|
|
|
Venture into the warm waters of surf guitar and ace these classic, fun-to-play licks. With audio examples
|
Page:
1
2
3
4
|
Catch Your Own Waves
When you’re playing surf music, experiment with different sounds to create something evocative, eerie, and fun. Turn up the reverb, try palm muting, and wiggle your guitar’s whammy bar on long held notes. Playing chords—especially fat minor chords—while using a trem can also help you ride that surf wave.
Remember, even though there are certain parameters to getting the surf sound, there is no need to be dogmatic about it. Bands like San Francisco’s Mermen have pushed the envelope of what surf music is. Think of the surf sound as being one of your many aural links to the creative process.
Behind the Notes: The Surf Beat
You may have heard the phrase “the surf beat,” but what does it mean? Instrumental surf music has a swing to it and that is partially defined by the drums. A common rock beat has the emphasis on the second and fourth beat of a four beat measure—that’s where you hear the snare drum hit: one two three four. The surf beat has a double snare hit on the second beat: one two-and three four, which propels the music forward but also gives a nice laid-back swing to the music. If you don’t have a drummer friend to accompany you on surf songs, try to incorporate the surf beat into your strumming by hitting the chord harder on the emphasized beats.
Big Kahunas of Surf Guitar
Add songs by these great surf guitarists and bands to your iPod and head to the beach to really get a sense of the surf vibe.
Dick Dale. The King of the Surf Guitar recorded “Let’s Go Trippin’,” considered the first surf instrumental, and his classic “Miserlou” almost singularly defined the style.
The Ventures. Although the Ventures weren’t a surf band in the strictest sense, this Southern California instrumental group exploited the surf beat and created memorable melodies, including “Walk Don’t Run” (a great whammy bar workout) and the Hawaii Five-0 theme song.
Henry Mancini. Yes, that Henry Mancini, the same one who wrote “The Pink Panther Theme.” Many surf bands played Mancini compositions like “A Shot in the Dark” for their mysterious spy vibe.
Laika and the Cosmonauts. This modern-day Finnish band plays classic surf compositions, as well as theme songs from 1960s TV shows and spy movies, in a unique reverb-drenched surf fest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous Page |
1
2
3
4
|
|
Printable Version
|
|
|
