50s And 60s Country Songs
On The Acoustic

Charlie's Shoes hit the airwaves back in 1962 and ended up being the only #1 hit for the singer.

Faron Young, Eddy Arnold and Guy Mitchell also recorded the song by Walker's version was the most successful.

This number is found on his "Greatest Hits" album from 1963.

I play this one in standard tuning with some lead with the chords D, G, A7 and an EM. For rhythm play a root down up down up down up and repeat pattern.

I Can't Stop Loving You was a song written by Don Gibson and recorded with The Jordanares back in 1957. It became a B-side hit with the A-side song Oh Lonesome Me. Over the years the song has been recorded by more than 700 artists, including Ray Charles who took the song to #1.

You'll only need a few chords for this one including the C, C7, F, G and a G7 if you so desire. For rhythm you can get away with a simple root down up root up down up rhythm pattern and in my version, I've included a chorus picking break.

Sea Of Heartbreak was a 1961 single release by Don Gibson. The song peaked at #2 for Don Gibson on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart.

There is no lead break in this one but I put one in with my version, played in drop D tuning. Play this one with a root down up root up down up rhythm pattern and the chords G, Em, C, D, G7, D7 and a B7.

Sweet Dreams was written by Don Gibson and recorded back in 1955 and peaked at #9 on the country charts. Faron Young also recorded the song in 1960 and his version hit #6.

The song eventually appeared on a Don Gibson compilation album of the same name in 1960.

For rhythm here I play a root up down up up down up and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning with no lead. Play the chords F, G, C, D7 and an Am.

Make The World Go Away is was a hit for Eddy Arnold in 1965. The song was written by Hank Lochlan in 15 minutes after leaving a movie theatre.

Ray Price recorded the song first and scored a #2 but Eddy's version went to #1 two years later. The track is from his album "My World".

This one I play with a capo 2nd fret and drop D tuning while playing a root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Some lead with the chords G, C, Am, D, Em and a Cm.

Hello Walls was a #1 for Young in 1961 on the country charts and #12 on the pop charts. Willie Nelson wrote this one and hails from Faron Young's album of the same name. 

For this number I play a root up down up and repeat with walkin' bass rhythm pattern in standard tuning and no lead. The chords are C, F, G and a D7.

Wings Of A Dove was written in 1958 and recorded by Husky in 1960. 10 weeks at #1 on the country charts and #12 on the Hot 100. Found on "The Hits Of Ferlin Husky" album 1963.

This one I play with a capo 2nd fret in standard tuning while playing a root down up down up bass down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. Some lead with the chords D, G and A7.

Last Date was an instrumental on the piano by Floyd Cramer and hit #11 on the country charts.

The track can be found ob his 1960 album of the same name.

I play this song in standard tuning with a down down up down down down up and repeat rhythm pattern with picking and the chords C, F, G7, G, Am, Dm and a Gsus.

Abilene was a single for George Hamilton IV back in 1963 and was his only #1 hit song.

It's found on the album of the same name.

I play a root up down up root up down up repeat rhythm pattern here in standard tuning and some lead. The chords you'll need are E, Ab, A, Gb, B7 and an A7.

Break My Mind was recorded by George Hamilton IV in 1967. The song went to #6 on the country charts.

You'll find this one on his album entitled "Folksy".

A bit of picking here with a root down up root up down up rhythm pattern with a capo 5th fret. The chords here are C, F and G7.

Singing The Blues was a release in 1956 for this song by Guy Mitchell and it was a #1 in the US and UK.

The album "Guys Greatest Hits" is where this one can be found.

Play a root down up root up down up rhythm pattern for this one in standard tuning and some lead. The chords needed are E, C7, B7 and an A.

I'm Moving On was a #1 hit when it was released back in 1950. The recording director turned this song down in 1949 but allowed the song to be recorded in 1950 because he didn't remember hearing it.

The track can be found on Hanks 1961 compilation album called "Souvenirs".

Only a D, G and an A in this one with a root down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning. Some lead required.

There Goes My Everything was recorded by Jack Green in 1966 and was #1 for seven weeks and won single of the year and song of the year.

You can find this one on the album of the same name.

Play a capo 3rd fret in standard tuning for this one with a root down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. A little picking in here with the chords G, C, D and a D7.

Running Bear was a 1959-60 release by Johnny Preston which hails from the album of the same name.

The song reached #1 in both the US and UK.

This one I play with a capo 2nd fret in standard tuning while playing down strokes for a rhythm pattern followed by down up down up and repeat Pattern. Some lead here with the chords, G, C, D and an A7.

Smoking Cigarettes And Drinking Coffee Blues was first released by Lefty back in 1958 but the correct name is Cigarettes And Coffee Blues. The song peaked at #13.

The track is on the album Mom And Dad's Waltz.

I play a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern here in standard tuning with just a few riffs required. For chords play a G, C, F and a C7.

Walk On By was a single by Leroy Van Dyke in 1962 and hails from his album of the same name.

The song reached #1 on the US Country Charts.

The chords here are a C, D, G and an Am with some lead required. I'm play a capo 4th in standard tuning with a down up down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern.

Carroll County Accident was a big single from Porter Wagoner when it his the airwaves back in 1968 reaching #2 in the US and #1 in Canada.

The track is found on the album of the same name.

For rhythm play a root down up down down up and repeat rhythm pattern in standard tuning. No lead with the chords G, C, A7, D, E and a B7.

Lone Star Beer And Bob Wills Music is a song from the album of the same name released back in 1976.

The song made it to #11 on the US country charts.

In this one I play a drop D tuning and a capo 2nd fret.  For rhythm I play a root down root up down up and the a steady up and down in the ch with walking bass with some lead. The chords here are D, G, A, A7 and a D7.

The Wabash Cannonball was a single from Roy Acuff back in 1936. It's believed the song was written back in 1982. The Carter family had the first known recording of the song in 1929.

The track appeared on his 1965 album "Great Train Songs".

A capo 2nd fret will  get you in the original key and played with a root down root up down up rhythm pattern in standard tuning. Some lead with the chords G, C, D and D7.

If I Had To Do It All Over Again was a #2 hit for Roy Clark back in 1976.

The song is from his album Heart To Heart.

The rhythm here is a root down root up down up and repeat pattern in standard tuning and no lead, just a few riffs. For chords play a D, Gbm, Em, A7, G, B7, E and an A.

Yesterday When I Was Young stands as a timeless and poignant song performed by the gifted Roy Clark. Released in 1969, it has firmly established itself as one of his signature tracks and a significant milestone in his career.

Originally penned in French as "Hier Encore" by Charles Aznavour, the song weaves a reflective and introspective tale about the passage of time and the regrets that can often accompany the journey of aging. Roy Clark's rendition masterfully captures the song's emotional depth and sincerity, solidifying its status as a beloved classic.

With its heartfelt delivery and profoundly meaningful lyrics, "Yesterday When I Was Young" has resonated across generations, serving as a reminder of life's bittersweet essence and the importance of cherishing every precious moment.

Lights On The Hill was released in 1974 by Slim Dusty and reached #100 in Australia. Keith Urban and Mental As Anything both covered this song.

This song is from the album of the same name.

I play a capo 2nd fret for this one with a root down root up down up and repeat rhythm pattern and some lead required in standard tuning. For chords you'll need a D, G and an A7.

Traveling Man was never released as a single.

It does appear on Tommy's 1973 greatest hits album.

For rhythm here I play a root down up down up down up and repeat pattern with a capo 3rd fret in standard tuning. Some lead with the chords G, F, C, D, A#, D7, Em, Bm, Em/D and a Db.