Let's Go Trippin'

Dick Dale & the Del-Tones, 1961, from Surfers' Choice. Solo by Dick Dale.

The regional hit usually cited as the first surf rock record, with Dale's heavy staccato picking.

Let's Go Trippin' is usually named as the first true surf rock record, and it lays out Dick Dale's approach in plain sight. The melody is simple and cheerful, but he hits it with heavy, staccato picking that makes each note land like a hammer blow, especially down on the thicker strings. The result feels physical and urgent even at a moderate tempo, closer to a wave's surge than a pop tune. Surf bands up and down the California coast copied that attack, and it became the backbone of the style. Listen for how Dale digs into single notes with a hard, percussive pick stroke, then compare the sound with the smoother, gentler twang of earlier instrumental hits.

Let's Go Trippin' by Dick Dale & the Del-Tones is featured in our Surf (#4) list. The solo is played by Dick Dale and the song was released in 1961.

In our lists

• Beyond the Canon — #24
• The 25 Greatest Surf Guitar Songs — #4
• The Best Dick Dale & the Del-Tones Guitar Solos — #2

Sources