Surf Beat
Dick Dale & the Del-Tones, 1962, from Surfers' Choice. Solo by Dick Dale.
Dale's rapid staccato picking gives the tune a relentless forward drive.
Surf Beat is Dick Dale's attack in its purest form. The tune is built on rapid, staccato picking that gives the guitar a relentless, percussive drive, with each note hit hard and cut short. The melody is simple, but the energy of Dale's playing makes it feel urgent and physical, closer to a surge of water than a pop instrumental. His thick, heavily reverbed tone adds weight to every note. Listen for the machine-gun rhythm of Dale's picking, and notice how he barely lets up from start to finish, keeping the tension high without relying on dramatic changes in the arrangement or on flashy solos layered on top.
Surf Beat by Dick Dale & the Del-Tones is featured in our Surf (#20) list. The solo is played by Dick Dale and the song was released in 1962.
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Who played the guitar solo on Surf Beat?
Dick Dale played the solo on Dick Dale & the Del-Tones's Surf Beat (1962).