Here are 7 easy fingerpicking arrangements of traditional French songs that you can play on your guitar.
If you're a French enthusiast and you want some easy traditional French songs to play on the guitar, you're in luck.
Here is a collection of 7 traditional French songs that I have arranged for guitar. You can play these fingerstyle arrangements on a classical guitar or a steel string guitar.
1. Au clair de la lune
Pretty much every Francophone and Francophile knows the lyrics to this song, which describe the story of a neighbour asking Pierrot for something to write with in the dead of night. One night as I was walking home beneath the moonlit sky, the haunting melody of Au clair de la lune echoed through my mind, beckoning me to arrange it for the humble guitar.
As I scribbled down the arrangement, I felt the connection between past and present, as if the ghosts of Montmartre were dancing in harmony with my fingers. And as the last note faded away, I knew that I had not only captured the essence of Au clair de la lune, but had also unlocked a piece of my own soul that I had been struggling to understand for a while.
2. Auprès de ma blonde
This is a classic French traditional song whose melody and chorus are easily recognized. The song's tender lyrics and lilting rhythm whispered tales of love and longing during wartime.
As I plucked the first notes of this song on my guitar, I felt myself immediately being transported to a bygone era, where lovers secretly met in public gardens while listening to the sound of tweeting birds and whispering sweet nothings to one another.
When I created this arrangement, the music flowed like a gentle stream, and as the final note echoed away, I knew that I had not only captured the essence of Auprès de ma blonde, but had also unlocked a piece of my own heart.
3. Fais Dodo
As I was sitting on a park bench one humid midsummer night, basking under the soft glow of the moon, I found myself whisked away to a world of whimsy and wonder. Suddenly, the melody of Fais Dodo, a traditional Cajun song with origins in France, whistled through my mind.
The song's sweet lullaby seemed to beckon me to craft an arrangement that would transport children to a realm of dreams and imagination. As I raced home, eager to pluck the first notes on my guitar, I felt as if I were a child who would not fall asleep.
4. Il était une bergère
This traditional song is a beautiful melody which is beloved by Francophones the world over. But the song's haunting lyrics tell of a maid consumed by rage, her fury fueled by the theft of her precious milk by a cunning and devious kitten.
And as I sat there working on this arrangement, my fingers were trembling with intensity. I felt a surge of energy, as if I were channeling the wrath of the maid herself, and that's when I knew that I had created something truly unique: a piece of music that would leave its mark on the world, and forever change the way I approached the craft of guitar arrangements.
5. Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre
The iconic French folk song, "Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre," comes to life as a fingerstyle guitar arrangement. The melody and lyrics echo the tale of Marshal de Villars (1653-1734), as he marches off to war, leaving behind a legacy of glory and defiance.
This arrangement is a celebration of the marshal's bravery and defiance, and a reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of freedom and honor for the motherland.
6. Un Canadien errant
This is a well known classic French Canadian song composed by Antoine Guérin-Lajoie (1824-1882) which talks about the displacement of French Canadians during a period known as the Great Upheaval, also known as the "Acadian Expulsion".
The song's enchanting melody and nostalgic lyrics came to me one night like a siren's call, urging me to unlock its secrets and breathe new life into its 19th century beauty. And as I plucked away at the strings, I immediately felt a surge of inspiration, as if the plight of the expelled Acadians themselves were guiding my fingers across the fretboard.
7. Une souris verte
This is a popular children's song in the French continent. The French folk song "Une Souris Verte" is a cruel but absurdly entertaining tale of an elusive green mouse that is constantly transformed into a snail.
The guitar work is nimble and light, perfectly capturing the whimsy of the song. And as I listened to the notes ring out when I was playing this arrangement, I knew that I had created something truly magical.
I hope you enjoyed this list of French folk songs for guitar, and if you liked my arrangements, you can learn more about my original work for solo guitar called Tarot Cards.
