Surf instrumental
The surf instrumental is generally dance music, with electric guitars dominating the sound, and almost always in straight 4/4 common time.

Surf guitarists produce a distinctive tone color.The use of distortion effects is rare; instead, sustain is produced by use of double picking and spring reverb. The use of vibrato units is also common; these were built into the guitar amplifiers of the late 1950s and 1960s, and more recently in effects pedals. The addition of tenor or baritone saxophone is a common variation. Additional guitars, organ, electric piano, hand drums or other percussion are also frequently used.

A typical surf instrumental band consists of: Lead guitar, Rhythm guitar, Bass guitar, Drum kit
This basic configuration is identical to that adopted in the early development of rock and roll music, and the two styles developed in parallel, with some bands clearly in both genres. Both styles influenced the development of the electric guitar, electric bass and drum kit, and in the process affecting each other.

Surf music was the first genre to universally adopt the electric bass. The promotion of more creative uses of electric bass as part of surf music influenced both rock and jazz music. Surf music also shared with rock and roll and jazz in the development of drum kit technique. Both surf and rock music (and some jazz styles) adopted a back beat as standard at about the same time, and using similar fills and rhythms.

Early instrumental surf bands were formed in many geographic areas, most prominently from the Southern California area, while there are several examples of the style taking forms in other regions as well.

An early surf instrumental hit, Bulldog (Billboard #24, 1960), was composed and performed by The Fireballs, a band that hailed from Raton, New Mexico. This recording could be considered a blueprint for the surf instrumental genre, with its sustained lead guitar picking, spare percussion and medium-fast tempo.

The Atlantics, from Sydney, Australia, were not exclusively surf musicians, but made significant contributions to the genre, the most famous example with being their hit "Bombora" (1963). Another Australian surf band who were known outside their own country's surf scene was the Joy Boys, whose hit "Murphy the Surfie" (1963) was later covered by the Surfaris.

European bands around this time generally focused more on the style played by the Shadows. A notable example of European surf instrumental is Spanish band Los Relampagos' rendition of "Misirlou".

Examples:
Miserlou, Dick Dale, 1962.
Walk Don't Run '64, The Ventures, 1964.
Apache, The Shadows, 1960.
Pipeline, The Chantays, 1963.
Bombora (single), The Atlantics, 1963.
Wipe Out, The Surfaris, 1962.
Bulldog, The Fireballs, 1959.

Surf Instrumental Record Labels:
Double Crown Records - Bellingham, Washington
MuSick Records - California
Golly Gee Records - California
Necro-Tone Records - Massachusetts