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Elizabeth Cotten - Freight Train Ukulele Chords

ChordsE7, F, C, G7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓-↓↑-↓↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

E7E7FF
CG7CC
CFreighttrain,Freighttrain,G7runningsofast
G7Freighttrain,Freighttrain,Crunsofast
E7Pleasedon’ttellwhatFtrainI’mon
SotheyCwon’tknowwhatG7routeI’veCgone
CWhenIamdeadandG7inmygrave
G7NomoregoodtimesChereIcrave
E7PlacethestonesatmyFheadandfeet
TellthemCallthatI’veG7gonetoCsleep.
E7E7FF
CG7CC
CFreighttrain,Freighttrain,G7runningsofast
G7Freighttrain,Freighttrain,Crunsofast
E7Pleasedon’ttellwhatFtrainI’mon
SoCtheywon’tG7knowwhatrouteI’veCgone
CWhenIdie,LordG7burymedeep
G7WaydownonoldCChestnutstreet
E7ThenIcanhearoldFNumber9
AssheCcomesG7rollingCby.
E7E7FF
CG7CC
AlbumElizabeth Cotten, Volume 3: When I'm Gone
GenresFolk
Year1979
KeyC
DifficultyEasy

How to play Freight Train on Ukulele (Step-by-step)

Elizabeth Cotten - Freight Train on ukulele requires 4 chords and 4 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓-↓↑-↓↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Freight Train uses these transitions most often: C → G7 (11), G7 → C (11), and E7 → F (7). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with E7 - F chord transition.

1. E7 → F chord transition

Switching from E7 to F:

  1. While playing E7, lift your ring finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from C string fret 2 to G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 7 times.

E7 to F

2. F → C chord transition

Here's how to move from F to C:

  1. While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 7 times.

F to C

3. C → G7 chord transition

To move from C to G7:

  1. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on E string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 11 times.

C to G7

4. C → E7 chord transition

Switching from C to E7:

  1. Slide your ring finger on A string from fret 3 to fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on G string fret 1.
  3. Place middle finger on C string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 6 times.

C to E7

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Freight Train.

  • Freight Train includes 42 chord transitions, 4 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.01% of all chord transitions in Ukulelearn.
  • Freight Train contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Freight Train connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G7: 2%
    • C → E7: 1%
    After G7, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (69%), C7 (5%), and F (5%).
    • G7 → C: 69%