Freight Train in 7 | Elizabeth Cotten | “Seven Things in 7”

As one of the most famous American folk songs, Freight Train stands out because of its poignant lyrics and smoothly rolling finger-picking guitar style. Elizabeth Cotten wrote it in her early teens, but she wasn’t “discovered” until she was in her 60s when this song quickly became a classic.

I wanted to play it in 7/4 because the melody fits very well. For accompaniment, I chose an Indian tabla sample tuned to the key of the song, which I feel also goes with the melancholy mood of the lyrics.

The harmonica I use in this video:
C Hohner Marine Band with Special 20 reed coverplates customized by Joe Filisko

About “Seven Things in 7”: Odd time meters can be tricky to play in at first, but once you get familiar with them, that will change- each one has its own symmetry and swing. For me, 7/4 and 7/8 are two of the most comfortable odd time meters to play in. So I came up with this playlist showcasing different styles of music, all in 7/4 or 7/8. I hope you enjoy them and maybe give it a try yourself.

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Видео Freight Train in 7 | Elizabeth Cotten | “Seven Things in 7” канала Howard Levy