Peggy Sue

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Runtime: 23:49 Teacher: David
Chords Used:
  • A
  • A7
  • D
  • E
  • F

Lesson Description

This guitar lesson has 9 chapters. The first chapter is a Performance of what you'll be learning, and you can view the first part of it in the video above. Next, as ever, comes our standard Overview where you'll learn some info about the form, key, feel, and chords you'll need to know. Then, we move right along to the Intro where David shows you how to play a simple opening riff several times and tells you what details are important to notice along the way. Pay attention to the very important Main Strum Pattern here. From there we take you to the Verse, where you'll be shown the Main Strum Pattern again, but David uses a nice A7 chord here and explains "using common fingers" or "anchoring" in this section.  David then practices the verse with you over and over. The Chorus comes next, and it comes along with a "Mystery Chord" that Buddy Holly used to give the Chorus a texture distinct from the verse.  We then go to the Last Verse with the "Tag".  David then goes through the Solo Section, which has a pretty interesting strum pattern.  We put each section together and talk you through it in the Slow Practice chapter where David plays the whole piece a bunch of times slowly and hopes you'll follow along. And finally, Buddy's great solo gets broken down in the Bonus Chapter

Song Information

Peggy Sue

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Peggy Sue"
Single by Buddy Holly and The Crickets
from the album Buddy Holly
B-side "Everyday"
Released September 20, 1957
November 15 1957 (UK)
Format 7" single
Recorded June 29 and July 1, 1957, Clovis, New Mexico
Genre Rock and Roll
Length 2:29
Label Coral 61885
Writer(s) Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Norman Petty
Buddy Holly and The Crickets singles chronology
"Rock Around with Ollie Vee"
(1957)
"Peggy Sue"
(1957)
"Oh, Boy!"
(1957)

"Peggy Sue" was written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and originally released as a single by Buddy Holly and the Crickets in July of 1957.

The song was originally named "Cindy Lou" after Buddy's niece, who was the daughter of his sister Pat Holley Kaiter. The title was later changed to "Peggy Sue," referring to the girlfriend (and future wife) of Crickets drummer Jerry Allison.  Allison played a prominent role in the production of the song, playing paradiddles (four-note patterns) on the drums throughout the song. 

Many music critics regard "Peggy Sue" as Holly's all-time best recording.  The song went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957, is  ranked as #194 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and Acclaimed Music has it ranked as the 100th greatest song of all time, as well as the third best song of 1957.

"Peggy Sue" and it's poignant 1958 sequel, "Peggy Sue Got Married," created a legacy that can be seen in many ways since their release.  For example, the contents of the songs or their titles are mentioned in songs by other artists, TV episodes and alternate history novels.  "Peggy Sue" was also covered by John Lennon, Billy "Crash" Craddock, the Beach Boys (a #59 hit song), and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.