Your Ultimate Insight To Difference Between Folk Music And Country Music

Today, if you like then there is a wide range of music available – everything from rock to soothing instrumentals. Millions of people love country music and folk music as well. There could be a plethora of reasons behind it, for example, captivating stories, upbeat rhythms and most of all it is fun to dance to country music. But, do not confuse yourself – country music is not the same as folk music.  

Country Music 

So, if you don’t know about country music or modern folk music and want to know more about it then believe me you are at the right spot. Country music is rooted in American southeast and west. Once you start listening to country music – it becomes easy to relate to lonely cowboys, lost cattle, and love gone wrong. Also, country music tells tales of ordinary heroes. To make country music you need acoustic guitar, banjo, upright bass, and mandolin. The vocals part is simple ballads, danceable tunes, a folk melancholy romance. There are often two to three voices present in one song. 

Folk Music 

One difference between country and indie folk music is that country music is an offshoot of folk. There are many disparities in origin, how they sound and the theme. Believe it or not! But folk music started back in eighteen hundred. During this period American was facing revolutions and colonization. Traditional Ballard like ‘ ‘Barbara Allen’’ was actually passed down by immigrants. Folk music is unique and it is universal. Folk singers on the other hand were not professional but made music from their own potential. Folk extended to the 20th century when new types evolved. It is often remembered as the second wave of folk music or folk revival. 

Key Similarities 

Origin: First things first, stories in both folk and country music are mostly rooted in the working class. Both genres of music are about blue-collar Americans. Lastly, both music types are blended styles from Irish Celtic Melodies and English Tunes. 

Sounds: Country music and Folk Music also sound much alike with each other. Both of them have a repetition of simple melodies. And, both have lyrics that tell stories. Both music genres have a catchy chorus and memorable phrases. 

Rhythm: Folk and country music uses simple chords and melodies. The rhythm is easy to tap into and regularly encourages the listener to participate. 

Instruments: Both folk music instruments and country instruments include strings, for example, guitar, fiddle, upright brass, and mandolin. Currently, many artists also use electric guitars, dobros, and percussion instruments. 

Common Artists

1. Woody Guthrie
2. Carter Family 
3. Roger Millar 
4. Jimmy Rogers

Key Difference 

Needless to say, folk music’s breadth is far wider than country music. In other words, country music is one part of folk. Folk music is truly unique. 

Artists: There are some common artists and most famous folk music band singers that shaped this genre. Folk genre has some big names such as Kris Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt, Mama Cass Eliot, and many other groups The Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary, etc. 

Theme: Many songwriters are shared their stories about mama, trains, and their time in prison. So, the main theme of country music forms includes everything starting from religion, patriotism, the south, loving, losing and sexy women and yearning for the past. 

Folk themes include songs from Bob Dylan and historical events like “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gord Lightfoot. The folk music derivative forms often work songs. It addresses issues slavery, war, backbreaking, jobs, social and political issues. 

Sounds: Folk music is simply made by using acoustic instruments. Folk musicians might use sticks, spoons, washboards, food stamps, handclaps, and finger snaps. Moreover, folk songs change from generation to generation because they were passed without any written records. 

Rhythm: Folk music is light rhythms and often has powerful drum parts. 

Conclusion 

Lastly, both folk songs and country music roots go back to Appalachian Music. There are both differences and similarities between two musical forms. Folk and country artists have very thin lines in between and often their musical instruments are the same as well.