Tony, I really enjoyed and appreciated this post! I am Brenda Evans and Elizabeth Cotten is my great grandmother. I am also the vocalist on her album Shake Sugaree at age 11. I am now 71 years old.
Great episode! I was busking last week in Brighton and played Freight Train a couple of times….had no idea it wasn’t a Chet Atkins tune. Thanks for the education! 🙂
This episode and format is terrific. Really useful information on the main subject and excellent windows into people we should be watching for and listening to. I’m guessing you are about the same age as my granddaughter so you missed seeing Elizabeth Cotten live. Her shows were great with large audiences hanging on every note and word. A thrill to see. She and Etta Baker were the first guitar heroes of the folk music boom of the late 1950s and early ‘60s. You might consider doing one of these shows on Etta Baker since there is also a body of material for people to reference. If not Etta, then maybe a combination episode on Mose Rager and Ike Everly, two great pickers who were early exponents of “the Muhlenberg sound.”
Todd Johnson, I agree. I love his playing and I fingerpick in his style. Just yesterday I found myself playing: "You've Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley."
Downloaded some Elizabeth Cotten! Thanks Tony! I was gonna recommend a new artist to you but you already featured her, way back in AT60! Very prescient! The artist is Sierra Ferrell, she’s blowing up all over my RUclips and a new album is forthcoming. Wooo! So thanks for this too Tony!
Great Video: Small suggestion - 8 mins to get an example of the playing style/player you’re making the video about feel a little odd. A lot of us are super sensitive to feeling click baited, so, putting the subject of the video at the top we can see its what we wanted to watch; hope thats useful :) thanks for introducing me to her, good stuff!
Freight train blues was the first finger picking song I learnt, in about 1963. To my shame I never knew who wrote it - it was usually ascribed as ‘Trad’. It was only after the beginning of the COVID-19 lock down did I come across Elizabeth Cotton, and then also found out that she wrote ‘Shake Sugaree’, which I learnt from a Stefan Grossman album in the ‘70’s. It took that long to find out who it was who helped enrich my life so much. I talk about her whenever I play one of theses songs.
Awesome lesson! I recently discovered Freight Train so it was so perfect to learn about Elizabeth Cotten. I'd love to learn more about Mance Lipscomb or Mississippi John Hurt.
Yes, good format to go in depth with classic artists. How about Etta Baker, who is equally incredible, and of course Memphis Minnie, who got the ball rolling for many later blues artists and rock and roll itself.
I love the format. I can't remember his name but there was another old North Carolina blues player of the Piedmont Blues tradition that Taylor guitars showcased around 20 years ago that was lost for many years. Dig him up please?
I have the problem where I practice and play really good in the morning and I’m getting my songs done and being really productive.. then I take a break and feel like not playing again at all or binging on video games. Sometimes I take a video game break and go back to practicing and playing guitar but other times I just crash and burn productivity-wise. I almost always play again at night though. I wake up around 7 or 8 and play until 12-1 and binge on games for a few hours, what I really WANT to do is take a break and come back bigger and better than before sometimes I just can’t focus on learning like I want to
There's been only 2 people that I've seen playing a right handed strung guitar, one who was an Australian ,who is now dead and Elizabeth Cotton.How did they do it ? really don;t care.A great guitar standard, a must for every guitarist.(Freight Train)
When I used to read Guitar Player years ago, they often mentioned Reverend Gary Davis, so that might be a good choice. The videos are pretty rough, though.
I am ashamed to say until now I had no idea who Elizabeth Cotten was, thanks for turning me on to another guitar player. As for another player I would like to know more about it would be Pete Huttlinger. I had the good fortune to get to see him the last time he played a show we were at the Six String Social Club in Woodstock GA. It was a very small venue maybe 30 people at the most, sadly Pete passed away early the following morning.
Tony check out Neil Woodward, Michigan's Troubadour ... Stories of Michigan Folks, A festival of songs and musical sounds with voice, fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, concertina, guitar, . Neil Woodward was my first Guitar Teacher back in the early 80s
Well, this is the way I've been doing it from the beginning. I thoughtt everybody did. So I guess I'm on up but I did give up guitar for 20 years. s*** now 2 years later. And i'm a hook again
I play upside down lefty but am more the strummer-reggae ska skanker.. I was inspired by Otis Rush and other blues upside downers.. you basically have to teach yourself though
It's ironic that Elizabeth Cotten played with thumb and finger long before Merle Travis was ever heard of yet it's his name that's plastered all over RUclips as if he invented it! Worse still is the use of "Travis-Picking" as the generic term for finger style/fingerpicking when he only used one finger!
