Country Music
Everything published on Viyolens under Country Music — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
A Beginner's Guide to Country Music
From the Grand Ole Opry to Kacey Musgraves, from Appalachian folk to the O2 Arena — what country music is, how it sounds and where to start listening.
The Complete Guide to Country Singles Chart
The Official Charts country singles chart captures which country songs British listeners are streaming, downloading and purchasing most each week—offering fans and industry pros insight into the genre...
Country Music Subgenres, Explained
From the honky-tonk bars of Texas to the folk festivals of Appalachia — the different strands within the genre explained, with key artists for each.
Steel Pedal: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Choosing a tuning system, checking the changer mechanism, budgeting for a volume pedal — here's exactly what to check before buying a steel pedal guitar.
The Best Steel Pedals for the Money
Learner single-neck, extended single-neck, or double-neck — here's which tier of steel pedal guitar actually matches where you are as a player.
The Best Country Music Artists to Know
From Jimmie Rodgers to Zach Bryan — the artists who define the genre across a century of recording, in five essential categories.
The Complete Guide to Slide Steel Guitar
The slide steel guitar produces uniquely expressive, soaring sounds. Learn what makes it special, which type suits you, and how to get started.
Essential Country Music Albums Explained
From Hank Williams compilations to Golden Hour — the essential albums across every era of the genre, with a note on what each represents and what to listen for.
Country Music for Newcomers: Where to Start
Golden Hour, At Folsom Prison or Zach Bryan's debut — three entry points for every kind of new listener, plus a seven-track playlist and a map for going deeper.
Pedal Steel Guitar: A Complete Guide
No frets, foot pedals and a steel bar — here's what actually defines this instrument and where its famous sound came from.
The History of Country Music
A century of evolution from rural string bands to stadium-filling streaming giants — the history of the genre from its 1920s commercial origins to the present day.
The Ultimate Guide to Steel Pedals
Part slide guitar, part mechanical linkage system — here's what a steel pedal guitar actually is, how it works, and where its crying sound came from.
The Best Country Music Songs Right Now
The songs everyone is streaming, the crossover tracks that broke the genre open and the classics no listener should miss — the essential listening guide.
Steel Pedal for Beginners: A Complete Guide
It doesn't look like it should make that sound. Here's an honest, encouraging beginner's guide to learning the steel pedal guitar, one small step at a time.
A Beginner's Guide to Rockabilly
Country phrasing sung with rhythm-and-blues urgency — here's your gentle, no-jargon introduction to what rockabilly actually is.
Common Steel Pedal Mistakes to Avoid
Because a steel pedal guitar is mechanically unlike anything else, it creates its own specific pitfalls. Here are the ones I see most often.
A Beginner's Guide to Americana
Americana blends country, folk, blues, bluegrass and rock into something else entirely. Here's a friendly, no-jargon way in for first-time listeners.
Outlaw Country for Newcomers: Where to Start
Getting into outlaw country is straightforward. The genre is compact, the key records are short and the entry points are clearly signposted. Here is how to begin.
Pedal Steel Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Intimidating to look at, genuinely learnable in practice — here's the honest, step-by-step guide to starting out.
The Complete Guide to Line Dancing Charts
Line dancing charts track the most popular songs within the global line dancing community, revealing what dancers love and what choreographers choose for new routines.
A Beginner's Guide to Outlaw Country
Outlaw country emerged in the early 1970s as a rejection of Nashville's polished sound. Here is everything a beginner needs to know.
Guitar Stratocaster vs Telecaster: Which Should You Choose?
The Telecaster is one of music's most iconic and recognisable guitars, prized for its simple design, bright cutting tone, and no-nonsense reliability across decades of genres.
Country Music is filed under
All topics
Americana
Americana blends folk, country, blues and roots rock into storytelling-led music with an acoustic, lived-in feel.
Country Music
Country music combines storytelling lyrics, melodic hooks and acoustic-led band arrangements.
1 topic
Guitar Telecaster
Bright, dependable Tele-style electrics for clear tone and versatile performance.
Line Dancing Charts
Track songs used in line dancing charts and understand how specialist communities drive music popularity.
Outlaw Country
Outlaw country blends traditional country roots with a tougher, independent and rebellious attitude.
Pedal Steel Guitar
The pedal steel guitar delivers smooth, expressive glissando tones for country, Americana, folk and studio work.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is a lively vintage style mixing early rock and roll, country twang and blues rhythm.
Steel Pedal
Durable steel pedal hardware for drummers who want stable feel, reliable action and dependable everyday performance.
