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The first thing that you need is authenticity.

You can't really fake folk music. It's stripped down to the core. There's usually a guitar and a singer. There could be a band behind the guitar and the singer, but the singer/songwriter element is the focus. Lyrics are the heart and soul, and if you want to write a good folk song, don't ever forget that.

The second most important element involved in writing a good folk song is your delivery. The audience should be able to understand what you are saying. And at times, they should also be able to sing along with you. You need to be very adept with your use of words. Simplified language and the poetic sensibility to make the lyrics ring true is of primary importance. Folk artists like Johnny Cash made sure not to complicate the lyrical formula. They wanted to tell you a story, one that you'd remember. And so, if you want to learn how to write a good folk song, always practice the art of good storytelling and don't forget to speak clearly.

Now, the guitar is important. But it's not as important as the lyrics. The main thing to remember when you are trying to learn how to play a folk song on guitar, is don't overdo it. Bob Dylan, Hank Williams Sr., Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash, among others, none of them wanted to be guitar virtuosos. Their main emphasis was on their lyrics. They didn't concern themselves so much with solo guitar riffs and the like. But they also knew that they needed a foundation, a backbone on which to place their lyrics. That is the guitar's role in a really good folk song. It comes after the vocals in importance. Keep the strumming simple.

The last element is perhaps something that is overlooked too often, the fact that you need to write good songs. This requires skill in both the lyrical parts and the guitar parts. It takes a lot of time and lots of dedication. The best way to gain the education that is needed is to watch others play and sing, like those who have developed a reputation as good folk artists. Another way to learn is to listen to the voices that have gone by in the past. There is a deep and rich history that surrounds the Folk Tradition in America. You should be aware of its roots and you should study its practitioners. And if you want to write a really good folk song of your own, then you'll have to gain some personal experiences that you can write about. Take the history and traditions, take the current and contemporary, take you, yourself, and all that you know, put all that into the pot and stir, and let it simmer. That stew will eventually enable you to write more than one really good folk song. It will give you the ability to write as many as you'd like. And it will even taste good.

Learn more about this author, T. Youngblood.
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