psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
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Posted on Jun 03 2012 11:07 AM
Thought I'd open a discussion about a topic rarely talked about here; Arpeggios.
Often people will post asking about which scales to use for surf, and how to compose songs, but nobody ever seems to mention arpeggios. Most classic surf tunes are built from arpeggios, not scales, for example: Squad Car, Midnight Run, Baja and most anything else by the Astronauts, Walk Don't Run, Spudnik(Surf Rider), and loads of others. There are of course songs built from scales, for example Miserlou, but if you really want to inject some melody into your music arpeggios are the way to go. In general scales tones should be used to connect and embellish arpeggios. Although they seem intimidating at first, there aren't really that many shapes and there are tons of books on the subject. It's an understandable knee-jerk reaction to think that arpeggios are for shredders or jazz guys, but a thorough study of arpeggios provides a greater understanding of the fingerboard, a better understanding of harmony, improved compositional skills, speed and dexterity.
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http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Jun 03 2012 11:40 AM
Brilliant. Seems basic to more advanced players, but for us beginners, I think a great idea is to pick a tune, post a video or audio clip, and break down the arpeggio(s) it uses.
How 'bout Journey to the Stars first?
And what about new surf tunes?
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Jun 04 2012 10:10 AM
I have noticed over the years that many of the more memorable surf tunes have been composed using arpeggios for the main melodic line. A modern favorite of mine is Satan's Pilgrims Badge of Honor (an Am arpeggio.) I've tried a few times to write like that, but more often than not, I have to go the melodic scale route.
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
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websurfer
Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 1753
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Posted on Jun 05 2012 06:31 PM
I'm thinking "Latinia" is another prime example of a CLASSIC surf arrangement, written around a few simple arpeggiated chord shapes that recur again and again. It really is amazing how so much is done with so little. Of course, the superb percussion by Johnny Barbata (on the original Sentinals version) makes it.
Last edited: Jun 05, 2012 18:33:08
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11053
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Jun 05 2012 09:05 PM
I would submit exhibit A - Pintor
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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tubeswell
Joined: Sep 24, 2011
Posts: 1424
Wellington, NZ
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Posted on Jun 06 2012 01:14 AM
Exhibit B - arps in Surf Rider.
Good exercise to get to know arpeggio notes is play arpeggios along each string (as well as within and between the various chord positions). Start with the major and minor
— He who dies with the most tubes... wins
Surf Daddies
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JStern
Joined: Mar 15, 2012
Posts: 105
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 08:34 AM
I thought I would give this thread a bump to help start some more musical dialogue after all the tank/pedal nonsense that has been flying.
WARNING: MUSIC THEORY CONTENT!
The great thing about an arpeggio is that the flavor changes completely as you respell, or invert the notes.
For instance, take a C Major Arpeggio, C-E-G. This position is called root position, with the chord root in the bass. Now respell it so that the lowest note is E, so it is E-G-C. The arpeggio is now in first inversion, with the third of the chord in the bass. Now respell it so that the lowest note is G, so it is G-C-E. The arpeggio is now in second inversion, with the fifth of the chord in the bass.
Here is a good arpeggio exercise, taking a major arpeggio through the inversions.
C-E-G-C, E-G-C-E, G-C-E-G, C-E-G-C, then reverse it. Take this through all 12 major and minor keys.
— The Techtonics reverb nation page
Soundcloud page
Last edited: Jun 12, 2012 08:35:28
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 09:13 AM
Thank you!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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JStern
Joined: Mar 15, 2012
Posts: 105
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 10:54 AM
Here is a study of some arpeggios in context, using the main melody of Mr. Moto.
The numbers below the notes represent what degree within each scale the note is.
The first statement, simply outlines a d minor arpeggio, with a G used as a "passing tone." The 3rd measure is a Bb7 arpeggio (forgive the typo below the 4th note, it should read 3, not 2). The G's are still passing tones, not part of the arpeggio. The 5th measure has an A7 arpeggio, but omits the 3rd of the chord.
— The Techtonics reverb nation page
Soundcloud page
Last edited: Jun 12, 2012 11:00:25
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psychonaut
Joined: Dec 08, 2007
Posts: 1303
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 11:05 AM
JStern wrote:
Here is a study of some arpeggios in context, using the main melody of Mr. Moto.
The numbers below the notes represent what degree within each scale the note is.
