How Julian Lage plays freight train shouldn't be possible.

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  • Опубликовано: 29 мар 2024
  • I'm a huge Julian Lage fan, but it's not often that I find him riding in the folk-guitar lane. I thought it would be a really great chance to try to learn a little bit how he interprets this music. I had no idea what I was in for.
    I recently rediscovered the interview Julian Lage did with Acoustic Magazine in 2009. The interview is fantastic, as well as the other pieces he plays for us on his Waterloo, but at the very end of the 20 minute interview is this utterly amazing version of Elizabeth Cotten's, Freight Train. Here's my best go at explaining a little of what he's doing, including some tab to help you learn it as well!
    Full transcription is available on my Patreon!
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Комментарии • 140

  • @bbowjazz
    @bbowjazz Месяц назад +18

    Julian Lage’s ability to subtly manipulate time is just incredible. The way he weaves this into deft harmonic and melodic transitions is even more astounding!

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +2

      Isn’t it amazing. That’s really the beauty of his playing, the notes could be anything as far as I’m concerned. Thanks for stopping by!

  • @andrewbowen6875
    @andrewbowen6875 2 месяца назад +14

    These are the type of lessons I would encourage folk to learn as you start to pick out patterns that set you up for life imo

  • @devin.thunhorst
    @devin.thunhorst 2 месяца назад +9

    He is such a beast. This video you found is a true gem. Good on you transcribing it! Thanks for sharing

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  2 месяца назад +1

      Such a beast. And yeah man, as far as I'm aware they never clipped that performance and it's only at the end of the interview. He did record it for an album too, but this version puts that one the rest I think.

  • @firecrackerheart
    @firecrackerheart 2 месяца назад +12

    i really appreciate your passion for music, kyle .. . you bring out a real joy for music that's quite contagious .. . thanks!

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  2 месяца назад +4

      I appreciate you too! Making these vids is the most the biggest creative outlet I have right now and it's awesome to know folks get something out of them.

  • @davidthomas9960
    @davidthomas9960 Месяц назад +6

    I see that Ab chord as a chord borrowed from C minor. You could also think of it as that classic move where you go from playing the IV chord (the F in this instance) to the ivm in a song. In this case it would be like an Fmin9 first inversion for the first chord. In love that movement so much it’s so beautiful

  • @andrewbowen6875
    @andrewbowen6875 2 месяца назад +7

    What a beautiful person Julian Lage is. He does a great mix of blues, jazz, country and bluegrass

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  2 месяца назад +1

      Dude for real. He seems as great of a dude as he is a musician.

  • @xchris1ian
    @xchris1ian Месяц назад +4

    Absolutely loved this, definitely coming back for more! I loved your breakdowns, but even more your "I can't do that!" moments. Lovely video.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Ha! Thanks man, yeah I mean I'll be the first to admit that I am no contender for Lage. Thanks for watching!

  • @jeremyversusjazz
    @jeremyversusjazz Месяц назад +8

    Lage is astonishing. Youre pretty damn good yourself brother! Nicely presented.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +1

      Thanks bud!! Appreciate you checking out the vid, hope it was helpful!

    • @jeremyversusjazz
      @jeremyversusjazz Месяц назад

      @@kostringworks astonishing, yes! "helpful?" No amount of help gonna get me to your level much less lage's!

  • @manuelcanepa8134
    @manuelcanepa8134 Месяц назад +1

    man, you are so cool! thanks for the video and having fun!

  • @chriswenger5797
    @chriswenger5797 Месяц назад +1

    Great video. Thank you for sharing your joys and insights into Julian’s performance. Really fun and inspiring.

  • @charlescoleman6896
    @charlescoleman6896 Месяц назад +3

    I saw Bill Frisell do this tune....he did it because the show was across the street from a historical marker for Elizabeth Cotten

  • @USNAVDC
    @USNAVDC 2 месяца назад +5

    Julian Lage is a music machine. Just unbelievable.

  • @shanehallusa
    @shanehallusa Месяц назад +2

    Wow. The theory is over my head, but I really appreciated the tabs to get my feet wet. Thank you.

  • @The_History_Man
    @The_History_Man Месяц назад +1

    This is the first of your videos that I’ve watched (Im a big JL fan so presumably that’s why you popped up on my feed). Absolutely loved this video and loved how you break down and show us what he’s doing. I’m now subscribed and looking forward to more of your insights.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +1

      Ah thanks dude! Really fun one to make. I've got a Bill Frisell one in the hopper now!

