Rockabilly: The Basics

Demon-Dave

Hi all, as you may have guessed I’m passionate about Rockabilly, Swing and all them other groovy retro tracks. Although, as in any genre of music, the more advanced you become, the better your understanding of the musical background has to evolve with it. Rockabilly, Rock N’ Roll, call it what you will has its roots founded deep in Blues and Jazz, but fear not my friends, you need not have the skills of BB King or Chet Atkins to be able to start playing Rockabilly. I’m ganna start you off with something fun, catchy and very easy to play.

I have chosen Duane Eddy’s “Rebel Rouser”

The sound is really easy to recreate:
All you need is the reverb on your amp on a clean channel, set at about 7 out of 10 and a Delay pedal, with the Repeat set at Half (5 out of 10) and the Delay set at Half (5 out of 10).

Here’s the Live Video that y’all can play along with:

Here is the tab, its really very easy, but great fun to play:

Tab:

E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A------------------0-2-------------------4-7------------------0-2---------0-2-2-----------|
E--2b-0----0-4--------4-0-5--------5-----7----2b-0----0-4--------0-4--------2b-0-----|

E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------0-2----2--------------4-7---------------------0-2--------0-2-------------|
E--2b-0----0-4----------4-0-5-5----5-----7----2b-0----0-4--------0-4--------2b-2b-0--|

E--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------0-2----2--------------4-7--------------------0-2--------0-2-2-----------|
E--2b-0----0-4----------4-0-5------5-----7----2b-0----0-4--------0-4--------2b-0-----|

E------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-------------0-1-3----3-0------------5-8----------------0-1-3------0-1-3-3-----------|
E--0-1-----1--------------1-6------6-----8----3b-1----1----------1----------3b-1-----|

E------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-------------1-2-4----4-1------------6-9----------------1-2-4------1-2-4-------------|
E--1-2-----2--------------2-7------7-----9----4b-2----2----------2----------4b-2-----|

E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D------------------0----0--------------2-5--------------------0----------0-------------|
A-------------2-3--------2---3------3-----5--------------2-3--------2-3---------------|
E--2-3-----3--------------3-------------------5b-3----3----------3----------5b-3-----|

E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D------------------0----0--------------2-5--------------------0----------0-0-----------|
A-------------2-3--------2---3------3-----5--------------2-3--------2-3---------------|
E--5b-3----3--------------3-------------------5b-3----3----------3----------5b-3-----|
(x2 - Until song fadeout half way through the riff)

PS, don’t forget to use that tremolo bar! ?

Norman86

please excuse my possible stupid question (i dont like tab to be honest)

What is the b for? the 2b and the 5b o nthe low E string?

Thanks ?

Demon-Dave

Norman86 wrote: please excuse my possible stupid question (i dont like tab to be honest)

What is the b for? the 2b and the 5b o nthe low E string?

Thanks ?

the "b" is for "Bend"... LOL!

Norman86

Thought so, just had to make sure! but shouldnt there be a note to bend up to in brackets behind the b?

Demon-Dave

Norman86 wrote: Thought so, just had to make sure! but shouldnt there be a note to bend up to in brackets behind the b?

Its just a slight bend, listen to the song, you could actually just tap your whammy bar and it would be fine.

Norman86

Cool, thanks DD ?

Demon-Dave

Okay cats, this is a really easy song to play, but getting it to sound right is tough. Its only a few chords, so here goes:

Del Shannon – Runaway

4X; band enters 3rd time)

Am
v v v v
-----0-0---0---0-
-----1-1---1---1-
-----2-2---2---2-
-----2-2---2---2-
-0---------------
---------0---3---

Am G
As I walk along I wonder what went wrong
F E
With our love, a love that was so strong
Am G
And as I still walk on, I think of the things we've done
F E
Together, while our hearts were young

Chorus:

A
I'm a walkin' in the rain
F#m
Tears are fallin' and I feel the pain
A
Wishin' you were here by me
F#m
To end this misery
A
And I wonder
F#m
I wa-wa-wa-wa-wonder
A
Why
F#m
Ah-why-why-why-why-why she ran away
D E
And I wonder where she will stay
A D A [1, 2: E; 3: to coda]
My little runaway, run-run-run-run-runaway

Norman86

lol.. pity about the "dancing" ???
But love the songs!!! Thanks DD ?

Demon-Dave

Here is a great one from the King, really easy to play and a great way to get that Rockabilly Strumming!

