Heartbreak Hotel

Elvis Presley, 1956, from Non-album single. Solo by Scotty Moore.

Moore's brief, jagged solo cuts through the echo-heavy gloom of Presley's first RCA hit.

Heartbreak Hotel is a dark, echo-heavy song, and Scotty Moore's brief solo cuts through its gloom with jagged energy. His playing is raw and bluesy, with sharp, uneven phrases that add tension to the song's lonely atmosphere. Moore avoids smooth runs, instead using short, stabbing notes that match Elvis Presley's brooding vocal. His style shaped the sound of early rock and roll guitar. Listen for the rough, biting tone and how the solo seems to stumble forward, adding a sense of unease, and for the way it contrasts with the song's sparse, echoing backing, giving the track a haunting, dramatic quality.

Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley is featured in our Rock & Roll (#19) list. The solo is played by Scotty Moore and the song was released in 1956.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Rock and Roll Guitar Solos — #19
• The Best Elvis Presley Guitar Solos — #7

Sources