surf chords

uiso

Joined: Jun 16, 2006
Posts: 9
Valencia (spain)

Posted on Jan 13 2008 11:51 AM

Hi guys,

could you say me the most typical surf chords?
please i need new chords i'm tired of playing major or minor chords.

thanxs a lot

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JakeDobner

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

Posted on Jan 13 2008 11:57 AM

The most common surf chords are major and minor chords. We've used minor seventh chords to good effect in our music. If you want to make your music a little more interesting perhaps try new chord shapes of the major and minor chords. I really enjoy playing chord progressions with the shape that people commonly play the f and d chords

I hammer onto the note that makes it a suspended fourth quite often, but I never hold it for longer than a 8th note.

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jan 13 2008 12:04 PM

uiso
Hi guys,

could you say me the most typical surf chords?
please i need new chords i'm tired of playing major or minor chords.

thanxs a lot

Try Am or Em...those two are super-ultra-surfy. Also, if you've got the time, learn all your barre chords: c-shaped, a-shaped, g-shaped, e-shaped, d-shaped, Em-shaped and Am-shaped...all over the neck...that should keep you busy for a week or two

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wilkat1

Joined: Dec 03, 2007
Posts: 107
southern Illinois

Posted on Jan 13 2008 04:32 PM

In my opinion dp is right. Surf music for the most part uses simple chords but complex voicings. Learn as many ways of making an Am chord up and down the neck as you can. Then move on to other chords. Discover which ones make the chord progression sound sweet.

I never get sick of making an Am chord (Em shaped on the fifth fret) and dipping that whammy bar down at just the right time.

Another thing to try is picking out chord melodies on the three high strings of the guitar. Running up and down the neck with D, F, A, Dm shaped chords can yield great melodic lines. I just figured out a surfy chord melody for "Jingle Bell Rock" that my son and I played for our church Christmas gathering. I used simple triads on the high strings while the boy played rhythm. It was cool.

—

Swing! Twang! Shake! Twist!

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Jan 14 2008 10:36 AM

JakeDobner
The most common surf chords are major and minor chords. We've used minor seventh chords to good effect in our music.

Jake's right: major an minor are the most commonly used in surf...but 7th minors sound real nice every now and then.

You could get all jazzy and learn a bunch of 9th, 11th, diminished and augmented chords...that might sound interesting. I guess like anything, it sort of depends upon how you approach it.

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11046
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Jan 14 2008 03:23 PM

I recommend you put your energy into melodies, that's the meat of a surf song. Keep the chords simple. Once you master the genre, then start to branch out into more complex chord structures.

—

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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JoshHeartless

Joined: Jun 17, 2006
Posts: 1010
Bay City, Michigan
United States

Posted on Jan 14 2008 03:48 PM

my rule when it comes to writing surf: keep it simple. surf is rock n roll, not jazz.

—

The Tremblors on Facebook!

The Tremblors on MySpace!

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SurfBandBill

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

Posted on Jan 14 2008 03:54 PM

While I love jazz chording, and am always fascinated to hear it incorporated into surf more and more, I still have to agree with "the crew": surf is all about keeping it stripped down and rockin'. Besides, jazz chords are often little more than three notes, and often focus on adding a counterpoint or coloring under what is happening between the bassist and pianist in most jazz combos. If I learned one thing from my years of jazz studies and performing, it's that the jazz guitarist should keep it sparse. If I've learned one thing in writing and playing surf, it's that more is more, and it's time to reall let your guitar skills shine.

~B~

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Ruhar

Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
United States

Posted on Jan 14 2008 04:01 PM

SurfBandBill
If I learned one thing from my years of jazz studies and performing, it's that the jazz guitarist should keep it sparse.

Unless you're Tal Farlow

—

Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook

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SurfBandBill

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

Posted on Jan 14 2008 04:10 PM

Ruhar

SurfBandBill
If I learned one thing from my years of jazz studies and performing, it's that the jazz guitarist should keep it sparse.

Unless you're Tal Farlow

True dat. You don't get the nickname "the octopus" for nothing...

(Note to other readers, Farlow was a blazing jazz guitarist, but my observation was playing chords in a band setting. Farlow fronted trios and dropped jaws for YEARS)

~B~

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planish

Joined: Jan 09, 2008
Posts: 473
Sackville, New Brunswick
Canada

Posted on Mar 11 2008 03:56 AM

wilkat1
Another thing to try is picking out chord melodies on the three high strings of the guitar. Running up and down the neck with D, F, A, Dm shaped chords can yield great melodic lines.

I just "discovered" the trick of sliding the D, Dm and D7 up and down, on my own. It opened up a whole new territory, giving me another easy alternative for F or Fm. Before that, the only barre chords I was comfortable with were the E, Em, A, and Am-shaped ones.
It's amazing what you can come up with while goofing around aimlessly.

