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  • Freight Train

    Posted by SherryH on July 1, 2021 at 8:33 pm

    This is a huge accomplishment for me. When I started learning this song I never believed I would get my fretting fingers to stretch and hold the combinations in this song. It’s not great and very “beginner” but I<font face=”inherit”> am pleased that I could at least </font>learn it<font face=”inherit”>. </font>

    https://youtu.be/wEB5OWaVIT0<font face=”inherit”>
    </font>

    charlie_d replied 3 years, 7 months ago 17 Members · 40 Replies
  • 40 Replies
  • Dan J K

    Member
    July 1, 2021 at 8:40 pm

    Hey @SherryH, that was very nicely played and sounded very pretty to my ear! Great stretch to hold those notes to ring nice and clean.

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 5, 2021 at 6:28 am

      Thank you Dan. It was quite a stretch for my short fingers. I’m glad the notes sounded clean. Thanks for listening and providing me feedback.

  • Marisa

    Member
    July 1, 2021 at 8:45 pm

    Great job @SherryH! This is the start to something big! Congratulations!

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 5, 2021 at 6:30 am

      Thanks @Marisa. I hope you are right. I hope this is a sign that I am turning a corner and will be playing more songs and progressing to a new level. Thanks for listening and providing me encouragement.

  • GuitarGeni

    Member
    July 5, 2021 at 8:41 am

    Nicely done!

    I’m still working on the first section. Just started yesterday, but it is the song I wanted to be able to play within the first 90 days. I think I’ll get there, but the coordination is tough and the fingers get tired waiting for me to figure it out. 😆

    • CrystalG

      Member
      July 5, 2021 at 9:11 am

      Hi Guitar Geni, Where is Freight Train located in the TAC system. I would like to learn it, but I can’t find it in the new system.

      Thanks in advance,

      Crystal G.🌸

      • GuitarGeni

        Member
        July 5, 2021 at 10:32 am

        Go to the skills section and locate the Fingerstyle/Fingerpicking course. It’s located within that. Also, don’t skip the introductory lessons like I did. Fortunately it only took me one day to realize I needed to mend my ways and go back to it. Patience grasshopper…patience.

      • SherryH

        Member
        July 6, 2021 at 9:18 am

        @GuitarGeni, it took me over a month to get my fingers to stretch and change chords. I thought it was quite a challenging song but I love it and was determined to learn it. You’ll get there too. Also, the song can be found at tacsongs.com. Keep practicing.

      • CrystalG

        Member
        July 7, 2021 at 12:55 pm

        Thank you!!!😀🌺

  • andy_e

    Member
    July 5, 2021 at 4:55 pm

    Nice! Good melody line and rhythm. I enjoyed listening to you. Your guitar sounds nice!

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 6, 2021 at 9:12 am

      Thank you @andy_e. When I started learning this song which was in the easy category of the tac songs, the strings buzzed something awful. My fingers could not make a good tone in the stretch. I’m happy that you like listen and thought the guitar had a good sound. It took a lot of practice. PS, the guitar is very nice it is the hands that have trouble getting good tone.

      • andy_e

        Member
        July 9, 2021 at 11:50 am

        SherryH, may I ask what guitar you have? Thanks!

      • SherryH

        Member
        July 9, 2021 at 1:12 pm

        @Andy_e, my guitar is a Martin 000-15m. It’s a nice guitar but my playing may not put it in the best light 🙁

      • andy_e

        Member
        July 10, 2021 at 10:20 am

        Your guitar had a very pleasing tone. I was at a guitar store yesterday and played a 000-28 that was really nice. Must plan for the future!

  • That_Guy

    Member
    July 6, 2021 at 5:31 am

    Am i the only one that cant help singing along the whole time everytime they hear this song?

    🎼 Freight train, freight train, FREIGHT train, freight TRAIN freighhhhhht traiiiiiiiiiiinnnnn 🎶

    • This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by  That_Guy.
    • This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by  That_Guy.
    • SherryH

      Member
      July 6, 2021 at 9:14 am

      Haha, I know what you mean. In one video take my head was bobbing side to side to the rhythm. I didn’t post that one; I was afraid it would make people seasick.

  • johnny67

    Member
    July 6, 2021 at 11:49 am

    Nicely done! That finger stretch and hold is a tough one, Great job!👏

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 9, 2021 at 4:52 pm

      Thank you so much. Yes, this was quite a challenge for me. It was one of my 90 day goals so I was determined to keep at it until I could post it. I still want to keep playing it and get faster and better tone, but thanks for the kind words.