The first statement, simply outlines a d minor arpeggio, with a G used as a "passing tone." The 3rd measure is a Bb7 arpeggio (forgive the typo below the 4th note, it should read 3, not 2). The G's are still passing tones, not part of the arpeggio. The 5th measure has an A7 arpeggio, but omits the 3rd of the chord.
Perfect! This is exactly the kind of discussion I was hoping to start.
Thanks!
— https://www.facebook.com/coffindagger
http://coffindaggers.com/
http://thecoffindaggers.bandcamp.com
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 11:58 AM
JStern wrote:
I thought I would give this thread a bump to help start some more musical dialogue after all the tank/pedal nonsense that has been flying.
WARNING: MUSIC THEORY CONTENT!
The great thing about an arpeggio is that the flavor changes completely as you respell, or invert the notes.
For instance, take a C Major Arpeggio, C-E-G. This position is called root position, with the chord root in the bass. Now respell it so that the lowest note is E, so it is E-G-C. The arpeggio is now in first inversion, with the third of the chord in the bass. Now respell it so that the lowest note is G, so it is G-C-E. The arpeggio is now in second inversion, with the fifth of the chord in the bass.
Here is a good arpeggio exercise, taking a major arpeggio through the inversions.
C-E-G-C, E-G-C-E, G-C-E-G, C-E-G-C, then reverse it. Take this through all 12 major and minor keys.
The inversion of arpeggios is the most crucial thing in surf music...imho.
The ending of 'Surf Rider', 'Squad Car' and even the MOAM Song 'Configuration 9' are just a few examples how these inversions work and how to use them:
Am
-0- -5- -8-- -12- -17-
-1- -5- -10- -13- -17-
-2- -5- -9-- -14- -17-
- - ----
It is oh so simple and improves your playing so much. Learn these patterns and you can play along to every song and sound like you know what you're doing
— The Hicadoolas
Last edited: Jun 12, 2012 11:59:59
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Stormtiger
Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2683
Ventura, CA
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 02:29 PM
Do arpeggios sound better through a tank or pedal?
My apologies to everyone.
The middle section of Penetration makes good use of arpeggios.
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Surfocaster
Joined: Jan 16, 2010
Posts: 214
Somerset, England
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 03:40 PM
Ive never thought of the ending to Surf Rider as being arps or inversions of arps but simply Am in 5 different positions. I can see im missing the point now ( i think).
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wfoguy
Joined: Dec 11, 2011
Posts: 2130
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 04:59 PM
Could someone post a short video for an example to help the learning challenged?
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Number9
Joined: Jul 18, 2009
Posts: 499
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 05:06 PM
.
Last edited: Mar 01, 2020 08:11:47
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revmike
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3806
North Atlantic
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Posted on Jun 12 2012 08:28 PM
I was listening to The Surfites, and a lot of their pieces are arpeggio based. They do a great job of incorporating them.
I think you have to be careful with how you use these triadic beasts. Just outlining the songs chords can get boring pretty quickly. it's still about creativity.
Rev
— Canadian Surf
http://www.urbansurfkings.com/
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SanchoPansen
Joined: Jan 04, 2011
Posts: 1588
Berlin L-Berg
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Posted on Jun 13 2012 02:34 AM
You are right, Surfocaster. These are not arpeggios, please forget what I wrote Simple inversions, not arps.
— The Hicadoolas
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Big_Ryan
Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 578
San Diego
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Posted on Jun 13 2012 09:24 AM
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Surfocaster
Joined: Jan 16, 2010
Posts: 214
Somerset, England
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Posted on Jun 13 2012 02:06 PM
Big_Ryan wrote:
we need more threads like this one
Yeah, to explain the thread itself!!
How many of us compose tunes but do so without any knowledge of the theory behind it? Personaly i really enjoy theory. I recently did a tune after looking through my book of scales for something surfy sounding and came across the phrygian scale and wrote a tune based on that alone. Now I have a bit of a feel for that scale which is useful to know. My next mission is to write a tune which incorporates tritones, purely for the purpose of learning.
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raito
Joined: Oct 16, 2008
Posts: 550
Madison, WI
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Posted on Jun 13 2012 10:18 PM
I have noticed that a fair number of surf tunes will play a 3-note arpeggio 4 times. This tends to rhythmically organize itself into 3 sets of 4 notes, rather than 4 sets of 3 notes (in 4/4 time). This gives rise to some rather nice sounding syncopation.
The canonical non-surf example of this rhythm is In The Mood.
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