"TELLING &/or dancing, via the repetition of relatively simple TUNES." (me)...most people, JC!, would understand this to include the SINGING of folk lyrics...and I like you mentioning differences in Scotland, as I love our world being multicultural; further, I think this from you is worth repeating: "This does NOT mean these tunes have canonical chordings like modern pop tunes."
"Walkaboutverse has only been interested in folk music for a few years(how few is up for grabs, as he gives different numbers in different places)" (Ted)...There were some songs I somehow knew already (perhaps primary school in Aus.) but, yes, I've only been into folk for a few years - 2002 I turned up at the 35th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering (which I've already posted, but follow the link above if you wish); I ended my collection "Walkabouts: travels and conclusions in verse" at the end of 2002 and began making songs or "Chants from Walkabouts", which I first sang, along wiht E. trads, at folk clubs in 2004; Is that precise enough for you? You then go on to be critical (sacrificing yourself in the process!), so I'll say that, although relatively knew, I did have a degree in humanities behind me, and that many of my poems have, since self-publication, been published elsewhere (again see above link, if you wish).