"I’ve taught Travis picking at least 500 times but whenever I’ve asked a student, 'Do you know who Merle Travis is?' I’ve never heard, 'Yes!'" A deep dive into Walkin’ the Strings, an album whose influence is everywhere in our guitar lives

• As well as writing popular standards like “Sixteen Tons”, Merle Travis was idolised by peers like Scotty Moore and the Everly Brothers. Walkin’ the Strings is a flashy, intimate and soulful masterclass of his stunning playing at its peak