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Yahoo Group Archives » Page 110 »

Besides Am,Dm,Em,Fm what chords are used in surf music?

roxyman70 - 11 Aug 2005 15:46:34

Hey everyone, I'm trying to write surf songs. Most of them have the
usual chords in first position(Am,Dm,Em,Fm). What other chords can I
use. How about some moveable chords? Thanks everyone!!

Top

John Brownlow (pinkheadedbug) - 11 Aug 2005 20:28:08

er, all of them?
On 11-Aug-05, at 4:46 PM, roxyman70 wrote:
> Hey everyone, I'm trying to write surf songs. Most of them have the
> usual chords in first position(Am,Dm,Em,Fm). What other chords can I
> use. How about some moveable chords? Thanks everyone!!
>
>
>
>
>
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twangbangin - 11 Aug 2005 20:45:53

Roxyman 70,
All chords are the same relative to there own key. If you start a song
in Am and follow with Dm and E7, it's no different than starting the
song in F#m and play Bm and C#7. (I should qualify that by adding some
people feel certain keys have subtle differences in character, but
that's not too relevant here) When you say first position, are you
referring to the top of the neck and playing mostly open chords? (Open
chords have some strings not being fretted). Where you play the chord
on the guitar is a matter of preference, but as a player you should
learn most major and minor chord positions up to the 12th fret. You
mention Fm, if you can play Fm, you can play that chord as a movable
(also called bar or barre) chord all the way up the neck-change one
finger and its a major, add your pinkie and it's a dominant 7th.
You came to the right place and I'm sure plenty of people would like to
help you, but try to clarify what it is you're asking.
Danny
On Aug 11, 2005, at 1:46 PM, roxyman70 wrote:
> Hey everyone, I'm trying to write surf songs.  Most of them have the
> usual chords in first position(Am,Dm,Em,Fm).  What other chords can I
> use.  How about some moveable chords?  Thanks everyone!!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> .
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Jacob Dobner (jacobdobner) - 11 Aug 2005 20:54:25

My band is way too keen on C#m. I think we have three songs with it as
the first chord. One is a cover though.
--- In , "roxyman70" <roxyman70@y...> wrote:
> Hey everyone, I'm trying to write surf songs. Most of them have the
> usual chords in first position(Am,Dm,Em,Fm). What other chords can I
> use. How about some moveable chords? Thanks everyone!!

Top

Phil Dirt (dirtkfjc) - 11 Aug 2005 21:17:32

There are chords in surf music?

Top

billyblastoff805 - 11 Aug 2005 21:26:13

Yeah! H#minor!
---- Phil Dirt <> wrote:
> There are chords in surf music?
>
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
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loscobrassurf - 12 Aug 2005 06:51:58

Once I was trying to explain to the guys how I was having a hard time
in the solo on this one song. The bass player looked at me and said
"What do you mean all you do is solo" Miller
--- In , Phil Dirt <phildirt@r...> wrote:
> There are chords in surf music?

Top

DP (noetical1) - 12 Aug 2005 10:41:02

--- roxyman70 <> wrote:
Hey everyone, I'm trying to write surf songs. Most of
them have the usual chords in first position(Am,Dm,Em,Fm).
What other chords can I use. How about some moveable
chords? Thanks everyone!!
roxyman:
dude...you should give barre (bar) chords a try:
E maj barre: shaped like an open E (with the first finger
as barre)
Am barre: shaped like an open Am (with the first finger as
barre)
Em barre: shaped like an open Em (with the first finger as
barre)
A maj barre: shaped like and open A (with the first finger
as barre)
...also...you can try some cool minor chords like: Cm, Fm,
F#m, C#m, Dm (Mr. Moto chord), Bm, Bbm, Gm...etc...
get yourself a handy chord finder bokk and get on it!
-dp
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DP (noetical1) - 12 Aug 2005 10:50:13

I forgot to mention...barre chords are moveable up and down
the neck...the "bar" finger acts like a capo and
"transposes" (in a sense) the chord shape you are using.
for exaple:
An Emaj barre chord shape at the 3rd fret is a Gmaj, at
the 5th fret it's an Amaj, at the 7th fret it's a Bmaj
etc...
good luck dude,
-dp
> roxyman:
>
> dude...you should give barre (bar) chords a try:
>
> E maj barre: shaped like an open E (with the first
> finger as barre)
>
> Am barre: shaped like an open Am (with the first finger
> as barre)
>
> Em barre: shaped like an open Em (with the first finger
> as barre)
>
> A maj barre: shaped like and open A (with the first
> finger as barre)
>
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Richard (errant_jedi) - 12 Aug 2005 12:10:48

They're really right about learning your basic major
and minor chord shapes and practicing your bar chords.
I'm in the habit of using open position chords for
just about everything and while it does technically
work you don't get "that sound" for a lot of songs.
I've been practicing the rhythm part for Perfidia by
the Ventures lately and while you can play the intro
and the verse in the open position, it just doesn't
sound like Perfidia. Most surf songs that have full
chord rhythm progressions use bar chords.
Richard
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Dave Becker (novapup2001) - 12 Aug 2005 12:33:43

I'd like to ask the lead guitarists which keys let you take advantage of
the open position the best and give you the most versatility?
I would think Em still ranks high on the list, but which other keys work
well?
BW Dave
>-----Original Message-----
>From:
[mailto:]
>On Behalf Of Richard
>Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 10:11 AM
>To:
>Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Besides Am,Dm,Em,Fm what chords are used
in
>surf music?
>
>
>They're really right about learning your basic major
>and minor chord shapes and practicing your bar chords.
> I'm in the habit of using open position chords for
>just about everything and while it does technically
>work you don't get "that sound" for a lot of songs.
>I've been practicing the rhythm part for Perfidia by
>the Ventures lately and while you can play the intro
>and the verse in the open position, it just doesn't
>sound like Perfidia. Most surf songs that have full
>chord rhythm progressions use bar chords.
>
>Richard
>
>__________________________________________________
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halibutrick - 12 Aug 2005 12:41:08

