Watch Learn To Play Folk Music

I Will Follow was recorded by singer-songwriter Kim Richey on her 2007 album, Chinese Boxes. In this iVideosongs title, Kim talks about her journey as a musician, the story behind the song, and shows how to play the chord progression and fingerings in I Will Follow. Played on an acoustic steel string with a capo and using traditional open chords, some altered bass notes, and barre chords played with the thumb, this song is a good challenge for beginning-level players.

Hammer and a Nail is the acoustic folk-rock hit that was performed by the Indigo Girls on the 1990 album, Nomads Indians Saints. This iVideosongs title is a great exercise in acoustic rhythm strumming and features a clever melodic outro figure which is both tricky and fun to play. This intermediate-level, medium-tempo song can be played with a single steel string acoustic guitar in standard tuning and a capo at the 4th fret. In this title, instructor Steve Rieck explains the relatively easy chord strumming as well as the more intricate outro part.

So you just got that acoustic guitar, learned a few chords, practiced until your fingers are numb, and now what? It's time to make those chords sound like something musical so you can start playing with other musicians and writing your own material. In this iVideosongs tutorial, Sandy Munro shows you standard strumming patterns and variations in the detail you need to put those chords to work. Sandy, owner of the Great Divide music store in Aspen, Colorado and organizer of Rocky Mountain bluegrass competitions, has coached beginner to advanced players. In this tutorial, he shows how to master the basics of rhythm guitar playing and talks about memorable performances with well-known players. This tutorial is ideal for beginning-level guitarist who has learned their first few chords and is ready to start developing their rhythm technique.

Fire and Rain was recorded by James Taylor on the 1970 album Sweet Baby James. In this iVideosongs title, instructor Rob Schumann shows you how to play the signature intro, guitar chords, and finger-style patterns from the song that has inspired songwriters for several decades. Guitarists will learn the arpeggiated parts as played on the classic recording, as well as typical embellishments played by James Taylor in live performance settings. Incorporating use of slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and arpeggios, this song is a perfect addition to the intermediate-level player's repertoire. This slow tempo song is played on an acoustic steel string guitar with a capo.

Closer to Fine was recorded by the Indigo Girls on their self-titled 1989 album Indigo Girls. In this iVideosongs title, instructor Rob Schumann shows how to play the chord progression, form, and bridge lead section of this folk classic. Played with a capo on an acoustic steel string guitar, the fast-tempo strumming rhythm provides a great challenge for beginning-level players. And the fast arpeggio picking of the bridge section of the song is ideal for guitarists looking to take their playing to the next level.