Learn Elvis Presley Guitar Songs from the 1950s

His unmistakable voice, charismatic stage presence, and electrifying energy forever changed the sound of popular music.

In this special collection of 1950s Elvis Presley guitar tutorials, you’ll learn how to play 9 of his most iconic hits, from the rebellious edge of “Blue Suede Shoes” to the smooth balladry of “A Fool Such As I.”

Whether you're a new player or a longtime fan, these lessons will help you bring the King’s signature sound to life on your acoustic guitar.

A Big Hunk o' Love and it was released as a single on June 23, 1959and became one of his popular hits. The song was written by Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wyche.

The single reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming one of Elvis' chart-topping hits. "A Big Hunk o' Love" is an uptempo rock and roll song with a driving rhythm. It showcases Elvis' energetic and powerful vocal delivery.
The B-side of the single was "My Wish Came True," another song that was recorded during the same session.

"A Big Hunk o' Love" was often included in Elvis' live performances, allowing him to showcase his dynamic stage presence.

A Fool Such as I was originally written by Bill Trader and recorded by Elvis during his early career. The track was recorded on June 10, 1958, during a recording session in Nashville, Tennessee and was later released as a single on March 10, 1959. The single became a commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The B-side of the single was "I Need Your Love Tonight," another song that was recorded during the same session.

"A Fool Such as I" is a mid-tempo ballad that showcases Elvis' emotive vocal style. The song features a blend of rock and roll and country elements.

While the song was initially released as a single, it was later included on compilation albums and reissues of Elvis' music. It can be found on various Elvis Presley collections.

"A Fool Such as I" remains one of Elvis' well-known songs from the late 1950s and is often associated with his signature sound during that era.

All Shook Up became one of his biggest hits. The song was written by Otis Blackwell and Elvis Presley and was released as a single in 1957. It spent eight weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Elvis's first number one hit in the United States.

The song features Elvis's signature rock 'n' roll style and catchy lyrics, making it an iconic track in his discography. "All Shook Up" is often associated with the excitement and frenzy surrounding Elvis Presley's early career, and it remains a classic and popular song to this day.

The track by Elvis Presley was not originally included on one of his studio albums. It was released as a standalone single in 1957. However, due to its popularity, the song was later included on several compilation albums and greatest hits collections.

The first Elvis Presley album that featured "All Shook Up" was the compilation album titled "Elvis' Golden Records," released in 1958. This album gathered many of his hit singles up to that point, and "All Shook Up" was among the standout tracks included.

Anyway You Want Me (That's How I Will Be) was written by Aaron Schroeder and Cliff Owens and recorded by Elvis during his early career.

The track was released as a single on September 8, 1956. The single performed well on the charts, reaching No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The song is a ballad that features Elvis' smooth and emotive vocal delivery. It showcases his ability to convey emotion through his singing.

Elvis recorded "Anyway You Want Me" on April 10, 1956, at RCA Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. The session was part of his prolific early recording career.

"Anyway You Want Me" is often associated with Elvis' early rock and roll style and his impact on popular music and can be found on several compilation albums of Elvis's early hit songs.

Blue Moon of Kentucky is a bluegrass song written by Bill Monroe. Presley's version was recorded in 1954 for his first single on the Sun Records label, which helped to launch his career.

Presley's version of "Blue Moon of Kentucky" features his distinctive vocal style, which combines elements of country, blues, and rock and roll. The song also features a prominent rhythm guitar, a driving bass line, and a lively beat that reflects the song's bluegrass roots.

One notable aspect of Presley's version of the song is the way he alters the melody and rhythm of the original, creating a unique interpretation of the song that still retains its essential character. The song became a hit for Presley and remains one of his most beloved recordings, and it has been covered by numerous other artists over the years.

The track was later included on his self-titled debut album, "Elvis Presley", which was released in 1956. The album also includes other classic Presley tracks such as "That's All Right", "Heartbreak Hotel", and "Hound Dog"

Blue Suede Shoes is a Carl Perkins number from 1955 and was recorded by Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Elvis did his version for his debut album in 1956.

Elvis never had a #1 as Perkins did with his version. Elvis's version peaked at #20. Strangely enough Elvis almost had a #1 with this song on the US country charts, where it reached #2. Go figure! The song was also a #2 in The Netherlands and a top ten in Canada, Sweden, Australia and the UK.

The track appears on his debut studio album which was released on Mar 13th, 1956. The album was recorded in Nashville over a two day period in Jan of 1956.

Carl Perkins had recorded his version a few months earlier in Dec 1955 and recorded his version a few days after writing the song. He managed a #2 hit on the national chart and a #1 on the Memphis chart.  It was recorded by Sam Phillips at Sun studio and he suggested the line go man go be changed to go cat go, which Perkins agreed to do. Later on Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran did their versions but they never had a #1 hit either.

Devil in Disguise was recorded by Elvis Presley and became a successful hit for him. The song was written by Bill Giant, Bernie Baum, and Florence Kaye. It was released as a single in 1963 and later included on the album "Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4."

"(You're the) Devil in Disguise" showcases Elvis's versatile vocal style and features a catchy, upbeat melody. The song's theme revolves around a deceptive and alluring person, represented as the "devil in disguise."

Upon its release, the song performed well on the charts, reaching the top spot in the UK and peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It remains a popular and well-regarded track in Elvis Presley's extensive discography.

For the rhythm in this song you'll need two different rhythm patterns. The first is a simple root down up root up down up and repeat pattern as the slower portion of the song. The when the pace picks up you'll need to switch to a root down up down up down up and repeat pattern.

Don't Be Cruel is another one of Elvis Presley's most famous songs. He recorded it in New York City on July 2, 1956, and it was released as a single on July 13. The song quickly became a huge hit, reaching No. 1 on both the pop and R&B charts.

It's a fast-paced rock and roll song with a catchy beat, mixing R&B and country styles. Elvis sang it with lots of energy. The song was released with "Hound Dog" on the other side, which also became very popular.

"Don't Be Cruel" is seen as an important song in rock history. It helped make Elvis a star and shaped his image as an exciting performer. The song remains popular and is still considered one of Elvis's best

Good Rockin Tonight was written by Roy Brown in 1947. His version was a hit twice. In 1954, Elvis Presley made his own version.

Elvis recorded it at Sun Studio in Memphis and released it as his second single. The song mixes rhythm and blues with rockabilly, showing off Elvis's unique singing style. It's fast-paced and energetic.

While Elvis's version didn't make the charts, it helped make him famous and played a big part in making rock and roll popular in the 1950s. Many other singers have recorded this song, but Elvis's version is still one of the most important.

You can find it on Elvis's album "A Date With Elvis."