Surfing With The Alien - Joe Satriani

Experience the legendary instrumental masterpiece Surfing With The Alien by Joe Satriani like never before with our in-depth, note-for-note guitar lesson. This lesson breaks down every intricate detail of Satriani's playing, helping you master the song's unique techniques and phrasing. Whether you're an intermediate or advanced player, our lesson will expand your guitar vocabulary, improve your dexterity, and elevate your lead guitar skills. Andy James breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About Joe Satriani and Surfing With The Alien

Joe Satriani is one of the most influential instrumental rock guitarists of all time. With a career spanning decades, Satriani has inspired countless players with his technical precision, melodic phrasing, and groundbreaking use of guitar effects. Released in 1987, Surfing With The Alien became one of his most iconic tracks, blending speed, fluidity, and expressive playing into a single, unforgettable piece. The song showcases Satriani's ability to mix melody with technical brilliance, making it an essential study for any aspiring rock guitarist.

Key Guitar Techniques in Surfing With The Alien

This lesson focuses on the advanced techniques that define Satriani’s signature sound. Mastering these techniques will not only help you play Surfing With The Alien accurately but also enhance your overall guitar proficiency.

Legato

Satriani’s smooth, flowing runs rely heavily on legato, where hammer-ons and pull-offs replace traditional picking. This technique enhances speed and fluidity, making solos sound seamless and expressive.

Alternate Picking

Precision and control are essential in fast-paced solos, and alternate picking ensures clarity and articulation. Learning this technique helps you tackle rapid passages with greater efficiency.

Two-Handed Tapping

Satriani employs two-handed tapping to create cascading, harp-like notes. This technique allows for extended reach across the fretboard and adds a unique, futuristic sound to solos.

Pinched Harmonics

Adding bite and aggression to melodies, pinched harmonics create high-pitched, squealing overtones. Mastering this technique will give your playing extra character and sustain.

Tapped Harmonics

Tapped harmonics produce bell-like chimes that add a shimmering effect to your playing. This technique enhances melodic sections and creates a rich tonal palette.

Vibrato

Satriani’s signature vibrato adds emotion and sustain to notes. Learning to control vibrato will give your playing a professional touch and improve your expressive capabilities.

Whammy Bar Tricks

From dive bombs to pitch shifts, the whammy bar is used extensively to create dramatic and fluid pitch variations. Mastering these techniques opens up a world of sonic creativity.

Trills

Fast alternations between two notes create rapid-fire embellishments, adding excitement to solos. Practicing trills improves finger strength and dexterity.

Sweep Picking

Though not as prominent in this song, sweep picking is an essential tool for rapid arpeggios. Understanding this technique enhances speed and economy of motion.

String Bending & Bluesy Bends

Satriani’s soulful bends create expressive, vocal-like phrasing. Mastering bends ensures accurate pitch control and enhances lead playing.

Tremolo Picking

Fast, repeated picking on a single note builds intensity and energy. Learning tremolo picking improves stamina and precision in high-speed solos.

Unison Bends

By bending one string while keeping another static, unison bends create a powerful, singing effect. This technique adds richness to melodies and lead lines.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Tapped Harmonics
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Trills
• Tremolo Picking
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Sweep Picking
• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends
• Whammy Bar Tricks

By diving into these techniques through our Surfing With The Alien lesson, you'll not only master one of the greatest instrumental rock songs but also develop skills that will take your playing to the next level. Start your journey today with our in-depth lesson and experience the thrill of playing like Joe Satriani!