Popular 1950s Guitar Songs You’ll Love Playing

These are the tracks that filled jukeboxes, packed dance halls, and launched the careers of music legends like Little Richard, Ritchie Valens, and Eddie Cochran.

On this page, you’ll find guitar lessons for popular 50s songs that every player should know — complete with chords, strumming patterns, and full demos.

If you’ve ever wanted to bring the energy of top 1950s hits to your own playing, this is the perfect place to start.

I Remember is a touching ballad that Eddie Cochran recorded in 1959, just a year before his untimely death.

The song is notable for its tender lyrics, which reflect on past memories of love and loss. Cochran's emotive vocals are backed by a simple arrangement featuring acoustic guitar, bass, and drums, which allows the poignant lyrics to take center stage.

Although "I Remember" was not a major commercial success at the time of its release, it has since become a fan favorite and is widely regarded as one of Cochran's most heartfelt recordings.

Looking for more Eddie Cochran? Check out the song Hallelujah I Love Her So on my 50s Love Songs On Guitar page.

Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie is a high-energy rock 'n' roll song that Eddie Cochran recorded in 1958. The track features a driving rhythm section and a catchy guitar riff that is instantly recognizable. Cochran's vocals are infused with a sense of playful energy, and his lyrics tell the story of a girl who has caught his eye.

Jeannie Jeannie Jeannie peaked at #98 in the US and  after his death it was released again in the UK in 1961 and reached #33. It can be found on an album called "Legendary Masters Series". The Stray Cats also covered this number.

Twenty Flight Rock was a single release by Eddie Cochran back in 1957 but the song never charted. Eddie also appeared in the film "The Girl Can't Help It" with Jane Mansfield, where he performed the song in that movie.

Twenty Flight Rock also gained notoriety for its role in the history of rock 'n' roll, as it was famously performed by a young Paul McCartney during his audition for John Lennon and the Quarrymen, which led to his eventual inclusion in the Beatles.

The song was written by a lady named Nelda Fairchild and can be found on the album "Never To Be Forgotten", which was released after Eddie's death in 1960.

Venus was a single by Frankie Avalon and first released in 1959 and then again in 1976. The original version top the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959 where the 2nd released made it to #46 and had a bit of a disco vibe to it. Frankie is quoted as saying that he preferred the original version.

Just Dropped In was considered a psychedelic rock song written Mickey Newbury. Jerry Lee Lewis first recorded the song in May of 1967. But it was Kenny Rogers and The First Edition who released their version later that year and scored a #5 hit.

I don't believe Jerry Lee Lewis released his version as a single but it can be found on the album "Soul My Way".

Looking for more Jerry Lee Lewis? Check out the song Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On on my Songs From The 50s page.

Good Golly Miss Molly was first recorded by Little Richard in 1956 but was not released as a single. Then a year later The Valiants released a faster version that did OK, but it was in 1958 when Little Richard released the song as a single after recording a second version is when the song took off and peaked at #4.

Little Richard said he took the piano riff from Ike Turners 1951 song rocket 88.

The Blues Don't Mean A Thing was one written and recorded by Melvin Endsley but the only reference to the song is on a rockabilly album called The Last Great Rockabilly Saturday Night.

Most of the artists listed on the album cover are not well known. Endsley himself had a successful career as a writer, penning over 400 songs, but his commercial success as a singer was limited.

Shama Lama Ding Dong is a fun song from the 1978 movie National Lampoon's Animal House. Mark Davis wrote it, and it was performed by a fictional band called Otis Day and the Knights. Although DeWayne Jessie played Otis Day in the film, the vocals were actually sung by Lloyd G. Williams, with Melvin Britt and Sidney Juston doing backing vocals.

The song was popular and won an award in 1995. John Mellencamp covered it in 1987, and it's also played by the band Goose. It's been recorded by different groups like the University of California Men's Octet and the Dartmouth Aires.

Come On Let's Go hails from 1958 and was written by Ritchie Valens himself.

It peaked at #42 on Billboard and was one of four singles from his debut album "Ritchie Valens".

Looking for more Ritchie Valens? Check out the song Donna on my 50s Love Songs On Guitar page.

It Was I was written by Gary Paxton and Clyde Battin back in 1959 after Paxton dropped out of high school. Him and Clyde recorded aa acoustic demo and gave it to a record producer by the name of Bob Shad. They later recorded the song as a single and one day while working on Pecan trees, Paxton heard their song on a near by car radio.

The song sold over one million copies and peaked at #11 on Billboard.

Gee was the only hit from this group who formed in 1951 and released this song in 1953. Many considered this song to be the first rock and roll song.

The song reached #14 on the Pop charts and #2 on the R&B charts.