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100's Of Free Demos & Chord Sheets

50s And 60s Country Songs
On The Acoustic

50s and 60s country songs

Welcome to my 50s and 60s country songs section where you'll find several old artists video demos, free chord sheets in .pdf format, some rhythm tips and full guitar lessons for a small fee if you require them.

Artists on this page:
Billy Walker - Don Gibson
Eddy Arnold
Faron Young - Ferlin Husky
Floyd Cramer - George Hamilton IV
Guy Mitchell - Hank Snow
Jack Green - Johnny Preston
Lefty Frizzell - Leroy Van Dyke
Porter Wagoner - Red Steagall
Roy Acuff - Roy Clark
Slim Dusty - Tommy Hunter

Jump menu to quickly access the sections.


50s And 60s Country Songs
Chords, Lyrics, Demos, Tutorials

1. Abilene - George Hamilton IV

abilene

Abilene was a single for George Hamilton IV back in 1963 and was his only #1 hit song.

It's found on the album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root up down up root up down up
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: E, Ab, A, Gb, B7, A7
Chord & Lyrics

 

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2. Break My Mind - George Hamilton IV

break my mind guitar lesson

Break My Mind was recorded by George Hamilton IV in 1967. The song went to #6 on the country charts.

You'll find this one on his album entitled "Folksy".

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 5th fret
  • Rhythm: root down up root up down up
  • Picking: Yes a little
  • Chords: C, F, G7
Chord & Lyrics

 

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4. Carroll Country Accident - Porter Wagoner

carrollcountyaccident

Carroll County Accident was a big single from Porter Wagoner when it his the airwaves back in 1968 reaching #2 in the US and #1 in Canada.

The track is found on the album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down up down down up and repeat
  • Picking: No
  • Chords: G, C, A7, D, E, B7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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4. Charlie's Shoes - Billy Walker

charlies shoes guitar lesson

Charlie's Shoes hit the airwaves back in 1962 and ended up being the only #1 hit for the singer.

Faron Young, Eddy Arnold and Guy Mitchell also recorded the song by Walker's version was the most successful.

This number is found on his "Greatest Hits" album from 1963.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down up down up down up 
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, G, A7, Em
Chords & Lyrics

 

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5. Hello Walls - Faron Young

hellowalls

Hello Walls was a #1 for Young in 1961 on the country charts and #12 on the pop charts. Willie Nelson wrote this one and hails from Faron Young's album of the same name. 

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root up down up and repeat with walkin' bass
  • Picking: No
  • Chords: C, G, F, D7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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6. I Can't Stop Loving You - Don Gibson

i cant stop loving you don gibson

I Can't Stop Loving You was a song written by Don Gibson and recorded with The Jordanares back in 1957. It became a B-side hit with the A-side song Oh Lonesome Me. Over the years the song has been recorded by more than 700 artists, including Ray Charles who took the song to #1.

You'll only need a few chords for this one including the C, C7, F, G and a G7 if you so desire. For rhythm you can get away with a simple root down up root up down up rhythm pattern and in my version, I've included a chorus picking break.

Chords & Lyrics

 

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7. If I Had To Do It All Over Again - Roy Clark

if i had to do it all over again guitar lesson

If I Had To Do It All Over Again was a #2 hit for Roy Clark back in 1976.

The song is from his album Heart To Heart.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No 
  • Rhythm: root down root up down up and repeat
  • Picking: No a few riffs
  • Chords: D, Gbm, Em, A7, G, B7, E, A
Chords & Lyrics

 

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8. I'm Moving On - Hank Snow

ImMovingOn

I'm Moving On was a #1 hit when it was released back in 1950. The recording director turned this song down in 1949 but allowed the song to be recorded in 1950 because he didn't remember hearing it.

The track can be found on Hanks 1961 compilation album called "Souvenirs".

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down up down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, G, A
Chords & Lyrics

 

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9. Last Date - Floyd Cramer

last date guitar lesson

Last Date was an instrumental on the piano by Floyd Cramer and hit #11 on the country charts.

The track can be found ob his 1960 album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: down down up down down down up and repeat with picking
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: C, F, G7, G, Am, Dm, Gsus
Chords & Lyrics

 

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10. Lights On The Hill - Slim Dusty

lightsonthehill

Lights On The Hill was released in 1974 by Slim Dusty and reached #100 in Australia. Keith Urban and Mental As Anything both covered this song.

This song is from the album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 2nd fret
  • Rhythm: root down root up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, G, A7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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11. Lone Star Beer And Bob Wills Music - Red Steagall

lone star beer and bob wills music guitar lesson

Lone Star Beer And Bob Wills Music is a song from the album of the same name released back in 1976.

The song made it to #11 on the US country charts.

