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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Surf Musician »

Permalink Technically what defines 'surf' guitar style of playing?

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I've had a quick look through a few old post but can't seem to find the info I'm after. Basically I'm thinking of getting guitar lessons, mostly theory, scales, "knowing the neck", that kind of thing and I also want to specifically get into surf guitar, but wondered what really defines 'surf' style?

Are their particular scales, keys and playing styles etc that are more or less inherent to surf music to the point where you could play a surf version of pretty much any song? For example some metal genres have certain 'rules' to the point where you could do say, a folk metal version of Dolly Parton's "nine to five" or Spanish flamenco guitar version of a Bootsy Collins song or something. Could you define surf in the same way or is it a different thing altogether? Don't worry, I'm not going to play surf versions of Lady GaGa songs or anything, (although what would that sound like?) I'm just curious where to start and curious about what sort of things I should concentrate on?

Any info much appreciated!

This thread is kind of like this one:

http://surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=13185

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

I'm still pretty new to playing guitar but from what I've picked up as far as style goes a couple of the things you want to learn.
Tremolo picking think Dick Dale's style of fast picking a single string.
Palm muting.
Trem picking while palm muting.
Glissando slides with or with out palm muting.

Some of the nice folks here have made learning easier for us by posting tabs to some songs here
http://surfguitar101.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownload&cid=9

"Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck

I tend to find tabs alone only go so far. You've got to know the songs to be able to play them for the rhythm etc, and also I can't read sheet music. I'm more looking for what patterns (scales? etc) are common in surf music. I guess If I learned a load of tabs, even for songs I haven't heard, then there would be alot of reccuring patterns perhaps?

Straight ahead feel (e.g., no soul, hip-hop, or Steely Dan). Percussion usually emphasizes beats 2 & 2A & 4. A sense of action, at least in instros. No sense that a vocalist is about to enter or is needed--the guitar is the voice. Rhythm guitar if present is clean and plays either tic-tics or very rhythmic thin-toned chords. Bass sticks to chord notes or boogie-woogie pattern. Lead guitar usually has audible reverb or delay. There are always exceptions.

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Last edited: Aug 30, 2010 15:12:14

Essentially, if it has a good melody, you can surf it. OMOM Music in Italy released a few fun surf tributes to Burt Bacharach and the Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, and American Graffiti soundtracks. Burt tunes are especially melodic and lend themselves to being surfed (for lack of a better word). The Ventures recorded many (so, so many) instrumental versions of popular vocal tunes.

Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com

Sure the Ventures covered lots of vocals, but they do not define surf. They began pre-surf. "The Ventures Knock Me Out" is surf-less although a great album. Likewise for "Rock and Roll Forever."

Insanitizers! http://www.insanitizers.com

Snufkino
I'm more looking for what patterns (scales? etc) are common in surf music. I guess If I learned a load of tabs, even for songs I haven't heard, then there would be alot of reccuring patterns perhaps?

I don't think there are any. There are certain idioms here and there. Things like muting, reverb, glissandos, etc. But not scales. Surf encompasses everything from basic I-IV-V early rock-n-roll style stuff, to middle eastern sounding stuff, latin sounding stuff, etc. It's wide open.

Just concentrate on learning the guitar and how the guitar works. There is no magic formula.

Just take a listen to some podcasts for example. The diversity should be evident after a few listens, even if it all sounds like "surf".

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

What I was told about using tab during my lessons.

Find a song you want to learn then find a tab unless you have the ear to learn with.
You can also just start playing a tab and after running thru it a few times you can get a feel for the way it should sound.

I took the tab list from here and downloaded as many of the songs as I could find from Itunes or bought the CD.

But even with tabs or sheet music not every band plays a song the same way.

Learn to read sheet music to an least the note value part.

"Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck

Squid
Straight ahead feel (e.g., no soul, hip-hop, or Steely Dan). Percussion usually emphasizes beats 2 & 2A & 4. A sense of action, at least in instros. No sense that a vocalist is about to enter or is needed--the guitar is the voice. Rhythm guitar if present is clean and plays either tic-tics or very rhythmic thin-toned chords. Bass sticks to chord notes or boogie-woogie pattern. Lead guitar usually has audible reverb or delay. There are always exceptions.

Squid welcome to the forum. I'm impressed with your synopsis of the surf style - well done!

Cheers

Danny Snyder

Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF
_
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Anything that is played with a clean tone soaked with reverb should do it.

polygong
Anything that is played with a clean tone soaked with reverb should do it.

Sorry Polygong but that statement is so incomplete that it begs for you to start doing some critical listening, if you're really interested in this genre.

Danny Snyder

Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF
_
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Squid
Sure the Ventures covered lots of vocals, but they do not define surf. They began pre-surf. "The Ventures Knock Me Out" is surf-less although a great album. Likewise for "Rock and Roll Forever."

True, they don't define surf. But they sure did create a template for the two-guitar, melodic instrumental rock group, and countless surf bands claim them as an influence. They proved that just about any song with a decent melody could be instrumentalized, for lack of a better word.

Ted James
Deep Eddy Records http://www.deepeddy.net
The Nematoads http://www.nematoads.com

DannySnyder

polygong
Anything that is played with a clean tone soaked with reverb should do it.

Sorry Polygong but that statement is so incomplete that it begs for you to start doing some critical listening, if you're really interested in this genre.

'Twas but a tongue in cheek comment and did not warrant such a condescending response.

Necessary components of surf music:

Thunk
Knock
Drip
Klannng
BDBDBDBbdbbdbdbd
BOWoooWOW
Dooodleoodleoodleoo

This concludes today's music theory lesson.

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

don't forget:

"KEEE raaannnnggg!"

and

"Joog jooga jooga jooga joog!"

dp
don't forget:

"KEEE raaannnnggg!"

and

"Joog jooga jooga jooga joog!"

How could I have forgotten those two very important elements? Razz

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

polygong

DannySnyder

polygong
Anything that is played with a clean tone soaked with reverb should do it.

Sorry Polygong but that statement is so incomplete that it begs for you to start doing some critical listening, if you're really interested in this genre.

'Twas but a tongue in cheek comment and did not warrant such a condescending response.

Well in Danny's defense there wasn't much clue that that was a tongue in cheek response. But fair enough.

One of the fallacies perpetrated almost daily on this site is the notion of "clean guitar tone" is essential for surf. Does no one else hear the grit in the overdriven, aggressive tones of Dick Dale, Eddie Betrand, or Randy Holden? The Atlantics?

The crazy teenagers in the 60's who started surf music didn't have Tube Screamers, but like kids everywhere, they dimed their amps.

Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me

"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea

it's all about electricity and drums

Brian

polygong

DannySnyder

polygong
Anything that is played with a clean tone soaked with reverb should do it.

Sorry Polygong but that statement is so incomplete that it begs for you to start doing some critical listening, if you're really interested in this genre.

'Twas but a tongue in cheek comment and did not warrant such a condescending response.

Well in Danny's defense there wasn't much clue that that was a tongue in cheek response. But fair enough.

One of the fallacies perpetrated almost daily on this site is the notion of "clean guitar tone" is essential for surf. Does no one else hear the grit in the overdriven, aggressive tones of Dick Dale, Eddie Betrand, or Randy Holden? The Atlantics?

The crazy teenagers in the 60's who started surf music didn't have Tube Screamers, but like kids everywhere, they dimed their amps.

Very true. I've always enjoyed a little bit of a dirty tone in surf music.

http://www.reverbnation.com/thedeadranchhands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZEW74mHjQk

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