Folk baroque is an influential British guitar fingerstyle that emerged in the 1960s, uniquely blending elements of American folk, blues, jazz, and ragtime with traditional British folk music to create an elaborate new accompaniment style. A defining characteristic is the innovative DADGAD tuning, which provides a versatile suspended-fourth D chord ideal for modal songs, a technique pioneered by figures like Davy Graham and Martin Carthy. Robin Denselow popularized the term, citing Graham's 1965 recording of "Seven Gypsies" as a stylistic beginning.
Early milestones include the 1962 EP 3/4 A.D. by Alexis Korner and Davy Graham, featuring complex instrumental duets. The style was further refined by artists such as Bert Jansch, who brought a more forceful picking, and John Renbourn, who integrated Medieval and Renaissance influences. Its evolution continued with figures like John Martyn (notably on his 1972 album Solid Air) and modern exponent Martin Simpson, ensuring its lasting impact on folk music worldwide.