Freight Train

Folk song
First published in 1956
Elizabeth Cotten

First verse:
Freight train, freight train, run so fast,
Freight train, freight train, run so fast,
Please don't tell what train I'm on,
They won't know what route I'm gone.

Download

Freight Train guitar tab and notes (pdf)

tabs tabs & notes

Listen

Freight Train instrumental guitar (mp3)

Freight Train - guitar tab, notes, chords and lyrics

"Freight Train" was composed by American folk and blues musician Elizabeth Cotten. Although written in the early 20th century, the song wasn't released until the 1950s and can be heard on the album Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar (1958). It has become a common tune for guitarist to approach and mostly instrumental on a steel guitar.

Freight Train (full accompaniment)

"Freight Train" for guitar with full accompaniment. Free download in pdf-file and audio.

Freight Train guitar accompaniment

Freight Train

"Freight Train" tablature notation for guitar.

Freight Train tabs

Tips on how to learn this song

"Freight Train" is performed with a melody in combination with bass notes played by the thumb. This can be tricky and an option is to start out by only playing the melody (see only melody version above). Over the bars 11 to 12, barring the first fret is recommended.

Key, time, tuning and tempo

Information about "Freight Train" considering musical key, time signature, tuning and bpm.

Key signature music symbol

Key

The main presented version of Freight Train is played in the key of C.

Time signature music symbol

Time signature

The song is played in 4/4 tempo.

Tuning overview

Tuning

The song is normally played in standard tuning (EADGBE).

BPM symbol and numbers

Tempo (BPM)

The tempo in beats per minute is 150 for the presented version.