  • @chevy11786
    @chevy11786 Месяц назад +1

    I love the way you go through the song analyze and show the tab. Subscribed immediately. As far as Lage is concerned he has almost unlimited range.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Ah, that's fantastic. Hope you keep finding things of value here! And thanks for the encouragement, it's a lotta extra work getting the tabs in the vid, but I feel like it's gotta be helpful.

  • @robnarai
    @robnarai Месяц назад +1

    Great lesson! I had been hoping someone would one day try and break down that hidden gem. Glad that I’ve discovered your channel.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Right?! It is such a gem. Glad you discovered the channel too, hope you find more stuff that helps you out some!

  • @OIP_1
    @OIP_1 Месяц назад +2

    wow i never would have heard julian's version if not for this video. awesome work

  • @demej00
    @demej00 Месяц назад +3

    Oh man, too many great riffs here. Just got my fingers soaring now. I love a few jazz chords thrown into a blues song too.

  • @charleshartlen3914
    @charleshartlen3914 Месяц назад +3

    wow i would have neverfound that rendition if it wasnt for you. thanks so much dude!
    insta sub for ur awesome personality

  • @DovidM
    @DovidM Месяц назад +1

    Brad Mehldau has several recordings of Bob Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright. Like Julian Lage’s playing on Freight Train, Mehldau takes some liberties with the source material but never strays too far from it.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      I am a huge fan of his music! I have yet to hear those covers though. I’m not sure how they slipped by me, I’ll check them out!

  • @republicanhaircutman
    @republicanhaircutman Месяц назад +3

    If you haven’t heard it yet, Lenny Breau’s rendition is similarly mind-blowing!

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      I have!! I wanna try and learn that one too!

  • @Bumpkin-eo5xl
    @Bumpkin-eo5xl Месяц назад +2

    This is a great episode!

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Dude thanks!! Was a really fun one to make.

  • @DavidRamos-nz4bh
    @DavidRamos-nz4bh Месяц назад +3

    I woke up, grabbed coffee, this popped up, jaw hit floor and I hit subscribe!

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      That is what I'm talking about!!

    • @theblueguitars
      @theblueguitars Месяц назад

      Exactly the same here, except with tea. Patreon as soon as I finish typing this comment.

  • @bobzmuda3456
    @bobzmuda3456 2 месяца назад +3

    julian's a modern master. his new album is his best album so far imo

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  2 месяца назад +1

      It’s amazing that this clip of freight train is almost 10 years ago. The dude has “had it” for so long!!

  • @willymcnamara1429
    @willymcnamara1429 Месяц назад +1

    i love julian and i am loving your commentary! thank you

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +1

      Appreciate it Willy!! So lucky the world has musicians like Lage to learn from!

  • @_blindminer
    @_blindminer 2 месяца назад +2

    Def earned my sub nice work on this!

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +1

      Thanks dude! I’m still working through this transcription 😂. So much great stuff in here.

  • @richardeckert1050
    @richardeckert1050 Месяц назад +1

    When the Artist & the Instrument become one singular vessel of creativity. The Players IQ.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Someday it happen for us mortals too, right?

  • @darkbloomvivian1087
    @darkbloomvivian1087 Месяц назад +3

    ur analysis: "wow thats great"

  • @jondcostaJDC
    @jondcostaJDC Месяц назад +1

    Hi Kyle, thanks for this brilliant work. Where can I find your tab? Searched Patreon without sucess. Thanks again.

  • @SonicMew
    @SonicMew Месяц назад +1

    hey man, subbed! like your easy going style! gl with your channel

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Niiice!! Thanks dude! Hope to see ya around the comments!

  • @farflownfalcon1076
    @farflownfalcon1076 Месяц назад +1

    Great stuff!

  • @jimib3
    @jimib3 Месяц назад +1

    Great video!

  • @mattbacon285
    @mattbacon285 Месяц назад +1

    1:54 it’s a minor iv in first inversion. Progression goes F to Fm

  • @gwilymselwood
    @gwilymselwood Месяц назад +1

    Lovely vid - music is joy thx

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Thanks dude! Yeah man, what would we do without it?

  • @billallen1594
    @billallen1594 2 месяца назад +2

    Excellent. Cheers Kyle
    I’d say that’s beyond most people’s ability 😩

  • @StanL2-oj1sv
    @StanL2-oj1sv 2 месяца назад +2

    He is so good. Love his rendition. Have you heard “northern shuffle” from his new album?