Hey Tony! Love this format! The in depth report on Elizabeth Cotton was so informative and inspiring I wanted to hear and see even more! I would love to see additional segments like this featuring other artists such as Tony Rice, Nick Drake, Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, John Prine, and many others. It really provides you with a ton of insight into their struggles, triumphs, and successes. I can't wait to see more!
Uhhhhh. Thank you for introducing me to her. Do they still call it “cotton pickin’” style when only two fingers are used? I absolutely love this lady. She’s everything I wish I was in a guitar player but I had to be a damn chord progression snob. Edited: I came back to watch again and it’s actually called “Cotten Picking.” Love it and her.
How could an episode about Elizabeth Cotton NOT be great? And yet, there are way too many people who have never heard of her. I would love to see you dig into other artists that have had similar impact, but may not be that well known. (How about Mother Maybelle Carter and the "Carter Scratch?"
I totally loved the deep dive approach, it was so absorbing, I could have watched all day. Bring on the finger style piedmont blues. Pink Anderson, Brownie McGhee, I’ll go wherever you will.
What a necessary and heartfelt appreciation of a cultural treasure. Thanks, Elizabeth, for your music and just for being you. And thanks to Tony for bringing focus to her incredible life story, techniques, and melodic skills.
Just discovered Elizabeth Cotton ( I’ve been play guitar for 50 years). This was a great video explaining why I couldn’t make sense of what I was hearing. Didn’t guess the upside down playing style
Hi Tony, I had a stroke during knee surgery a few months ago. I'm 64 and lost alot of skills on my guitar, except the Elizabeth Cottion song Fright train ? ?. I'm out of the hospital playing Amazing Grace and Fright train , and remember some other songs . Picking what I can remember. Huh , amazing how this came at the right time.
Shes my idol. Hey that video you showed she is only using one finger and thumb.. She did not normally play like that she used three fingers with pinky anchored. In that one video she is specifically demonstrating travis picking which only uses one finger and thumb.
Can you even? Yes I can, because I'm a lefty and learned how to play using my dad's right-handed guitars... but picking with my left hand. It took quite a while to unlearn this approach once I got my first proper left-handed guitar. I don't do it anymore because I don't want to get twisted up.
Libby Cotton is an Icon. I never really thought of her playing the bass notes with her index finger and the melodies with her thumb. I knew she played upside down but it just never dawned on me. Happy Traum he been there through my whole guitar journey. Almost 50 years. I’ve been following Nora Brown from the start. Her album Cinnamon Tree is awesome. Check her out folks.
Hey Tony, I definitely enjoy your channel, here are some of my picks for fingerstyle study !! Here they are, take care .. Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, James Taylor, MIchel Gentils, Leo Kottke, Doyle Dykes, Roy Clark, Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Dawes, and many more .. smile .. For Classical Ben Woods, Estas Tonne, Thomas Zwijsen, AND .. Johnny Hiland although mainly electric, has an interesting chicken picking finger style !!! .. Other greats are already mentioned by your other followers...
GREAT SHOW, GREAT NEW FORMATE!!! The information on Elizabeth Cotton was just priceless!!! This episode was right on time, my homework on Elizabeth Cotton's "Freight Train"! And I love Nora Brown, in this time and space, she is a brave soul, singing beautiful, fresh and honest music!!! Thanks Tony!!! AAA+ show!!!
I have been a fan of Elizabeth Cotton even before I saw her perform at the Vancouver Folk Festival in the 70s. I did not know about her connection to the Seegers. Thanks for sharing that.
I really enjoyed today's episode! I'm just starting out on my Acoustic journey! And me personally, I've never really educated myself in the realm of musicians. I loved hearing her story, and I loved when you played Freight train and kinda broke it down! I would love to expand my knowledge on other Acoustic Guitar players, just like Elizabeth Cotton! An inspiration for sure! Great episode man!
Great stuff, love this format. I would really love additional sessions like it. The names crossing my mind (and somehow in a similar league as E. Cotton, I guess) are Mississippi John Hurt, Little Hat Jones and Memphis Minnie. Greetings from Switzerland
I love this format, so glad you covered Elizabeth! I’d love it if you covered Phil Ochs and his music. Phil doesn’t get enough recognition! Keep up the great work!
