The Best Country Music Instrumentals

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for the best country music instrumentals? Look no further! Here are our top 10 picks for the best country instrumental songs of all time.

Best Country Music Instrumentals

There are a lot of great country music instrumentals out there. It can be hard to choose which ones are the best, but that’s why we’re here. We’ve compiled a list of the best country music instrumentals for you to enjoy.

“Faded Love” by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

One of the most famous and influential country music instrumentals of all time, “Faded Love” was first recorded by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys in 1940. The song features a simple, catchy melody that is played on steel guitar and fiddle, with occasional bursts of energy from the electric guitar. The lyrics, which are sparse and somewhat mysterious, add to the overall feeling of nostalgia and loss that pervades the track.

“Faded Love” has been covered by many artists over the years, but its emotional power remains unchanged. Whether you’re a country music fan or not, this is a song that is sure to touch your heart.

“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” by Hank Williams

“Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” is a song written and recorded by American country music singer Hank Williams. It was released in July 1952 as the B-side to “You Win Again”. The song was both an important Cajun standard and one of Hank Williams’ most successful singles, reaching number one on the Billboard Country & Western chart for 14 weeks. It was ranked as the No. 2 song of 1952 and remained on the charts for more than two years.

The song features a driving, fiddle-based instrumental accompaniment, which has been credited as an influence on rockabilly. The lyrics are about a young man’s quest to find his lost love, who has gone off to “the bayou”, or Louisiana swamp. Jambalaya is a popular Cajun dish, and Williams’ use of it in the title and lyrics helped to popularize the dish outside of Louisiana.

The song was covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, and Patsy Cline. In 2011, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

“I Can’t Stop Loving You” by Don Gibson

Gibson was one of the architects of the Nashville sound, a style of country music characterized by its use of strings and background vocals to soften the edges of the music. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” is one of his most famous songs, and it’s been covered by everyone from Ray Charles to Willie Nelson.

“El Paso” by Marty Robbins

“El Paso” by Marty Robbins is one of the best examples of a country music instrumental. The song was released in 1959 and quickly rose to the top of the country music charts. The song tells the story of a gunfighter who falls in love with a woman named Feleena while he is riding through El Paso, Texas. The gunfighter is forced to leave Feleena and ride off into the sunset. “El Paso” is considered one of the most influential country music songs of all time and has been covered by many artists, including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson.

“He’ll Have to Go” by Jim Reeves

“He’ll Have to Go” is a song written by Joe Allison and Audrey Allison, and first recorded by Jim Reeves in 1959. The song became a number one hit on the Billboard country chart in 1960, spending nineteen weeks on the chart. A cross-over hit, “He’ll Have To Go” also peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song charted for twenty-six weeks on the Hot 100, giving Reeves his longest run on that chart.

“Wabash Cannonball” by Roy Acuff

This song was written in 1932 by Roy Acuff and Fred Rose. It is one of the most popular and enduring songs in country music history. The “Wabash Cannonball” is an American folk song about a mythical train. It was first recorded by the Carter Family in 1929, and has been recorded by many other artists since then. The song is usually played on fiddle, banjo, and guitar.

“Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Hank Williams

“Your Cheatin’ Heart” is a song written by country music legend Hank Williams. The song was released in 1953, and quickly became a hit. It remained at the top of the country charts for six weeks, and has been covered by numerous artists over the years. The song is about a man who is cheated on by his lover, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest country music songs of all time.

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” is a song written and recorded by American country music singer-songwriter Hank Williams. Released as a single in 1949, it was his commercial breakthrough, reaching number four on the Billboard country singles chart. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Al Martino, Andy Williams, Johnny Cash, Gram Parsons and George Jones.

The instrumental version of the song was used in the soundtrack of the film The Shawshank Redemption.

“Oh, Lonesome Me” by Don Gibson

“Oh, Lonesome Me” is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Don Gibson. It was released in May 1957 as the B-side to “Blue, Blue Day”. The song became a crossover hit, reaching number seven on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and number one on the country chart. The song helped Gibson become country music’s first double-platinum recording artist. In 2004, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

The song is told from the perspective of a man who is lamenting the loss of his love. He reflects on all of the things they used to do together and how happy he was. He wonders if she ever thinks about him and if she ever regrets leaving him.

“Take These Chains from My Heart” by Hank Williams

“Take These Chains from My Heart” is a song written by Fred Rose and Hy Heath and recorded by Hank Williams in 1952. Williams’ version was released as a single on Mansion Records and peaked at number eight on the Billboard country singles chart in 1952. The song was also included on the 1952 album, Hank Williams Sings.

Instrumental versions of the song have also been recorded by several artists, including Herb Ellis, Joe Pass and Charlie Byrd on their 1962 album, Jazz/Blues/Soul, Chet Atkins on his 1963 album, Hi-Fi in Focus, and Merle Travis on his 1966 album, Guitar Wizard.

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