a genre of rock music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in southern california. It was especially popular in two major forms: the first is instrumental surf, distinguished by re- verb-heavy electric guitars played to evoke the sound of crashing waves, largely pioneered by dick dale and the del-tones. the second is vocal surf, which took elements of the original surf sound and added vocal harmonies, a movement led by the beach boys.

• reference artists:

dick dale, beach boys, jan and dean, the ventures, the surfaris.