  • Drop D Tuning: Yes
  • Capo: 2nd fret
  • Rhythm: root down root up down up and the a steady up and down in the ch with walking bass
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, G, A, A7, D7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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12. Make The World Go Away - Eddy Arnold

maketheworldgoaway

Make The World Go Away is was a hit for Eddy Arnold in 1965. The song was written by Hank Lochlan in 15 minutes after leaving a movie theatre.

Ray Price recorded the song first and scored a #2 but Eddy's version went to #1 two years later. The track is from his album "My World".

  • Drop D Tuning: Yes
  • Capo: 2nd fret
  • Rhythm: root up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: G, C, Am, D, Em, Cm
Chords & Lyrics

 

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13. Running Bear - Johnny Preston

running bear guitar lesson

Running Bear was a 1959-60 release by Johnny Preston which hails from the album of the same name.

The song reached #1 in both the US and UK.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 2nd fret
  • Rhythm: down strokes followed by down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: G, C, A7, D
Chords & Lyrics

 

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14. Singing The Blues - Guy Mitchell

singingtheblues

Singing The Blues was a release in 1956 for this song by Guy Mitchell and it was a #1 in the US and UK.

The album "Guys Greatest Hits" is where this one can be found.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down up root up down up
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: E, C7, B7, A
Chords & Lyrics

 

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15. Smoking Cigarettes & Drinking Coffee Blues - Lefty Frizzell

coffee blues guitar lesson

Smoking Cigarettes And Drinking Coffee Blues was first released by Lefty back in 1958 but the correct name is Cigarettes And Coffee Blues. The song peaked at #13.

The track is on the album Mom And Dad's Waltz.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root down root up down up and repeat
  • Picking: a few riffs
  • Chords: G, C, F, C7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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16. Sweet Dreams - Don Gibson

sweetdreams

Sweet Dreams was written by Don Gibson and recorded back in 1955 and peaked at #9 on the country charts. Faron Young also recorded the song in 1960 and his version hit #6.

The song eventually appeared on a Don Gibson compilation album of the same name in 1960.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: No
  • Rhythm: root up down up up down up and repeat
  • Picking: No
  • Chords: F, G, C, D7, Am
Chords & Lyrics

 

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17. The Wabash Cannonball - Roy Acuff

the wabash cannonball guitar lesson

The Wabash Cannonball was a single from Roy Acuff back in 1936. It's believed the song was written back in 1982. The Carter family had the first known recording of the song in 1929.

The track appeared on his 1965 album "Great Train Songs".

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 2nd fret = original key
  • Rhythm: root down root up down up
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: G, C, D, D7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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18. There Goes My Everything - Jack Green

theregoesmyeverything

There Goes My Everything was recorded by Jack Green in 1966 and was #1 for seven weeks and won single of the year and song of the year.

You can find this one on the album of the same name.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 3rd fret
  • Rhythm: root down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: a little
  • Chords: G, C, D, D7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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19. Traveling Man - Tommy Hunter

traveling man guitar lesson

Traveling Man was never released as a single.

It does appear on Tommy's 1973 greatest hits album.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 3rd fret
  • Rhythm: root down up down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: G, F, C, D, A#, D7, Em, Bm, Em/D, Db
Chords & Lyrics

 

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20. Walk On By - Leroy Van Dyke

walkonby

Walk On By was a single by Leroy Van Dyke in 1962 and hails from his album of the same name.

The song reached #1 on the US Country Charts.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 4th fret
  • Rhythm: down up down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: C, D, G, Am
Chords & Lyrics

 

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21. Wings Of A Dove - Ferlin Husky

wingsofadove

Wings Of A Dove was written in 1958 and recorded by Husky in 1960. 10 weeks at #1 on the country charts and #12 on the Hot 100. Found on "The Hits Of Ferlin Husky" album 1963.

  • Drop D Tuning: No
  • Capo: 2nd fret
  • Rhythm: root down up down up bass down up down up and repeat
  • Picking: Yes
  • Chords: D, G, A7
Chords & Lyrics

 

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22. Yesterday When I Was Young

yesterday when i was young roy clark

Yesterday When I Was Young stands as a timeless and poignant song performed by the gifted Roy Clark. Released in 1969, it has firmly established itself as one of his signature tracks and a significant milestone in his career.

Originally penned in French as "Hier Encore" by Charles Aznavour, the song weaves a reflective and introspective tale about the passage of time and the regrets that can often accompany the journey of aging. Roy Clark's rendition masterfully captures the song's emotional depth and sincerity, solidifying its status as a beloved classic.

With its heartfelt delivery and profoundly meaningful lyrics, "Yesterday When I Was Young" has resonated across generations, serving as a reminder of life's bittersweet essence and the importance of cherishing every precious moment.

Chords & Lyrics

 

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Thanks for stopping by my 50s and 60s country songs page. I hope the info here has been helpful.


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