Acoustic Fingerpicking Step-by-Step, Level 1A

Description

Now, let's take on a song project. A song project gives you the chance to put all your new skills to work, while growing your repertoire with a new song you can play start to finish.

In this lesson, you will learn to play the traditional American Blues song, The Freight Train Blues. This will give you a chance to work with the Four-Step Fingerpicking Pattern in a specific musical context called the 12 Bar Blues, using three chords and a syncopated rhythm.

See if you can play this song along with me. With some practice, you should be able to do it all on your own. Even if this particular song is not your favorite thing in the world, learning to play it all the way through, up to speed, with good clarity and steady rhythm, is a great way to develop your skills. You can then easily apply those skills to songs of your own choosing.

Here is the chord progression, a classic twelve bar blues in the key of E:

//: E / E / E / E /

/A7 / A7 / E / E/

/ B7 / B7 / E / E ://

THE FREIGHT TRAIN BLUES (traditional American blues song)

I've got the (E) freight train blues, but I'm (E) too darn mean to (E) cry (E)

I've got the (A7) freight train blues, (A7) too darn mean to (E) cry (E)

I'm gonna (B7) love that man (B7) till the day he (E) die (E)

I (E) asked the brake man to (E) let me ride the (E) blind (E)

I (A7) asked the brake man to (A7) let me ride the (E) blind (E)

He said (B7) "little girlie, you (B7) know this train ain't (E) mine" (E)

That's a (E) mean old fireman, (E) cruel old engin... (E) eer (E)

That's a (A7) mean old fireman, (A7) cruel old engin...(E) eer (E)

It was a (B7) mean old train that (B7) took my man away from (E) here (E)

There's (E) three trains ready but (E) none ain't goin' my (E) way (E)

I said there's (A7) three trains ready but (A7) none ain't goin' my (E) way (E)

But the (B7) sun's gonna shine in (B7) my backdoor some (E) day (E)