Wherever we turn these days as songwriters, producers, and artists, we’re told we need to break boundaries, push limits, and explore new frontiers in songwriting to stand out in such a crowded space. While there’s merit to this in many genres, there’s also a simple beauty in Folk Songwriting. By its nature, this genre doesn’t seek to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it relies on proven traditions and timeless lessons, tapping into cultural nostalgia and the zeitgeist to create straightforward, narrative-driven music that connects with the masses. Folk music is often not glitzy or hype-driven; it’s simply truthful and authentic.

I’ll share everything I’ve learned about writing folk music in this guide. I’ve been a guitarist for over fifteen years and have written countless songs. Though most of my career is in electronic music, my passion for music began with folk—listening to Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and others. I’ll use examples from the last hundred years of folk music to highlight what the greats did right and what you can learn from them, so you have more than just my word to study.

Biggest Takeaways

Start with a Strong Hook: A solid central idea or motif anchors your song, making it easier to build everything else around it. Think Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind—a simple, repeated motif that ties the whole song together.

Lyrics Come First: In folk music, lyrics are king. Start with the words to ensure your message shines. Keep the music simple to let the lyrics take the spotlight as Joni Mitchell did with Big Yellow Taxi.

Keep the Music Simple: Folk music isn’t about showing off complex techniques. Stick to minimal instrumentation and basic chord progressions to keep the focus on the story you’re telling.

Tap into Universal Themes: Folk music resonates because it touches on timeless, universal truths. Use familiar themes and motifs to connect with your audience on a deeper level, just like the greats—Dylan and Simon—have done.

Foundations Of Folkmusic Songwriting

What I respect about folk music songwriting is that it operates under a very narrow framework, often defined by just a few core elements. That said, it’s not limited in the range of topics, themes, emotions, and motifs it can cover—in fact, it’s quite the opposite.

The narrow confines of folk music actually fuel creativity because the genre thrives on these limitations. So, let’s break down these core elements: storytelling, simplicity and accessibility, and cultural and social commentary. It’s simple, but there’s so much you can do within these three pillars.

Storytelling in Folk Music

First and foremost, folk music songwriting thrives on storytelling, but not in a broad sense. Instead, it often focuses on very specific, microscopic stories that are highly relatable to the people they’re about. A prime example is Bob Dylan’s “North Country Blues,” which tells the story of a northern mining town with a clear three-act structure. The first act describes a booming town made prosperous by a new mine. The second act shifts to hardships, foreshadowing the mine’s decline as owners mention cheaper operations in South America, where “miners work almost for nothin'”.

The third act reveals the narrator’s husband leaving for better opportunities, leaving her with three children and no income. While it’s not a happy story, the narrative is tightly focused and culturally relevant, giving it a powerful impact.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=pid0Ud4y3XY&si=3FKWKhli6vwIXRz1[/embed]

How To Apply This Lesson

So, how can you apply the storytelling lessons from Bob Dylan’s “North Country Blues” to your own songwriting? Look for stories everywhere—whether they’re cultural trends, current hardships, or smaller personal experiences.

  • Find Stories Everywhere: Look for relevant stories in various contexts, such as cultural trends or current events.
  • Explore Specific Themes: Focus on micro-stories, like the challenges of online dating or difficulties in the digital job market.
  • Address Current Hardships: Consider real-life struggles related to post-COVID experiences.
  • Seek Timeless Narratives: Identify narratives that reflect true humanity across different periods.
  • Dial in on Relevance: Ensure the stories you choose are pertinent to the present moment.

Simplicity and Accessibility

At its core, folk music is meant to be shared with friends and local communities and passed down through generations. To make sure it connects, simplicity and accessibility are key—both in lyrics and in the music itself. When writing lyrics, focus on boiling down the message, story, and ethos into clear, easy-to-understand language and emotional delivery.

A great example is Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” It’s simple and memorable, and even though it might seem a bit corny by today’s standards, it sticks in your head with its straightforward messaging. Even if it feels a bit outdated now, the simplicity and accessibility of folk music make it more likely to resonate with people.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=wxiMrvDbq3s&si=MfovxQlAy6i31CGK[/embed]

How To Apply This Lesson

This isn’t so much about applying a lesson but more of a challenge to get the most out of it. When you’re songwriting, whether it’s turning poetry into lyrics or trying to convey a message, focus on distilling it down. Boil it down, let it simmer, and take your time so you can effectively tell your story in the simplest, plainest truths possible.

