The sound of a fiddle can transform a song, adding fire, sweetness, or a nostalgic twang that makes country music so deeply felt. Whether you’re just starting to explore fiddle tunes or you’re looking to add more country flavor to your setlist, this guide will give you a rich lineup of essential songs across eras and subgenres. From sad and lamenting to boot-stompin’, beer-guzzling tunes, we’ve got you covered with 119 country fiddle songs.
Wait: Are The Fiddle and The Violin…The Same Thing?
Spoiler: there’s no difference between a violin and a fiddle! It’s the same instrument. However, the distinction comes down to how the violin is played. The “fiddle” sound is prominently featured in Celtic music, folk music, bluegrass… and yes, country.
So, fiddle vs. violin. Let’s break down the differences in technique and tone. Fiddling is all about rhythm, catchy tunes, and fun flourishes, often using techniques like double stops and slides. Violin playing, however, usually focuses on super precise bowing, tricky finger work, and a whole world of expressive sounds in classical and jazz styles.
Fiddling demands speed, flexibility, and expressive range–and you need a bow that can keep up. That’s why so many modern players rely on carbon fiber bows like the CodaBow Luma, which offers lightweight agility and durability perfect for fast licks and soulful slides.
16 Classic Country Fiddle Songs & Golden Era Staples
Whether from the 50s or the 80s, these are timeless country fiddle songs where the violin leads the way:
- “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” – Charlie Daniels Band
- “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas” – Alabama
- “I Saw The Light” – Hank Williams, Drifting Cowboys
- “Orange Blossom Special” – Johnny Cash / Ervin T. Rouse
- “The Older The Violin The Sweeter The Music” – Hank Thompson
- “Faded Love” – Patsy Cline
- “Tennessee Waltz” – Patti Page
- “Color of the Blues” – George Jones
- “Big Ball’s In Cowtown” – Bob Willis
- “Louisiana Saturday Night” – Mel McDaniel
- “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” – John Denver
- “Mountain Music” – Alabama
- “Ring of Fire” – Johnny Cash (live versions)
- “Rocky Top” – Osborne Brothers
- “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” – Hank Williams
- “Boogie Woogie Fiddle Country Blues” – Charlie Daniels Band
18 Modern Country Songs with Strong Fiddle Presence
Whether you’ve heard it on TikTok or your favorite station (or music streaming app), these radio-ready country songs with a fiddle are sure to get your foot tapping:
- “Amarillo By Morning” – George Strait
- “You’ll Think of Me” – Keith Urban
- “I Hold On” – Dierks Bentley
- “Fiddlin’ Around” – Dierks Bentley
- “Like a Lady” – Lady A
- “Chattahoochee” – Alan Jackson
- “Heartache Medication” – Jon Pardi
- “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar” – George Strait
- “Buy Dirt” – Jordan Davis ft. Luke Bryan
- “Die a Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett (live versions)
- “Neon Light” – Blake Shelton
- “Merry Go ‘Round” – Kacey Musgraves
- “Goodbye Time” – Blake Shelton
- “High Horse” – Kacey Musgraves
- “Old Alabama” – Brad Paisley ft. Alabama
- “Callin’ Baton Rouge” – Garth Brooks
- “Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy” – Chris LeDoux, Garth Brooks
- “Diamond In My Pocket” – Cody Johnson
15 Bluegrass & Fiddle-Centric Tracks
It’s not straight-up country, per se, but it’s certainly bringing the fiddle. Fiddle-forward essentials from bluegrass, Americana, and artists carrying on traditional sounds include:
- “Man of Constant Sorrow” – Soggy Bottom Boys
- “If I Had a Boat” – Lyle Lovett
- “Gentle on My Mind” – Glen Campbell
- “Wagon Wheel” – Old Crow Medicine Show (famously covered by Darius Rucker)
- “Ode to Billie Joe” – Bobbie Gentry
- “Nine Pound Hammer” – Tony Rice
- “Ashes of Love” – Rose Maddox
- “Fox on the Run” – Tony Rice
- “Angel Band” – Ralph Stanley
- “Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” – Flatt & Scruggs
- “Stompin’ Grounds” – Flatland Cavalry
- “Meet Me at The Creek” – Billy Strings
- “Salt Creek” – Billy Strings
- “Beaumont Rag” – Billy Strings
- “Old Joe Clark” – Billy Strings
16 Fiddle Songs With Country Rock & Outlaw Grit
Looking for the rougher side of country? We’ve got you covered with country fiddle songs that bring outlaw flavor. Here’s where fiddle meets edge and swagger:
- “Family Tradition” – Hank Williams Jr.