E
Well get out of that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans
A
Get out of that kitchen and rattle those pots and
E
pans
B7 A E
Well I want my breakfast 'cause I'm a hungry man
E
I believe you're doin' me wrong and now I know
A E
I believe you're doin' me wrong and now I know
B7 A E
'cause the harder I work the faster my money goes

E
Well I said shake, rattle and roll
E
I said shake rattle and roll
A
I said shake, rattle and roll
E
I said shake rattle and roll
B7
Well you won't do right
A E
To save your doggone soul

I'm like the one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store
I'm like the one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store
Well I can look at you till you ain't no child no more

Well I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
I said shake, rattle and roll
I said shake rattle and roll
Well you won't do right
To save your doggone soul

I'm like a Mississippi bullfrog sittin' on a hollow stump
I'm like a Mississippi bullfrog sittin' on a hollow stump
I've got so many women I don't know which way to jump

I said flip flop and fly I don't care if I die
I said flip flop and fly I don't care if I die
I won't ever leave .. Don't ever say goodbye

Norman86

I like this topic :-[
Thansks DD ?

Demon-Dave

Here is today’s diddy, and yes, its more towards the Psychobilly genre than traditional Rockabilly. I have chosen The Meteors cover of “Lil Red Riding Hood”, simply because it is a damn catchy tune and very fun to play.

Get that Reverb and Delay out, and set both quite high, listen to the track and you should hear about a second delay.

E------ 0----------0------------|
B------ 0----------0------------|
G-0---- 0-----0----0----0-------|
D---4-- 2-------4--2------4-----|
A ------2----------2------------|
E ------0----------0------------|

Em G A
E----- 0-0---------- 3-3-3---------------------------|
B----- 0-0---------- 3-3-3----2---2---2---2---2---2--|
G----- 0-0------0---0-0-0----2---2---2---2---2---2--|
D---2-----------0------------ 2---2---2---2---2---2--|
A-2-------------- 2--------0-------0-------0-----0--|
E-0----------3----------------3-------3-------3----|

G B7 Em B7
E-----3-3-3-------2-2-2----0-0------------------------------|
B-----3-3-3-------0-0-0----0-0------------------------------|
G-----0-0-0-----2-2-2-2----0-0------------------------------|
D---0---------1-----------2---------------------------------|
A-2---------2-----------2------2-2-2--0-0-0-----------------|
E-3---------------------0--------------------3-3-3--2-2-2---|

VERSE:
Em G
Little Red Ridin' Hood
A
I don't think that a big girl should go
G
Walkin' in
B7 Em B7
The streets or woods alone

CHORUS:
G
What big eyes you have
Em
The kinda eyes that'll drive wolves mad
A
So to see y' don't get chased
D
I think I ought to walk with you to be safe
G
What full lips you have
Em
You'll sure love some wolf bad
A
'Fore we get to grandma's place
D
You ought to see things just my way

POST-CHORUS:
Em G
I'm gonna keep my sheep suit on
A
Til I'm sho' that you been shown
G
That I can be trusted
B7 Em B7
To walk with you alone

singemonkey

Ah the Meteors. Demon Dave, you must have heard, "Don't Touch the Bang-Bang Fruit?" Love that song.

Demon-Dave

singemonkey wrote: Ah the Meteors. Demon Dave, you must have heard, "Don't Touch the Bang-Bang Fruit?" Love that song.

For sure! Im a massive Rockabilly/Psychobilly/Horrorpunk/Swing fan! Love them!

Demon-Dave

For today’s lesson, I’ve chosen Buddy Holly’s classic “Oh Boy”. Its really easy, and is just a few simple chords, but, they’re played damn fast. It’s a great way for beginners to practice their chord progressions and changes. Enjoy!

A A A
All of my love, all of my kissin, you don't know what you
been a missin
D D A
Oh Boy! (Oh boy) When you're with me, Oh boy (Oh boy)
The world cansee

E7 D A D A E
that you were meant for me.
Repete
All of my life I been a-waitin' tonight there'll be no hesitatin'
Oh Boy! (Oh boy) When you're with me, Oh boy (Oh boy)
The world canseethat you were meant for me.

E7 A
Stars appear and a shadows a-fallin' You can hear my heart
A-callin'
D E
little bit of lovin' makes a-everything rite, A-I'm gonna c my
baby tonite

All my love all my kissin' you don't know what u been mising
Oh boy, when you're with me, oh boy, the world can see that
you were meant for me.