![Elizabeth Cotton - live [Colourised] 1965](/img/1.gif)
Tony, I really enjoyed and appreciated this post! I am Brenda Evans and Elizabeth Cotten is my great grandmother. I am also the vocalist on her album Shake Sugaree at age 11. I am now 71 years old.
She was such a lovable woman. It’s like I hear suffering of life in her voice. By the way, her music is in the video game BioShock Infinite
Great episode!
I was busking last week in Brighton and played Freight Train a couple of times….had no idea it wasn’t a Chet Atkins tune.
Thanks for the education! 🙂
Wonderful Lesson. ❤
I love this format. Hope to see more like this
This episode and format is terrific. Really useful information on the main subject and excellent windows into people we should be watching for and listening to. I’m guessing you are about the same age as my granddaughter so you missed seeing Elizabeth Cotten live. Her shows were great with large audiences hanging on every note and word. A thrill to see. She and Etta Baker were the first guitar heroes of the folk music boom of the late 1950s and early ‘60s. You might consider doing one of these shows on Etta Baker since there is also a body of material for people to reference. If not Etta, then maybe a combination episode on Mose Rager and Ike Everly, two great pickers who were early exponents of “the Muhlenberg sound.”
Mississippi John Hurt. I fell in love with his song "I Shall Not be Moved".
Todd Johnson, I agree. I love his playing and I fingerpick in his style. Just yesterday I found myself playing: "You've Got To Walk That Lonesome Valley."
I’m glad these videos only come out once a week or my head would explode from all the stuff that I learn. 🤩
Downloaded some Elizabeth Cotten! Thanks Tony!
I was gonna recommend a new artist to you but you already featured her, way back in AT60! Very prescient! The artist is Sierra Ferrell, she’s blowing up all over my RUclips and a new album is forthcoming. Wooo! So thanks for this too Tony!
Loved the behind the scene information. Makes her come alive. Knew the music but not the person.
My friend plays like this. Upside down right handed guitar, very interesting style
great inspiration for fingerstyle and routines
Great Video: Small suggestion - 8 mins to get an example of the playing style/player you’re making the video about feel a little odd. A lot of us are super sensitive to feeling click baited, so, putting the subject of the video at the top we can see its what we wanted to watch; hope thats useful :) thanks for introducing me to her, good stuff!
Freight train blues was the first finger picking song I learnt, in about 1963. To my shame I never knew who wrote it - it was usually ascribed as ‘Trad’. It was only after the beginning of the COVID-19 lock down did I come across Elizabeth Cotton, and then also found out that she wrote ‘Shake Sugaree’, which I learnt from a Stefan Grossman album in the ‘70’s. It took that long to find out who it was who helped enrich my life so much. I talk about her whenever I play one of theses songs.
Nora Brown is great! I love her voice and her playing, Just amazing.
Yes, I like your format! It's fun to go into the history as well as the techniques themselves.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Awesome lesson! I recently discovered Freight Train so it was so perfect to learn about Elizabeth Cotten. I'd love to learn more about Mance Lipscomb or Mississippi John Hurt.
Hey Tony one of the best episodes and like the new format!
Enjoyed this format!
Yes, good format to go in depth with classic artists. How about Etta Baker, who is equally incredible, and of course Memphis Minnie, who got the ball rolling for many later blues artists and rock and roll itself.
Awesome format! Awesome videos! No request for a person but perhaps some flatpicking and someone who you think does it best?
Rev. Ken Makuakani, great Hawaiian player, left handed upside down. Originally with Pandanus Club.
Awesome episode. Loved the format and would like to ask for one about Jack Rose. Greetings from Mexico!
Would love to see a vid about Lead Belly in this format!
I love the format. I can't remember his name but there was another old North Carolina blues player of the Piedmont Blues tradition that Taylor guitars showcased around 20 years ago that was lost for many years. Dig him up please?
Great AT Show Tony as always. I like the format variation. John Hurt would be my next choice. BTW, check out Oka Vanga's latest music release.
Nice Martin. My Martin has a great sound as well and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Also I rlly dig this format. Do Elliott Smith!
I have the problem where I practice and play really good in the morning and I’m getting my songs done and being really productive.. then I take a break and feel like not playing again at all or binging on video games.
Sometimes I take a video game break and go back to practicing and playing guitar but other times I just crash and burn productivity-wise. I almost always play again at night though.