That could mean using the simplest vocabulary, the fewest words—whatever it takes. Communicate the truth of your song in plain English or whatever language you’re writing in, but since you’re reading this site, chances are it’s English.

By boiling it down to its simplest truth, you’ll create the most authentic and real version of your song. It’s not an easy feat and often takes years of songwriting and practice to achieve, but it’s the gold standard when it comes to songwriting.

Cultural and Social Commentary

In this day and age, where social media amplifies people’s grievances more than ever, there’s no shortage of voices and commentary about what’s wrong with the world. Looking out your window, it’s clear that it’s not all just made up by Twitter bots. With that in mind, cultural and social commentary has become another touchstone of folk music in general. Pete Seeger’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” is a perfect example.

It’s a simple yet powerful theme of war and peace from decades ago, referencing how men went to war, leaving women at home to pick flowers for their graves. War and peace were massive issues back then, and Seeger found a way to humanize it so the masses could relate. It wasn’t a hit piece attacking bombs or blaming a specific leader for genocides overseas. Instead, it took a simpler approach, distilling down the root truth: men were going to war, and women were left to pick flowers on their graves.

That’s where the commentary was—more of a critique through a lens relevant to the general populace, the cultural zeitgeist of the time. It resonated on such a deep level because it was simple, true, and didn’t use flowery language. It just painted a vivid picture of the realities and hardships of the time, connecting with people authentically and truthfully.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=PS3-lyqCl80&si=y4Rn7hf9EBDjNbKx[/embed]

How To Apply This Lesson

My recommendation for applying this lesson to your songwriting—though it’s easier said than done—is to look at the main grievances being expressed around you, in your country and beyond.

Instead of approaching it from one side of the political aisle or the other, or from a virtue-signaling, “I’m right, they’re wrong” perspective, find the universal through-line that resonates across all political opinions and across all of humanity. Distill that down into a simple truth and use it as the ethos, the soul, of your songwriting.

Folk music isn’t meant to be finger-pointing or preachy; it’s meant to tell simple truths through relatable narratives that connect with the zeitgeist and culture as a whole—not just with one political group, religion, or ideology. That’s what makes folk music so timeless and universally relevant across cultures.

Techniques and Tips for Writing Folk Songs

Now, let’s dive into how to actually put pen to paper, fingers to frets, and get into actionable tips for writing folk music. We’re going to lean on the greats, using case studies from some of the best folk music in history to explore how they crafted their songs and how you can achieve similar success in your own unique way.

So, let’s get started. Apologies early on, but a large majority of these are Bob Dylan, but only because he had an insanely impactful career as a songwriter and is the reason I started playing guitar, learning about French poets like Verlaine and Rimbaud, and so much more.

Start with a Story or Message

Starting with a story hook or main leading motif isn’t exclusive to folk songwriting—it’s something most songwriters do, regardless of genre. But once you have that central hook, motif, or idea, it really defines and shapes the umbrella under which the rest of the music falls into place. Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” is a perfect example.

The concept of the answers blowing in the wind, with the repeated lyrical motif “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind,” is such a strong leading motif that it’s no surprise Dylan claimed he wrote the song in 10 minutes once he had the initial idea. It’s a powerful motif where everything else orbits around that central idea, making the rest of the song come together quickly.

So, come up with a hook or central line—a repeatable motif strong enough to build the rest of the song on, or at least one with potential. Use that as the framework for the song to evolve from.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=MMFj8uDubsE&si=I9biqSqNUejUJYRR[/embed]

Focus on Lyrics First

Folk music relies heavily on lyrical content and the poetry of the lyrics. You’re doing yourself a disservice by writing the music first because it can confine and shape the delivery of the lyrics in a way that might restrict the actual message. Starting with lyrical poetry allows you to convey the content in the best possible way, putting it at the forefront.

Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” is a perfect example.