All of my life I been a-waitin', tonight there'll be no hesitatin', oh
boy, when you're with me, oh boy, the world can see that
you were meant for me
Dum de dum dum oh boy dum de dum dum oh boy

[instrumental].................
REPEAT EVERYTHING

Demon-Dave

Here is a really easy tune with lots of attitude and a fortune of Fuzz!

D - D - E x 2
D - D - A x 1
D - D - E x 1
D - D - A7 X 1 (Let Ring)

*E--3--0--------------------------------------------------|
B--------3--0--------------------------------------------|
G--------------3--2--0-----------------------------------|
D-----------------------2--0-----------------------------|
A-----------------------------2--0-----------------------|
E-----------------------------------3b4p0 (let ring)-----|

#=tremelo pick (up and down really fast)

E--/12#######################/12##########################
B--/12#######################/12##########################
G -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

nick_D01

hey mr demon dave

this is a really great topic. well done on ya dude fo sharin all your knowledge, and for suggestin all these great early rock 'n roll tracks ? . wish we had more topics like these of other styles/genres in the lessons section.

Demon-Dave

nick_D01 wrote: hey mr demon dave

this is a really great topic. well done on ya dude fo sharin all your knowledge, and for suggestin all these great early rock 'n roll tracks ? . wish we had more topics like these of other styles/genres in the lessons section.

Thanks Nick, really appreciated. Yeah, I’ll be starting the Hard Rock Beginner Basics within the next few days. I have so much teaching material to sift through, it’s actually quite frightening. The whole reason for me doing this is that I’m tired of the same things being rammed down people’s throats by lazy guitar teachers. People out there should have more options presented to them, hell, you do not need to learn Smoke on the Water as your first song… LOL! There are so many great songs out there that a really easy to play, it need not be the usual prescribed boring songs. ?

Demon-Dave

Here is one of my all-time greatest bands doing a great rockabilly track in their true Horrorpunk fashion:

The Misfits – Saturday Night

Intro
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--7-------7---------7--7---------------------------------------------------|
D|--7-------7---------7--7---------9------9---------9--9------5-----5--------|
A|--5-------5---------5--5---------9------9---------9--9------5-----5--------|
E|-----------------------------------7------9---------7--7------3-----3--------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--5--5------7--7-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|--5--5------7--7-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|--3--3------5--7-----------------------------------------------------------|

Intro solo
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-5---7-/-9---7---5---7--/-9---5-------5---7-/-9---7-/-9--7--5---7----9---7-|
E|-------------------------------------7----------------------------------------|

Verse
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7-----9--9--9--9--9--9--9----5--5--5--5--5--5--5--------|
A|-5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----9--9--9--9--9--9--9----5--5--5--5--5--5--5--------|
E|----------------------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7----3--3--3--3--3--3--3--------|
................... ................... ...................
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7------------play this twice-------------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7----------------------------------------------------|
E|-5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----------------------------------------------------|
......................

bridge???
e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-7-----7-------7--7---------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7-----7-------7--7-------9----9----9--9--------5--5--5--5--5--5--5---------|
A|-5-----5-------5--5-------9----9----9--9--------5--5--5--5--5--5--5---------|
E|----------------------------7----7----7--7--------3--3--3--3--3--3--3---------|
...................
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7----------------------------------------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7----------------------------------------------------|
E|-5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----------------------------------------------------|
......................

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------7--7--7--7--7--7------------------------------|
D|-5----let-----------7--------7--7--7--7--7--7----------play twice----------|
A|-5----ring----------7--------5--5--5--5--5--5------------------------------|
E|-3------------------5------------------------------------------------------|
................
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-5----7-----4-4-4-4-4----5-5-5-5-5----5--------7---------------------------|
A|-5----7-----4-4-4-4-4----5-5-5-5-5----5--------7---------------------------|
E|-3----5-----2-2-2-2-2----3-3-3-3-3----3--------5---------------------------|
......... .........

chorus
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-------------------------------------------------|
D|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-----9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9-------------------|
A|-5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9-------------------|
E|-----------------------------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-------------------|

e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------------------------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-----------|
D|-5--5--5--5--5------7--7--7--7--7--7----7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-----------|repeat
A|-5--5--5--5--5------7--7--7--7--7--7----5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----------|
E|-3--3--3--3--3------5--5--5--5--5--5----------------------------------------|

