Classic Albums – Surfing With The Alien (Joe Satriani)

Surfing with the Alien – A Deep Dive for Guitarists
No guitar instrumental album has ever quite rivalled the Grammy nominated, platinum selling Surfing With The Alien. Joe Satriani’s 1986 release put virtuosic guitar playing on the mainstream map, whilst ushering in the shred guitar craze which would soon captivate the world. Revisit the glory days of guitar virtuosity and discover blues infused melodies and phrasing, heartfelt melodic solos and the improvisational genius of Joe Satriani at his finest. From a guitar players perspective, learning this album is an electrifying experience; a journey through modal compositions, exotic chords, and a smorgasbord of techniques including two handed tapping, masterful legato and head-turning whammy bar tricks.

In this guitar course, former student of Joe Satriani, Danny Gill, teaches you how to play each track from this masterpiece of an album. Surfing With The Alien is essential study for any guitarist seeking to up their game!

Guitar Lesson 1 – Surfing with the Alien
Satriani sets the pace with the title track, featuring a melody based on the Mixolydian mode and A minor pentatonic. The solo explores vast areas of the fretboard, with blistering alternate picking, and sliding legato lines. The whammy-bar is used for some dive bombs and pitch-bending, complemented by seamless two-handed tapping.

Guitar Lesson 2 – Ice 9
Ice 9, a song heavily influenced by the Dorian mode, features Satriani’s alternate picking precision. Its syncopated rhythms make this song groove. He expertly utilizes chromaticism, with pinched harmonics adding a snarl to some of the phrases.

Guitar Lesson 3 – Crushing Day
Crushing Day is an impressive display of sweeping arpeggios and alternate picking. The main melody is based on E minor, and it showcases Satriani’s legato technique.

Guitar Lesson 4 – Always with Me, Always with You
This beautiful piece demonstrates Satriani’s melodic capabilities. In the key of B Major, this song is heavily arpeggiated, with string bending and whammy-bar techniques adding emotion. A masterful use of sustain keeps the melodies flowing smoothly.

Guitar Lesson 5 – Satch Boogie
This iconic tune, with its rapid-fire alternate picking in the key of C Major, has an infectious boogie rhythm. Legato licks and slides are intermixed, and a two-handed tapping segment serves as the bridge.

Guitar Lesson 6 – Hill of the Skull
This short, moody interlude uses open-string riffs to build tension. Played in A minor, it features string bending and alternate picking.

Guitar Lesson 7 – Circles
Circles is a tranquil piece in G Major, with extensive finger-picking. The second half launches into powerful power chords and alternate picking.

Guitar Lesson 8 – Lords of Karma
This track is a tour de force of two-handed tapping and legato runs. Based in B minor, Satriani uses pinched harmonics and string bending to add flair to this song.

Guitar Lesson 9 – Midnight
Midnight showcases Satriani’s two-handed tapping skills. Played in a 12/8 time signature, it’s almost like a classical guitar piece played on an electric guitar.

Guitar Lesson 10 – Echo
Echo closes the album with an emotional punch. Using the E minor scale, Satriani creates a haunting melody with heavy use of delay, hence the name “Echo”.

Joe Satriani’s contribution to this album cannot be understated. His unique blend of virtuosity and melody has influenced countless guitarists. He utilized a wide array of guitar techniques, showcasing his broad range and technical prowess.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Album
Alternate picking / Legato / Two-handed tapping / Dive bombs / Chromaticism / Pinched harmonics / Syncopated rhythms / Sweep-picking / Arpeggios / Sustain / Power chords / String bending / Open-string riffs / Finger-picking / Slides

Each of these techniques adds a layer of complexity to the music, showcasing Satriani’s prowess and providing ample material for aspiring guitarists to study.

NB: PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE NOT INCLUDED WITH THIS COURSE