Which Structure is Most Commonly Found in Folk Music?

In music, form refers to the overall structure of a piece. This can include things like the number of sections, the length of each section, and the overall tempo. When it comes to folk music, there are a few common structures that you’ll see. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at three of the most common structures found in folk music: AABA, AAB, and I-IV-V.

What is Folk Music?

Folk music is music made by and for the common people. It is passed down orally, usually without the help of notation. Folk music includes traditional music,which is made by and for a group of people sharing a language, culture, and history, as well as popular music, which is made for a wider audience. Folk music can be made with or without instruments. People who make folk music are called folk musicians or folk artists.

There are many different types of folk music, each with its own history and traditions. Folk songs can be about love, work, play, or any other subject. There are lullabies, backmasked songs (songs that are meant to be played backwards), work songs, ballads (a type of story-telling song), and so on. Some folk songs are hundreds of years old; others were written yesterday.

The Three Main Structures of Folk Music

Folk music is typically characterised by its use of traditional instruments and simple melodies. However, there is a lot of variation in folk music around the world. The three most common structures found in folk music are the verse-chorus form, the AAB form, and the AABA form.

Verse-Refrain

The vast majority of folk songs are built upon two basic structures: verse-refrain and strophe chorus. Verse-refrain is the most common form, comprising close to 75% of all folksongs worldwide. In this form, a song is divided into sections called verses, which are typically eight measures long, and refrains, which repeat at the end of each verse. The verses usually contain the song’s storyline or message, while the refrains often consist of catchy phrases or hooks that are easy to remember and sing.

AAB

The most common structure found in folk music is AAB. This form consists of three sections, with the first and third sections being identical, or very similar, while the middle section is contrasting. The AAB form can be found in songs from many different cultures, including American folk songs, British ballads, and even some blues songs.

AABA

AABA is probably the most common structure found in folk music. This form is also known as the popular song form, and it is used in many different genres of music, not just folk. The AABA form consists of three verses, with each verse followed by a chorus. The chorus usually repeats the melody of the A section, which gives the song a sense of repetition and familiarity. This form is often used for songs that are meant to be catchy and easy to remember, such as children’s songs or folk songs that are meant to be passed down through the generations.

Other Common Structures

The most common structure in folk music is the AAB. This means that there are three sections, with the first and third sections being the same, and the second section being different. Other common structures include the AABA, ABA, AB, and A.

Verse-Chorus

The verse-chorus song form is, as its name implies, built around a main melodic idea or “chorus” that recurs throughout the song. Usually this happens every time the song returns to its “home” key after spending some time in another key area (often the dominant – ie, one step above the home key). This gives the impression of a complete thought or phrase being interrupted and then resumed. Other common features of this form are a clear sense of tonality (a feeling that the song is in a certain key and wants to stay there), and a relatively simple harmonic structure built around I-IV-V chords (the “three chord trick”).

Rondo

In music, a rondo is a composition that alternates one or more contrasting themes with a recurring principal theme. In western classical music, a rondo form can typically be found as the third movement in sonatas, overtures, and concerti. In these works the opening theme returns at intervals in varied guise and with different accompanied texture. The return of the theme may also be intensifications of dynamics and articulation, modified melodically or rhythmically, and with changes to thematic material.

Conclusion

To answer the question of which structure is most commonly found in folk music, we need to first understand what folk music is. Folk music can be defined as music that is created by the people, for the people, and about the people. This type of music is often passed down from generation to generation, and as such, it tends to reflect the culture and values of a community.

With that in mind, it’s not surprising that the most common structure found in folk music is the strophic form. This form is based on repetition, which makes it easy to remember and sing along to. The strophic form is often used for songs that are meant to be catchy and memorable, such as nursery rhymes or folk songs.