Surf rock guitar

Surf rock is the instrumental guitar music of the early 60s: fast tremolo on the thick strings, ringing reverb and melodies that smell of the sea. Below are the chords, mode, techniques and two examples you can hear and slow down.

1960s140–180 BPME–A–B7tremolo

What is surf rock

Surf rock appeared in California around 1960. Guitarists played loud and clean through tube amps with spring reverb, and the guitar, not the voice, was often the lead: many of the style’s hits are instrumentals.

A surf guitarist either plays the melody in tremolo, repeating each note fast, or leads a twangy melody on the middle strings and shakes it with the whammy bar. Underneath, the bass plays eighths and the drums drive forward with frequent tom hits.

Signature chords

E, A, B7 (I, IV, V7) is the ordinary rock and roll progression that nearly all surf stands on. B7 pulls back to E. The rhythm guitar holds these chords, and the melody moves on top.

E – A – B7

Scale for soloing

Surf loves the Phrygian dominant mode: E, F, G#, A, B, C, D. The half step E to F and the major third G# give it an exotic colour. The tremolo melody on this page uses only these notes.

Techniques

Tremolo picking

Each note is repeated fast with alternate picking, down-up, and sounds like one long trembling note. Only the wrist moves, and the pick barely touches the string. Listen to the riff below: every note is played in sixteenths.

Reverb

The amp’s spring reverb gives surf its "wet" sound with a splash on every hit. The examples here are dry: on your own amp or pedal, turn the reverb up further than seems reasonable.

B7

The dominant seventh B7 comes before the return to E and creates tension. Tap B7 and then play E to hear the progression close.

Surf-style riff

A melody on the 6th and 5th strings: E, F, G#, A, B, C and back down. Every note is tremolo-picked. Start at 60% and keep the alternate picking even, with no gaps.

Surf-style melody

A twangy melody on the 3rd and 2nd strings through the notes of E, A and B7. The long notes wobble with vibrato, like a whammy bar, and at the end a note slides in from above.

The riff opens as a draft: change notes, tempo and tracks however you like.

Open in Riffonic

What to listen to

Listen to these tracks and pay attention to what is described next to each one.

Dick Dale & His Del-Tones - “Misirlou”. Fast tremolo on the thick strings and an exotic mode: the benchmark of surf guitar.
The Chantays - “Pipeline”. An intro that slides down the string and a melody drenched in spring reverb.
The Ventures - “Walk, Don’t Run”. A clean, twangy melody over the accompaniment: an example of the guitar leading instead of a voice.

Every riff and solo on this page is an original exercise in the style of the genre, not the notes of someone else’s song.

FAQ

What mode do I need for surf rock?

Most often the major chords of rock and roll and melodies in the Phrygian dominant mode or in minor. The half step above the root instantly gives that exotic colour.

How do I learn fast tremolo picking?

Start with eighths to a metronome, then sixteenths at a slow tempo. Move only the wrist, hold the pick loosely and keep your shoulder relaxed.

Can I play surf without reverb?

You can, but it will sound dry. In surf, reverb is almost part of the instrument: if you have no amp with spring reverb, any pedal or effect will do.