Menu
The discussion today started me thinking: what follows is a rambling
exposition....
What exactly are the limitations of "surf music"?
In one sense, the musical artform lends itself to experimentation and
metamorposis, each succeding generation of artists brings their
skills and tastes and methods to the table...but is this true
of "surf music"?
When I began playing surf music, my goal was simply to emulate the
sounds I heard on vinyl which captivated me. I wanted this "extinct"
form of music to live again, and the only way I thought it would was
if I set about doing the footwork...so to speak.
After many years of practice and appropriate gear acqusition, I now
can make the sounds I love and hear so clearly and chime-like in my
head. The reverberated power of Fender amplification rules my life!
Initially, the limitations of surf music were what appealed to me
most...
1. repetoire of material was limited
2. tone choices were limited
3. equipment choices were limited
4. technical abilities were limited
5. almost non-existant vocals
In other words, by its very nature, the surf genre had very well-
defined limits...and I whole-heartedly embraced these limits on my so-
called creativity. In a sense it was my mission, my duty, as curator
of the "surf tradition" to fully understand and "be one" with these
limitations: "Be the Reverb"..."Be the 60-cycle hum"...
To this day, I still feel a certain obligation to the simplicity and
pureness of reverberated surf music. Although I am not a "trad
purist" by nature, nor an "eclectic progressive instumental surf
musician"...I do find that the surf tone and spirit are my "musical
rock"...in other words, without a Fender amp and a reverb unit, I
don't know what I sound like...I have no other voice when playing
music on the electric guitar.
Simply stated, I feel that "surf music" is truly worthy...to me it is
an etenal, beautiful and surprisingly liberating music genre which
garners my deepest respect and admiration...
reverberatedly yours,
DP
--- In , "DP" <noetical1@y...> wrote:
[...]
...I do find that the surf tone and spirit are my "musical
> rock"...in other words, without a Fender amp and a reverb unit, I
> don't know what I sound like...I have no other voice when playing
> music on the electric guitar.
I know what you mean. I actually turned off my reverb unit the other
day while I was explaining to someone what the device actually did. I
could not believe how weird it sounded without reverb. I actually
think that I could be a better guitar player if I tried to expand into
other playing styles. But I have too much fun playing surf, and not
enough time to explore other styles. That's probably limiting me in
the grand scheme of things, but so far I don't miss that.
BN
"...that I could be a better guitar player if I tried
to expand into other playing styles..."
Brian:
But would you really become a better "surf" guitar player
if you did that?
-dp
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone.
--- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:
> "...that I could be a better guitar player if I tried
> to expand into other playing styles..."
>
> Brian:
>
> But would you really become a better "surf" guitar player
> if you did that?
>
> -dp
Well maybe...that is a good question! I have a suspicion that some of
the surf guitar heros that I have listen to more than just surf, and
they infuse that into their playing....
But given my skill level, "just" trying to be a surf guitar player is
challenge enough.
BN
Yes.
-Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: DP
To:
Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 7:26 PM
Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Re: The Zen of Surf Music
"...that I could be a better guitar player if I tried
to expand into other playing styles..."
Brian:
But would you really become a better "surf" guitar player
if you did that?
-dp
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone.
.
Visit for archived messages,
bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Well maybe...that is a good question! I have a suspicion that some of
the surf guitar heros that I have listen to more than just surf, and
they infuse that into their playing....
Your absolutely right Brian. Influence happens. Take the ball and run with it.
Let's face it. If Dick Dale, etc. was my only influence, I'd probably take up
golf........
