Folk songs, the instruments that play them, and the stories behind both

efolkMusic is a reference for traditional folk music: where the old songs came from, what they mean, how to play them, and the people and instruments that carried them through the years.

Traditional folk songs

All songs →

Each song page covers the song's origin, key recordings, what it's about, and simple chords. We print full lyrics only when they are clearly traditional and in the public domain.

Folk instruments

All instruments →

Genres and artists

All genres →

Bluegrass, old-time, Celtic, blues and more: what makes each tradition sound the way it does, and who to listen to first.

About efolkMusic

The name efolkMusic has been part of the folk music web since 2000. The site you are reading is a new project, started in 2026, built to be a free, accurate guide to traditional music. Read more about us.