Favorite guitar technique?

chad3006

Joined: Aug 21, 2006
Posts: 76
USA

Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:25 PM

What's your favorite surf guitar technique?

Mine is probably floating vibrato picking, followed by smashing the guitar.

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Jon

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1076
Columbus, OH
United States

Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:28 PM

I really like to mute when I play; the drip sound is awesome.

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Wraydar

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 265
San Antonio, TX

Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:36 PM

Oh man that's a hard one I'm just gonna go with Staccato Slide Picking, 2 strings? Even better!

—

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:51 PM

I just like normal picking.

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diceophonic

Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 2174
PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)
United States

Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:57 PM

That's a very hard one, I mean there isn't one thing I don't like to do but I can say I can't get enough of Kicking the tank I need to join some kind of AA group for tank kickers I'm so addicted

—

-Kyle

Beyond The Surf YouTube channel
Beyond The Surf Instagram
The Verbtones @ Instagram
The Verbtones @ Facebook
The Verbtones @ bandcamp

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Nov 14 2006 11:37 PM

I have an abusive relationship with my tank. Can't help it.

I just hate those days when, bungee chord enabled, the tank kicks back.

~B~

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WR

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
2 Link Pins

Posted on Nov 15 2006 08:00 AM

I like nitpicking

seriously, isn't versatility what it's all about? I love double picking, but I sometimes find I do it to much and it makes the melody worse, sometimes just normal picking's better. same with glissando's, once you get a hang of it's easily overdone. that's what I find most difficult about playing surf, constantly realizing it's about the song, not about the player. while that's what got me hooked on surf in the first place.

technique, Im lately seriously trying to incorporate "Ivanesque baroqueries" into my playing, the little hammer ons and pull offs around a note. gives it a half gipsy/half indian/half harpsichord (wow, that's three halfs!) sound. too cool!

WR

—

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

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wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Nov 15 2006 12:23 PM

WR
seriously, isn't versatility what it's all about? I love double picking, but I sometimes find I do it to much and it makes the melody worse, sometimes just normal picking's better. same with glissando's, once you get a hang of it's easily overdone. that's what I find most difficult about playing surf, constantly realizing it's about the song, not about the player. while that's what got me hooked on surf in the first place.

I think my favorite style in general might be double picking, but I can much more emphatically agree with WR's "it's about the song" outlook. Double picking can ruin a song when improperly used, as can other songs just sound boring if not double picked.

technique, Im lately seriously trying to incorporate "Ivanesque baroqueries" into my playing, the little hammer ons and pull offs around a note. gives it a half gipsy/half indian/half harpsichord (wow, that's three halfs!) sound. too cool! Cool Worship

I think that's perhaps my favorite peripheral surf "-ism." It lends itself so well to the genre and just sounds so yummy.

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IvanP

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
United States

Posted on Nov 15 2006 01:00 PM

wooza

WR
Im lately seriously trying to incorporate "Ivanesque baroqueries" into my playing, the little hammer ons and pull offs around a note. gives it a half gipsy/half indian/half harpsichord (wow, that's three halfs!) sound. too cool! Cool Worship

I think that's perhaps my favorite peripheral surf "-ism." It lends itself so well to the genre and just sounds so yummy.

Awww, thanks, guys, you're making me blush! I do need to point out that I pretty much got that whole thing from DD. He was always doing that kinda stuff, and I think it sounds very expressive and exotic. Of course, lots of mediterrenean music features those embelishments, so I'm laying them on as thick as I can right now to go with the whole Madeira MO.

Ivan

PS Three-halfs!! YES! Definitely beats two-halfs, wouldn't you agree? We should all strive to have our playing amount to three-halfs....

—

Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube

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Anonymous

Joined: Nov 10, 2000
Posts: -180

Posted on Nov 15 2006 04:37 PM

double pickingproperly known as alternating strokes, but followed by muted stacatto picking. i don't smash guitars--not a fair fight. but i will set fire to one if it pisses me off

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dan

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 60
southern ontario

Posted on Nov 15 2006 05:08 PM

I like all the surf techniques, but do tire of anything over done. Songs that are double picked using the Miserlou scale with the usual predictable glissandos are not very creative IMHO. I do admit to being guilty of this with a couple of my songs though!

