Easy folk songs?

[rubydubyr]

I would like to play with my daughter. I play mostly classical, she plays mostly blue grass, but will accompany me on her flute for classical..... but, I'd like us both to play mando together once in a while.
I think some EASY folk tunes that we could both sight read, or do a close approximation of sight reading would be a good choice.
Anyone know a book of EASY folk tunes I could order? Or some internet sites that would have some easy folk melodies in pdf? I think knowing the songs before trying to play them would make the sight reading a lot easier.
So far, I've been able to find and download the pdf of easy versions of Scarborough Fair, Camptown Races, Yankee Doodle, and Amazing Grace (yes, I know that's a spiritual...)

[rubydubyr]

Ok, I just ordered the Folk Song Fake book (melody line and chords) by Hal Leonard. Over 1000 songs, over 500 pages bound with a plastic comb. Hopefully will be a good buy, sposed to be here by Friday...... hope its not like the picks I ordered that took 3 weeks to get here.

[harper]

Rubydubyr,

Skye Boat Song is an easy tune. It's a 6/8 Scottish rowing song and is slow, steady, and flowing. I have attached three versions. You could choose the harmony you wished to use.

BTW, where are you in Texas? I am in College Station.

Regards,
Evelyn

[rubydubyr]

Tyvm Harper! I am in the DFW area. How can a harp be a mandolin?

[GRW3]

If it's not easy it's not really a folksong.

[zedmando]

If it's not easy it's not really a folksong.

Kind of what I was thinking--but then some folk musicians do some complex arrangements...

But in general, this is true--but it still could be tough to play it with the same feeling.

[crisscross]

How about some Irish tunes?

-Star of the county down http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CCMQ9QEwAA
-Molly Malone http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CCYQ9QEwAA
-Wild Rover http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CCwQ9QEwAQ
-Londonderry Air http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CDQQ9QEwAQ

And, on the other side of the pond, though it's not a real folk song, but was comosed by S.Foster: Oh Susanna http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=h...ed=0CCMQ9QEwAA

If The Good Tanyas manage it, it shouldn't be too difficult for you and your daughter

[Jackgaryk]

you pulled the trigger quick on that one ruby. If it don't work out for ya'll check out "Parking Lot Picker's Songbook: Mandolin". it's a good one. tabs, chords, notation and has cd's to listen to the tune. hope your songbook comes quicker than your picks did.

[rubydubyr]

thank you crisscross and Jack, very helpful
(and my daughter is coming on Sunday, so I hope the book gets here when it is supposed too)

[Martin Jonas]

For folk songs (as opposed to instrumental tunes), this is one of my favourite places:

Link

Melody lines and good, playable chords in well-presented PDFs for a great many public domain folk songs including most of the obvious ones and a well-chosen selection of less obvious ones. When printed out, makes a good songbook.

Martin

[Bertram Henze]

S.Foster

Stephen C. Foster is a good resource for folk songs (every song was composed by someone, so I think they are folk songs nevertheless). Another one I can recommend is Hard Times (there is a thread on this over at the Song-a-Week Social Group).

[JEStanek]

Rise Up Singing is very good for chords. A very comprehensive list of folk and Americana songs organized well.

Jamie

[Dan Krhla]

Definitely Rise Up Singing. +1 on that for sure. The Seeger songs are perfect for what you're looking for. Once you find some you like (Buffalo Gals, Erie Canal, Dan Tucker, Blue Tail Fly, etc) you can go a-googling for simple melody lines.

http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/traditional-music/

Has a ton,
Best of luck, Please come back and share your successes! Dan

[JEStanek]

There is also the TablEdit songs on Mandozine and on the Cafe in Mandolin Tab.

Jamie

[bigskygirl]

Our Town - Iris Dement
Orphan Girl - Gillian Welsh
Rye Whiskey - ?
S*** Makes the Flowers Grow - Cathy Guthrie
Tune of a Twenty Dollar Bill - Shawn Camp does a nice version (even has a mandolin break in it) as does the Lonesome River Band and you could just leave off all the embellishments and strum the chords
Guy Clark songs are nice too - The Cape, Anyhow I Love You, LA Freeway...so many check him out

Most of these are three or four chords over and over, just capo where you like to sing.

[mandroid]

seek out Back issues of Sing Out?

IWW 'little red songbook' for Labor songs .

[StuartE]

No chords in the little red songbook, iirc

[allenhopkins]

A few years ago ace picker Harvey Reid, along with Joyce Anderson, came out with The Song Train, which is a CD set and book of 56 songs playable with one or two chords.

This may have the kind of repertoire you're looking for.

[rubydubyr]

Thankyou all very much! I've saved the links!

[rubydubyr]

ok, folk song book was SUPPOSED to be here yesterday... amazon didn't even SHIP it till yesterday and new estimated delivery is Monday. That probably won't happen either as we're supposed to have an ice storm on Sunday night/Monday morning. siiiiiiigh (the old gray Amazon just aint what she used to be)

[rubydubyr]

It's here, its here! OMG, with over 500 melodies, I can have SCADS of fun modifying and making arrangements for 2 mandolins, or mando and flute!!!!! Woo hoo, and just in time for my daughter's visit tomorrow!

[Nevin]

Cool, have a blast.

[rubydubyr]

tyvm