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  2 месяца назад +1

      So good. I actually don’t know his new album as much, but I’ll put that track on now!

  • @elrafa782
    @elrafa782 Месяц назад +2

    This Kyle is playing good too 😉 Congrats man

  • @nathanielbrewster8457
    @nathanielbrewster8457 Месяц назад +1

    Really good vid. He gets it!

  • @kinan2934
    @kinan2934 Месяц назад +1

    First Chord is an Abmaj13.

  • @carld2796
    @carld2796 Месяц назад +1

    Ok, Julian is a wonderful talent (just had the privilege of seeing him in Antwerp, Belgium-really good!), but, Kyle, are you picking all of this up on the fly and playing it or did you break it down before?

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +1

      I wish I was that quick! Nah spent a like a week transcribing the whole thing in my off-hours.

  • @dscataglini
    @dscataglini Месяц назад +2

    1:32 Easiest interpretation would be Abmaj7Add6 or Abmaj7/6. Since the previous bar was a plain F, this is probably a first inversion of Fm add2 (or add9 => F Ab C G) thus Fmadd9/Ab
    5:08 You could call it a G9b13, I'd call it a G9#5 (in the Galt family)
    7:53 That Bb69b5 or C7/Bb (3rd inversion of C7) I think is functionally a tritone sub of E, but sounds/feels like a suspension. (gorgeous)

  • @torontolarrivee7965
    @torontolarrivee7965 Месяц назад +1

    loved this. your guitar sounds great btw- handmade?

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Good eye! Yes I made it about 10 year ago after a Gibson 00.

  • @hegemonycricket2182
    @hegemonycricket2182 Месяц назад +1

    I would love to see a duet with Lage and Adam Ben Ezra...🤯

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +1

      Hadn’t heard of Ezra so I just checked him out, pheeeeew. Yeah that be amazing .

  • @tiananman
    @tiananman Месяц назад +1

    that first chord is the "stay a while and listen" chord

  • @JoobaSchoolofMusic
    @JoobaSchoolofMusic 2 месяца назад +3

    That first “out” chord is Fminadd9 played in first inversion

  • @mskcrc
    @mskcrc Месяц назад +1

    Julian Lage is an alien. It's just not possible to play like he does. Similar to Blake Mills. No matter how hard you practice, you won't be able to do what he does.

  • @Djamieson713
    @Djamieson713 Месяц назад +1

    you are a bad ass. i love your playing

  • @dougsmith7580
    @dougsmith7580 Месяц назад +1

    I can do a one finger C chord on my ukulele. This might take a while to learn.

  • @ejsrocket
    @ejsrocket Месяц назад +1

    Your guitar is beautiful

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Thanks!! It’s a copy of an old Gibson 00!

  • @JAYDUBYAH29
    @JAYDUBYAH29 Месяц назад +1

    1:44 it’s almost a “Mu” chord per steely dan. F sus2 with the root and the second voiced close together and the 3rd in the bass. Except this is the b3 in the bass here… so I guess Mu minor? If you revoice it, it’s kinda an Abmaj13 .
    If you played the open A in the bass instead t would be a classic Steely Dan mu chord.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Nice. A little bit later he plays it in a new position as more of a stock maj7 shape too.

  • @Izar_Sirius
    @Izar_Sirius Месяц назад +1

    Genius

  • @BrianMarcus-nz7cs
    @BrianMarcus-nz7cs 2 месяца назад +1

    Subscribed , fine 👍

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  2 месяца назад +1

      Heck yeah! Thanks!! Hope to see ya around the comments.

  • @tompoynton
    @tompoynton Месяц назад +1

    Big David Rawlings vibes

  • @PhilipPoland1987
    @PhilipPoland1987 Месяц назад +1

    I was wondering why suddenly my cover of that song is getting so many views, you're probably th reason :D

  • @Rivulets048
    @Rivulets048 Месяц назад +1

    Im pretty sure this song is called railroad bill

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      It’s freight train but man railroad bill is another killer folk song and pretty similar to!

  • @kieranl5249
    @kieranl5249 Месяц назад +1

    I like the video,but please give more credit to Libba Cotten, she is an American treasure

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Fair! I do have several videos on her and her tunes too, but thanks for letting me know! The original edit did have a little section on her, but the vid was getting so long as it was. Appreciate your suggestion though!

  • @tybot1980
    @tybot1980 Месяц назад +1

    Stormy Kromer.

