Folk is the music that is traditional to a culture. It is often of unknown origin, and it is passed down through the generations by the aural tradition.

American folk music is a rich patchwork of styles that is reflective of the immigrant groups who came to the country. Americans have used folk music for entertainment, dancing, worship, and labor for centuries.

Settlers from England and northern France had a tradition of social dancing that included the use of fiddle, guitar, banjo, or harmonica. The songs that they played are known collectively as fiddle tunes, and they were used primarily for square dancing.

Fiddle tunes can be fast and lively or slow and somber. Because they are used for dance accompaniment, they are metrical and follow a predictable pattern with lots of repetition. Most of them are in 4/4 time, but some fiddle tunes are waltzes and jigs.

Although the instrument is basically the same as a classical violin, fiddlers and violinists use different techniques. While violinists use vibrato (a rapid, slight variation in pitch that produces a richer tone), fiddle players do not. Fiddlers also use less bow than classical violinists, and they use a less precise approach to pitch, which could be compared to jazz blue notes.

Play-Party songs are unique to the U.S. They are social songs that were used for organized dancing. Play-Party songs could be considered vocal, non-instrumental versions of fiddle tunes. They were used commonly by young people who did not have access to instruments but could sing when they wanted to dance. Some religious groups in the 19th century believed that dancing was the work of the devil, and thus fiddle songs were banned. Vocal play-party songs were considered a more suitable form of entertainment. The Hokey Pokey is probably the best-known play-party song.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, English and Scottish immigrants settled in Appalachia, bringing with them a unique style of folk music. The simplicity of the songs reflects their simple way of life. The songs are sung along, perhaps with guitar accompaniment. The lyrics often deal with themes of loneliness, because these communities were very isolated, geographically and culturally. Because they are sung for personal expression rather than to accompany dance, the songs tend to be more free-flowing than fiddle tunes.