Learn To Play Elvis Presley

Guitar Lesson Course Overview

Elvis Presley, known as "The King of Rock and Roll," revolutionized music and popular culture. His electrifying performances, vocal prowess, and charismatic stage presence are legendary, but the guitar work in his songs is often an underrated aspect of his artistry. In the "Learn To Play Elvis Presley" series, we delve into the guitar techniques that helped shape the sound of an icon. This comprehensive set of lessons taught by Lee Hodgson, will dissect the guitar parts from five classic Elvis tracks: "Hound Dog," "My Baby Left Me," "Good Rockin' Tonight," "Too Much," and "Mystery Train."

Guitar Lessons Include:

Hound Dog

My Baby Left Me 

Good Rockin' Tonight  

Too Much

Mystery Train

Lesson Performance Notes

Hound Dog

"Hound Dog," originally composed by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, was famously covered by Elvis Presley in 1956. The song features a twelve-bar blues structure with a simple but infectious rhythm guitar part that's crucial to the song's energy. You'll learn how to play the famous rock and roll riffs and understand the blues scale commonly used here. The solo, while not overly complex, uses string bending and vibrato to great effect, adding an emotional emphasis that's perfect for beginners to emulate and practice.

My Baby Left Me

"My Baby Left Me" showcases more blues-inspired rock and roll, with a rhythm section that heavily emphasizes the 'backbeat' found in most of Elvis's catalog. In these lessons, you'll explore the use of dominant seventh chords and learn how these contribute to the song's overall bluesy feel. The lead guitar in this track makes excellent use of slides and double-stops, which adds a layer of complexity and soul to the arrangement.

Good Rockin' Tonight

This song is a prime example of early rockabilly, featuring fast, upbeat strumming patterns and a walking bass line that keeps the energy high. The lessons for "Good Rockin' Tonight" focus on these strumming patterns, helping you lock in the rhythm and drive of the track. The scale used here is predominantly the major pentatonic, and the solo section is a great study in how to use this scale effectively, employing rapid alternate picking and string bending for emphasis.

Too Much

"Too Much" highlights the softer side of rock and roll balladry. The guitar work here is subtle and uses a mix of arpeggios and chord progressions to support the vocal melody. These lessons will help you understand how to use arpeggios to outline chord structures and create a romantic atmosphere in your playing. The solo section is melodic and makes use of the major scale, with a focus on phrasing and dynamics rather than technical prowess.

Mystery Train

"Mystery Train," one of the more rhythmically complex songs in Elvis's repertoire, features a train-like groove established by the guitar's muted strumming, simulating the chugging of a locomotive. You'll learn how palm muting and syncopated rhythms can be used to create a sense of movement and excitement. The scale of choice for the lead sections is the minor pentatonic, played with a loose, swinging feel. The lessons will delve into how to use this scale to create solos that are both melodic and rhythmically interesting.

Lead Guitarist's Contributions

Scotty Moore, Elvis's lead guitarist, was instrumental in crafting the guitar sound that became synonymous with Elvis's early hits. His innovative playing, combining country influences with blues and early rock, created a style that many later guitarists would emulate. Moore's use of techniques like string bending, vibrant legato, and energetic strumming patterns helped shape the musical landscape of the time and played a significant role in the development of rockabilly and rock and roll guitar. His contributions to Elvis's music were not just as a guitarist but also as a creative force, often coming up with parts that complemented Elvis's vocals and helped to elevate the songs to legendary status.

Techniques Used in These Lessons

In these lessons, several key guitar techniques are employed. Understanding and mastering these will not only help you learn these particular songs but also improve your general guitar skills:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Double Stops
• Slides
• String Bending
• Arpeggios
• Chord Progressions
• Palm Muting
• Syncopated Rhythms

These techniques are fundamental to the style of early rock and roll and rockabilly guitar, and they are used extensively in the songs of Elvis Presley. By incorporating these into your playing, you can capture the energy and emotion that make these songs timeless classics.