Freight-train bounce
Root, up, down low, up: the chugging bass of folk guitar songs. One of the broken chord patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need G (little finger, 5), C (index finger, 2) and E (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play C on 1, then E on 2, then G on 3, then E on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: D, G and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Freight-train bounce on piano?
Root, up, down low, up: the chugging bass of folk guitar songs. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 8-10-5-10.
Is Freight-train bounce hard to play?
It is a beginner pattern. Play it with your left hand alone at 60% speed until it feels steady, then add the other hand.
Which songs use Freight-train bounce?
Wildflowers by Dolly Parton, Tom Dooley by Traditional and Dominique by The Singing Nun use Freight-train bounce. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.