Co-written by Josh M.
With the summer season revved-up and ready to go it's prime time to deck some flip-flops and do the sock-hop...surf style!
Surf music is a type of music attributed to the surf culture. It was developed side-by-side with rock, so it includes a lot of rock influence by default. There are three types of surf music: Surf Instrumental, Surf Pop and Surf Rock.
Surf Instrumental
Surf Instrumental is a type of Surf music in which the electric guitar dominates and the sound is strong and clear. A typical Surf Instrumental band would include a lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and a drum kit. In some cases a saxophone would be added for a smooth variation, or even additional guitars, organs, pianos, or hand drums.
"Misirlou" (1962) by Dick Dale is known as the definitive example of a Surf Instrumental. Dale's heavy use of reverberation--his guitar tone had a very "wet" timbre to it--became part of his signature sound. He was also left-handed and learned how to play his guitar upside-down, years before the legendary Jimi Hendrix adopted the same technique.
If "Misirlou" sounds familiar, it's because it was used as the musical centerpiece in the cult classic film Pulp Fiction, as well as recently sampled by the Black Eyed Peas in their '06 summer hit, "Pump It." All hail "The King of the Surf Guitar."
Dick Dale - "Misirlou"
Black Eyed Peas - "Pump It"
With the summer season revved-up and ready to go it's prime time to deck some flip-flops and do the sock-hop...surf style!
Surf music is a type of music attributed to the surf culture. It was developed side-by-side with rock, so it includes a lot of rock influence by default. There are three types of surf music: Surf Instrumental, Surf Pop and Surf Rock.
Surf Instrumental
Surf Instrumental is a type of Surf music in which the electric guitar dominates and the sound is strong and clear. A typical Surf Instrumental band would include a lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar, and a drum kit. In some cases a saxophone would be added for a smooth variation, or even additional guitars, organs, pianos, or hand drums.
"Misirlou" (1962) by Dick Dale is known as the definitive example of a Surf Instrumental. Dale's heavy use of reverberation--his guitar tone had a very "wet" timbre to it--became part of his signature sound. He was also left-handed and learned how to play his guitar upside-down, years before the legendary Jimi Hendrix adopted the same technique.
If "Misirlou" sounds familiar, it's because it was used as the musical centerpiece in the cult classic film Pulp Fiction, as well as recently sampled by the Black Eyed Peas in their '06 summer hit, "Pump It." All hail "The King of the Surf Guitar."
Dick Dale - "Misirlou"
Black Eyed Peas - "Pump It"
picture...hahahaha! It cracked me up the first time I saw it. I
love their 'Back to the Beach' movie!