California, 1962. Few genres are as iconic as surf rock. Somehow the riffy, over-reverbed sound of early 60s pop-rock manages to perfectly evoke a very specific time and place while at the same time remaining timeless and eternally fresh. Addictive hooks, simple but catchy lead lines, and that irresistible tone! What’s not to love? Here are three well-known surf rock songs that are great choices for beginners just starting out on guitar. Each offers a different challenge, and a different skill to work on. And each of them is also a ton of fun to play.
Dick Dale-Miserlou
Supposedly Dick Dale’s famous guitar cover of this traditional middle eastern folk song came about after a fan bet him he couldn’t play an entire song on one guitar string, and drawing on his own Lebanese heritage, Dale remembered Miserlou, forever redefining the song and with it the entire genre of surf rock. The story is probably apocryphal but regardless of where the inspiration came from, it can indeed be played entirely on a single string. This makes it an especially useful exercise for beginning surf guitar players.
Since it doesn’t require string crossing, you can direct all of your attention to making the relentless tremolo picking more precise, not an easy skill when you first start out playing surf guitar. Keeping an even picking hand both in terms of rhythm and volume is a skill that takes practice, and this song will give your picking hand plenty of it. Plus it is just the epitome of cool. Instantly recognizable from its exotic sound and iconic use in pop-culture (most famously Pulp Fiction), this song is sure to be a at your next gig, especially if dancing is involved. Learn it. Master it. Keep it in your back pocket.
The Surfaris-Wipe Out
Another instrumental, and just as iconic as Miserlou, wipe out is probably the song you heard in your head as soon as you read the words “surf guitar.” Few songs distill the essence of the genre to quite the same level that Wipe Out does. The riff itself is repetitive, and simple and to master, built on top of a 12-bar progression, but is stuffed full of fun and energy. Once again, timing and consistency are critical, as this one is fast. Keep an even picking hand and listen to the drums.
But equally important is nailing that instantly recognizable tone. Reverb is key here. Turn it up on your amp or pedal. This is the defining tonal quality of surf guitar, and you absolutely cannot have too much. Fender guitars and amps are undeniably linked to the surf sound historically, but with a little experimentation you can get that quintessential surf guitar tone out of just about anything. Play as close to the bridge as humanly possible. And, oh yeah, a whammy bar is not optional on this one.
The Beach Boys-Surfin USA
As important to the surf rock sound as guitar tone is, there is one more element essential to surf rock that the previous two examples didn’t touch: vocals. Less riff driven than either of the instrumentals above, this one is a great song to practice strumming and singing. This well-known crowd pleaser allows them to shine. The Beach Boys’ rewrite of Chuck Berry’s Sweet Little Sixteen became the definitive anthem of the surf generation, and is infectiously easy to sing along to.
The basic chord progression is a simple understated 12-bar. But that doesn’t mean there is nowhere for you to show off your chops. The guitar solo is a catchy, high energy romp, that requires just enough technical prowess to make you sweat but not enough to put it out of reach for a rookie. Easy enough that a beginner can figure it out. Challenging enough to push you…and to impress your friends.
California, 1962. Few genres are as iconic as surf rock. Somehow the riffy, over-reverbed sound of early 60s pop-rock manages to perfectly evoke a very specific time and place while at the same time remaining timeless and eternally fresh. Addictive hooks, simple but catchy lead lines, and that irresistible tone! What’s not to love? Here are three well-known surf rock songs that are great choices for beginners just starting out on guitar. Each offers a different challenge, and a different skill to work on. And each of them is also a ton of fun to play.
Try These Surf Guitar Songs & Find the Ones You Like
So pick up a guitar, crank the reverb, and catch a wave with these all-time favorites. You’ll be surprised how quickly they come together with just a little practice. And whether surf rock is your ultimate goal or not, the skills that these three American classics deliver are things you can take with you to any other genre you want: consistent double-picking, an ear for tone, reliable rhythm playing, and melodic solo work. You’ll be glad you took the time to learn a few things from one of the most quintessentially American musical genres. And you might have some fun along the way.
So pick up a guitar, crank the reverb, and catch a wave with these all-time favorites. You’ll be surprised how quickly they come together with just a little practice. And whether surf rock is your ultimate goal or not, the skills that these three American classics deliver are things you can take with you to any other genre you want: consistent double-picking, an ear for tone, reliable rhythm playing, and melodic solo work. You’ll be glad you took the time to learn a few things from one of the most quintessentially American musical genres. And you might have some fun along the way.
Ben Rubin