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MikeG

Joined: Mar 29, 2006
Posts: 309
Springfield, Oregon

Posted on Nov 26 2006 12:25 PM

I can play "Surf Beat" using only my thumb on my fretting hand.

I also like to rest my hand on the tremolo bridge on my Ibanez so I can rapidly modulate the bridge with my hand while I'm picking. It produces a sort of detuned chorus-ey effect that makes everything sound Hawaiian.

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Surfabilly

Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
7 Contributor Pins

Posted on Nov 26 2006 03:32 PM

I went with quick glissando, since my first ever surf guitar creation has that at the end of the "chorus." I'm not exactly sure how I managed getting a glissando in there, with it originally being created with an acoustic guitar, but I do remember imagining how it'd sound on an electric guitar, so I likely created as if I was creating on an electric. I'm glad that I did, now that I have a couple of electric guitars in my collection, and as I've mentioned in other posts/threads, I've played it on every electric guitar I've had my hands on.

Tremelo picking would be second choice, if such were an option in this poll. Back when my guitar collection consisted of an acoustic 6-string, and an acoustic 12-string, I discovered how "Miserlou" sounds a la acoustic, after I found out that 80/20 (bright bronze) .12's were just the right set for the 6...having tried more light guage phosper bronze string sets than I care to remember.

Matt

—

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

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pointbreakspy

Joined: Aug 24, 2006
Posts: 204
Newcastle... Australia
1 POTD Pin

Posted on Nov 30 2006 04:35 AM

...other:

tune my non-whammybar guitar to E minor chord, brass or glass slide on 3rd finger at the 12th fret, strum an upstroke and drop the slide 1/4 - 1/2 a fret and back up again (depends on how big the surf is)....repeat at 5th fret if needed (Am)...works well on acoustic too, but don't kick the tank too hard!

adam

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katz-karnaby

Joined: Oct 25, 2006
Posts: 26
Tucson Arizona

Posted on Dec 01 2006 11:55 AM

I'm guilty of vibrato diving and double picking. Sometimes a six pack of beer or a few cups of coffee can inspire a new technique. (which fretboard am I playing on?)

