Subjects / American folk music
Best books to learn American folk music, in order
The literature on American folk music comes in three quite different forms, and mixing them up is the usual way to get confused: academic history that argues about what "folk" ever meant, first-person memoir by the people who were there, and songbooks that are primary sources rather than commentary. This path keeps them labelled.
Reading paths for american folk music
American Folk Music: The Best Books to Read, in Order
Beginner14books108 hrs4 stages
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Frequently asked questions
- How should I approach learning american folk music?
- The literature on American folk music comes in three quite different forms, and mixing them up is the usual way to get confused: academic history that argues about what "folk" ever meant, first-person memoir by the people who were there, and songbooks that are primary sources rather than commentary. This path keeps them labelled.
- What's a good book to start american folk music with?
- A strong starting point is Dylan goes electric! by Elijah Wald. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.
- What should I read after american folk music?
- Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like Bossa nova and Brazilian music, Afrobeat and African popular music.