- “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” – Hank Jr.
- “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” – Waylon Jennings
- “Good Hearted Woman” – Waylon & Willie
- “Feathered Indians” – Tyler Childers
- “Whitehouse Road” – Tyler Childers
- “Lady May” – Tyler Childers
- “Follow You to Virgie” – Tyler Childers
- “Cast No Stones” – Cody Jinks
- “The Wanting” – Cody Jinks, Tennessee Jet
- “Highway 40 Blues” – Ricky Skaggs
- “Bonaparte’s Retreat” – Tyler Childers
- “Oneida” – Tyler Childers
- “Purgatory” – Tyler Childers
- “Country Squire” – Tyler Childers
- “House Fire” – Tyler Childers
15 Fiddle Songs by Female Artists
We’d be remiss to forget some top tunes from our favorite country singers and woman-led groups. From heartbreak to honky tonks, the women of country music bring the fiddle with these tracks:
- “You’re Lookin’ at Country” – Loretta Lynn
- “Fancy” – Reba McEntire
- “She’s in Love with the Boy” – Trisha Yearwood
- “Coal Miner’s Daughter” – Loretta Lynn
- “Independence Day” – Martina McBride
- “Delta Dawn” – Tanya Tucker
- “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” – Waylon & Jessi Colter
- “Travelin’ Soldier” – The Chicks
- “Long Time Gone” – The Chicks
- “Sin Wagon” – The Chicks
- “Cowboy Take Me Away” – The Chicks
- “Wide Open Spaces” – The Chicks
- “There’s Your Trouble” – The Chicks
- “You Were Mine” – The Chicks
- “Tonight the Heartache’s on Me” – The Chicks
16 Western Swing & Dance-Ready Country Fiddle Songs
Looking to line dance, swing, or maybe you’re more of a swayer? These are country fiddle songs that will get the energy up — and keep boots moving:
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
- “Man! I Feel Like a Woman” – Shania Twain
- “Copperhead Road” – Steve Earle
- “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” – Brooks & Dunn
- “Country Girl Shake It For Me” – Luke Bryan
- “Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)” – Bob Wills
- “Finally Friday” – George Jones
- “San Antonio Rose” – Bob Wills
- “Cherokee Maiden” – Asleep at the Wheel
- “Miles and Miles of Texas” – Asleep at the Wheel
- “Hot Rod Lincoln” – Commander Cody
- “I’m a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas” – Bob Wills
- “Big Balls in Cowtown” – George Strait Cover
- “Amarillo by Morning” – George Strait
- “Honky Tonk Blues” – Hank Williams
- “Act Naturally” – Buck Owens
11 Country Music Fiddle Instrumentals & Showcases
Who needs words when you’ve got country fiddle? No lyrics here — just pure fiddle energy.
- “Beaumont Rag” – Mark O’Connor
- “Ashokan Farewell” – Jay Ungar
- “Big Mon” – Bill Monroe
- “Jerusalem Ridge” – Kenny Baker
- “Dusty Miller” – Stuart Duncan
- “Sally Goodin” – Texas Shorty
- “Leather Britches” – Buddy Spicher
- “Ragtime Annie” – Johnny Gimble
- “Liberty” – Tommy Jarrell
- “Forked Deer” – Michael Cleveland
- “Fiddle Tune X” – Billy Strings
Bonus: 12 Examples of Crossover & Unexpected Fiddle Use
Pop-ish, rock-ish, folk-ish. Sure, these tracks aren’t squarely in the country bucket, but the fiddle’s unmistakable:
- “Love Story” – Taylor Swift
- “Mean” – Taylor Swift
- “Picture to Burn” – Taylor Swift
- “Ho Hey” – The Lumineers
- “Fire and Rain” – James Taylor
- “Colder Weather” – Zac Brown Band
- “Toes” – Zac Brown Band
- “Me and My Kind” – Cody Johnson
- “Doubt Me Now” – Cody Johnson
- “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful” – Sammy Kershaw
- “Cotton Eye Joe” – Rednex
- “Chittlin’ Cookin’ Time in Cheatham County” – Sierra Ferrell
Find Your Fiddle Voice with CodaBow
Whether you’re sawing out solos or gliding through ballads, the right gear helps you play your best. CodaBow’s fast, durable carbon fiber bows — especially the Luma —are crafted for high-energy fiddling, smooth transitions, and tonal versatility.
From classic breakdowns to modern ballads, find the bow that brings your country sound to life with CodaBow. Find your perfect fit with an in-home trial today.
