Traditional songs for guitar and other instruments
Traditional songs (often abbreviated trad. on sheet music) have often lived across generations and in various versions. Traditional songs have often an older source but without a known originator. What is known is often a melody and to that old melody a never lyrics have been written. Thereafter can the song bed published and sometimes it become famous enough to established place in the collective conscience of music and culture.
Several genres such as hymns, folk ballads, spirituals, patriotic songs and Christmas carols are associated with traditional songs. Some examples are “Amazing Grace” (hymn), “Oh My Darling, Clementine” (folk ballad), “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” (spiritual), “My Country, 'Tis of Thee” (patriotic song) and “Jingle Bells” (carol).
The other thing that distinguishes traditional songs is that they are public domain, thus not protected by copyright (although arrangements of traditional songs are subject to copyright, which means the arrangements published cannot be republished without permission).
All songs
Tabs, notes, melody, chords and lyrics for a collection of tradtional songs for guitar.
Beginner songs
A collection of traditional songs chosen for beginners on guitar and other instruments.
Christmas songs
A collection of Christmas carols from around the world.
Children's songs
A collection of popular Children's songs with tabs, notes, chords and lyrics.
Categories & alternative tunings
Choose from genres and categories:
Spiritual songs | Christian hymns | Folk songs | Funeral hymns | National anthems
Songs available in alternate tunings:
Drop D tuning | Open G tuning
List of songs
A list of all traditional songs on this site so far (click on a table header to filter a column):
| Title | Instrument | Category | Chords & lyrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing Grace | Guitar | Hymn | Yes |
| Jingle Bells | Guitar, Flute | Christmas | Yes |
| Oh My Darling, Clementine | Guitar, Flute, Ukulele | Folk ballad | Yes |
| 500 Miles | Guitar, Ukulele | Folk | Yes |
| The House of the Rising Sun | Guitar | Folk | Yes |
| Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star | Guitar, Flute | Children | Yes |
| Scarborough Fair | Guitar | Folk ballad | No |
| When the Saints Go Marching In | Guitar | Spiritual | Yes |
| Will the Circle Be Unbroken? | Guitar | Hymn | Yes |
| Deck the Halls | Guitar, Flute | Christmas | Yes |
| God Save the Queen | Guitar | National anthem | No |
| Angels We Have Heard on High | Guitar, Flute | Christmas | Yes |
| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing | Guitar | Christmas | Yes |
| The Star-Spangled Banner | Guitar, Flute | National anthem | Yes |
| America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee) | Guitar | Patriotic song | Yes |
| Yankee Doodle | Guitar, Flute, ukulele | Traditional song | Yes |
| O Tannenbaum | Guitar | Christmas | Yes |
| Danny Boy (Londonderry Air) | Guitar, Flute | Traditional song | Yes |
| Auld Lang Syne | Guitar, Flute, ukulele | Traditional song | Yes |
| Beautiful Dreamer | Guitar | Traditional song | Yes |
| La Marseillaise | Guitar, Flute | National anthem | No |
| Michael Row the Boat Ashore | Guitar | Spiritual | Yes |
| Flow Gently, Sweet Afton | Guitar | Traditional song | Yes |
| Old Black Joe | Guitar | Spiritual | Yes |
| Red Wing | Guitar | Bluesgrass | No |
| Silent Night | Guitar, Flute, ukulele | Christmas | Yes |
| Banks of the Ohio | Guitar, Flute | Folk ballad | Yes |
| God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen | Guitar | Christmas | Yes |
| St. James Infirmary Blues | Guitar | Blues song | Yes |
| Au clair de la lune | Guitar, Flute | Folk song | Yes |
| Home on the Range | Guitar | Traditional song | Yes |
| Shenandoah | Guitar | Folk song | Yes |
| Morning Has Broken | Guitar | Hymn | Yes |
| Aura Lee | Guitar, ukulele | Traditional song | Yes |
| Oh, Susanna | Guitar, Flute, ukulele | Minstrel song | Yes |
| We Shall Overcome | Guitar | Hymn | Yes |
| The Irish Rover | Guitar | Folk song | No |
| O Come All Ye Faithful | Guitar | Christmas | Yes |
| The Little Drummer Boy | Guitar | Christmas | No |
| London Bridge is Falling Down | Guitar, Flute | Nursery rhyme | Yes |
| All Through the Night | Guitar, Flute | Hymn | Yes |
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas | Guitar | Christmas | Yes |
| The First Noel | Guitar | Christmas | Yes |
| Happy Birthday to You | Guitar | Nursery rhyme | Yes |
| For He's a Jolly Good Fellow | Guitar, Flute | Nursery rhyme | Yes |
| Skip to My Lou | Guitar, Flute | Dance song | Yes |
| Swing Low, Sweet Chariot | Guitar, Flute | Spiritual | Yes |
| Go Tell It on the Mountain | Guitar, Flute | Spiritual | Yes |
| Es ist ein Ros entsprungen | Guitar, Flute | Christmas | No |
| Coventry Carol | Guitar | Christmas | Yes |
| Down in the Valley | Guitar | Traditional | yes |
| Ned of the Hill | Guitar | Folk ballad | No |
| Dumbarton's Drums | Guitar | Traditional song | No |
| Bonnie George Campbell | Guitar | Traditional song | No |
More songs will be added, stay tuned.
Explanation of tablature
Songs are often transcribed with tablatures (tabs). The most important symbols are illustrated and explained in the reference guide that can be open/downloaded as an image or PDF.
Download Explanation of symbols in tablature as image
Download Explanation of symbols in tablature as PDF
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