So you are an American! Listen to the recordings of the great American ballad singers like Frank Proffitt, Almeida Riddle, John Galusha, Lee Monroe Presnell, Joe Estey, etc. etc. No need to buy albums just Google each name and you will get examples to listen to....Listen to them, then listen again, then listen again, then listen again... and after a while - as we say on this side of the Atlantic - the penny will drop. Good luck! We need all the young ballad singers that we can get!