Songs from the 1950s to Play on Guitar

 From Chuck Berry’s fiery guitar riffs to Fats Domino’s smooth piano-driven hits, these tracks captured the energy and innocence of the 1950s.

On this page, you’ll find guitar tutorials for some of the most popular 1950s songs, complete with easy chords, strumming patterns, and full demos.

Whether you’re drawn to the rockabilly drive of Bill Haley or the playful rhythms of Chubby Checker, these lessons will help you relive the golden age of music — guitar in hand.

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.

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Rockin' Robin came out in 1958, appeared on Bobby Day’s album Rockin’ Robin and Other Favorites and became his biggest hit. Issued as a single, it soared to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also reached No. 1 on the R&B chart.

No official music video existed, but Day performed it on several TV shows as rock ’n’ roll grew on American television. The song was later made famous again when Michael Jackson covered it in 1972, taking it back to No. 2 on the Billboard charts.

Despite its cheerful bird-themed lyrics, the song’s publishing rights were tied up for years because the songwriter, Leon René, had used a pseudonym (“Jimmie Thomas”).

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes hit the airwaves in 1962 and was included on his album Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets.

Released as a single, it climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. No music video was produced, though Vee promoted the song heavily on teen-music programs of the era.

The tune was later covered by artists such as Gary Lewis & The Playboys (1968) and by British singer Anita Harris. Trivia: the song’s writers, Benjamin Weisman and Dorothy Wayne, were best known for their work with Elvis Presley but considered this track one of their most poetic compositions.

Party Doll is a rock 'n' roll song recorded in 1956 and released nationally in 1957 and became Buddy Knox’s breakout hit and appeared on his debut album Buddy Knox. The single went to No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 and spent 23 weeks on the charts, making Knox one of the first rockabilly artists to write and record his own No. 1 hit.

No video was produced, but he performed the song frequently on American Bandstand. Several artists recorded it later, including Steve Lawrence in 1960.

Knox originally tracked the song in a makeshift studio in a Texas building using mattresses for soundproofing — and that homemade version became the master recording.

Everybody's Tryin' To Be My Baby recorded by Carl Perkins in 1956 for Sun Records, appeared on compilation releases such as Dance Album of Carl Perkins. Although it wasn’t released as a major single, the song became a rockabilly staple.

No video existed, but Perkins performed it often in his early shows. The most famous cover came from The Beatles, who recorded it in 1964 for Beatles for Sale, with George Harrison singing lead.

While long assumed to have been written solely by Perkins, the tune is adapted from a 1936 song by Rex Griffin — an authorship detail that was clarified only decades later.

Let's Twist Again was release in 1961 and appeared on Chubby Checker’s album of the same name and became a follow-up to his earlier hit “The Twist.”

The single reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for Best Rock & Roll Recording. The song did not receive a formal music video, but Checker performed it on numerous TV shows, including iconic dance programs that helped fuel the twist craze.

Several international versions popped up, including a popular German-language rendition by Checker himself. The song re-charted in the UK in 1962, hitting No. 14 — a rare second-year revival for a dance hit.

Johnny B Goode was written in 1955 but not recorded and released until 1958. Chuck Berry said later on the song was a reflection of his early days and changed the lyrics country boy from colored boy to ensure the song received radio play. The opening riff was lifted from a song from 1946 entitled "Ain't That Just Like A Woman".

The song has become one of the most recognized and influential rock and roll songs of all time.

"Johnny B. Goode" has been covered by many artists over the years and has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials.

Roll Over Beethoven is a rock and roll song written by Chuck Berry, which was released in 1956. The song became a hit, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helping to establish Berry as a major force in the emerging rock and roll genre.

The song's lyrics describe a desire to leave classical music behind in favor of rock and roll, with Berry urging the titular composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, to "roll over" in his grave and make way for the new music.

"Roll Over Beethoven" has since become a staple of rock and roll music, and has been covered by many artists over the years, including The Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra.

Sweet Little 16 was recorded and released in Jan of 1958 and managed a #2 on the Billboard chart. Berry surpassed this with a number one eventually, but not until 1972 with My -Ding-A-Ling.

The song became a massive hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and helping to solidify Berry's status as one of the biggest stars in rock and roll music.

"Sweet Little Sixteen" has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The song has also been referenced in popular culture, appearing in films, television shows, and commercials.

Promised Land a.k.a The Promised Land follows the melody of an old American folk song called The Wabash Cannonball. He had just gotten released from prison when this song was released in Dec 1964 and reached #41 on Billboard a month later.  In fact, Berry used a prison atlas to chart the travels listed in the song.

The song tells the story of a man who is traveling from Norfolk, Virginia to the "promised land" of Los Angeles, California. The lyrics describe the man's journey, his encounters with various people and places along the way, and his excitement at finally reaching his destination.

You Never Can Tell was released in 1964 on his album "St. Louis to Liverpool". The song is known for its upbeat rhythm, catchy melody, and clever lyrics, which tell the story of a young couple who get married and start a new life together.

"You Never Can Tell" was a hit for Berry, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has since become one of his most beloved and enduring classics, and has been covered by many artists over the years, including Emmylou Harris, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Seger.

Ain't That a Shame is a famous rock and roll song written by Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. Fats Domino recorded the song in 1955, and it became really popular. It reached number 1 on the R&B chart and number 10 on the pop chart.

The song is about feeling sad and disappointed because of a breakup. Fats Domino included it in his first album, "Rock and Rollin' with Fats Domino," released in 1956. The song's success helped Fats Domino become well-known in the rock and roll genre.

An interesting fact is that the original title was "Ain't It a Shame," but it was changed to "Ain't That a Shame" for the single release.

Looking for more Fats Domino? Check out the song Blueberry Hil on my 50s Love Songs On Guitar page.

I'm Walkin filled the airwaves  in 1957 and became one of Fats Domino’s signature singles and later appeared on his album Here Stands Fats Domino.

The song topped the R&B chart for six weeks and reached No. 6 on the Billboard pop chart. No official music video existed, but Domino’s TV performances helped solidify the song’s popularity.

Ricky Nelson famously covered it the same year, taking his version to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Domino co-wrote the tune with Dave Bartholomew after a fan shouted “Hey Fats, you walkin’?” as he left a club — inspiring the song’s opening line.

Whole Lotta Shakin was first recorded by Big Maybelle in 1955, but the 1957 version by Jerry Lee Lewis is the one most people know best because he radically changed the vibe.

He said he'd knew it would be a hit when he cut the song at Sun Studios in Feb 1957. It hit #3 on Billboard and #1 on the R&B Charts.

This track can be found on the "Original Hits Vol 1" album from 1969. 

Looking for more Jerry Lee Lewis? Check out the song Just Dropped In on my Popular 50s Guitar Songs page.