speed, and presto: Bud and Travis!

The others are variations that are easily figured out once you can play the single

Example Two: The "Double"(154k)

Example Three: La Vaquilla (99k)

Example Four:  Ay! Jalisco (99k)

Example Five:  La Bamba (single at tempo, 144k)

(For another ecellent explanation of the Slap Strum technique, visit Joe Bethancourt's site.  Joe is an old friend of Travis and an excellent guitar player!)