Surf Rock is defined by www.musicmap.info by using image and atmosphere formation, mainly based on the sun, the beach and a mellow lifestyle. The musical characteristics are named by ‘surf boys’ who use their excellent guitar techniques to imitate the movements of the waves by means of a fast, rolling guitar riff, either theme, in reverb. The genre should be instrumental, which leads us to calling Surf Rock with a songtext; Surf Pop. Also, the non-instrumental surf-genres would have a slower tempo and less complicated techniques, like Sunshine Pop and California Sound. The 4/4 Rock ‘n Roll Riff with the influence of the Cuban Malagueña, originating of the Flamenco style, should be the standard which makes the genre fast and catchy. (1)
This definition is reasonable connectable at the feeling you get after listening, namely the movement of the waves. The folk or worldly element, portamento playing, is to be heard in combination with the Rock ‘n Roll riff, but also the staccato swift finger techniques and acoustic play. Grove Music Online point the sharp colour out to the imported ukulele. (2) Some bands who reintroduced the genre are: the Japanese Surf Coasters , the Serbian Threesome , German Kilaueas en the New Yorkers Supertones .
Yours Sincerely @inMusicalTerms
P.s.: check also out my article with my own edited soundtracks on film: https://steemit.com/music/@inmusicalterms/3-different-soundtracks-on-the-same-images-by-me-supporting-cook-s-theory
(1) Kwinten Crauwels, ‘Surf Rock/Instrumental’, in Rock ‘N’ Roll (België: Musicmap, 2016) http://musicmap.info/# .
(2) Carey Fleiner. ‘Surf music’, in Grove Music Online, Red. Deane Root (Oxford: Oxford Music Online), http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/A2289523 .