In a lot of surf songs, you can simplify the bar cord shape down to
2-3 strings. Esecially if the rhythm is a muted sound drenched with
reverb.
Rick
Halibuts/Deoras
--- In , Richard <errant_jedi@y...> wrote:
>
> They're really right about learning your basic major
> and minor chord shapes and practicing your bar chords.
> I'm in the habit of using open position chords for
> just about everything and while it does technically
> work you don't get "that sound" for a lot of songs.
> I've been practicing the rhythm part for Perfidia by
> the Ventures lately and while you can play the intro
> and the verse in the open position, it just doesn't
> sound like Perfidia. Most surf songs that have full
> chord rhythm progressions use bar chords.
>
> Richard
>
> __________________________________________________
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Richard (errant_jedi) - 12 Aug 2005 12:43:29

Oh, believe me, I do this. A lot. :)
Richard
--- halibutrick <> wrote:
>
> In a lot of surf songs, you can simplify the bar
> cord shape down to
> 2-3 strings. Esecially if the rhythm is a muted
> sound drenched with
> reverb.
>
> Rick
> Halibuts/Deoras
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steve white (wattage12) - 12 Aug 2005 12:51:05

I use alot of Jazz chords like 9's and others, but it does not matter. You can
use any type of Chords in writting Surf Music. It is how you use them,having the
sound and having the Rythm.
Steve W.
Dave Becker <> wrote:
I'd like to ask the lead guitarists which keys let you take advantage of
the open position the best and give you the most versatility?
I would think Em still ranks high on the list, but which other keys work
well?
BW Dave
>-----Original Message-----
>From:
[mailto:]
>On Behalf Of Richard
>Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 10:11 AM
>To:
>Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Besides Am,Dm,Em,Fm what chords are used
in
>surf music?
>
>
>They're really right about learning your basic major
>and minor chord shapes and practicing your bar chords.
> I'm in the habit of using open position chords for
>just about everything and while it does technically
>work you don't get "that sound" for a lot of songs.
>I've been practicing the rhythm part for Perfidia by
>the Ventures lately and while you can play the intro
>and the verse in the open position, it just doesn't
>sound like Perfidia. Most surf songs that have full
>chord rhythm progressions use bar chords.
>
>Richard
>
>__________________________________________________
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>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
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bruce duncan (wetreverb) - 12 Aug 2005 14:10:06

Open-Position leads work OK for me in Amin, Dmin, G and Gmin, as well as E and
Emin of course.
Bruce D
Dave Becker <> wrote:
I'd like to ask the lead guitarists which keys let you take advantage of
the open position the best and give you the most versatility?
I would think Em still ranks high on the list, but which other keys work
well?
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
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>------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
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---------------------------------
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DP (noetical1) - 12 Aug 2005 18:44:36

--- steve white <> wrote:
> I use alot of Jazz chords like 9's and others, but it
> does not matter. You can use any type of Chords in
> writting Surf Music. It is how you use them,having the
> sound and having the Rythm.
I like the augmented chords...they sound cool and jazzy...
great for surf!
-dp
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John Brownlow (pinkheadedbug) - 12 Aug 2005 19:49:30

yes, I use the aug and dim chords to substitute for the V7 here and
there and it works wonders, especially in getting to and from strange
harmonic changes.
if you are playing a lot of open chords, the two barre chords that
are very helpful are F and Bb. Of course if you can do these you can
do all the others!
another obvious trick used in a lot of surf songs is to use both
major and minor versions of the same chord in succession eg A Am or
Am A... always freshens up a stale sequence.
nothing to do with chords, but one other trick to liven up your
playing is to TURN THE DAMN REVERB OFF ONCE IN A WHILE. It makes you
play entirely differently, especially if you add a bit of gnarly
fuzz. Really worth listening to some bands like The Hives, The
Strokes, the Libertines, and so on who play incredibly dry... you
suddenly get a different kind of energy.
On 12-Aug-05, at 7:44 PM, DP wrote:
>
>
> --- steve white <> wrote:
>
>
>> I use alot of Jazz chords like 9's and others, but it
>> does not matter. You can use any type of Chords in
>> writting Surf Music. It is how you use them,having the
>> sound and having the Rythm.
>>
>
>
> I like the augmented chords...they sound cool and jazzy...
> great for surf!
>
> -dp
>
> __________________________________________________
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twangbangin - 12 Aug 2005 20:22:40

On Aug 12, 2005, at 5:49 PM, John Brownlow wrote:
>
> nothing to do with chords, but one other trick to liven up your
> playing is to TURN THE DAMN REVERB OFF ONCE IN A WHILE.
BLASPHEMY! My reverb will always be on, sandwiched between my Les Paul
and my Marshall.
Danny

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Marty Tippens (mctippens) - 12 Aug 2005 20:33:28

Altered chords work best as passing chords when moving up a 4th.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: John Brownlow
To:
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 5:49 PM
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Besides Am,Dm,Em,Fm what chords are used in surf
music?
...I use the aug and dim chords to substitute for the V7 here and
there and it works wonders, especially in getting to and from strange
harmonic changes...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Marty Tippens (mctippens) - 12 Aug 2005 20:34:46

Blashpemy!! Have this man arrested at once!!
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: John Brownlow
To:
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 5:49 PM
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Besides Am,Dm,Em,Fm what chords are used in surf
music?
...TURN THE DAMN REVERB OFF ONCE IN A WHILE...
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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