Folk Guitar Lessons

Discover the heart of folk music through these fun acoustic guitar songs, featuring some of the greatest storytellers of all time. From Bob Dylan and James Taylor to Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, and Jim Croce, each lesson includes easy chords, rhythm patterns, and full-song demos.

Whether you’re relaxing by the fire or playing for friends, these easy-to-play acoustic guitar lessons capture the warmth, simplicity, and honesty that define the genre.

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New to Folk Guitar Songs? Start Here

With so many folk artists and styles to explore, choosing where to begin can be a challenge. These seven songs offer a good starting point for discovering the storytelling, acoustic rhythms, singer-songwriter traditions and roots influences found throughout this collection. Choose any song that catches your interest, then check the lesson page for the chords, rhythm, tuning and arrangement details to see if it’s a good fit for your playing.

1. Blowin' In The Wind – Bob Dylan — A defining folk song built around Dylan's straightforward storytelling style and the sound of the early 1960s folk revival.
2. If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot — Explore the Canadian singer-songwriter side of folk through one of Lightfoot's best-known reflective ballads.
3. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver — A familiar folk-country crossover with a strong sing-along quality and one of Denver's signature melodies.
4. Fire And Rain – James Taylor — Move into the softer singer-songwriter side of the collection with Taylor's distinctive acoustic sound.
5. Heart Of Gold – Neil Young — A rootsy acoustic song that blends folk and country influences with Young's unmistakable songwriting style.
6. Time In A Bottle – Jim Croce — Explore the more intimate, melody-driven side of 1970s acoustic singer-songwriter music.
7. Fisherman's Blues – The Waterboys — Branch into Celtic and roots-influenced folk with a song that brings a different rhythmic and musical flavor to the collection.

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🎙 Featured Artists Guitar Lessons (complete artist collections)

America - Horse With No Name - Sister Golden Hair - Ventura Highway (+5 more)
Arlo Guthrie - City Of New Orleans - Last Train - St James Infirmary (+3 more)
Amos Lee - Arms Of A Woman - Sweet Pea - Windows Are Rolled Down (+3 more)
Bob Dylan - Blowin' In The Wind - Tangled Up In Blue - The Times They Are A Changing (+23 more)  
Bruce Cockburn - Indian Wars - Love Loves You Too - Wondering Where The Lions Are (+3 more)
Cat Stevens - Father And Son  - Moonshadow - The Wind (+12 more)
CSNY - Helplessly Hoping - Our House - Suite Judy Blue Eyes (+10 more) 
Don McLean - American Pie - Castles In The Air - Vincent (+3 more)
Donovan - Catch The Wind - Mellow Yellow (+3 more)
Gordon Lightfoot - Early Morning Rain - If You Could Read My Mind - The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald (+25 more)
Guy Clark - Desperado's Waitin' For A Train - Dublin Blues - LA Freeway (+6 more)
James Taylor - Carolina In My Mind - Fire And Rain - You've Got A Friend (+16 more)
Jim Croce - I Got A Name - Operator - Time In A Bottle (+18 more)
Jimmy Buffett - Cheeseburger In Paradise - Come Monday - Margaritaville  (+29 more) 
John Denver - Leaving On A Jet Plane - Sunshine on my Shoulders - Take Me Home Country Roads (+16 more)
John Prine - Hello In There - Paradise - Sam Stone (+22 more)
Neil Young - After The Goldrush - Heart Of Gold - Old Man (+25 more)
Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Souls Of Her Shoes - Duncan - Slip Slidin' Away (+10 more)
Simon & Garfunkel - America - Sounds Of Silence - The Boxer (+10 more)
The Animals - The House Of The Rising Sun (+4 more)
The Byrds - Chimes Of Freedom - Mr Tambourine Man - Turn Turn Turn (+3 more)
The Chad Mitchell Trio - Ballad Of The Greenland Whalers - Lizzie Borden - The John Birch Society (+1 more)
The Kingston Trio - Chilly Winds - Tom Dooley - Where Have All The Flowers Gone (+3 more)
The Lovin Spoonful - Did You Have To Make Up Your Mind - Do You Believe In Magic (+5 more)
The Seekers - A World Of Our Own - Georgy Girl - I'll Never Find Another You - The Carnival Is Over (+4 more)
Townes Van Zandt - Be Here To Love Me - If I Needed You - Tecumseh Valley (+3 more) 
Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl - Domino - Into The Mystic (+9 more)

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🎵 Explore More Songs & Artists

These categories include artists with songs that fit this collection, even if their primary artist page appears elsewhere on the website.

