Best Songs By Buddy Holly You Can Learn On Acoustic Guitar (2024)

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Oh Boy was recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets in 1957. Written by SonnyWest, Bill Tilghman, and Norman Petty, it showcases Holly's vocals andthe Crickets' rock and roll style.

Recorded in Clovis, New Mexico,during the same session as "Not Fade Away," the track features Holly onvocals and guitar, along with the Crickets. Released as a single in1958, it reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the UK SinglesChart.

The lyrics express excitement about being with a lover, with acatchy melody and upbeat tempo that made it a hit. "Oh Boy" is a classicexample of Buddy Holly's early rock and roll sound, loved by fans ofthe genre.

I play this one in Drop D Tuning and a capo 2nd fret with a steady down up stop up down up stop up rhythm pattern. A little picking required with the chords G, C, D and C7.

Peggy Sueis a classic rock and roll song recorded by Buddy Holly and his band,the Crickets, in 1957. Written by Holly, Jerry Allison, and NormanPetty, it was named after Allison's girlfriend.

Inspired by EddieCochran's song "Cindy Lou," Holly and Allison decided to write their ownversion about Peggy Sue. Recorded in Clovis, New Mexico, the song onlytook two takes to complete.

Released on September 20, 1957, it quicklybecame a hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Top 100 chart.Known for its catchy melody and simple lyrics, "Peggy Sue" helpedestablish Buddy Holly as a major figure in early rock and roll.

Hollylater wrote a sequel called "Peggy Sue Got Married," featured in the1986 film of the same name.

This one has asteady down up down up down up all the way through the song in standard tuning with a few rhythm chops. The chords are A, D, E and an F.

Rave Onalsohails from the "Buddy Holly" album of 1958 and the song was released asa single, peaking at #12 in Canada, #37 in the US and #5 in the UK.The title for the song came from a Carl Perkins song Dixie Fried whichused the lyrics Rave On.

SonnyWest, the writer of the song, also recorded a version a few monthsbefore Buddy recorded it. On the 2004 best 500 songs of all time fromRolling Stone, the song ranked #154.

Artistswho have covered this song through the years include, Joe Meek, JohnMellencamp, The Real Kids, Half Japanese, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,Steeleye Span, M. Ward, Denny Laine, Julian Casablancas and CliffRichard.

Play this in standard tuning with the chords G, G7, C and D with adown up down up and repeat rhythm pattern with a few chops in the chorus. A bit of picking blended into the rhythm in this one.

Reminiscing is a song written by King Curtis and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958,but it wasn't released until 1963, five years after Holly's death. Itappeared on the posthumous album "Reminiscing," a collection ofpreviously unreleased recordings and demos.

Recorded at Decca Recordsstudios in New York City, the song features Holly on vocals and guitar,with backing vocals by The Picks and additional instrumentation bystudio musicians. The lyrics are nostalgic and romantic, expressinglonging for past times.

Despite its delayed release, "Reminiscing" hasbecome a beloved song among Holly's fans and has been covered by artistslike The Everly Brothers and Linda Ronstadt. It reached #17 in the UK,making it a great starting point for learning to strum Buddy Holly'smusic.

I play this in Drop D Tuning and a capo 2nd if the original key but capos are always optional. You can play all down strokes or use a down up down up and repeat rhythm pattern. A, D and G with some lead will get you through this lesson.

Rockin' Around With Ollie Vee was written and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1956 and released as a singlein 1957 from his album "That'll Be The Day." Produced by Norman Petty,the song features Holly on vocals and guitar, backed by the Crickets.

With a classic rockabilly feel, it has a driving beat and catchy guitarriff. The lyrics tell of the narrator enjoying time with his friendOllie Vee.

Though it didn't chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it's lovedby fans and showcases Holly's early rock and roll style. While Hollywent on to record many more successful songs, "Rockin' Around With OllieVee" remains a key part of his legacy as a rockabilly pioneer. It's agreat song to explore Buddy Holly's vintage guitar techniques.

Played in standard tuning with the chords A, A7, D, Cdim and an E will work here. Lead work in this one playing a steady down up down up rhythm pattern.

Tell Me How can be found on Buddy Holly's first studio album "The"Chirping" Crickets" which was released in 1957. The song was written by Buddy Holly and did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song is a love ballad in which the singer asks his love interestto tell him how he can make her love him, and promises to do whatever ittakes to make her happy.

There was no official music video created for this song.

This one has the four chords A, D, E and a Gb in standard tuning. The rhythm pattern is adown up down up and repeat with some down-strokes and a few picking riffs blended in for good measure.

Think It Overis a song on Buddy Holly's second studio album "Buddy Holly"which was released in 1958.

The track was written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chartin 1958.

The song is about a man pleading with his lover to give theirrelationship a second chance after an argument, and assuring her that hestill loves her.

There was no official music video created for this song but it's one of those rare Buddy Holly singles on guitar that has a walking bass component.

Use a down up down up with walking bass rhythm pattern here in standard tuning but no lead. The chords required are G, G7, C, or C7 and D7.

True Love Wayswas written by Buddy Holly and his wife, Maria Elena Holly, in 1958 as adeclaration of their deep love and commitment.

Recorded with the DickJacobs Orchestra four months before Holly's tragic death, it wasn'treleased as a single until May 1960 in the UK, reaching #25 there. Itdidn't chart in the US until its release a month later, and in 1988, itpeaked at #65 in the UK. Holly recorded the song in his New York Cityapartment, capturing the raw essence of his talent and the moment'sintimacy.

It's featured on the album "The Buddy Holly Story Vol 2."Peter & Gordon's 1965 version reached #2 in the UK and #14 in theUS, while Cliff Richard's 1983 rendition also hit the top 10.

Countrystar Mickey Gilley had a #1 hit with it on the US country charts in1980. Mrs. Holly revealed that Buddy wrote the song as a wedding giftfor her. The melody is reminiscent of a gospel song called "I'll Be AllRight," played at Holly's funeral. You can hear similarities between thetwo melodies on YouTube by searching "I'll Be All Right gospel song."

The rhythm pattern here isdown down down up down down and repeat with a capo 3rd fret and some lead required. The chords here areG, Bm, C, Em, D, Am7, Cm, Adim, D#, F, A# and D7.

Words Of Lovewas written by Buddy Holly and released in 1957, but it didn't chartinitially. It's featured on the album "Buddy Holly," where Holly sangharmony with himself.

In 1993, a compilation album also titled "Words OfLove" reached #1. The Diamonds did a doo-wop version, scoring a #13 hitin the summer of 1957. This marked Holly's first hit song as a writer.

The Beatles covered it too, with George Harrison and John Lennon singingit between 1958 and 1962, but their official recording had Lennon andMcCartney on vocals, done in just two takes.

A live BBC radio albumcalled "On Air Live At The BBC Vol 2" features The Beatles performingit. Paul McCartney covered it acoustically in 1985, and there are othercovers by artists like Jessica Lee Mayfield, Pat DiNizio, and PattiSmith, showcasing its enduring popularity.

Three chords here and they are G, C and D with a capo on the 2nd fret using aroot down up root up down up in a rake pattern for rhythm. There are a few riffs in here as well.