With no offense intended to Will, here's how Travis picking is really done, from the man who learned it at his father's knee

Thanks M.Ted - very sweet! One of the things that characterises most Travis pickers (and I don't actually consider myself a true one, just one vaguely in the style) is the use of a thumb pick. Something I've never got on with, strangely enough. I play fairly quietly, with fingernails, and I've always found that the thumb overpowers the other fingers.

With hybrid picking, (fingerpick & fingers) I can get a better balance between pick and nails.