Intro solo again
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-5---7-/-9---7---5---7--/-9---5-------5---7-/-9---7-/-9--7--5---7----9---9-|
E|-------------------------------------7----------------------------------------|

verse (two frets higher than the 1st)
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--------11--11--11--11--11--11--11---------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--------11--11--11--11--11--11--11---------------------|
E|-------------------------------9---9---9---9---9---9---9---------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7---------9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9---------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7---------9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9---------------------|
E|-5--5--5--5--5--5--5---------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7---------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9-------11--11--11--11--11--11--11----------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7-------11--11--11--11--11--11--11----------------------|
E|-------------------------------9---9---9---9---9---9---9----------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7-----7------9-----9-------------7--7--7--7--7-------9--9--9--9--9--9-----|
A|-7-----7------9-----9-------------7--7--7--7--7-------9--9--9--9--9--9-----|
E|-5-----5------7-----7----0-/12----5--5--5--5--5-------7--7--7--7--7--7-----|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|--9---9-----------------------------------------------9---9--------------------|
D|--9---9-------2--2--2--2--2--2-----7-------9------9---9-----2--2--2--2--2--|
A|--7---7-------2--2--2--2--2--2-----7-------9------7---7-----2--2--2--2--2--|
E|--------------0--0--0--0--0--0------5-------7----------------0--0--0--0--0--|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7----9-----6--6--6--6--6---7--7--7--7--7----7-----9-----------------------|
A|-7----9-----6--6--6--6--6---7--7--7--7--7----7-----9-----------------------|
E|-5----7-----4--4--4--4--4---5--5--5--5--5----5-----7-----------------------|
............. .............

chorus
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--------11--11--11--11--11--11--11---------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--------11--11--11--11--11--11--11---------------------|
E|--------------------------------9---9---9---9----9----9----9---------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7---------9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9---------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7---------9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9---------------------|
E|-5--5--5--5--5--5--5---------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7---------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9-------------------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9--9------------do twice-----------------------------|
A|-7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-9--9--9--9----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9--9------------------11--11--11--11-------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
A|-7--7--7--7------7~--6~----11--11--11--11-------------7--7--7--7--7--7--7--|
E|--------------------------------9---9---9---9-----9~-7~---5--5--5--5--5--5--5--|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------9--9--9--9----------------------------------------------|
D|-9--9--9--9--9-----9--9--9--9------------------11--11--11--11-----------------|
A|-9--9--9--9--9-----7--7--7--7----7~--6~-----11--11--11--11-----------------|
E|-7--7--7--7--7-------------------------------9---9---9---9-------9~--7~----|

e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--5-----------------7--------------------2----------------------2----------|
A|--5-----------------7--------------------2------feed------------2----------|
E|--3-----------------5--------------------0------back------------0----------|

WOAH!!!!!! Oh!!!!! NO!!!!!!

Verse:
There's 52 ways to murder anyone
One or two are the same,
And they both work as well
I'm coming clean for Amy,
Julie doesn't scream as well
And the cops won't listen all night
And so maybe, maybe I'll be over
Just as soon as I fill them all in

And I can remember when I saw her last
We were running all around and having a blast
But the back seat of the drive-in
Is so lonely without you
I know when you're home
I was thinking about you,
There was was something I forgot to say
I was crying on a Saturday night
I was out cruising without you,
They were playing our song
Crying on Saturday night

As the moon becomes the night time
You go viciously, quietly away
I'm sitting in the bedroom,
Where we used to sit and smoke cigarettes
Now I'm watching, watching you die

I can remember when I saw her last
We were running all around and having a blast
But the back seat of the drive-in
Is so lonely without you
I know when you're home
I was thinking about you,
There was was something I forgot to say
I was crying on a Saturday night
I was out cruising without you,
They were playing our song
Crying on Saturday night

singemonkey

Haha. Nice. Never heard anyone describe The Misfits as rockabilly before, but they do rely on those early '60s song-structures, so it makes sense. My buddy and I do Return of the Fly. Misfits songs are just the best raw material for covering in any number of ways.

Demon-Dave

singemonkey wrote: Haha. Nice. Never heard anyone describe The Misfits as rockabilly before, but they do rely on those early '60s song-structures, so it makes sense. My buddy and I do Return of the Fly. Misfits songs are just the best raw material for covering in any number of ways.

Have you heard this album, Misfits – Project 1950, covers of some of the best rockabilly!

Yeah, that’s the thing about the misfits, they might be Horrorpunk, but they still swing!