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I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in here..... you've already got the hardware (put
some roundwound .012's on that Strat first, or at least .011's nickel)
so.....
If I had it to do over again, I would learn it the way it happened -
meaning, start off with the earliest Ventures record you can find (Walk Dont
Run would be my choice) and dig on a couple of those tunes. Simple, straight
ahead stuff that gets you in the right frame of mind for the more
complicated surf stuff. Go from here to "Pipeline", master the rhythm and
the 'tuk-a-tuk-a-tuk-a' glissando slide (you'll need it a bunch in the
future). Learn this well, it is the holy grail of surf tunes.
Surf by nature is not the most complicated music at first glance, but - to
get it right, it takes a little more than learning an A minor chord.
First song I'd work on for timing and sense of space in surf music - "Surf
Rider" by the Lively Ones. This tune is on a zillion cd's now, not to
mention winMX (the last great file sharing app). Yes it is an easy lick to
finger, but the repetition, timing and nuances of it require a little
effort. The next song in this vein would be "Baja" since it's a bit more
complicated but headed in the same direction.
Then I would move on to the double picking stuff.. Start off with
"Miserlou". It's the king of surf tunes and it is only one string (at at
time least ways.). This will get your wrist and arm action going for ya.
Move onto "Squad Car" if you're feeling cocky, or even deeper, "The Jester".
Congratulations, you've graduated surf guitar 101.
Surf Guitar 202 will be listening to the genre defining bands (think Belairs
= Mr. Moto, Dick Dale = anything 61-62 era, Eddie Bertrand = Squad Car,
etc.), and the things to listen for in the keepers of the flame (Los
Straitjackets = Calhoun Surf, Penetrators = Redline, Jon & The Nightriders
or The Elminators = anything, and the list goes on and on..). Once you've
got the licks and the tones, you're ready to make waves of your own.
'least thats how I see it,
Robb
----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2002 8:39 PM
Subject: [SurfGuitar101] Starting Surf Tune
> Hey Anyone,
>
> I'm just starting out with this surf stuff, (gotta '97 California Strat
> w/orig. TexMex in neck, an SD Antiquity in the middle and an SD Custom
Bridge
> Antiquity in bridge pos.).
>
> So what's a good basic song to learn to get into the genre?? I've been
> playing for a long time, but preferably something pretty easy to begin
with
> as well...Thanks!!
>
> -Brad
