Further to Rick's comment, I am working on some Merle stuff right now. If you've never delved into his unique style and especially the way he forms chords, it's an eye opening, or should I say, tendon-wrenching experience.

Merle appears to formulate chord positions based on what he needs to get out of the guitar to carry his songs. In many cases he does not use conventional chord positions that we tend to accept as a standard.

He makes extensive use of his thumb and uses his thumb in nearly every circumstance. That thumb is often fretting not only the 6th string, but the 5th and 6th strings together. Wherever possible he will also use 1 finger to hold down two strings (thus freeing up other fingers for other things) so you also have to learn how to make full E, F, C, A and other chords with the economy of either the middle or ring finger doing double duty and holding down two adjacent strings at once (while the remaining fingers are doing something else.)

If you have large hands and long fingers, you may find it relatively easy to play his chords. If you don't, then be prepared for some major aerobics to get your fingers and wrists in shape and used to stretching. You have to do this in moderation, or you'll be in a lot of pain.
You have to take his tunes in small sections and learn 2 - 4 bars at a time.

If you're serious at all, about wanting to explore Travis songs and his style of playing, one of the very best instructional videos (one, which I am working through currently) is The Guitar of Merle Travis - Taught by Marcel Dadi. Marcel spent years studying and emulating Travis's style, and you get a real in depth look at some of Travis's songs and chord formations. They're really broken down, and Dadi is an extremely clean and excellent performer.

Mind you, this stuff is hard! It's not for beginners, and none of the songs are anything you're going to work out in a day, a week or possibly even a month. Nevertheless, if you're up for a real challenge, I'd say go for it.

(Sadly Marcel Dadi is no longer with us, as he was a victim of TWA Flight 800 back in 1996. A real loss, but since the video was done in 1993, he continues to teach and inspire, from beyond the grave.)