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🌲 Folk Legends & Storytellers Guitar Lessons

Celebrate the timeless voices who shaped folk music through unforgettable songs, meaningful lyrics, and enduring acoustic performances.
From legendary pioneers to iconic storytellers, these classics continue to inspire generations of musicians and listeners alike.

Bill Morrissey - Inside
Bill Staines - The Fox
Blaze Foley - Clay Pigeons - If I Could Only Fly
Butch Hancock - If You Were A Bluebird
Clarence White - The Last Thing On My Mind
Coven - One Tin Soldier
Dave Loggins - Please Come To Boston
Glen Yarbrough - Baby The Rain Must Fall
Gram Parsons - In My Hour Of Darkness - Sin City - Streets Of Baltimore (+1 more)
Harry Chapin - Cats In The Cradle - Taxi  (+1 more)
Joe Brown - I'll See You In My Dreams
John Sebastian - Welcome Back
John Stewart - Gold 
Jonathan Edwards - Sunshine
Loudon Wainwright III - Dead Skunk
Nick Drake - Northern Sky - Pink Moon
Noel Paul Stookey - Sebastian
Paul Brady - Lake Pontchatrain
Peter Sarstedt- Frozen Orange Juice
Ralph McTell - Streets Of London
Richie Havens - Here Comes The Sun
Rodriguez - I Wonder
Scott McKenzie - San Francisco 
Steve Goodman - The 20th Century Is Almost Over - The Dutchman - You Never Even Called Me By My Name (+2 more)
The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin - Creeque Alley - Monday Monday
Tim Buckley - Dolphins
Tom Paxton - I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound - The Man Who Built The Bridges - The Last Thing On My Mind
We Five - You Were On My Mind 
Woody Guthrie - Baltimore To Washington - Blowin' Down The Road - This Land Is Your Land 

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🎸 Singer-Songwriters & Acoustic Masters Guitar Lessons

Discover gifted songwriters whose heartfelt lyrics and expressive guitar work have left a lasting mark on folk and acoustic music.
These artists combine memorable melodies with personal storytelling that resonates long after the music ends.

Al Stewart - Time Passages - Year Of The Cat
Albert Hammond - It Never Rains In Southern California - The Free Electric Band - When I Need You
Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky
Bill Ratekin - Anissa Jones
Billy Bragg - Bugeye Jim 
Brace & Cooper - Wait A Minute 
Damien Rice - Cannonball One - Volcano
Dan Fogelberg - Leader Of The Band - Longer - The Reach (+5 more)
David Gates & Bread - Baby I'm A Want You - Goodbye Girl - It Don't Matter To Me (+5 more)
Don McLean - Castles In The Air - Empty Chairs - Vincent (+3 more)
Donovan - Catch The Wind - Sunny Goodge Street (+3 more)
Foy Vance - She Burns 
Harry Chapin - Cats In The Cradle - Taxi - W.O.L.D
Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talking
Jack Johnson - Breakdown - Bubbly Toes - Good People
Jackson Browne - Doctor My Eyes - Running On Empty - The Pretender (+13 more)
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
Jason Mraz - Love Is Still The Answer - Lucky - Three Things (+3 more)
John Stewart - Gold 
Jose Feliciano - Hitchcock Railway
Julian Lage - Keep Me From Blowing Away
Keith Carradine - I'm Easy
Ken Tobias - Every Bit Of Love
Kenny Loggins - Danny's Song - House At Pooh Corner - Watching The River Run (+7 more)
Linda Ronstadt - Different Drum (+7 more)
Lloyd Cole - Famous Blue Raincoat - Perfect Blue
Maria Muldaur - Midnight At The Oasis
Newton Faulkner - Dream Catch Me
Paul McCartney - Dance Tonight - Every Night - Mull Of Kintyre (+5 more) 
Peter Sarstedt- Frozen Orange Juice
Ralph McTell - Streets Of London (+1 more)   
Ray Lamontagne - Crazy - Shelter - Such A Simple Time (+2 more)
Ron Sexsmith - Middle Of Love
Seals & Crofts - Closer To You - Diamond Girl - Summer Breeze (+1 more)
The Beatles -  Norwegian Wood - Nowhere Man - Penny Lane (70+ more)
The Beau Brummels - Turn Around
Tim Buckley - Dolphins  
Will Kimbrough - Goodnight Moon 

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🌾 Americana & Roots Guitar Lessons

Experience the rich traditions of Americana, blending folk, country, blues, and roots music into songs that reflect everyday life and the spirit of the open road.
These acoustic favorites celebrate heritage, heartfelt storytelling, and authentic musicianship.

