Very often on Sunday afternoons, for a number of years now, I have been attending a very nice old time jam session held at St. Paul's Church over in Brookline, Massachusetts. Everyone sits in a big circle, and we go around, each one calling out a tune to play when it is their turn. Almost every week, one of the guitar players will call out Elizabeth Cotten's Freight Train. I was pleased to see Jack post his careful, meticulous transcription. This is a performance that should not be lost to time.
Though Cotten also played the banjo, in her own unique style that she developed in order to play a right handed banjo left handed, she never recorded her signature tune on it. Over the years, though, I have heard a lot of banjo pickers transfer it to banjo, usually clawhammer style. I have been playing this on banjo for a long time. I don't know when I first worked it out, but I went looking for a tab, and found that I had written my arrangement down for a banjo student back in 2009. I couldn't find a recording of it, though. I've been recuperating from a minor operation I had about two weeks ago, and until a couple of days ago, I have been too weak and my arms too sore to pick up my banjo, much less play it. Yesterday though, inspired by Jack, I did pick it up and started playing again. Freight Train is the only thing I've tried to play so far. Here I am, playing it earlier this morning, three finger style without picks. A little slow and a little rough, but I got it done!
Freight Train on Five String
I have attached a PDF of the tab; you can find the Tabledit (TEF) tab on my website:
Tab of Freight Train
I play all of tunes in the key of C in double C tuning (dCGCD) these days. I play on a semi-fretless banjo, and it's important that the middle C tonic be very clear. Plus, it's nice to have the open tonic there to grab when I am otherwise fretting up the neck.
I would love to see Jack put up a tab of Freight Train in clawhammer style, or whatever technique, it would be great to see how he interprets it.
That's enought of that, time to go nap!
Hi Don,
Thanks for the good words. Jan from Sweden has tabbed out a very good version in Tabledit in the Clawhammer style. I'll attach in the newest files...Tell me if you like that version...Jack p.s. It's now posted Don...
Edited by - Jack Baker on 08/23/2026 12:52:05
Thanks Don & Jack.
My favorite Bluegrass version is Jim & Jesse's with Bobby Thompson & Vic Jordan later after Bobby. My former band did it also similar to Jim & Jesse's version.
I still like Elizabeth Cotton playing it, it's a great song any way you play it.
Tom
quote:
Originally posted by TLGThanks Don & Jack.
My favorite Bluegrass version is Jim & Jesse's with Bobby Thompson & Vic Jordan later after Bobby. My former band did it also similar to Jim & Jesse's version.
I still like Elizabeth Cotton playing it, it's a great song any way you play it.
Tom
Tom, I am going to argue with you a little bit. The intro and breaks from their original recording sure sound like Thompson's melodic style of picking, but they don't really have any recognizable melody, they are more like banjo interludes. Also, Jim & Jesse made their recording in the fall of 1970, and Thompson hadn't played with them in several years. I suspect the banjo picker on that original Capitol Records recording was Vic Jordan, probably copying the break Bobby had already worked up for touring gigs. But I could be wrong, they might have brought Bobby back to record. Here's the original 1970 recording, posted on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/v2RhG-NBLjA?si=pSuQEfd4Dngkru22
Here is a video of a live performance, with Vic Jordan on banjo, picking virtually the exact same break.
https://youtu.be/SYLeYhRW03g?si=jMf1OA3oMVZ24nXh
A really fine version of Freight Train done bluegrass style was recorded by Larry Rice, Tony Rice's brother, in 2005. Sammy Shelor is picking the banjo, and his break is perfect. Now that would be a good one for @Jack Baker to tab out!
https://youtu.be/IA6kbT31vHE?si=0AKLaiGkgTiZFjfa
Please correct me if I have made any errors here.
- Don B.
Edited by - Don Borchelt on 08/28/2026 07:20:05
Hi Don,
Yeah Sammy does a great break for sure. I'll get around to it eventually....How are you feeling?.....I'll call you soon to catch up on things....Jack
quote:
Originally posted by banjopaoloHere’s my take
Bellissimo, Paolo!! That was truly wonderful! You put just the right amount of syncopation into it, it flows along beautifully. I might steal your ending!
Edited by - Don Borchelt on 08/28/2026 12:06:40
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