  • Crabby

    Member
    July 6, 2021 at 8:14 pm

    your guitar is upside down LOL

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 9, 2021 at 1:26 pm

      Hi @Crabby, I’m not sure what you mean by upside down? I do hold my guitar more upright and on my left leg because it is easier for my hand reach. Or are you referring to something else?

      • Crabby

        Member
        July 12, 2021 at 12:26 pm

        @SherryH Elizabeth Cotton was left handed and played a right handed guitar upside down. Unlike Jimi Hendrix a left hander who also played a right hand guitar, She did not bother to restring the guitar. She played it with the thick strings on the bottom and the thin strings on the top.

        When I wrote it I wondered how many people would catch the reference. It was a joke and you can ignore it.

      • SherryH

        Member
        July 14, 2021 at 6:46 am

        @Crabby that is very interesting info, because I am left handed but didn’t know the history of Elizabeth Cotton. I had just put new strings on the guitar and I am always worried that I will string it upside down so I had to take a hard look that I hadn’t. Maybe I should try it? Since both hands have a lot to do on the guitar I never really thought it made a difference whether it was right or left handed, but maybe I should see the difference.

  • bmpkitty

    Member
    July 7, 2021 at 3:22 pm

    So great. Good job. I loved it!

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 9, 2021 at 1:27 pm

      Thanks @bmpkitty. Thanks for taking the time to listen. I’m glad you liked it.

  • GuitarGeni

    Member
    July 8, 2021 at 10:49 am

    Well, I wanted to update you on my progress. I made it all the way through a couple of times today, but just barely. I can comfortably get through sections 1-4. Nowhere near as clean and smooth as it needs to be, but making what I consider HUGE progress compare to a few days ago. I’m pretty confident I’ll make my goal.

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 9, 2021 at 1:31 pm

      That’s great @GuitarGeni. Now that you can make it through all the sections just keep playing it over and over. The repetition gives you the muscle memory and when the muscle memory takes over it gets smoother and faster because you don’t have to think about the notes. The fingers just take over.

  • jojola

    Member
    July 10, 2021 at 10:40 am

    Excellent Sherry! I have always loved this song (and other Elizabeth Cotton), and the Freight Train lesson is the next one for me (im in the middle of the “Panache” lesson.
    Really exciting, isn’t it??? Keep up the great work!🎸🎼🤟

  • bmacdonald

    Member
    July 12, 2021 at 3:42 pm

    Nice job. Thanks for sharing

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 14, 2021 at 6:48 am

      @bmacdonald, thanks for listening and the kind comment.

  • Cadgirl

    Member
    July 12, 2021 at 4:55 pm

    Good job on Freight Train. and….. good job not reading off the tab sheet. I have not been able to break myself away from the song sheet yet. Again, good job.

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 14, 2021 at 6:52 am

      @Cadgirl, I have to work on a song so long that I always have just learned it without the tabs. I can’t really get any speed going (at best I don’t play very fast) if I have to look at the tabs so I memorize it or probably more correctly my finger’s muscle memory has it down. Thanks for listening and providing encouraging feedback.

  • Chris_H

    Member
    July 12, 2021 at 5:21 pm

    Well played @SherryH ! It looks easier than it is. Sounded clear & consistent!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 14, 2021 at 6:55 am

      Yes indeed, this simple song was not easy for me. So glad to hear it was clear and consistent. I worked hard on that. I had put new strings on the day I recorded it and the strings were very stiff so I was frustrated with getting it to sound good.

  • Philb

    Member
    July 12, 2021 at 6:20 pm

    Well done! Clean and clear. Congrats!

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 14, 2021 at 7:00 am

      Thanks, I have wanted to learn fingerpicking but didn’t realize what a challenge it would be. I saved for quite awhile to get this guitar, but for fingerpicking I think I really need a smaller guitar or a lot of exercises to build finger strength and flexibility. Thanks for listening and providing kind feedback.

  • ted_h

    Member
    July 12, 2021 at 10:14 pm

    Great job, @SherryH! Solid rhythm and good tone!

    • SherryH

      Member
      July 15, 2021 at 8:20 am

      Thank you @ted_. Thanks for listening and the kind words.

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