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Hey guys,
My name's Eric, I hail from North Carolina, USA, and I've been
listening to surf music since I saw "The Endless Summer" at the age
of 14 (8 years ago). I got sidetracked in my teenage years by punk
and indie rock, and I've been playing in those kinds of bands since I
was about 15.
This summer, I bought a lake placid blue Dillion Jazzmaster copy,
and I was standing in front of the mirror with it when I realized
that the guitar was too good for punk. I'm trying to get my chops
together now to form a spy-twang type band (I can't surf -- I can't
even swim -- so the idea of being in a surf band felt a little too
foreign).
I've got a few demos of stuff that I've done on my computer with a
guitar, bass, and FruityLoops created drums; it's not the best
quality, and my songwriting options are limited by the drum machine,
but it's something at least.
I have a few questions for you guys. First off, I'm trying to put
together a website of spy tabs, with chord progressions for the James
Bond movies, and the riffs for all of the 60s spybop. I also want to
have a section of surf-spy tabs, but the problem is there's not many
in the obvious places on the Internet. I got here by looking at a
Google-cached copy of Brian Neal's Man or Astroman? page to find tabs
for their stuff. Do you guys have any such tabs, or could you point
me in the right direction?
Also, I was thinking about running an essay on what makes the spy
guitar sound: technique, gear, action, scales, etc., but I realized
when trying to think about it that these are things that I don't, but
that I would like to know. Would anyone here be interested in writing
such a piece?
Last question, before I go. The Jazzmaster's sitting in a gig bag
that barely fits it right now, because it came caseless from a pawn
shop. Are there any case options cheaper than Musician's Friend's
$120 for a Fender case?
Thanks!
--Eric
Hey Eric,
I live in Athens, GA, so we really aren't very far
apart. As far as surf/spy goes, I've always noticed
tht the signature interval for those tunes seems to be
the major 3rd (incidentally, this is one of the only
intervals I can recognize by sight and sound, I guess
because I listen to this type of music) but I think
that's probably true to a certain extent in lots of
surf/instrumental music.
I know that certain intervals lend themselves to
certain moods/tones, but my knowledge is limited. I
keep downloading small books and tutorials on scales,
modes, etc but between work and school and playing in
my band I don't get too many chances to sit down and
try to learn about all of it.
Do any of you more knowledgeable guys out there feel
like giving a quick explanation?
Richard
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Hey Eric:
Welcome to the list.
Here are a few things I have notice about spy tunes over
the years:
1. reverberation
2. exotic themes
3. minor chordage
4. intriguing, yet repetitively recognizable hook lines
5. gunshots
6. naked ladies wearing leather boots
7. cool moaning human voice background chorus
8. awesome drum action
9. more reverberation
10. add some more reverb
well, that's about all I know on that subject.
again...welcome...and good luck on your pursuit of "the
tone"
sincerely,
DP
--- Eric Newsom <> wrote:
> Hey guys,
>
> My name's Eric, I hail from North Carolina, USA, and
> I've been
> listening to surf music since I saw "The Endless Summer"
> at the age
> of 14 (8 years ago). I got sidetracked in my teenage
> years by punk
> and indie rock, and I've been playing in those kinds of
> bands since I
> was about 15.
> This summer, I bought a lake placid blue Dillion
> Jazzmaster copy,
> and I was standing in front of the mirror with it when I
> realized
> that the guitar was too good for punk. I'm trying to get
> my chops
> together now to form a spy-twang type band (I can't surf
> -- I can't
> even swim -- so the idea of being in a surf band felt a
> little too
> foreign).
> I've got a few demos of stuff that I've done on my
> computer with a
> guitar, bass, and FruityLoops created drums; it's not the
> best
> quality, and my songwriting options are limited by the
> drum machine,
> but it's something at least.
> I have a few questions for you guys. First off, I'm
> trying to put
> together a website of spy tabs, with chord progressions
> for the James
> Bond movies, and the riffs for all of the 60s spybop. I
> also want to
> have a section of surf-spy tabs, but the problem is
> there's not many
> in the obvious places on the Internet. I got here by
> looking at a
> Google-cached copy of Brian Neal's Man or Astroman? page
> to find tabs
> for their stuff. Do you guys have any such tabs, or could
> you point
> me in the right direction?
> Also, I was thinking about running an essay on what
> makes the spy
> guitar sound: technique, gear, action, scales, etc., but
> I realized
> when trying to think about it that these are things that
> I don't, but
> that I would like to know. Would anyone here be
> interested in writing
> such a piece?
> Last question, before I go. The Jazzmaster's sitting
> in a gig bag
> that barely fits it right now, because it came caseless
> from a pawn
> shop. Are there any case options cheaper than Musician's
> Friend's
> $120 for a Fender case?
>
> Thanks!
> --Eric
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
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>
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> To visit your group on the web, go to:
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>
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>
>
>
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What are some suggestions of good Surf/spy recordings?
-----Original Message-----
From: DP [mailto:]
Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 12:25 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] New in these parts....
