ok so I have always played classical and ive always listened to classical, I do listen to other music too but unlike most ppl my age I am a classical fan. I am trying to branch out a bit so I was wondering if anyone played folk music on piano. I would love to learn but I am not sure if there are forms or rules to follow. I can play folk on guitar through improv but I just creat that with strumming techniques.

I do know that I-IV-V is a good foundation for creating folk music but the rest I am unsure ab
out

Hi Elysia,

Could you give an example of what you're interested in playing (such as an artist and song that may exemplify the style you have in mind)?

Justin

well i the style of Jack Johnson, he fits under a few genres aswell. I probably would of stuck to playing folk on guitar but I noticed that he has piano accomp so it got me thinking. I guess I will use his song "constellations" for an example. I also like "down by the water" by the decemberists. I hope that helps. I think that folk music is probably alot about just letting it flow and I am not so good at releasing any creativity whatsoever, I have ALOT of it but it stays inside lol so I was hoping that playing a new genre would help me step outside that bubble lol.

Hi Elysia,
I have played many many folk gigs. So, hopefully I can help you a bit

Do you know your major and minor chords in all 12 keys? How about common chord progressions? That would be a good place to start.

Every song is a bit different but often times there are common rhythm/accompaniment patterns. Listen to the rhythms of the guitar parts and/or the bass drum and try to emulate those rhythms using the chords from the songs.
Hope this helps and good luck

yup i know my minor and major chords in all 12 keys. What do you mean by chord progression? like i-iv-i chords? I can do that. So are you saying just get a rhythm going and put chords to it?

Hi Elysia,

That's kind of the gist of it. I've played the guitar for most of my life. Basically, for most folk and rock music, the guitar is the main rhythm instrument. So, you have two things you need to cover: first, the chords being used, and, second, the rhythm the guitarist is playing.

My recommendation to you if you want to learn this kind of music is to find songs that you are interested in and figure out by ear what chords the guitarist is playing (pretty simple; just listen for the bass note; 99% of the time, that's the root of your chord). Your right hand can play simple triads and your left hand can emphasize the root of the chord by playing (for instance) a simple octave. This is a good place to start.

Next, you need to simulate the strumming aspect of the guitar. You can do this a couple of ways. First, try switching between left hand parts and right hand parts to simulate the up and down effect of strumming on the guitar. Second, try switching between playing the regular Major/minor triad and playing the sus version of the chord. This helps to add to the rhythmic effect.

I took the tune "Down by the Water" and did a very quick and simple example of what could be done with the main parts. I'm sure there are plenty of people on here who could come up with much better ideas, but this is just something I came up with in a couple of minutes.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/30880127/down%20by%20the%20water.mp3

Hopefully, this all helps to give you a decent start. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Justin

Here is a good exercise for you. See if you can figure out the chord progression in this song. It's more than just I, IV, V.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bwZLoMPtJhU

I love this style of music.

Right on that helps alot. Thanks Justin. Thanks for the links Joe, I will have to listen when I get home, my work computer is doing funny things with the speakers lol. I will post my first folk tune and you guys can throw me some constructive critisism, give me a week though.

The closest example of a folk pianist I can think of would be the late Laura Nyro (although her style and compositions were more in the early pop-rock style, ie: Carol King, etc.). You should treat the piano in folk music as a rhythm instrument similar to what you would play accompanying a folk song on your guitar. Arpegiated chords, light comping etc. with an occasional solo are the norm for people playing piano in a folk style.

Listen to recordings by some of the 60s folk revivalists to see what is appropriate to the style, and emulate the music of groups like Peter Paul, and Mary, the Mama's and the Papa's, the Byrds, etc.

Elysia - I think RayE is right. I am also an aspiring folk pianist. I've tried a few folk songs on piano with varying levels of success. Below is a link to one I recorded that came closest to what I'm trying to achieve on the piano.

The Times They are a Changin' - Piano Cover

I like the simplicity of folk music and have found that the best folk piano arrangements are ones in which the piano supports but does not get in the way of the melody and lyrics.

Elysia,
Here is a classic example of a very good folk song played on piano and sung by Canadian folk singer, Joni Mitchell.

I know someone who might be a good crossover for you since you were trained in classical. She's had a huge influence on my playing. Vienna Teng. She incorporates classical elements into folk/Singer songwriter type material in a way that sounds effortless and natural. It's a shame she isn't more well known. One of my favorites examples of this is 'Now three' From 'Dreaming through the noise'. A beautiful convergence of styles.