Want to start getting into surf, but where do I start?

LukeR

Joined: Apr 23, 2016
Posts: 1

Posted on Apr 23 2016 03:00 AM

Hey guys,

I have been playing guitar for around 10 years and mainly a blues guitarist with minor rockabilly and finger picking ability. I would like to get into the surf genre but I have no idea which songs or areas to start in. Any advice would be appreciated.

Top

Gilette

Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
Montserrat

Posted on Apr 23 2016 05:02 AM

"Pipeline" by the Chantays. That's a good starting point. Or "Walk don't run" by the Ventures. Take some time to master palm muting and build up your picking speed. All of this lavishly saturated with reverb of course.

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Teiscofan

Joined: Feb 21, 2011
Posts: 513
Ontario
Canada

Posted on Apr 23 2016 05:49 AM

Hers a link to a topic that lists some great songs....

https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/27689/

—

I am not obsolete, I am RETRO....

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SinNombre

Joined: Nov 14, 2011
Posts: 79
San Diego

Posted on Apr 27 2016 06:08 PM

Member Don Sucher teachs a couple of favorites...

Surfrider

Walk, Don't Run

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montereyjack66

Joined: Jul 23, 2014
Posts: 645
LA -ish
United States

Posted on Apr 27 2016 07:25 PM

http://www.northseasurfradio.com/ Start listening. Plan on coming to the Huntington Beach shows this summer. Consider the Convention in August. Hang out here. Try not to take anything I say too seriously.

Good luck!

mj

—

mj
bent playing for benter results
Do not attempt to adjust your TV set.
https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/
https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/

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ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1399
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Apr 28 2016 08:22 AM

Luke,
Try to find, if possible, any local surf bands to go see live and make friends. Hearing the music played live and up close will give you a good feel of what you like and don't like (gulp-did I say that??) about surf music. I was lucky enough to see the Space Cossacks, Diamondheads, Atomic Mosquitos and Straitjackets live while developing my sound and my first surf band. I got to talk to them about tone, equipment and came away with a lot of good information and guidance for developing my tone and style of playing.

So I'll say, learn from the bands you can see, talk to them and try to develop your own sound over time.

If your goal is to be in a surf cover band, then go through this website's forum pages meticulously. There are tons of people who have painstakingly laid out so much of the fundamentals of surf music, playing style and song choices that you essentially have an encyclopedia of surf music right at your mouse click!

—

Surf.The most dangerous of genres...

Surfcat

MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single)

BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus
YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf
BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy

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JObeast

Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
Turkmenistan

Posted on Apr 28 2016 05:08 PM

Learn to play the songs you like, and keep at it u til you have forgotten more songs than you know. By then you will be able to make up pastiche in the idiom, and maybe adapt tunes outside surf to it. Also, start playing with other surf musicians.

—

Squink Out!

Top

fosco

Joined: Jun 09, 2015
Posts: 21
Berne
Switzerland

Posted on Apr 29 2016 04:30 PM

You should also check out the podcasts on this site! I have listened each episode 3 or 4 times so far and everytime I find something new!

Top

fosco

Joined: Jun 09, 2015
Posts: 21
Berne
Switzerland

Posted on Apr 29 2016 04:32 PM

And for a beginner (I started listening to surf music last year, so I consider myself still a newbie/beginner) I would also suggest some kind of a compilation like "The Birth of Surf" Vol. 1, 2 and/or 3.

Top

da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on May 11 2016 04:53 AM

Try not to get sucked into the tone and equipment side of things. Put all your energy into practicing, especially your picking hand. Pipeline is a classic, also Mr Moto, and Penetration. Very little improvisation compared to blues, the songs are neat little energetic packets of perfection.

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

Top

Clarry

Joined: Oct 01, 2014
Posts: 519
Streatham, London
United Kingdom

Posted on May 11 2016 05:39 AM

I was giving Mr Moto a go the other day. Very good tune and exercise for style.

Picked up Latinia very easily, which kind of jammed into an "Exotic/Ali baba" mash-up at one point.

