It could well be linked to the rise of the folk club, but to what extent would probably be difficult to prove. Certainly it is still the predominant instrument on a Singers' Night at our club (We average over twenty singers). Coming in second would be the unaccompanied singer, with the odd one or two choosing other instruments.


"however,I do believe that it is easier to sing them well unacompanied,for the simple reason that the singer has only one thing to concentrate on [the interpretation of the song]"

Rather a sweeping generalisation...

Yes, it may well hold good for those who are less than comfortable playing an instrument - such as those who ask for 'the chords to...'. If you're really comfortable with the instrument, you can play seemingly without having to think about it.

It may also be valid for those who are not comfortable playing and singing at the same time.

However, I feel that there is a significant number of us who are both comfortable with our instruments AND with singing whilst playing.

Those of us in the latter category often do not even need to work out an accompaniment in advance, as we can easily sing whilst the accompaniment works itself out independantly. Okay, that's probably not how it actually happens, but that's how it feels.

I've never found an accompaniment (guitar, banjo, mandolin, accordion, English and Anglo concertina) hinders my interpretation and expression of a song, in fact it often helps - the two become one.

That said, there are songs I sing unaccompanied, simply because I prefer the song that way. Similarly, there are songs which I will accompany with one instrument in preference to the others, because that's how it 'sounds right' to me.

We're all different, we all have our own likes and dislikes, and the world is a better place for it.