Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten was a self-taught musical prodigy who created a unique legacy in American folk and blues. A left-hander playing a right-handed guitar upside down, she developed the "Cotten picking" style—using her thumb for melody and fingers for bass. At just 11 years old, she wrote the timeless classic "Freight Train," inspired by the trains near her North Carolina home. After decades away from music to raise a family, she was "rediscovered" in her 60s while working for the Seeger fam
0:21
FacebookA Gift that Lasts
Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten was a self-taught musical prodigy who created a unique legacy in American folk and blues. A left-hander playing a right-handed guitar upside down, she
A Gift that Lasts. Giulio Cercato · Beautiful. Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten was a self-taught musical prodigy who created a unique legacy in American folk and blues. A left-hander playing a right-handed guitar upside down, she developed the "Cotten picking" style—using her thumb for melody and fingers for bass. At just 11 years old, she wrote ...
226 views1 week ago
Elizabeth Cotten Top Songs
In honor of Elizabeth Cotten's birthday, we want to share this rare clip of her playing "Washington Blues," a song she wrote in 1965. | Dust-to-Digital
3:51
In honor of Elizabeth Cotten's birthday, we want to share this rare clip of her playing "Washington Blues," a song she wrote in 1965. | Dust-to-Digital
FacebookDust-to-Digital
1.3M viewsJan 5, 2018
At age 85, Elizabeth Cotten demonstrates how she taught herself to play guitar as a child and performs the first tune she ever learned, "Wilson Rag." Special thanks to Mike Seeger for everything he did to bring Elizabeth Cotten's music to the world including this footage filmed at Black Hawk College in 1978. | Dust-to-Digital
3:17
At age 85, Elizabeth Cotten demonstrates how she taught herself to play guitar as a child and performs the first tune she ever learned, "Wilson Rag." Special thanks to Mike Seeger for everything he did to bring Elizabeth Cotten's music to the world including this footage filmed at Black Hawk College in 1978. | Dust-to-Digital
FacebookDust-to-Digital
983.6K viewsJul 26, 2017
Elizabeth Cotten - Negro Folk Songs And Tunes
Elizabeth Cotten - Negro Folk Songs And Tunes
discogs.com
2.8M viewsOct 22, 2021
Top videos
Elizabeth 'Libba' Cotten whose precise 'upside-down' finger-style was called 'Cotten-picking'born on Jan 5th 1893. http://www.allaboutbluesmusic.com/elizabeth-libba-cotten/ Libba wrote the song 'Freight Train' when she was just 12 years old. She later worked as a nurse for the Seeger family and when they recorded her in the 50's, Libba went on to worldwide fame. | All About Blues Music
1:51
Elizabeth 'Libba' Cotten whose precise 'upside-down' finger-style was called 'Cotten-picking'born on Jan 5th 1893. http://www.allaboutbluesmusic.com/elizabeth-libba-cotten/ Libba wrote the song 'Freight Train' when she was just 12 years old. She later worked as a nurse for the Seeger family and when they recorded her in the 50's, Libba went on to worldwide fame. | All About Blues Music
FacebookAll About Blues Music
49.2K viewsJan 5, 2015
49K views · 2.2K reactions | Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten was born on...
2:28
49K views · 2.2K reactions | Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten was born on...
FacebookSmithsonian Folkways
49.6K views1 week ago
1.1K views · 1K reactions | Thinking of the legendary Elizabeth...
1:01
1.1K views · 1K reactions | Thinking of the legendary Elizabeth...
FacebookPittsburgh Lesbian
16.8K views2 weeks ago
Elizabeth Cotten Guitar Style
“Her technique is particularly difficult to replicate because she played ‘upside down’ on a guitar strung for a righty”: Sue Foley salutes Elizabeth Cotten and her favorite female guitar pioneers in this fingerpicking blues masterclass
“Her technique is particularly difficult to replicate because she played ‘upside down’ on a guitar strung for a righty”: Sue Foley salutes Elizabeth Cotten and her favorite female guitar pioneers in this fingerpicking blues masterclass
guitarworld.com
5 months ago
Elizabeth Cotten - Folksongs And Instrumentals With Guitar
Elizabeth Cotten - Folksongs And Instrumentals With Guitar
discogs.com
2 months ago
Guitar Lesson: Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotten
13:02
Guitar Lesson: Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotten
jamplay.com
May 24, 2011
Elizabeth 'Libba' Cotten whose precise 'upside-down' finger-style was called 'Cotten-picking'born on Jan 5th 1893. http://www.allaboutbluesmusic.com/elizabeth-libba-cotten/ Libba wrote the song 'Freight Train' when she was just 12 years old. She later worked as a nurse for the Seeger family and when they recorded her in the 50's, Libba went on to worldwide fame. | All About Blues Music
1:51
Elizabeth 'Libba' Cotten whose precise 'upside-down' finger-style …
49.2K viewsJan 5, 2015
FacebookAll About Blues Music
49K views · 2.2K reactions | Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten was born on...
