The Signature Sound of Dick Dale’s Guitar Techniques
Dick Dale's guitar playing has made a lasting mark on American music. Known as the 'King of the Surf Guitar,' he changed how the electric guitar was played, taking inspiration from the powerful ocean waves to shape the sound of surf rock. Dale's music stands out because he used a lot of reverb, making his tunes echo as if they were played in a large cave. He was also very skilled at playing notes quickly through a technique called alternate picking; this became essential to the surf guitar sound.
Dale didn't just stop there. He brought in musical scales from the Middle East and Eastern Europe, adding an unusual twist to his melodies that you wouldn't typically hear in American rock music. He liked to use thick guitar strings and would turn his amplifiers up really high. This made hi...