With such vivid imagery and a strong message, it would’ve been difficult to bend and shape the lyrics around pre-written music. So, start with the lyrics, then use simple musicality—which we’ll discuss in the next section—to support them. This approach creates a simple platform for the lyrics to truly work their magic.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=2595abcvh2M&si=dTihfgXPRvrizFd9[/embed]

Use Simple Chord Progressions

Because narrative and storytelling are vital to folk music, the instrumentation is often minimal, and the production is stripped back. The musicality doesn’t need to be complex; it usually relies on tried-and-true chord progressions and basic triads.

Folk music isn’t the place to flex your theoretical knowledge or showcase intricate finger-picking patterns. The music serves as a medium to deliver the lyrics’ real and authentic truths. Getting too complicated with chord progressions and musicality can hinder the emotional connection to the lyrics.

Reiterate On Your Theme

Over the past few months, I’ve been compiling notes and ideas for a novel I’ve had in the back of my mind for the better part of the last half-decade. While reading about how to write a first novel and construct a manuscript, it’s wild to see how much of that knowledge directly applies to music production, songwriting, and more. Stuart Horowitz’s book, Blueprint Your Bestseller, is a great example.

He talks about theme and motif, emphasizing how returning to a central theme throughout a book strengthens it. This concept wasn’t even on my radar until I read how J.K. Rowling did this in one of the Harry Potter books, mapping out seven or eight themes that evolve through iteration, progressing the tension and narrative.

This approach directly applies to songwriting.

A central idea or line might sound good in isolation, but the compounding effect of reiterating it across verses and bridges can really shape that theme in a new and evolving way. The Sound of Silence and A Church is Burning, both by Paul Simon, are excellent examples. Each song has a central idea that’s revisited, and with each return, the added context from previous verses reveals more about the song’s true intention. This is a pivotal part of storytelling and should be a valuable tool in folk songwriting.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=4fWyzwo1xg0&si=Tc3Uj59jBsyGBbla[/embed] [embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=pTA37eEcHaQ&si=iud5W5RDvUFWrDPp[/embed]

Now Here You Go…

When I wrote this outline, it originally had three or four extra sections—probably another 1,500 words’ worth of content. These included quick tips for writing folk music, basic chord progressions, and lessons from the greats on a granular level. But in the end, I decided to omit all of that because I believe you already have everything you need to write authentic folk music. Adding more structure might do you a disservice as a would-be folk songwriter.

It’s incredibly simple:

  • Write songs that are true to you and reflect the cultural moment of your world.
  • Use simple musicality to ensure your lyrics and stories have the space to thrive.
  • Tell human stories that connect with people across time and cultures.

Folk music is about humanity, and the best way to connect to humanity is by relying on simple truths.

There’s a reason why Bob Dylan, early in his career, did exactly that. Much of his work was based on cover music, redoing The Bently Boys’ “Down On Penny’s Farm” with lyrics more relevant to his time—Hard Times in New York Town is a perfect example. With what you know now, you have the perfect framework, even if it’s an ephemeral or intangible one, to write folk music that’s simple and authentic to you. That’s the best way to do it. Trying to adhere to strict steps will make your music feel robotic, losing the authenticity that folk music thrives on.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=mX3MQzSFq-Y&si=x8tEazZfclSJxSv7[/embed] [embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=QbmWcHW8xR4&si=GL3K68prVPuVgfNm[/embed]

I encourage you to go back, reference the greats, and model yourself after them. The greats were doing the same thing before you. Folk music thrives on familiarity, using it as a vehicle to deliver simple, timeless truths. The Sound of Silence is as relevant today as it was when it was written. A Church is Burning might be even more relevant now. Political and world issues may have changed, but these simple truths resonate across time.

Find those truths, and you’ll be 90% of the way there. After that, all you need is a couple of simple triads on a guitar or piano to act as a delivery device, and you’ll be well on your way to writing phenomenal folk music. I hope this helps, and I hope you’ve taken a lot away from it.

Best of luck in telling the simple truths in your folk songwriting.


The post Folk Songwriting: The Amazing Art of Minimalism in Music and Lyrics appeared first on Magnetic Magazine.