Albert Lee - Two Step Too
Arlo Guthrie - City Of New Orleans - Last To Leave - Last Train (+2 more)
Avett Brothers - February 7 - Laundry Room - Victims Of Life
Brewer & Shipley - One Toke Over The Line
Bob Dylan - Tangled Up In Blue - The Man In Me
Buffalo Springfield - On The Way Home
Cat Stevens - Tuesday's Dead
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cotton Fields
David Mallett - Pennsylvania Sunrise - Somewhere In Time
David Olney - Stonewall 
Emmylou Harris - Boulder To Birmingham - Cosmonaut - The Green Rolling Hills Of West Virginia (+15 more) 
Iron & Wine - Call It Dreaming
Jason Isbell - Alabama Pines - Cover Me Up - Last Of My Kind  (+1 more)
Jim Ford - I'll Be Ahead If I Can Quit While I'm Behind 
John Moreland - Blacklist - Salisaw Blue - You Don't Care Enough For Me To Cry
Jonathan Edwards - Sunshine
Kathy Mattea - Love At The Five And Dime (+7 more)
Levon Helm - Hurricane - When I Go Away
Lord Huron - Ends Of The Earth
Lyle Lovett - Bears - If I Had A Boat - Private Conversation  (+2 more)
Michael Franti - My Favourite Wine Is Tequila - Say Hey - The Sound Of Sunshine
Nathaniel Rateliff - And It's Still Alright - I Never Need Get Old - Howling At Nothing
Nickel Creek - Somebody More Like You
Richard Thompson - Cooksferry Queen - The Mingulay Song - Shenandoah
Rodriguez - I Wonder
Ry Cooder - Little Sister - Mexican Divorce
Sammy Johns - Chevy Van
Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl - King Of Nothing - Summer Breeze  (+1 more)
The Beatles - I've Just Seen A Face
The Wood Brothers - Luckiest Man - Postcards From Hell
The Hothouse Flowers - Don't Go
The Youngbloods - The Wine Song
Todd Snider - Double Wide Blues - Fortunate Son - In Between Jobs 
Uncle Tupelo - Wait Up

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🍁 Celtic, Canadian & World Folk Guitar Lessons

Explore a diverse collection of folk traditions from Canada and around the world, featuring Celtic melodies, cultural influences, and timeless acoustic arrangements.
These songs showcase the universal language of storytelling through music that crosses generations and borders.

Amble - Lonely Island
David Francey - Torn Screen Door
Donna Taggart -  Jealous Of The Angels 
Harry Belafonte - Kingston Town
Israel  Kamakawiwoʻole  - Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Mary Hopkin - Goodbye - Those Were The Days 
Matt Anderson - I'm On Fire
Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Souls Of Her Shoes 
Ralph McTell - From Clare To Here
Roger Whittaker - Durham Town - New World In The Morning
Ron Hynes - Sonny's Dream
Simon & Garfunkel - Scarborough Fair
The Men They Couldn't Hang - The Colours
The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues
Valdy - Yes I Can

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🌅 Contemporary Folk & Acoustic Discoveries Guitar Lessons

Discover modern folk artists who continue the tradition of heartfelt songwriting while bringing fresh perspectives and contemporary acoustic sounds.
From emerging talents to overlooked gems, these performances highlight the evolving spirit of today's folk music.

Amos Lee - Arms Of A Woman - Sweet Pea
Badly Drawn Boy - The Time Of Times
Bahamas - Already Yours - Be My Witness
Billy Bragg - Bugeye Jim
Brett Dennen - Wild Child
Citizen Cope - Sideways
City & Color - Fragile Bird
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors - Good Light, The Wine We Drink
Elliott Smith - Waltz #2
Gerry Cinnamon - Canter - Sometimes
Hayden - When The Night Can And Took Us
Iron & Wine - Call It Dreaming 
Jack Johnson - Breakdown - Good People
Jeff Tweedy - Gwendolyn - Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
M Ward - Vincent O'Brien
Matthew Barber - Sleep Please Be With Me
Michael McDermott - Peace Love And Brilliant Colours
Newton Faulkner - Dream Catch Me
Passenger - Let Her Go
Ray Lamontagne - Crazy - Shelter
Royal Wood - One Of You 
Sean Rowe - I'll Follow Your Trail
The Decemberist - Down By The Water
Walk Off The Earth - Speeches

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From protest anthems to sing-along ballads, these final songs remind us why folk music continues to inspire every new generation of acoustic players. And from classic voices like Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, and Neil Young to modern favorites such as Jason Isbell and Amos Lee, these folk guitar lessons span generations of acoustic inspiration.Each tutorial makes it easy to play and sing along with timeless songs that bring people together.

Looking for more acoustic music? Browse our Country, Pop, Rock, 50s, 60s, Motown and Gospel collections for hundreds of additional guitar lessons.

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