Travis Walk – Stevie Ray Vaughan Intro

July 6, 2025 by Klaus Crow

How to Play Travis Walk Intro by Stevie Ray Vaughan

When it comes to electric blues guitar, few names carry the same weight as Stevie Ray Vaughan. His catalog is a masterclass in tone, feel, and phrasing. But nestled among his more iconic tracks lies a lesser-known gem—“Travis Walk.” Clocking in at just under three minutes, this instrumental off “In Step” (1989) may be short, but it packs a serious punch. It’s SRV unleashed, with a nod to country swing, rockabilly, and of course, Texas blues. Check out the Travis Walk – Stevie Ray Vaughan Intro below:

Video Lesson

Tabs

Here are the tabs to accompany the video lesson: Travis Walk Tabs

What Is “Travis Walk”?

“Travis Walk” is an instrumental track named in tribute to Travis County, Texas, where Austin—SRV’s musical stomping grounds—is located. It’s the only instrumental on In Step, Vaughan’s final studio album with Double Trouble released during his lifetime. The song is raw, fast, and full of attitude—almost like a jam session that caught fire.

The Style: Texas Shuffle Meets Rockabilly Twang

From the moment it kicks off, “Travis Walk” feels like an amphetamine-fueled joyride through southern juke joints. It’s fast-paced with a swinging shuffle beat, reminiscent of a country hoedown on steroids. But make no mistake—this is SRV’s playground. His signature tone and blues phrasing are unmistakable, even when he steps into more rockabilly territory.

Musically, the track draws from the Travis picking tradition (think Merle Travis), but this is electric Travis. Stevie uses hybrid picking, slashing chords, and gliding slides that flirt with chaos but never lose control.

Gear Talk: That Signature SRV Bite

On “Travis Walk,” Stevie likely played his No. 1 Strat, loaded with heavy strings (reportedly .013s), running through his usual rig of Fender Vibroverbs and Tube Screamers. The result is that unmistakable, punchy, overdriven blues tone that still breathes and twangs.

Pay attention to his right-hand attack—he digs in with ferocity. The track is a study in how technique and gear combine to create something visceral. No studio polish, no overproduction. Just raw energy.

Why It Matters

Though it’s not his most famous song, “Travis Walk” captures the spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan as much as any of his hits. It’s loose, fearless, and joyfully unhinged. And in a way, it offers a glimpse of SRV just having fun—stretching out, bending genres, and doing it all with soul.

For guitarists, it’s a great piece to study if you want to understand hybrid picking, phrasing in fast shuffles, and how to inject personality into every note. And for fans, it’s a hidden track that shows yet another dimension of Vaughan’s genius.

Try It Yourself

If you’re looking to learn “Travis Walk”, be prepared for a workout. You’ll need speed, accuracy, and a good sense of groove. Today we’re starting with the first part of the intro which is a great joy to play. Start slow and really focus on the phrasing—it’s easy to get caught up in the tempo and lose the feel.

Bonus tip: Practice it with a metronome and try emulating that SRV bite by adjusting your pick attack and tone settings.

If you want to play blues shuffles that are a little bit easier and lots of fun to play check out 5 Cool Blues Shuffle Riffs

Have a great one!