2:28
49K views · 2.2K reactions | Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten was bor…
49.6K views1 week ago
FacebookSmithsonian Folkways Recordings
1.1K views · 1K reactions | Thinking of the legendary Elizabeth...
1:01
1.1K views · 1K reactions | Thinking of the legendary Elizabeth...
16.8K views2 weeks ago
FacebookPittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
81K views · 2.5K reactions | Remembering Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten...
2:00
81K views · 2.5K reactions | Remembering Elizabeth "Libba" C…
81.5K views1 month ago
FacebookDime Store Radio
Remembering Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten (January 5, 1893 – June 29, 1987) She was an influential American folk and blues musician. A self-taught left-handed guitarist, Cotten developed her own original style. She played a guitar strung for a right-handed player, but played it upside down, as she was left-handed. This position meant that she would play the bass lines with her fingers and the melody with her thumb. Her signature alternating bass style has become known as "Cotten picking".(Wiki) #eliz
0:52
Remembering Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten (January 5, 1893 – June 29…
51.4K viewsJan 5, 2025
FacebookDime Store Radio
How This Self-Taught Guitarist Became a Music Legend
How This Self-Taught Guitarist Became a Music Legend
Jun 24, 2024
Smithsonian MagazineBrandon Tensley
18K views · 388 reactions | Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten (née Nevills; January 5, 1893 – June 29, 1987) - In the Sweet By and By | Clamih | Facebook
1:34
18K views · 388 reactions | Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten (née Nevills; Janua…
8.4K views1 month ago
FacebookClamih
1:50
Folk and Blues musician Libba Cotten will be inducted in the Roc…
May 6, 2022
cnycentral.com
34:34
Freight Train - ACCURATE Elizabeth Cotten Guitar Tutorial
35.3K viewsJun 19, 2020
YouTubeMike's Music Method
A star after 60: Syracuse’s Elizabeth ‘Libba’ Cotten taught Jerry Garcia…
May 5, 2022
syracuse.com
“It Was Like Coming Full Circle to Honor Libba Cotten”: Peter Rowa…
Sep 16, 2022
guitarplayer.com
Wilson Rag by Elizabeth Cotten
May 1, 2017
sonichits.com
8:27
Elizabeth Cotten is a self-taught guitarist, singer and songwriter w…
53.1K viewsFeb 14, 2022
FacebookGrateful Dead
10:19
How to Play Freight Train by Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten - 10 minu…
2.3K viewsMar 2, 2023
YouTubeFundamental Fiddler
1:25
Libba Cotten Style.
151 viewsFeb 12, 2016
YouTubeShirley G
3:01
Elizabeth Cotten - Freight Train (Rare Live Performance)
1.1M viewsSep 10, 2021
YouTubeVintage Music Hub
14:21
LIBBA: The Magnificent Musical Life of Elizabeth Cotten | Sing Along a…
4.4K viewsMar 7, 2021
YouTubeMusic with Ms. P (Ms. P)
29:31
Elizabeth Cotten style | Cotten Picking – Folk Blues Guitar Tribute 🎸
399 views5 months ago
YouTubeRock Blues Cafe
Elizabeth Cotten Wrote “Freight Train” at 11, Won a Grammy at 90…
May 1, 2019
openculture.com
4:44
Elisabeth Cotten
1 viewsMar 19, 2010
DailymotionJean Pierre Carré
27:26
Elizabeth Cotten on "Guitar Guitar" w/ Laura Weber 1969
67.1K viewsOct 26, 2024
YouTubeDerek Erdman
2:47
Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten: "Freight Train" (1958)
525 views2 months ago
YouTubeAnnie Van Auken
15:23
She Made 75 Cent A Month and Created Cotton Picken Style of Gu…
4.7K viewsDec 24, 2024
YouTubeThe Big Brian Show
5:59
Libba Cotten Documentary
61.4K viewsNov 10, 2012
YouTubeAlan Gragg
2:33
94-year-old Elizabeth Cotten. The singer who conquered the world
1.5K viewsMar 26, 2024
YouTubearchiveworlld
1:37
Elizabeth Cotten - In the Sweet By and By
7.8M viewsJan 29, 2015
YouTubeVintage Music Hub
This black female musician you may not know has written songs you p…
Feb 24, 2020
goodmorningamerica.com
20:35
Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotten | Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson
443K viewsNov 26, 2016
YouTubeAnyone Can Play Guitar
How Elizabeth Cotten's music fueled the folk revival
Jun 29, 2022
NPRAllyson McCabe
See more videos
Static thumbnail place holder