Folk Instruments
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Featured in Folk Instruments
Top Folk Instrument Brands
- Acme
- Alvarez
- APM
- Baggs
- Cordoba
- Danelectro
- Deering
- Duesenberg
- Eastman Guitars
- EMG
- Epiphone
- Fender
- Fishman
- Gator
- Gibson Custom
- Gold Tone
- Gretsch
- Grover
- Gruv Gear
- Hal Leonard
- Hohner
- Ibanez
- K&M
- Kala
- KNA
- Kohala
- Korg
- Lanikai
- Latin Percussion
- Lee Oskar
- Levy's
- Luna Guitars
- Martin
- MONO
- On-Stage
- Oscar Schmidt
- Protec
- Realist
- Recording King
- Remo
- Rhythm Band
- Roland
- Rossetti
- SKB
- Suzuki
- The Loar
- Trophy
- Washburn
- Yamaha
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About Folk Instruments
Folk instruments include acoustic stringed and wind instruments such as banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, and harmonicas. Sweetwater carries all these and more, from brands including Kala, Gold Tone, The Loar, and Hohner, so you can find an instrument that fits the music you want to play.
Folk Instruments for Beginners
Ukuleles and harmonicas are common first picks. A soprano ukulele like the Kala KA-15S is compact and easy to handle. For harmonica, a 10-hole diatonic in the key of C is a common place to start, and the Hohner Special 20 uses a plastic comb that doesn’t absorb moisture. New mandolin players often begin with an A-style model, such as The Loar Honey Creek.
How to Choose a Ukulele Size
Soprano is the smallest and most traditional size, with a bright sound that suits strumming. Concert ukuleles have a slightly longer scale length that many players find comfortable for fingerpicking. Tenor ukuleles have a fuller tone and wider fret spacing. Baritone ukuleles are tuned differently from other sizes and sound closer to a nylon-string guitar, making them a natural fit for guitarists.
Open-back vs. Resonator Banjo
Open-back banjos have no resonator, which gives them a softer, mellower tone often heard in old-time and clawhammer styles. The Gold Tone AC-1 is an open-back 5-string banjo. Resonator banjos have a bowl-shaped back that reflects sound forward, producing a louder, brighter tone that many bluegrass players prefer.
What to Look for in a Mandolin
A-style mandolins have a teardrop-shaped body and a focused tone that works for folk, country, and Celtic music. F-style mandolins have a scroll on the upper bout and a brighter, more cutting sound often associated with bluegrass. It’s also worth checking whether the top is solid or laminate, since solid tops tend to resonate more freely.
Finding the Right Folk Instrument at Sweetwater
Each of these folk instruments has its own size, construction, and tone, so it helps to start with the music you want to play. Matching the instrument to that sound can make learning more enjoyable. Sweetwater carries a wide selection of folk instruments, so give us a call if you need help choosing the right one.
Folk Instrument Categories
