Folk Rock Guitar
Folk rock blends acoustic guitar traditions with rock energy. Fingerpicking patterns, open tunings and storytelling lyrics define the genre. It's perfect for acoustic players who want songs with depth and character.
You'll find songs from Neil Young, Kansas, The Beatles and modern folk-rock acts. Many of these songs use simple chord shapes but sound beautiful when played with the right feel.
Songs to Start With
Bella Ciao 1
Buffalo Springfield 1
Cat Stevens 1
Danny Boy For Solo Guitar 1
Don McLean 1
Franz Schubert 1
Gheorghe Zamfir 1
James Taylor 1
John Denver 4
Leonard Cohen 1
Little Big Town 1
Neil Young 5
New Morning 1
Passenger 1
Shalom Aleichem | Peace Upon You | שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם 1
Shir Lamaalot 1
Simon & Garfunkel 2
The Lumineers 2
The Mamas & The Papas 1
Traditional 12
- 1 5 National Anthems TAB
- 2 Bella Ciao (La Casa de Papel) TAB
- 3 Edelweiss - LESSON 1959
- 4 El Condor Pasa TAB
- 5 God Save the King TAB
- 6 I'll Be Home For Christmas LESSON
- 7 O Tannenbaum Fingerstyle Solo Acoustic LESSON
- 8 Silent Night TAB
- 9 The Little Drummer Boy LESSON
- 10 The Star-Spangled Banner LESSON
- 11 The Wellerman TAB
- 12 Ukrainian National Anthem TAB
What Child Is This? 1
Zac Brown Band 1
Folk Rock Guitar Essentials
Folk rock guitar centers on acoustic strumming, fingerpicking and open chord voicings. Many songs use a capo to change key while keeping familiar chord shapes. Travis picking (alternating bass with melody on top) is a foundational technique you'll use constantly.
Dust in the Wind is one of the best fingerpicking exercises disguised as a song. Ho Hey is a great campfire song with simple open chords. These songs teach you to play with feel and dynamics rather than volume and distortion.
Explore more acoustic-friendly music in the Pop genre, or browse songs in E Standard for the most common folk rock tuning.