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 was a big hit song in 1958. It was written by Leon René, using the name Jimmie Thomas, and sung by Bobby Day. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was number one on the R&B sales chart for a week.

Michael Jackson also recorded a version of the song in 1972, which did well too.

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes is the name of the album and the single released back in Feb of 1963. The single peaked at #3 in both the US and the UK.

Looking for more Bobby Vee? Check out the song Take Good Care Of My Baby on my 50s Love Songs On Guitar page.

Party Doll is a rock 'n' roll song from 1957, written by Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen. Buddy Knox, a teenager from Happy, Texas, wrote it behind a haystack on his family farm in 1948. He recorded it in Clovis, New Mexico, with his friends Jimmy Bowen and Don Lanier.

Knox's sister and some friends sang backup vocals, and a girl from Clovis High School played the cymbal. The song became popular in Amarillo and later spread across the U.S. after Roulette Records picked it up. It reached number one on the Top 100 chart in March 1957.

Everybody's Tryin' To Be My Baby was written in 1936 by Rex Griffin but often given credit to Carl Perkins who recorded the song in 1957 and covered by The Beatles in 1964.

To my knowledge the song was released as a single in 1957 but I'm not sure if it charted. The track is from the album "Dance Album Of Carl Perkins".

Let's Twist Again was released in 1961 and probably his best know song, reaching #8 on Billboard and #3 on the Cash Box charts. The song won a Grammy in 1962. He also recorded the song in German and Italian.

The song was #1 in the UK, Holland and Belgium. The song is found on the album of the same name.

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 became a #1 hit on the R&B chart by Fats Domino in 1957. Others covered the song including Ricky Nelson, Nancy Sinatra and Tom Petty.

The song hails from the album "Here Stands Fats Domino".

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.