Top

LukeR Joined: Apr 23, 2016 Posts: 1	Posted on Apr 23 2016 03:00 AM Hey guys, I have been playing guitar for around 10 years and mainly a blues guitarist with minor rockabilly and finger picking ability. I would like to get into the surf genre but I have no idea which songs or areas to start in. Any advice would be appreciated. Top
Gilette Joined: May 04, 2014 Posts: 734	Posted on Apr 23 2016 05:02 AM "Pipeline" by the Chantays. That's a good starting point. Or "Walk don't run" by the Ventures. Take some time to master palm muting and build up your picking speed. All of this lavishly saturated with reverb of course. Top
Teiscofan Joined: Feb 21, 2011 Posts: 513 Ontario	Posted on Apr 23 2016 05:49 AM Hers a link to a topic that lists some great songs.... https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/27689/ — I am not obsolete, I am RETRO.... Top
SinNombre Joined: Nov 14, 2011 Posts: 79 San Diego	Posted on Apr 27 2016 06:08 PM Member Don Sucher teachs a couple of favorites... Surfrider Walk, Don't Run Top
montereyjack66 Joined: Jul 23, 2014 Posts: 645 LA -ish	Posted on Apr 27 2016 07:25 PM http://www.northseasurfradio.com/ Start listening. Plan on coming to the Huntington Beach shows this summer. Consider the Convention in August. Hang out here. Try not to take anything I say too seriously. Good luck! mj — mj bent playing for benter results Do not attempt to adjust your TV set. https://www.facebook.com/Bass-VI-Explorers-Club-179437279151035/ https://www.facebook.com/Lost-Planet-Shamen-366987463657230/ Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1399 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Apr 28 2016 08:22 AM Luke, Try to find, if possible, any local surf bands to go see live and make friends. Hearing the music played live and up close will give you a good feel of what you like and don't like (gulp-did I say that??) about surf music. I was lucky enough to see the Space Cossacks, Diamondheads, Atomic Mosquitos and Straitjackets live while developing my sound and my first surf band. I got to talk to them about tone, equipment and came away with a lot of good information and guidance for developing my tone and style of playing. So I'll say, learn from the bands you can see, talk to them and try to develop your own sound over time. If your goal is to be in a surf cover band, then go through this website's forum pages meticulously. There are tons of people who have painstakingly laid out so much of the fundamentals of surf music, playing style and song choices that you essentially have an encyclopedia of surf music right at your mouse click! — Surf.The most dangerous of genres... Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus THE JOURNEY HOME - Free download (2025) - Agent Octopus (Single) BANDCAMP - Agent Octopus YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf BANDCAMP - Reverb Galaxy Top
JObeast Joined: Jul 24, 2012 Posts: 2762 Finknabad, Squinkistan	Posted on Apr 28 2016 05:08 PM Learn to play the songs you like, and keep at it u til you have forgotten more songs than you know. By then you will be able to make up pastiche in the idiom, and maybe adapt tunes outside surf to it. Also, start playing with other surf musicians. — Squink Out! Top
fosco Joined: Jun 09, 2015 Posts: 21 Berne	Posted on Apr 29 2016 04:30 PM You should also check out the podcasts on this site! I have listened each episode 3 or 4 times so far and everytime I find something new! Top
fosco Joined: Jun 09, 2015 Posts: 21 Berne	Posted on Apr 29 2016 04:32 PM And for a beginner (I started listening to surf music last year, so I consider myself still a newbie/beginner) I would also suggest some kind of a compilation like "The Birth of Surf" Vol. 1, 2 and/or 3. Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on May 11 2016 04:53 AM Try not to get sucked into the tone and equipment side of things. Put all your energy into practicing, especially your picking hand. Pipeline is a classic, also Mr Moto, and Penetration. Very little improvisation compared to blues, the songs are neat little energetic packets of perfection. — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top
Clarry Joined: Oct 01, 2014 Posts: 519 Streatham, London	Posted on May 11 2016 05:39 AM I was giving Mr Moto a go the other day. Very good tune and exercise for style. Picked up Latinia very easily, which kind of jammed into an "Exotic/Ali baba" mash-up at one point. Top

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Want to start getting into surf, but where do I start?