  • @oleg-avdeev
    @oleg-avdeev Месяц назад +5

    People like Julian Lage make it feel illegal to say that you can play guitar...

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      It does change the whole perception of what the hell where all try to do here doesn’t it.

    • @demej00
      @demej00 Месяц назад

      Yeah. And he motivates me to work a little harder too. What I hate is 5 year olds that can put me to shame.

  • @jovi_way
    @jovi_way Месяц назад +1

    Thumbnail looks like Joe Goldberg from You.

  • @NessieJapan
    @NessieJapan Месяц назад +1

    Anyone else hear some Gypsy Jazz in there?

  • @TIKIWOLF
    @TIKIWOLF Месяц назад +1

    First song I ever learned to finger pick. But was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay simpler than this funky jazz bluez train.
    ,-~•💨💨💨
    🚂🚃🎶🎵🎶🎵 🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🚃🚞

  • @richardgrier8968
    @richardgrier8968 Месяц назад +1

    It's an Fm with the third in the bass.

  • @strings41
    @strings41 Месяц назад +1

    You should also listen to Lenny Breau's version of Freight Train.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Duuuude I just did recently. It’s pretty out there, and I realllly like it.

  • @RDHamel
    @RDHamel 2 месяца назад +2

    Minor 4th - an f minor.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  2 месяца назад

      Nice! That’s a good way of looking at it!

  • @johnnybongshow5257
    @johnnybongshow5257 2 месяца назад +1

    she played a right-handed guitar left handed like albert king?

  • @henrygilbert3798
    @henrygilbert3798 29 дней назад +1

    Really difficult to focus on what you're saying with the music you're talking about playing at the same time. Can't focus on both at the same time!

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  26 дней назад

      I mighta got a little too excited. Sorry!

  • @jadeowenhamblyn4405
    @jadeowenhamblyn4405 Месяц назад +1

    Fmadd9/Ab

  • @freddymclain
    @freddymclain Месяц назад +1

    you're a very perceptive player....most folk cats know little, if anything, about 'Fats.'

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Thanks Freddy! Yeah I'm all about Fats and that whole piano world. In my next life I'm gonna try to be a piano player.

  • @renakmans3521
    @renakmans3521 Месяц назад +1

    This sounds like it’s for someone who doesn’t know much about out guitar. Julian is surely great but I think he’ll admit the things you’re pointing out have been done many times.

  • @cfibanez
    @cfibanez Месяц назад +1

    Lage is simply one of the most skilled and technically proficient guitarist of his generation. However, he is yet to come up with original music and style that defines him and sets him apart. Several of his contemporaries without Lage’s virtuosity, such as Halvorson, Okazaki and Hekselman, are truly innovative and genre defining. Lage remains the perfect session guitarist.

  • @iamgates7679
    @iamgates7679 Месяц назад +15

    Just as some viewer feedback; playing the clips while talking the way you do at the volume levels both are at minimizes the value of both the music/guitar playing you’re trying to show, and you’re own commentary. I’d think turning the clips down, your mic up, or waiting would all be viable options. Great video otherwise :)

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад +2

      Word! Thanks for looking out!

    • @phillychurch
      @phillychurch Месяц назад +1

      I liked it. I can hear 2 things at once. And follow both. Great video.

    • @phillychurch
      @phillychurch Месяц назад +1

      Like a director’s commentary on those…oh what are they called…laser discs. It works. It’s been vetted.

    • @craigballington2214
      @craigballington2214 Месяц назад +3

      I respectfully disagree. Can hear both fine, and you Get more done without getting boring.

  • @keithwigley1256
    @keithwigley1256 Месяц назад +1

    And in trying to be to clever has totally lost the real soul of the original ..

  • @LoveMyCountry2845
    @LoveMyCountry2845 Месяц назад +2

    It's cool and all, but cramming a bunch of sophisticated stuff into a song that is beautiful in its simplicity isn't exactly a good thing. Honestly he's kind of killing the whole vibe of it. He's distracting from the story of the song and making it all about the guitar playing.

    • @kostringworks
      @kostringworks  Месяц назад

      Innovation can be a hard pill to swallow for sure!

    • @LoveMyCountry2845
      @LoveMyCountry2845 Месяц назад

      @@kostringworks Innovation suggests improvement, and for me that's not what we have here. But of course just my opinion.

    • @jondcostaJDC
      @jondcostaJDC Месяц назад

      Innovation suggests reimagination, which may or may not be to everyones taste. The original is beautiful in its simplicity as this is in its complexity.