American Primitivism is a musical style originated by guitarist John Fahey in the late 1950s. By blending avant-garde and neo-classical compositions with traditional country blues fingerpicking techniques, the primitive guitar style was a major component of Fahey's Takoma Records label.

Anti-folk is an experimental genre of folk music which seeks to undermine long-established stereotypes and pretentions. Songs are often delivered in a self-mocking tone and with little regard for tradition. Notable artists include Kimya Dawson and The Moldy Peaches.

Solo singer-songwriter music from the Soviet Union beginning in the 50s that went against the Soviet establishment and took cues from ethnic Russian folk music and Russian poetry. Musically quite simple, as the poetic lyrics are the main focus, lyrics which were usually about people and their everyday conflicts or often very political. As a result, the music was underground and several of the artists faced persecution from the KGB (Alexandr Galich and Yuliy Kim, for example). When rock bands began to pop up in the Soviet Union, many of them took influence from the bards. A couple of the most famous artists of this genre are Vladimir Visotsky and Bulat Okudzhava.

以通俗唱法演唱的流行音乐或中国民族音乐、军旅音乐，如《希望的田野上》、《乌苏里江》等。少数民族歌曲如藏族歌曲、蒙古族歌曲等都属于此类。

Jug Band music originated in Louisville, Kentucky at the beginning of the 20th century and stayed popular in the southern states of the U.S. until the 1930s. It usually features a jug as the bass instrument as well as other homemade or easily affordable instruments, such as kazoos and washboards. Jug Band enjoyed a rebirth during the '60s Folk revival, spawning many new Jug Bands.

Mbaqanga is a style of South African music, originated in the early 1960s, with rural Zulu roots that continues to influence musicians worldwide today.

Musical movement in Latin America and Spain during 60s and 70s. Musically inspired by North American folk artists such as Bob Dylan and lyrically in social events such as social class fighting or Cuban Revolution. Nueva Canción took individual influences in its evolution from the varying localities of its prevalence (in Cuba it was influenced by Trova, in Chile by Andean music, in Spain by traditional Spanish music).

Originally a marketing term used by OKeh Records to describe the music of Fiddlin' John Carson, "Old-Time" is now generally used to describe the music of those who seek to preserve pre-Bluegrass styles of North American string band music. Usually led by a fiddle, Old-Time bands frequently feature a banjo played clawhammer, as opposed to three-finger, or Scruggs, style. A fiddle playing melody to the rhythmic accompaniment of a banjo is considered to be the classic form of Appalachian Old-Time, perhaps the best-known variant of the genre. Carson's Old-Time contemporaries included Gid Tanner. During the folk boom of the sixties, The New Lost City Ramblers were Old-Time's most prominent act. More recently, artists such as Old Crow Medicine Show and Uncle Earl have renewed interest in the genre.

The term Polka represents both a musical style and its corresponding dance. Its origin is traced to Central and Eastern Europe, and more specifically to the Bohemia region of what is now the Czech Republic during the mid-1800's, and was brought to America by immigrants from the region. Polka features a lively beat played in 2/4 time, with the instruments (including the accordion, fiddle, clarinet, trumpet, concertina, tuba and a rhythm section) chosen based on which of the several regional variants of Polka is being performed. Polka is also featured in some Romantic Period classical music. The style remains very popular in its areas of origin, as well as the Midwestern United States.

Music based on traditional acoustic folk forms, but reinvented through an aesthetic similar to that of other "psychedelic" music genres, and a blending with a number of other possible music styles, such as Psychedelic Rock, folk traditions from around the world, medieval music, chanting, etc. The lyrics are often (but not always) psychedelic as well, and sometimes with an emphasis on things like the natural world, love, mysticism, and other things associated with the 60s subculture that it rose out of. Developed in the 1960s, and important early artists included The Incredible String Band, The Holy Modal Rounders, Tyrannosaurus Rex, etc.

A form of folk music based in Algeria. Today it's also a part of modern Arabic pop music.

Skiffle is a genre closely related to Jug Band music. Originally a form of party music played on both traditional and improvised instruments by African-American musicians in the early 20th century, it experienced a revival in late 1950's Britain thanks to performers such as Chris Barber, Ken Colyer, and Lonnie Donegan. It incorporates elements of Folk, Jazz, Blues, and Country music.

An uptempo dance music from Louisiana that gained popularity in the 50s with Clifton Chenier. The dominant instruments are accordion and rub-board.

民谣和民歌的区别在于，民谣通常使用西方乐器（主要是吉他）伴奏，采用简单的和弦、简单的节奏，同时主歌副歌比较押韵，和流行音乐非常近似。