How to Play Folk Music on Guitar

Looking to add some folk music to your guitar repertoire? In this blog post, we’ll show you how to play three popular folk songs on guitar.

Introduction

Folk music is a genre of music that traditionally uses acoustic instruments such as guitars, banjos, and fiddles. The songs are usually about real life topics such as love, work, and loss. Folk music has been around for centuries and has evolved over time. Here is a guide on how to play folk music on guitar.

What You Need

In order to play folk music on guitar, you will need a few things:
-A guitar tuned to standard E tuning. If you don’t have one, you can use a online tuner or buy one at a music store. You can find them for as little as $20.
-A pick. You can use any pick you want, but I prefer medium gauge picks.
-A metronome. This is optional, but it will help you keep time if you’re just starting out. You can find them for as little as $5 at a music store or online.

Now that you have everything you need, let’s get started!

How to Play Folk Music on Guitar

Folk music is a genre of music that is typically passed down from generation to generation. It is often based on simple melodies and chord progressions and is easy to play on the guitar. In this article, we will show you how to play folk music on guitar.

Tuning

One of the great things about folk music is that it can be played in a variety of ways. You can play it solo or with a group, with or without accompaniment, in any number of keys and tempos. You can even mix and match styles, playing a folk song in a rock style or adding a jazz chord progression to a traditional ballad. Best of all, you don’t need to be a virtuoso musician to play folk music; all you need is a guitar and the willingness to experiment.

Folk music is traditionally played in standard tuning, which means the strings are tuned to the notes E-A-D-G-B-E from low to high. If you’re new to guitar, this may seem like an odd arrangement, but you’ll get used to it quickly enough. If you’re having trouble remembering which string is which, there’s an easy mnemonic: “Every Adult Does Good Beans Everyday.”

Once your guitar is in standard tuning, you’re ready to start playing some folk tunes. If you’re not sure where to start, try one of these classic songs:

· “The House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals
· “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan
· “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan
· “Yesterday” by The Beatles
· “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

Chords

Most folk music is based on simple chords – usually just three different notes played together. These are called triads, and they’re the basic building blocks of all guitar chords. To play a triad, you simply combine the root note (the starting note of the chord), with the third and fifth notes of the major scale that contains that root note. For example, the C chord pictured above is made up of the notes C, E, and G – which are the first (root), third, and fifth notes of a C major scale.

There are four different types of triads – major, minor, diminished, and augmented. The type of triad you use will determine how happy or sad sounding your chord will be. Major and minor chords are by far the most common in folk music. To play a major chord, you simply combine the root note with the third and fifth notes of a major scale; to play a minor chord, you combine the root note with the third and fifth notes of a minor scale.

Strumming

There are many different strumming techniques that you can use when playing folk music on guitar. The most important thing is to find a strumming pattern that suits the tempo and feel of the song you are playing. You can use a variety of different strokes, such as downstrokes, upstrokes, and combinations of the two. Experiment and see what sounds best.

Fingerpicking

Fingerpicking is a style of guitar playing that uses your fingers to pluck the strings, rather than using a pick. Folk music is often played in this style, as it creates a softer sound than using a pick. If you’re new to fingerpicking, it can be tricky to get started. Here are some tips on how to play folk music on guitar using this method:

1. Start by holding your hand in an “open position.” This means that your thumb is placed behind the neck of the guitar and your fingers are positioned behind the strings.

2. Use your thumb to pluck the lowest string (the sixth string), and then use your first finger to pluck the next highest string (the fifth string). Continue using different fingers to pluck each string in order.

3. You can also use more than one finger at a time to pluck multiple strings simultaneously. For example, you can use your first and second fingers together to pluck the fifth and fourth strings at the same time.

4. Experiment with different rhythms and patterns as you play. Folk music often has a gentle, flowing sound, so try to mimic this in your fingerpicking.

5. As you become more comfortable with fingerpicking, you can begin adding more complicated chords into your playing. Folk music often uses simple chords, so start with these and then move on to more complex ones as you feel ready.

Conclusion

Now that you know the basics of how to play folk music on guitar, you can start practicing and perfecting your technique. Folk music is a great genre for guitarists of all levels of experience, so don’t be afraid to give it a try. With a little practice, you’ll be playing folk music like a pro in no time.