Diamond Head
The Ventures, 1965, from Walk, Don't Run, Vol. 2. Solo by Nokie Edwards.
Nokie Edwards' precise lead and whammy-bar swells made this one of the Ventures' most covered originals.
Diamond Head shows Nokie Edwards at his most expressive. His lead is precise and clean, with each note of the melody clearly articulated, but he also uses the vibrato bar to create swooping swells that add a sense of motion and drama. The tune has a catchy, slightly exotic flavour, and the band's tight rhythm section keeps everything locked in place. It became one of the Ventures' most covered originals, especially among surf revival bands. Listen for the whammy-bar dips at the ends of phrases, which make the melody seem to rise and fall like a wave, and notice how Edwards balances that expressiveness with crisp, controlled picking elsewhere.
Diamond Head by The Ventures is featured in our Surf (#13) list. The solo is played by Nokie Edwards and the song was released in 1965.
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Who played the guitar solo on Diamond Head?
Nokie Edwards played the solo on The Ventures's Diamond Head (1965).