Folk music has a timeless quality that comes from its simplicity and sincerity. Rooted in storytelling traditions that span centuries, folk songwriting strips music down to its essentials — a voice, an instrument, and a story worth telling. Here's how to write a folk song that carries that timeless charm.
Folk music is narrative at its core. The best folk songs tell complete stories — of love, hardship, journeys, communities, and human experience. Start with a story you want to tell, and let the narrative drive your songwriting. Think of your song as a short story set to music, with characters, settings, and a resolution.
Folk melodies are designed to be sung by anyone — not just trained vocalists. Write melodies that stay within a comfortable range, move naturally, and are easy to learn after a few listens. Many great folk songs have been passed down orally precisely because their melodies are so accessible and memorable.
Folk songs typically use a handful of basic chords — open chords on guitar or simple triads on piano. Progressions like I-IV-V, I-V-vi-IV, or simple two-chord patterns are common. The simplicity of the harmony puts the focus on the lyrics and melody, which is where folk music's strength lies.
Folk lyrics balance poetic imagery with everyday language. They paint pictures with words but never become so abstract that the story gets lost. Use natural, conversational language alongside vivid descriptions. Imagery drawn from nature, work, and daily life gives folk lyrics their grounded, earthy quality.
The sound of folk music is acoustic — guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, or simply voice alone. When writing, consider how your song sounds with minimal accompaniment. A folk song should work stripped down to its bare essentials. If it sounds good with just voice and guitar, you've built a strong foundation.
Great folk songwriting honors the tradition while bringing something personal and new to it. You don't need to write about trains and coal mines to write folk music. Write about your own experiences, your own world, using the simplicity and honesty that defines the folk tradition. Personal stories told simply are what folk music does best.
Writing a folk song is about distilling your thoughts and stories into their most honest, accessible form. By focusing on narrative, simple melodies, acoustic instrumentation, and poetic yet grounded lyrics, you can write folk songs that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Need help finding the right words for your folk lyrics? Fast Rhymes can help you discover rhymes and phrases that bring your stories to life.
27/03/2025
Everything you need to write songs & poetry.