I wake up around 7 or 8 and play until 12-1 and binge on games for a few hours, what I really WANT to do is take a break and come back bigger and better than before sometimes I just can’t focus on learning like I want to
Another Great Video. I am interested in learning more about Nick Drake. Thank you!
There's been only 2 people that I've seen playing a right handed strung guitar, one who was an Australian ,who is now dead and Elizabeth Cotton.How did they do it ? really don;t care.A great guitar standard, a must for every guitarist.(Freight Train)
I would really love to know how to loosen my acoustic guitar strings,, its a bit harder to play
Video is gonna blow up
When I used to read Guitar Player years ago, they often mentioned Reverend Gary Davis, so that might be a good choice. The videos are pretty rough, though.
I am ashamed to say until now I had no idea who Elizabeth Cotten was, thanks for turning me on to another guitar player. As for another player I would like to know more about it would be Pete Huttlinger. I had the good fortune to get to see him the last time he played a show we were at the Six String Social Club in Woodstock GA. It was a very small venue maybe 30 people at the most, sadly Pete passed away early the following morning.
Loved the format. How about John Hurt?
Love it so you happen to have tabs for freight train I’m gonna make it my mission to learn it
Tony check out Neil Woodward, Michigan's Troubadour ... Stories of Michigan Folks, A festival of songs and musical sounds with voice, fiddle, banjo, dulcimer, concertina, guitar, . Neil Woodward was my first Guitar Teacher back in the early 80s
Great video
Hi from SouthernBavaria !
Well, this is the way I've been doing it from the beginning. I thoughtt everybody did. So I guess I'm on up but I did give up guitar for 20 years. s*** now 2 years later. And i'm a hook again
This is off topic... lol, but have u ever demo a seagull guitar, just curious ur thoughts
I play upside down lefty but am more the strummer-reggae ska skanker.. I was inspired by Otis Rush and other blues upside downers.. you basically have to teach yourself though
8:54
Mississippi John Hurt
It's ironic that Elizabeth Cotten played with thumb and finger long before Merle Travis was ever heard of yet it's his name that's plastered all over RUclips as if he invented it! Worse still is the use of "Travis-Picking" as the generic term for finger style/fingerpicking when he only used one finger!
Spanish have been finger picking since the medieval ages.
Please focus on my Guitar God, Clarence White on acoustic !
I saved all my lunch money for two years when I was in high school so I could buy my first guitar.
Is that really a shirt with a face if an Indian man on it? I mean is it for reals or something “ironic”
💔💔💔
I've never heard this dude play anything other than simple little bits; can he really play? And Noah Brown? She plays a mean two strings. LOL.
Mark Knopfler's fingerpicking style is worthy of examining......
Sorry but you lose me , to much talking
Get a shave
worst musical video of my life - all talk/filler, little musical info...
Hey Tony! Love this format! The in depth report on Elizabeth Cotton was so informative and inspiring I wanted to hear and see even more! I would love to see additional segments like this featuring other artists such as Tony Rice, Nick Drake, Molly Tuttle, Billy Strings, John Prine, and many others. It really provides you with a ton of insight into their struggles, triumphs, and successes. I can't wait to see more!
Cotten is incredible - playing the guitar bass strings down - singing along with her perfect syncopation - it's amazing to watch and hear
Uhhhhh. Thank you for introducing me to her. Do they still call it “cotton pickin’” style when only two fingers are used? I absolutely love this lady. She’s everything I wish I was in a guitar player but I had to be a damn chord progression snob. Edited: I came back to watch again and it’s actually called “Cotten Picking.” Love it and her.
How could an episode about Elizabeth Cotton NOT be great? And yet, there are way too many people who have never heard of her. I would love to see you dig into other artists that have had similar impact, but may not be that well known. (How about Mother Maybelle Carter and the "Carter Scratch?"
She found an ointment for that....
I totally loved the deep dive approach, it was so absorbing, I could have watched all day. Bring on the finger style piedmont blues. Pink Anderson, Brownie McGhee, I’ll go wherever you will.
Yeah it was really interesting, thank you.
What a necessary and heartfelt appreciation of a cultural treasure. Thanks, Elizabeth, for your music and just for being you. And thanks to Tony for bringing focus to her incredible life story, techniques, and melodic skills.
BLAZE FOLEY!! awesome show Tony, you need to check out blaze Foley man! incredible musician!! Keep it coming tone!