—

I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing.

Top

uiso Joined: Jun 16, 2006 Posts: 9 Valencia (spain)	Posted on Jan 13 2008 11:51 AM Hi guys, could you say me the most typical surf chords? please i need new chords i'm tired of playing major or minor chords. thanxs a lot Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Jan 13 2008 11:57 AM The most common surf chords are major and minor chords. We've used minor seventh chords to good effect in our music. If you want to make your music a little more interesting perhaps try new chord shapes of the major and minor chords. I really enjoy playing chord progressions with the shape that people commonly play the f and d chords I hammer onto the note that makes it a suspended fourth quite often, but I never hold it for longer than a 8th note. Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jan 13 2008 12:04 PM uiso Hi guys, could you say me the most typical surf chords? please i need new chords i'm tired of playing major or minor chords. thanxs a lot Try Am or Em...those two are super-ultra-surfy. Also, if you've got the time, learn all your barre chords: c-shaped, a-shaped, g-shaped, e-shaped, d-shaped, Em-shaped and Am-shaped...all over the neck...that should keep you busy for a week or two Top
wilkat1 Joined: Dec 03, 2007 Posts: 107 southern Illinois	Posted on Jan 13 2008 04:32 PM In my opinion dp is right. Surf music for the most part uses simple chords but complex voicings. Learn as many ways of making an Am chord up and down the neck as you can. Then move on to other chords. Discover which ones make the chord progression sound sweet. I never get sick of making an Am chord (Em shaped on the fifth fret) and dipping that whammy bar down at just the right time. Another thing to try is picking out chord melodies on the three high strings of the guitar. Running up and down the neck with D, F, A, Dm shaped chords can yield great melodic lines. I just figured out a surfy chord melody for "Jingle Bell Rock" that my son and I played for our church Christmas gathering. I used simple triads on the high strings while the boy played rhythm. It was cool. — Swing! Twang! Shake! Twist! Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Jan 14 2008 10:36 AM JakeDobner The most common surf chords are major and minor chords. We've used minor seventh chords to good effect in our music. Jake's right: major an minor are the most commonly used in surf...but 7th minors sound real nice every now and then. You could get all jazzy and learn a bunch of 9th, 11th, diminished and augmented chords...that might sound interesting. I guess like anything, it sort of depends upon how you approach it. Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11046 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Jan 14 2008 03:23 PM I recommend you put your energy into melodies, that's the meat of a surf song. Keep the chords simple. Once you master the genre, then start to branch out into more complex chord structures. — 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 Top
JoshHeartless Joined: Jun 17, 2006 Posts: 1010 Bay City, Michigan	Posted on Jan 14 2008 03:48 PM my rule when it comes to writing surf: keep it simple. surf is rock n roll, not jazz. — The Tremblors on Facebook! The Tremblors on MySpace! Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Jan 14 2008 03:54 PM While I love jazz chording, and am always fascinated to hear it incorporated into surf more and more, I still have to agree with "the crew": surf is all about keeping it stripped down and rockin'. Besides, jazz chords are often little more than three notes, and often focus on adding a counterpoint or coloring under what is happening between the bassist and pianist in most jazz combos. If I learned one thing from my years of jazz studies and performing, it's that the jazz guitarist should keep it sparse. If I've learned one thing in writing and playing surf, it's that more is more, and it's time to reall let your guitar skills shine. ~B~ Top
Ruhar Joined: Jun 21, 2007 Posts: 3909 San Diego, CA	Posted on Jan 14 2008 04:01 PM SurfBandBill If I learned one thing from my years of jazz studies and performing, it's that the jazz guitarist should keep it sparse. Unless you're Tal Farlow — Ryan The Secret Samurai Website The Secret Samurai on Facebook Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Jan 14 2008 04:10 PM Ruhar SurfBandBill If I learned one thing from my years of jazz studies and performing, it's that the jazz guitarist should keep it sparse. Unless you're Tal Farlow True dat. You don't get the nickname "the octopus" for nothing... (Note to other readers, Farlow was a blazing jazz guitarist, but my observation was playing chords in a band setting. Farlow fronted trios and dropped jaws for YEARS) ~B~ Top
planish Joined: Jan 09, 2008 Posts: 473 Sackville, New Brunswick	Posted on Mar 11 2008 03:56 AM wilkat1 Another thing to try is picking out chord melodies on the three high strings of the guitar. Running up and down the neck with D, F, A, Dm shaped chords can yield great melodic lines. I just "discovered" the trick of sliding the D, Dm and D7 up and down, on my own. It opened up a whole new territory, giving me another easy alternative for F or Fm. Before that, the only barre chords I was comfortable with were the E, Em, A, and Am-shaped ones. It's amazing what you can come up with while goofing around aimlessly. — I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing. Top

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surf chords