B-B-O
Detonators
---- Brian Neal <> wrote:
>
> <html><body>
>
>
>
> <tt>
> <BR>
> --- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:<BR>
> > "...that I could be a better guitar player if I tried<BR>
> > to expand into other playing styles..."<BR>
> > <BR>
> > Brian:<BR>
> > <BR>
> > But would you really become a better "surf" guitar player<BR>
> > if you did that?<BR>
> > <BR>
> > -dp<BR>
> <BR>
> Well maybe...that is a good question! I have a suspicion that some of<BR>
> the surf guitar heros that I have listen to more than just surf, and<BR>
> they infuse that into their playing....<BR>
> <BR>
> But given my skill level, "just" trying to be a surf guitar player
is<BR>
> challenge enough.<BR>
> <BR>
> BN<BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> <BR>
> </tt>
>
> <br><br>
> <tt>
> .<BR>
> Visit <a
href=""></a> for archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.<BR>
> </tt>
> <br><br>
>
> <br>
>
> <!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
>
> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2>
> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC>
> <td align=center><font size="-1" color=#003399><b>Yahoo! Groups
Sponsor</b></font></td>
> </tr>
> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFFF>
> <td align=center width=470><table border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <tr>
<td align=center><font face=arial size=-2>ADVERTISEMENT</font><br><a
href="" alt=""><img
src=""
alt="click here" width="300" height="250" border="0"></a></td></tr></table>
</td>
> </tr>
> <tr><td><img alt="" width=1 height=1
src=""></td></tr>
> </table>
>
> <!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| -->
>
>
>
> <!-- |**|begin egp html banner|**| -->
>
> <br>
> <tt><hr width="500">
> <b>Yahoo! Groups Links</b><br>
> <ul>
> <li>To visit your group on the web, go to:<br><a
href=""></a><br>
> <li>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:<br><a
href="mailto:?subject=Unsubscribe">Surf\</a><br>
> <li>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the <a
href="">Yahoo! Terms of Service</a>.
> </ul>
> </tt>
> </br>
>
> <!-- |**|end egp html banner|**| -->
>
>
> </body></html>
>
>
>
...now, that's what I call a Zen-reply!
dp
--- Marty Tippens <> wrote:
>
> Yes.
> -Marty
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: DP
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, December 28, 2004 7:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [SurfGuitar101] Re: The Zen of Surf Music
>
>
> "...that I could be a better guitar player if I tried
> to expand into other playing styles..."
>
> Brian:
>
> But would you really become a better "surf" guitar
> player
> if you did that?
>
> -dp
>
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Take Yahoo! Mail with you! Get it on your mobile phone.
>
>
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> a.. To visit your group on the web, go to:
>
>
> b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>
>
> c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
> Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Listen to Internet Radio! Access to your favorite
> Artists!
> Click to listen to LAUNCHcast now!
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
--- wrote:
"...If Dick Dale, etc. was my only influence,
I'd probably take up golf..."
I wonder if that means that Dick Dale golfs?
...'cause we all know that he is his own best influence.
dp
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
Dick Dale invented Big Bertha Drivers. He kept snapping the heads
off his Pings.
--- In , DP <noetical1@y...> wrote:
> --- scanman@a... wrote:
>
> "...If Dick Dale, etc. was my only influence,
> I'd probably take up golf..."
>
>
>
> I wonder if that means that Dick Dale golfs?
> ...'cause we all know that he is his own best influence.
>
> dp
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search. Learn more.
>
that's funny!...and it sounds like the lyrics to a really
cool Presidents of the USA song to boot!
dp
--- supertwangreverb <> wrote:
>
>
> Dick Dale invented Big Bertha Drivers. He kept snapping
> the heads
> off his Pings.
>
> --- In , DP <noetical1@y...>
> wrote:
> > --- scanman@a... wrote:
> >
> > "...If Dick Dale, etc. was my only influence,
> > I'd probably take up golf..."
> >
> >
> >
> > I wonder if that means that Dick Dale golfs?
> > ...'cause we all know that he is his own best
> influence.
> >
> > dp
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Mail - Easier than ever with enhanced search.
> Learn more.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Tired of hearing the same songs over and over?
> Listen to Internet Radio! Skip songs. Click to listen to
> LAUNCHcast!
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
>
> .
> Visit for
> archived messages, bookmarks, files, polls, etc.
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Read only the mail you want - Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard.
on Wed, 29 Dec 2004 02:18:22 -0000 "DP" wrote:
<SNIP>
In one sense, the musical artform lends itself to experimentation and
metamorposis, each succeding generation of artists brings their
skills and tastes and methods to the table...
<END SNIP>
I concur,
My 2¢ worth...
That's called Evolution.
"Sweet Home Chicago" is still a great Blues piece, whether
Robert Johnson or the Blues Brothers played it. Different
arrangements, but both are great.
So, why can't we enjoy "Walk, Don't Run" by the Ventures
and "Walk Don't Run 2000" by Les Fradkin, in our different
moods as well?
How many classical buffs went nuts when the Ventures
released "JOY"?
Trad, Rad, Frad...whatever...
Play it loud, Play it proud,
But please don't let Surf Stagnate.
Music is a living thing that must grow or die.
Keep up all the good work, my friends.
Happy New Year to all.
Bill
The Indentured Surf.