Just discovered Elizabeth Cotton ( I’ve been play guitar for 50 years). This was a great video explaining why I couldn’t make sense of what I was hearing. Didn’t guess the upside down playing style
elizabeth cotten broken down to make the song so fresh and new. I have never heard the technique so clearly explained. Thank you sir
great episode!
Yes, nice format on this episode. Can you do one on Tommy Emmanuel?
Great format and video. I would like your take on John Denver...
Hi Tony, I had a stroke during knee surgery a few months ago. I'm 64 and lost alot of skills on my guitar, except the Elizabeth Cottion song Fright train ? ?. I'm out of the hospital playing Amazing Grace and Fright train , and remember some other songs . Picking what I can remember. Huh , amazing how this came at the right time.
Shes my idol. Hey that video you showed she is only using one finger and thumb.. She did not normally play like that she used three fingers with pinky anchored.
In that one video she is specifically demonstrating travis picking which only uses one finger and thumb.
Can you even? Yes I can, because I'm a lefty and learned how to play using my dad's right-handed guitars... but picking with my left hand. It took quite a while to unlearn this approach once I got my first proper left-handed guitar. I don't do it anymore because I don't want to get twisted up.
Libby Cotton is an Icon. I never really thought of her playing the bass notes with her index finger and the melodies with her thumb. I knew she played upside down but it just never dawned on me. Happy Traum he been there through my whole guitar journey. Almost 50 years. I’ve been following Nora Brown from the start. Her album Cinnamon Tree is awesome. Check her out folks.
Great video. Especiall story of cotton meeting the Seeger family.
musical geniuses can't figure out what the fuss is all about..what is so easy for them is next to impossible to us earthlings
Converse adverse reverse obverse diverse inverse. Universe.
Can you please cover Nick Drake on that format?
Doc Watson also used thumb and index only to 😮
Loved the new format. It is awesome to see the style differences between artists.
Freight Train!
hey, loved the format.
This is incredible
Would love to hear you interview Jorma Kaukonen
Blackhawks
Très intéressant
Hey Tony, I definitely enjoy your channel, here are some of my picks for fingerstyle study !! Here they are, take care ..
Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, James Taylor, MIchel Gentils, Leo Kottke, Doyle Dykes, Roy Clark, Tommy Emmanuel, Mike Dawes, and many more .. smile .. For Classical Ben Woods, Estas Tonne, Thomas Zwijsen, AND .. Johnny Hiland although mainly electric, has an interesting chicken picking finger style !!! .. Other greats are already mentioned by your other followers...
GREAT SHOW, GREAT NEW FORMATE!!! The information on Elizabeth Cotton was just priceless!!! This episode was right on time, my homework on Elizabeth Cotton's "Freight Train"! And I love Nora Brown, in this time and space, she is a brave soul, singing beautiful, fresh and honest music!!! Thanks Tony!!! AAA+ show!!!
I dig the format. Nick Drake, Doc Watson, Mississippi John Hurt, John Renbourn would be others styles I'd love to go deep into.
I have been a fan of Elizabeth Cotton even before I saw her perform at the Vancouver Folk Festival in the 70s. I did not know about her connection to the Seegers. Thanks for sharing that.
I really enjoyed today's episode! I'm just starting out on my Acoustic journey! And me personally, I've never really educated myself in the realm of musicians. I loved hearing her story, and I loved when you played Freight train and kinda broke it down! I would love to expand my knowledge on other Acoustic Guitar players, just like Elizabeth Cotton! An inspiration for sure! Great episode man!
Great stuff, love this format. I would really love additional sessions like it. The names crossing my mind (and somehow in a similar league as E. Cotton, I guess) are Mississippi John Hurt, Little Hat Jones and Memphis Minnie. Greetings from Switzerland
For next week -- "Strange Fruit... Immortal Classics" by Josh White is my choice when it comes to acoustic blues albums.
I love this format, so glad you covered Elizabeth! I’d love it if you covered Phil Ochs and his music. Phil doesn’t get enough recognition! Keep up the great work!
loved the format-maybell carter, robert johnson, mississippi john hurt
Great show!! Do similar for Mississippi John Hurt!!!!
Thanks Tony, looks like i'm going to woodshed on this and try to learn the technique..
This is so awesome, informative, and helpful! Thank you.
Tony, thank you so much for all that you do and share! Cheers!
I like the format. John Hurt, Doc Watson.
Vegging out with out a guitar is not relaxing.