Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock - Guitar Lesson

About Jailhouse Rock

Few riffs in Pop Rock history get called as quickly by name as the one that opens "Jailhouse Rock." Written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957, the track sits in E major in standard tuning at a steady 120 BPM, which is comfortable enough to feel approachable but punchy enough to demand clean articulation. The signature riff is built on a double-stop figure in the upper register, and getting those two-note shapes to ring with equal clarity on both strings is where most players stumble. Your pick attack needs to stay consistent, and the rhythm has to feel locked in without rushing. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop that opening figure slowed down until your fretting hand stops squeezing and your pick hand finds its groove. Once the riff is solid, work on keeping that same relaxed confidence through the verse sections, where the energy has to stay up without the playing getting sloppy.

• The signature riff uses double-stops, two notes fretted and picked simultaneously, demanding even pressure and consistent pick attack across both strings.
• Playing in E major in standard tuning keeps the song guitar-friendly, with plenty of open-string resonance available to fatten the sound.
• At 120 BPM the feel is driving but not frantic, so focus on rhythmic tightness rather than speed when building up to full tempo.