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chad3006 Joined: Aug 21, 2006 Posts: 76 USA	Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:25 PM What's your favorite surf guitar technique? Mine is probably floating vibrato picking, followed by smashing the guitar. Top
Jon Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1076 Columbus, OH	Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:28 PM I really like to mute when I play; the drip sound is awesome. Top
Wraydar Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX	Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:36 PM Oh man that's a hard one I'm just gonna go with Staccato Slide Picking, 2 strings? Even better! — <img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:51 PM I just like normal picking. Top
diceophonic Joined: May 20, 2006 Posts: 2174 PacNW (Vancouver, Wa U.S.A.)	Posted on Nov 14 2006 09:57 PM That's a very hard one, I mean there isn't one thing I don't like to do but I can say I can't get enough of Kicking the tank I need to join some kind of AA group for tank kickers I'm so addicted — -Kyle Beyond The Surf YouTube channel Beyond The Surf Instagram The Verbtones @ Instagram The Verbtones @ Facebook The Verbtones @ bandcamp Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Nov 14 2006 11:37 PM I have an abusive relationship with my tank. Can't help it. I just hate those days when, bungee chord enabled, the tank kicks back. ~B~ Top
WR Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands	Posted on Nov 15 2006 08:00 AM I like nitpicking seriously, isn't versatility what it's all about? I love double picking, but I sometimes find I do it to much and it makes the melody worse, sometimes just normal picking's better. same with glissando's, once you get a hang of it's easily overdone. that's what I find most difficult about playing surf, constantly realizing it's about the song, not about the player. while that's what got me hooked on surf in the first place. technique, Im lately seriously trying to incorporate "Ivanesque baroqueries" into my playing, the little hammer ons and pull offs around a note. gives it a half gipsy/half indian/half harpsichord (wow, that's three halfs!) sound. too cool! WR — Rules to live by #314: "When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is." https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/ Top
wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Nov 15 2006 12:23 PM WR seriously, isn't versatility what it's all about? I love double picking, but I sometimes find I do it to much and it makes the melody worse, sometimes just normal picking's better. same with glissando's, once you get a hang of it's easily overdone. that's what I find most difficult about playing surf, constantly realizing it's about the song, not about the player. while that's what got me hooked on surf in the first place. I think my favorite style in general might be double picking, but I can much more emphatically agree with WR's "it's about the song" outlook. Double picking can ruin a song when improperly used, as can other songs just sound boring if not double picked. technique, Im lately seriously trying to incorporate "Ivanesque baroqueries" into my playing, the little hammer ons and pull offs around a note. gives it a half gipsy/half indian/half harpsichord (wow, that's three halfs!) sound. too cool! Cool Worship I think that's perhaps my favorite peripheral surf "-ism." It lends itself so well to the genre and just sounds so yummy. Top
IvanP Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 10331 southern Michigan	Posted on Nov 15 2006 01:00 PM wooza WR Im lately seriously trying to incorporate "Ivanesque baroqueries" into my playing, the little hammer ons and pull offs around a note. gives it a half gipsy/half indian/half harpsichord (wow, that's three halfs!) sound. too cool! Cool Worship I think that's perhaps my favorite peripheral surf "-ism." It lends itself so well to the genre and just sounds so yummy. Awww, thanks, guys, you're making me blush! I do need to point out that I pretty much got that whole thing from DD. He was always doing that kinda stuff, and I think it sounds very expressive and exotic. Of course, lots of mediterrenean music features those embelishments, so I'm laying them on as thick as I can right now to go with the whole Madeira MO. Ivan PS Three-halfs!! YES! Definitely beats two-halfs, wouldn't you agree? We should all strive to have our playing amount to three-halfs.... — Ivan Lords of Atlantis on Facebook The Madeira Official Website The Madeira on Facebook The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook The Space Cossacks on Facebook The Madeira Channel on YouTube Top
Anonymous Joined: Nov 10, 2000 Posts: -180	Posted on Nov 15 2006 04:37 PM double pickingproperly known as alternating strokes, but followed by muted stacatto picking. i don't smash guitars--not a fair fight. but i will set fire to one if it pisses me off Top
dan Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 60 southern ontario	Posted on Nov 15 2006 05:08 PM I like all the surf techniques, but do tire of anything over done. Songs that are double picked using the Miserlou scale with the usual predictable glissandos are not very creative IMHO. I do admit to being guilty of this with a couple of my songs though! Top
MikeG Joined: Mar 29, 2006 Posts: 309 Springfield, Oregon	Posted on Nov 26 2006 12:25 PM I can play "Surf Beat" using only my thumb on my fretting hand. I also like to rest my hand on the tremolo bridge on my Ibanez so I can rapidly modulate the bridge with my hand while I'm picking. It produces a sort of detuned chorus-ey effect that makes everything sound Hawaiian. Top
Surfabilly Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 852 Connersville, Indiana, USA	Posted on Nov 26 2006 03:32 PM I went with quick glissando, since my first ever surf guitar creation has that at the end of the "chorus." I'm not exactly sure how I managed getting a glissando in there, with it originally being created with an acoustic guitar, but I do remember imagining how it'd sound on an electric guitar, so I likely created as if I was creating on an electric. I'm glad that I did, now that I have a couple of electric guitars in my collection, and as I've mentioned in other posts/threads, I've played it on every electric guitar I've had my hands on. Tremelo picking would be second choice, if such were an option in this poll. Back when my guitar collection consisted of an acoustic 6-string, and an acoustic 12-string, I discovered how "Miserlou" sounds a la acoustic, after I found out that 80/20 (bright bronze) .12's were just the right set for the 6...having tried more light guage phosper bronze string sets than I care to remember. Matt — Fast Cars & Loud Guitars! Top
pointbreakspy Joined: Aug 24, 2006 Posts: 204 Newcastle... Australia	Posted on Nov 30 2006 04:35 AM ...other: tune my non-whammybar guitar to E minor chord, brass or glass slide on 3rd finger at the 12th fret, strum an upstroke and drop the slide 1/4 - 1/2 a fret and back up again (depends on how big the surf is)....repeat at 5th fret if needed (Am)...works well on acoustic too, but don't kick the tank too hard! adam Top
katz-karnaby Joined: Oct 25, 2006 Posts: 26 Tucson Arizona	Posted on Dec 01 2006 11:55 AM I'm guilty of vibrato diving and double picking. Sometimes a six pack of beer or a few cups of coffee can inspire a new technique. (which fretboard am I playing on?) Top

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Favorite guitar technique?