Guitar Songs - the World of Chuck Berry

Many learner guitar players go looking for songs toserved notice on the music-loving public that rock and
play that suit the mood of a singer alone on stage withroll had arrived.
his guitar. Maybe, like many people, you gravitate"Rock And Roll Music" is another song designed to
toward songs like "Smoke On The Water", "Iron Man"announce to the world that there was a new force in
or "Stairway To Heaven". But there is a whole newthe world of popular music. The song has been
direction to go looking for your guitar songs: the musiccovered by The Beatles, The Beachboys and rock
and lyrics of Chuck Berry.and roll pioneer, Bill Haley.
Chuck Berry's influence on rock and roll is indisputable.A song that has touched the hearts of millions,
Musical movements have always converged around a"Memphis Tennessee" is a poignant story unfolded in
central figure and Chuck Berry's songwriting talent andChuck Berry's plain talking style leaving the punch line
enthusiastic approach to sharing his music with diverseof the story to the very end. This song was covered
audiences have inspired many rock and roll performersas an instrumental by Lonnie Mack and by Johnny
and generations of music lovers. Chuck Berry's songsRivers who had a similar style of singing to Chuck
are stories of people who meet life with unfailingBerry himself. An interesting side note to this song is
optimism and they were ideal lyrics to blend with thethat Berry played the slide guitar on the record and
new rock and roll rhythms.also played the bass and rhythm guitar.
Many legendary guitar players owe their success toAnother song that springs an interesting predicament
Chuck Berry's singular relationship with the guitar. Hison the listener in the final verse is "No Particular Place
guitar playing is an extension of his personality just likeTo Go", a song about young love thwarted by a car's
his lyrics and like his songs, his guitar riffs and licksseat belt.
made young guys want to pick up a guitar and make it"Ridin' along in my calaboose
talk. John Lennon, Keith Richards, George Thorogood,Still trying to get her belt a-loose
George Harrison were among the many rock and rollAll the way home I held a grudge
celebrities who were inspired by Chuck Berry. AngusFor the safety belt that wouldn't budge
Young of AC/DC even adopted Chuck Berry's stageCrusin' and playin' the radio
move of balancing on one leg and propelling yourselfWith no particular place to go"
forward by moving the other leg back and forth. It isThe phrase "no particular place to go" at the start of
called the "duckwalk" and looks nothing like a duckthe song is imbued with lusty enthusiasm. By the final
walking but somehow the name fits.verse the phrase takes a tone of hopelessness and
Chuck Berry's songs are about pretty girls, good timesfrustration. Just like real life.
and fast cars. The stories are easy to identify withSo if you are looking for the quintessential guitar songs,
and surprisingly easy to play. One Berry song that is ado not go past the contagious rhythm and the
real landmark is "Roll Over Beethoven". In this songdeceptively simple lyrics of Chuck Berry. But
Berry manages to fit in references to a couple ofremember your humility. As Jerry Lee Lewis' mother
classical composers, a nursery rhyme and a someonce said: "You and Elvis are pretty good, but you're
other rock and roll songs. It was written in 1956 andno Chuck Berry.