Folk Music Chord Progressions You Need to Know

Folk music is known for its simple, yet catchy chord progressions. If you’re looking to add some folk flavor to your playing, check out these essential progressions.

Basic Folk Music Chord Progressions

Folk music is often passed down through the generations. Many wonder how to play folk music on the guitar. In this article, we’ll show you some basic chord progressions in folk music that you can use to play many popular folk songs.

I-IV-V

The I-IV-V chord progression is one of the most popular in all of music. It’s used in countless songs in genres spanning from country to rock to pop and beyond. Even if you’re not a musician, you’ve probably heard this progression used in many different songs.

The I-IV-V progression is so popular because it’s easy to play and sounds good with almost any melody. It’s made up of three chords, the first, fourth, and fifth chords in a given key. For example, in the key of C major, the I chord is C, the IV chord is F, and the V chord is G.

This progression is extremely versatile and can be used in a variety of different styles. It sounds great with both acoustic and electric guitars and can be played at any tempo.

If you’re a beginner guitarist or just getting started with learning chords, this is a great place to start. Once you learn these chords and get comfortable playing them together, you’ll be able to use them in countless songs.

I-vi-IV-V

This chord progression is probably the most popular one after I-IV-V. You can hear it in hits like “Satisfaction” by The Rolling Stones, “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, and “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” by Elvis Presley.

The I-vi-IV-V chord progression is made up of the following chords:

I = the tonic chord (e.g. C major)
vi = the submediant chord (e.g. A minor)
IV = the subdominant chord (e.g. F major)
V = the dominant chord (e.g. G major)

As you can see, this chord progression uses all four chords from the key of C major. This makes it a great choice for folk songs in that key, as it gives you a lot of harmonic options to work with.

ii-V-I

One of the most essential progressions in folk music, the ii-V-I progression is found in countless songs in a variety of genres. This chord progression can be played in any key and uses the following chords:

ii: The minor second degree chord. In the key of C, this would be a Dm.

V: The major fifth degree chord. In the key of C, this would be a G.

I: The major first degree chord. In the key of C, this would be a C.

This progression can be embellished with additional chords, but the basic framework is always the same.

Intermediate Folk Music Chord Progressions

You’ve probably heard a lot of popular folk songs that use the same chord progressions. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some intermediate chord progressions that you can use in your own folk songs. These progressions will add more interest and variety to your music.

iii-vi-ii-V

The iii-vi-ii-V chord progression is one of the most popular in folk music. It’s commonly found in songs in minor keys and can be used to create a feeling of longing or nostalgia.

To play this progression, you’ll need to know how to play chords in the key of the song you’re playing. For example, if you’re playing a song in the key of C minor, the chords you’ll need are Cm, Fm, Dm, and G.

If you’re not sure how to build chords in a minor key, consult a guitar or keyboard player for help. Once you know the chords, simply strum them in order from iii to vi to ii to V.

This progression can sound quite sad or melancholic, so it’s often used in songs with lyrics about lost love or other sad subjects. However, it can also be used in happier songs if played with a brighter tone and a more upbeat rhythm.

I-vi-ii-V-I

One of the most common chord progressions in folk music is I-vi-ii-V-I. This progression is based around the tonic chord (I), the VI chord, the II chord, the V chord, and resolves back to the I chord.

The I-vi-ii-V-I progression can be used in a number of different keys and with a variety of different chords. For example, in the key of C major, this progression would be C-Am-Dm-G-C. In the key of G major, this progression would be G-Em-Am-D-G.

This progression has a few different variations that you can use to add some interest to your playing. For example, you could add a IV chord between the I and VI chords, or you could add a iii chord between the V and I chords.

Here are a few different ways you can play this progression:

##Variation 1: I – IV – vi – ii – V – I
In this variation, you add a IV chord between the I and VI chords. This gives the progression a bit more movement and interest. In the key of C major, this variation would be C-F-Am-Dm-G-C. In the key of G major, this variation would be G-C-Em-AmF#7b5 D7 G7 C7 .

##Variation 2: i – iv – VI – II – V – i
In this variation, you start on the i minor chord (i) and end on the i minor chord (i). This gives the progression a bit more of a dark sound. In the key of C minor, this variation would be Ci Fm6 Am Bbmaj7 Ebmaj7 Ci .

##Variation 3: III – vi – ii – V – I
In this variation, you start on the III chord and end on the I chord. This gives the progression a bit more movement and interest. In the key of C major, this variation would be Em7 A7 Dm7 G7 C .

vi-IV-I-V

One of the most popular chord progressions in folk music is vi-IV-I-V, which goes like this:

E minor (vi): 022100
A major (IV): x02220
D major (I): xx0232
G major (V): 320003

This progression can be found in countless folk songs, both traditional and modern. It’s often used to give a song a feeling of nostalgia or to create a simple, catchy melody that is easy to sing along to.

The vi-IV-I-V progression is particularly popular in upbeat songs and can be used in a variety of genres, including country, pop, and rock. Some well-known songs that use this progression include “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash, “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey, and “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show.

Advanced Folk Music Chord Progressions

If you’re looking to take your folk music skills to the next level, you need to check out these advanced chord progressions. These progressions will add a new level of depth and complexity to your playing.

ii-V-I-vi

The ii-V-I-vi chord progression is a staple in folk music. It’s commonly used in songs in major keys and can be adapted for use in minor key songs as well. This progression can be broken down into four simple chords: the ii, V, I, and vi.

The ii chord is a minor chord built on the second scale degree. The V chord is a major chord built on the fifth scale degree. The I chord is a major chord built on the first scale degree. The vi chord is a minor chord built on the sixth scale degree.

For example, in the key of C major, the ii-V-I-vi progression would be Dm-G-C-Am. In the key of A minor, the ii-V-I-vi progression would be Bm-E-A-F#m.

This progression can be played with any combination of instruments, but it sounds especially good on acoustic guitar. Try fingerpicking or strumming this progression using simple chords shapes. Once you’ve got it down, experiment with different rhythms and melodies.

I-vi-ii-V-iii-IV-I-V

The I-vi-ii-V-iii-IV-I-V progression is one of the most popular chord progressions in folk music. It’s often used in songs in minor keys, and it has a dark, melancholy sound.

Here are some examples of songs that use this progression:

“In the Pines” by Lead Belly
“Down in the Valley” by The Carter Family
“Wildwood Flower” by The Carter Family
“Barbara Allen” by Emmylou Harris

If you’re new to folk music, this progression might seem a little daunting. But don’t worry! We’ll walk you through it step by step.

The first thing you need to know is that this progression is written in Roman numerals. That means that each chord is represented by a number, and the capital letters are used for major chords while lowercase letters are used for minor chords.

So, the I chord is a major chord, the vi chord is a minor chord, and so on.

The next thing you need to know is that this progression is played in the key of A minor. So, all of the chords will be based on notes in the A minor scale.

Here’s how the progression looks when it’s written out in Roman numerals:

I vi ii V iii IV I V
A F G D Em Bm A D

vi-IV-I-V-ii-V-I

The vi-IV-I-V-ii-V-I is one of the most common chord progressions in folk music. It’s often used in minor keys and gives a song a feeling of resolve and finality.

This progression starts on the vi chord, moves to the IV chord, then to the I chord. From there, it goes to the V chord, then to the ii chord, and finally back to the I chord.

The vi-IV-I-V-ii-V-I progression is used in many popular songs, such as “Shenandoah” and “Danny Boy.” It’s a versatile progression that can be used in slow or fast songs, and in major or minor keys.