Misirlou

Dick Dale & the Del-Tones, 1962, from Surfers' Choice. Solo by Dick Dale.

Tremolo picking at surf speed.

Dick Dale turned an old eastern Mediterranean folk melody into a surf-rock landmark. The core technique is relentless tremolo picking on the low strings, with a sliding, exotic melody played at breakneck pace and drenched in reverb. It isn't a solo in the usual sense so much as one sustained burst of energy, and the physical stamina involved is part of the thrill. Dale's attack influenced heavier players who came long after surf faded, and the track found a new audience when it opened Pulp Fiction. Listen for the dramatic slides down the neck and how Dale's picking hand never lets up, turning single notes into a continuous roar.

Misirlou by Dick Dale & the Del-Tones is ranked #121 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Dick Dale and the song was released in 1962. It appears on 4 lists, placing as high as #29 (uDiscover Music).

In our lists

• The Greatest Solo of Every Year — #19
• Genre Champions — #30
• The 25 Greatest Guitar Instrumentals — #17
• The 25 Greatest Surf Guitar Songs — #1
• The Pioneers: 1950s & 60s — #20
• Instrumentals — #15
• The Best Dick Dale & the Del-Tones Guitar Solos — #1

Sources

• uDiscover Music: The Best Guitar Solos Of All Time: 108 Amazing Moments — #29
• Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #65
• Radio Beat: 88 kytarových sól na Beatu — #73
• Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #85