Acoustic Guitar Rock N Roll
On The Acoustic
This part of the site features acoustic guitar rock n roll songs from the 1950's.
As this is a new section, if you're looking for a specific artist or band in any category use the A-Z Directory.
Artists lessons in this area will feature some of the greats like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers and many more. There are also two free lessons on this page.
Visit the A-Z- Directory to see other 50s rock n roll artists, or scroll to the bottom of this page.
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Additional Acoustic Guitar Rock N Roll Lessons A-Z
1. Bill Haley - Rock Around The Clock
Rock Around The Clock was not written by Bill Haley but by Max Freedman and James Myers in 1952. Bill Haley recorded the song in 1954 and it took only two takes combined to make the final version.
And because of a delay arriving at the studio to record the song, Sammy Davis Jr's studio time was delayed while he waited in the hallway as Bill Haley recorded this song. Bill Haley had a #1 with this song and can be found on his album of the same name.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: down up down up down up and a few downstrokes
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: A, E7, D7
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2. Del Shannon
Runaway was a song written by a guy named Charles Westover who changed his name to Del Shannon, and a keyboard player named Max Crook. Max had built a keyboard with a unique sound and he called it a Musitron.
When their manager persuaded them to record the song they had no idea it would peak at #1 on Billboard in the US and three weeks later top the charts in the UK. The song can be found on the 1961 album "Runaway With Del Shannon".
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No
- Rhythm: root down up root up down up
- Picking: Yes
- Chords: Am, G, F, E, E7, Gbm, D
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3. Los Lobos
We Belong Together ... is a song from 1958 and first recorded by the duo "Robert & Johnny" and was a #12 R&B hit for them. Ritchie Valens recorded the song in 1959 and had success with the song.
Los Lobos, who formed in LA in 1973, were chosen to record a version of the song in 1987 for the movie about Ritchie Valens life called La Bamba.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: No - original key = capo 3rd fret
- Rhythm: use a down down down up down down and repeat will work best
- Picking: arpeggio riff as you play thru this one
- Chords: D, Bm, Em, A7, G, D7, Gm, E7
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4. Shakin Stevens
Green Door was a #1 way back in 1956 by Jim Lowe. And it made it to #8 in the UK.
In 1981, Welsh singer Shakin Stevens released his single in the UK and it became his 2nd #1 hit.
You can find this track on the album "Shaky'.
- Drop D Tuning: Yes
- Capo: 2nd fret
- Rhythm: down up down up down up and repeat
- Picking: yes a bit within the rhythm
- Chords: D, G, A, D7
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5. The Crows
Gee has been credited as the first rock & roll hit by a rock and roll group. The Crows recorded this doo-wop song back in Feb 1953 in New Your City. It made the charts in Apr of 1954 and eventually peaked at #2 on the R&B charts and #14 on the Pop Chart.
It was the B-Side to "I Love You So" but received more airplay than the A-Side.
This song was written in a few minutes by group member William Davis. This group disbanded as a one hit wonder shortly after this song fell from the charts.
- Drop D Tuning: No
- Capo: 1st fret = original key
- Rhythm: down up down up and repeat
- Picking: Yes a few riffs in the rhythm
- Chords: D, Bm, Em, A7, G, Ab
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Thanks for dropping by this acoustic guitar rock n roll page and I hope you found some of the info here useful.
Other 50s Rock & Roll Artists
Jerry Lee Lewis | Ricky Nelson
Ritchie Valens | The Everly Brothers
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