Blue Suede Shoes (Elvis Presley) Guitar Lesson with Backing Tracks + TAB

In this guitar lesson, we cover TAB for all sections of this classic tune. Every small variation is included, including both solos - Try it all with Backing Tracks!

Blue Suede Shoes | TAB

Let’s go through all sections of Blue Suede Shoes so you can play it with your band.

Verse + Outro

The bass moves from E to G, then resolves to A. The chords are primarily G5 to A5, which you could interpret as Em7 to G, then A5. For simplicity, the chart uses G – A. The rest of the first verse follows a bluesy 12-bar form: D7, A, and E7.

Verses 2 and 3 repeat the stops over a 16-bar form, maintaining the rhythm through the D7 chord, with minor variations in the last bar.

Verse 4 combines elements of the previous concepts.

The outro has no stops and ends with a lick blending minor and major pentatonics—a great study for aspiring blues soloists.

Solos

The first solo blends minor and major pentatonic notes, adding a maj7 in bar 5. This could be seen as the Conspirian scale or, more formally, a melodic minor approach.

The second solo begins more spaciously, then mixes minor and major pentatonics. Learning these solos and comping patterns is essential—they form the foundation of countless blues and rock riffs.