Discover 3 Easy Elvis Songs on Guitar Including Chord Lessons

Elvis is the favorite artist for many people around the world. From his famous love songs to his rock ballads, he has such a great catalog of songs that there really is something for everyone. If you are a fan of Elvis Presley, you’re in the right place.

Learning his songs on guitar can seem a bit too advanced for a beginner guitar player. However, in our guide, you will learn how to play three of Elvis’s most famous songs, along with lessons on how to create the chords, chord progression patterns and skills. Read on to find out how to play these easy Elvis songs on guitar. It’s going to be so much fun!

1. Burning Love

We’ll start out with Burning Love which is one of the easy songs we want to help you play on your guitar. You can easily learn this piece by following our guide below.

To begin with, we’ll look at the chords that make up the song. It includes four easy chords which every beginner probably already knows. The chords include D, A, G and Bm. Next up we’re looking at finger positioning for these chords. If you already know how to do this, move on to the next section.

G Chord

1. Take your first finger and place it on the A string, on the second fret.
2. Take your second finger and put it on the third fret using the E string.
3. The third finger sits on the third fret of the B string.
4. Your little finger will sit on the high E string, pressing on the third fret.
5. Play all of the strings when strumming.

D Chord

1. Your first finger goes on the G string at the second fret.
2. Your second finger will press down the low E string using the second fret.
3. Then take your third finger and use it on the B string, fretting on the third.
4. Don’t play the fifth and sixth strings when strumming.

A Chord

1. Use your first finger on the D string on the second fret.
2. The second finger rests on the second fret of the G string.
3. The third finger will use the B string on the second fret.
4. Don’t play the fifth and sixth strings when strumming.

Bm Chord

1. Fret across the first five strings of your guitar, placing your first finger on the 2nd fret.
2. The second finger sits on the second B string using the third fret.
3. Take your third finger and use it on the D string using the fourth fret.
4. Your little finger sits underneath that on the fourth fret of the E string.

Strumming Pattern

Next, you need to learn the strumming pattern. You want to follow a down, down, up, up, down technique. You can practice this first without having to worry about the chords. When you strum you want to make sure your hand is relaxed as possible.

Chord Progression

You will start out playing the song using the D chord. You’ll play this for three measures until the verse kicks in. One measure equals four beats, so three measures is 12 beats in total using D.

When the verse starts you are still going to be playing D for four beats, then two beats of G, two beats on A and then back to D again. Super simple!

The chorus of the song is where the more challenging chords start. You can start out by playing Bm for two beats, then A, then G for one measure. Repeat this twice. After this play the same thing again but go back to the A chord at the end. Strum downwards once and then return to your D chord.

2. That’s Alright

The next song on our list is That’s Alright. We’re going to look at the chords involved again, and then give you more information about how to play the chords we haven’t already covered.

Open D Chord

1. Take your finger and put it on the G string using the second fret.
2. Your second finger sits on the low E string, also using the second fret.
3. The third finger of your hand will play the B string using the third fret.
4. Play only from the fourth string down, missing out the fifth and sixth strings.

E Chord

1. Your first finger will play the G string on the first fret.
2. The second finger will be playing A string using the second fret.
3. Your third finger plays the D string on the second fret.
4. You will strum all of your strings to play an E chord.

Strumming Pattern

The three chords involved in That’s Alright are A, an open D and E. You can simply strum along to the song because it has 4/4 timing. If you want to sound just like Elvis Presely, here’s what you will need to do.

Start out by picking the A string and then strum your A chord. Do the same with the D string and then chord, then back to A. Once you have mastered this pattern practice it a few times. The A chord is played for two bars before switching over to D. You will do the same again, switching between the D and G string/chords. Finally, play an E chord.

Chord Progression

Do the string pick and chord strumming pattern using A for four measures. Swap over to D for two measures. Play E for two measures then return to the A chord. The tempo is pretty fast in this piece. While you’re learning, play at a speed that suits you and that you feel most comfortable with. You’ll get quicker the more you practice.

3. Blue Christmas

One of the most famous Elvis songs to play around the festive season is Blue Christmas. It’s a great song for the guitar because it’s easy to play and suits beginners well. The chords are easy, using E, B, B7, E7, A, F#7 and G#. You’ll be playing quite a few chords in the song but they’re very fun once you have learnt them.

E Major Chord

1. Your first finger plays the G string on the first fret.
2. Your second finger plays the A string on the second fret.
3. The third finger plays the D string using the second fret.
4. Strum the E chord by using all of the strings.

B Chord

1. Use your first finger to play the A string on the second fret.
2. Take your third finger and bar strings two, three and four on the fourth fret.
3. When strumming miss out the sixth string.

B7 Chord

1. Your first finger plays the D string on the fret one.
2. Use your second finger for the fifth string on the second fret.
3. The third finger plays G on the second fret.
4. Your little finger plays the low E on the second fret.
5. Strum strings one to five.

E7 Chord

1. The G string is played with the first finger and the third fret.
2. Your second finger plays A on fret two.
3. Play every string.

F#7 Chord

1. Place your first finger on all of the strings using the second fret.
2. Your second finger plays the G string using the third fret.
3. The third finger plays the A string on fret four.
4. Strum all of the strings.

G#/Ab Chord

1. Use your first finger to press down all of the strings on the fourth fret.
2. The second finger plays G on fret five.
3. A is playing with your third finger on fret six.
4. Your pinkie sits on the fourth string and sixth fret.
5. Strum all of the strings.

Chord Progression

To start out with you will be playing the E chord for one bar. Then you switch over to B for a measure, moving to B7 for a measure. Switch back to E for a measure. Repeat this twice.

Play E for a bar then B for a bar. Switch to B7 for a measure then back to E. E chord is played for a measure, then E7 for a measure. Next up is the A chord. This is your basic chord progression. There is a walk up after this but this isn’t as easy to learn as the riffs we’ve gone through.

Strumming Pattern

Pick the sixth string and then strum the E chord. Pick the A string and then strum the E chord again. Move on to picking the fifth string and strumming the B chord. Move your first finger onto the sixth string, pressing the second fret.

Play the A string and then strum a B7 chord. Pick the D string and strum B7 again. You will need to switch from F#7 to B7 next. Practice this a few times because it can be a tricky change to make.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this small array of Elvis Presley song which you can easily learn on the guitar. Make sure to drop us a comment below if you enjoyed it.