Hey Eric:
Welcome to the list.
Here are a few things I have notice about spy tunes over
the years:
1. reverberation
2. exotic themes
3. minor chordage
4. intriguing, yet repetitively recognizable hook lines
5. gunshots
6. naked ladies wearing leather boots
7. cool moaning human voice background chorus
8. awesome drum action
9. more reverberation
10. add some more reverb
well, that's about all I know on that subject.
again...welcome...and good luck on your pursuit of "the
tone"
sincerely,
DP
--- Eric Newsom <> wrote:
> Hey guys,
>
> My name's Eric, I hail from North Carolina, USA, and
> I've been
> listening to surf music since I saw "The Endless Summer"
> at the age
> of 14 (8 years ago). I got sidetracked in my teenage
> years by punk
> and indie rock, and I've been playing in those kinds of
> bands since I
> was about 15.
> This summer, I bought a lake placid blue Dillion
> Jazzmaster copy,
> and I was standing in front of the mirror with it when I
> realized
> that the guitar was too good for punk. I'm trying to get
> my chops
> together now to form a spy-twang type band (I can't surf
> -- I can't
> even swim -- so the idea of being in a surf band felt a
> little too
> foreign).
> I've got a few demos of stuff that I've done on my
> computer with a
> guitar, bass, and FruityLoops created drums; it's not the
> best
> quality, and my songwriting options are limited by the
> drum machine,
> but it's something at least.
> I have a few questions for you guys. First off, I'm
> trying to put
> together a website of spy tabs, with chord progressions
> for the James
> Bond movies, and the riffs for all of the 60s spybop. I
> also want to
> have a section of surf-spy tabs, but the problem is
> there's not many
> in the obvious places on the Internet. I got here by
> looking at a
> Google-cached copy of Brian Neal's Man or Astroman? page
> to find tabs
> for their stuff. Do you guys have any such tabs, or could
> you point
> me in the right direction?
> Also, I was thinking about running an essay on what
> makes the spy
> guitar sound: technique, gear, action, scales, etc., but
> I realized
> when trying to think about it that these are things that
> I don't, but
> that I would like to know. Would anyone here be
> interested in writing
> such a piece?
> Last question, before I go. The Jazzmaster's sitting
> in a gig bag
> that barely fits it right now, because it came caseless
> from a pawn
> shop. Are there any case options cheaper than Musician's
> Friend's
> $120 for a Fender case?
>
> Thanks!
> --Eric
>
>
> .
> Visit
<> for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
>
<>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> <>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it! <>
.
Visit
<> for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
_____
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* To visit your group on the web, go to:
<>
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
<mailto:?subject=Unsubscribe>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<> .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Hi,
Yes, spy themes are fun. I like to incorperate them into surfmusic.
Always liked Monty's 007 stuff. The Ventures did some themes as well
(Like Jhonny Rivers "Secret Agent Man" and their own "007-11")
Basicly indeed an interval thing.
I mostly thry these thing by ear, since my musical background is too
limited as well. But since I started taking guitar leassons I find it
easier to get these spy themes right. Most tabs you find on the net are
a bit off in most cases. Spy themes have indeed this weird hook, that
sounds simple at first, but when you listen again, it's slightly more
complicated and it's more then just a guitar, there are horns, Fender IV
guitars in it etc...
As for Jazzmaster cases, just keep an eye on E-bay or simelar. I picked
up a Vintage fender Jazzmaster (tweed case) copy up from E-bay for about
50 Euro (including shipping. It was brand new and came from a sale. Also
most cases won't fit a Jazzmaster or Jaguar, so be carefull when you
order something. I also use a Fender Bass gig bag to carry my Jazzmaster
in for gigs and rehearsal. (this was also a very cheap 2nd hand item
that I picked up for 7 Euro at a discount and 2nd musis outlet)
Kind regards,
Jerry S.
I really like Johnny and The Shamen's release
"Spystation." Couple of my favorite instro tunes
period are on that disc. Search on eBay, Turducken
Records sells their copies direct for $5. Very, very
worth it.
Richard
--- "Johnston, Rick"
<> wrote:
> What are some suggestions of good Surf/spy
> recordings?
>
__________________________________
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Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free web site building tool. Try it!
Check out Spy-tiki's website:
www.spyboproyale.com
It has lots of info about the music and on what albums to find it. No tabs,
though.
Ran
> Check out Spy-tiki's website:
>
> www.spyboproyale.com
>
In fact, I love this website. Is the chap that runs the site on this
group? I go there every few days to check against something I saw in
a pawn shop.
Thanks for the info on intervals guys -- new music theory research
for me. I also appreciate the suggestions. If you don't mind, keep
them coming. I love to find out about new music.
To the guy who suggested E-Bay to find : I've been keeping an eye
out. But most lately have been either very expensive vintage items
or middle-ground cases with inflated shipping and handling. Ah, the
days when the dollar was almost even with the now-mighty Euro.
--Eric
