Rock Around the Clock
Bill Haley
1955
1955, and with modern effects on the guitar players guitar, the first solo would rival most in the modern world. He is playing off the "F" position in the key of A. In this cut, Bill relinquishes the guitar solo to a studio musician, and not a permanent member of Bill's band. Notice he is playing eighth-note triplets! The Stratocaster has not quite made it on the scene yet.
The bass player. Marshall Lytle, is playing "slap back", a method of playing with a single echo: slap the string to the fretboard on the beat, "pluck" then string play (pluck) the string. This way the note is played very slightly behind the beat.
Bill Haley
1955
1955, and with modern effects on the guitar players guitar, the first solo would rival most in the modern world. He is playing off the "F" position in the key of A. In this cut, Bill relinquishes the guitar solo to a studio musician, and not a permanent member of Bill's band. Notice he is playing eighth-note triplets! The Stratocaster has not quite made it on the scene yet.
The bass player. Marshall Lytle, is playing "slap back", a method of playing with a single echo: slap the string to the fretboard on the beat, "pluck" then string play (pluck) the string. This way the note is played very slightly behind the beat.
Rock Around the Clock
Swing
Key of A
12 bay blues progression
A//
1, 2, 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, rock!
A//
5, 6, 7 o'clock, 8 o'clock, rock!
A//
9, 10, 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, rock
E7
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
Verse 1:
A
Put your glad rags on, join me, hon'
We'll have some fun when the clock strikes 1
CHORUS:
D
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
A
We're gonna rock, rock, rock till broad daylight
E7 A
We're gonna rock, gonna rock around the clock tonight
Verse 2:
When the clock strikes 2, 3 and 4
If the band stops now we'll yell for more
(chorus)
(instrumental, in pattern of verse then chorus)
Verse 3:
When the chimes ring 5, 6 and 7
We'll be right in 7th heaven
(chorus)
Verse 4:
When it's 8, 9, 10, 11 too
I'll be goin' strong and so will you
(chorus)
(instrumental, in pattern of verse then chorus)
Verse 5:
When the clock strikes 12, we'll cool off then
Start rockin' round the clock again
(chorus)
Swing
Key of A
12 bay blues progression
A//
1, 2, 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock, rock!
A//
5, 6, 7 o'clock, 8 o'clock, rock!
A//
9, 10, 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, rock
E7
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
Verse 1:
A
Put your glad rags on, join me, hon'
We'll have some fun when the clock strikes 1
CHORUS:
D
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight
A
We're gonna rock, rock, rock till broad daylight
E7 A
We're gonna rock, gonna rock around the clock tonight
Verse 2:
When the clock strikes 2, 3 and 4
If the band stops now we'll yell for more
(chorus)
(instrumental, in pattern of verse then chorus)
Verse 3:
When the chimes ring 5, 6 and 7
We'll be right in 7th heaven
(chorus)
Verse 4:
When it's 8, 9, 10, 11 too
I'll be goin' strong and so will you
(chorus)
(instrumental, in pattern of verse then chorus)
Verse 5:
When the clock strikes 12, we'll cool off then
Start rockin' round the clock again
(chorus)