Folk Music
Everything published on Viyolens under Folk Music — reviews, buying advice and how-tos written for players and producers in the UK.
The Complete Guide to Harp String Instruments
Harp string instruments offer beautiful tones and surprising accessibility for beginners. Discover folk, concert, and orchestral harps—finding the perfect instrument for your musical goals.
Mountain Dulcimer: A Complete Guide
The mountain dulcimer is one of the most beginner-friendly folk instruments. Here's what it is, how the diatonic fret system works, the main tunings, and the different playing styles you'll encounter.
The Best Ukulele Strings for the Money
The best ukulele strings are not one product—they depend on your instrument, playing style and what you are chasing in tone. Here is what works for each path.
The Complete Guide to Cuatro Guitar
The cuatro guitar is the heartbeat of Puerto Rican folk music, a small four-stringed instrument with a bright, metallic tone rooted in colonial history.
The Complete Guide to Ukulele Tunes With Chords
Ukulele tunes with chords build musical foundation and open endless song possibilities. Learn essential progressions, chord charts, and techniques to play confidently.
A Guide to Lap Harp
The Complete Guide to Sitar Electric
The electric sitar bridges traditional Indian classical music and contemporary amplified instruments, allowing the sitar's distinctive resonance to project in modern ensembles and recording studios.
Folk Music Subgenres, Explained
A solo singer with a guitar and a full electric band playing centuries-old ballads are both folk music. Here's how the genre's branches actually differ.
Harp Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Nervous about starting harp guitar? This beginner guide reveals why harp guitars suit newcomers perfectly and walks you through your first rewarding weeks.
Fender Plectrum for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A Fender Plectrum is a four-string acoustic instrument that's perfect for beginners. This guide shows why it's an approachable first instrument and walks you through your first week of playing.
The Complete Guide to Resonator Guitar Guitars
The resonator guitar combines a unique metal cone resonator with expert lutherie to produce a bright, cutting tone perfectly suited to slide, bluegrass and contemporary acoustic music.
Electric Fiddle for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Nothing about your playing needs to change. Here's a gentle, unhurried way into amplification for a nervous first-timer.
A Beginner's Guide to Folk Music
Not one sound but a way music moves through a community. Here's what genuinely makes folk music folk, and a quick sweep through its history.
Tuning a Fiddle for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Worried one wrong turn will snap a string? Here's a safe, unhurried, step-by-step way through your first few fiddle tuning sessions.
Mandolin Guitars for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Mandolin guitars are genuinely beginner-friendly—you can play recognisable melodies within weeks. Learn first steps, essential chords, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
Tuning a Fiddle Explained: Features, Types and Tips
That quiet ritual before a session starts, explained properly: how fiddle tuning actually works, and why it's built on fifths.
The Best Concertinas for the Money
The best concertina depends on your budget and commitment level. This guide reveals which instruments punch above their weight at every price tier, from GBP 500 to GBP 5000+.
The Complete Guide to Guild 12 String Guitars
Guild 12 string guitars represent the pinnacle of American acoustic craftsmanship, delivering the warm, shimmering tone that folk musicians and recording studios demand.
Tenor Banjo for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The tenor banjo is genuinely accessible for beginners with some musical background — this guide helps you choose your tuning tradition, get your first sounds and build a practice approach that works.
Everything You Need to Know About Electric Fiddle
The same instrument, given the means to hold its own on a loud stage. Here's a gentle introduction to what an electric fiddle is and where it came from.
Common Fender Ukulele Mistakes to Avoid
Most ukulele frustrations come from a handful of the same avoidable mistakes. Here's what they are and how to correct them.
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.
Blues Harmonica for Beginners: A Complete Guide
The blues harmonica is one of the most approachable instruments to start. This beginner's guide covers holding technique, single notes, blow and draw, your first blues pattern, and when to attempt ben...
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Acoustic Bass Guitar
Acoustic bass guitars use bass tuning and hollow-body construction to add warm low end to rehearsals, gigs and recording...
Bodhran
Find bodhrans for folk, Celtic and acoustic performance with the warm tone of a traditional Irish frame drum.
Button Accordion
Traditional bellows instrument with button rows, valued for dance music, regional styles and lively folk performance.
Concertina
Compact bellows instrument with a bright, nimble voice, widely used in British, Irish and maritime folk music.
Fender Ukulele
Fender ukuleles combine easy playability, dependable build quality and broad appeal for players of all levels.
Jaw Harp
Jaw harps are compact folk instruments with a buzzing, rhythmic tone and centuries of tradition.
Pan Flute
The pan flute delivers a warm, airy tone for folk, world and solo music, with a distinctive sound and simple layout.
Ukulele Strings
Choose ukulele strings for the right size, tuning and tone, from warm traditional sets to brighter modern options.
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