Explores the many ways in which music genres and sub-genres have arisen in different regions of America. Includes an itemized summary of noted folk song collections, and chapters on folk song types, folk instrumentation, and the urban folk revival.

Introduction -- Types of American folk music: ballads and songs -- Instruments and musical aspects -- Folk music of the Northeast -- Folk music of the Southeast -- Folk music of the Midwest and Great Lakes region -- Folk music of the far West -- Urban centers and folk music -- Biographical sketches.