Freaks — One String Guitar Tab
Surf Curse
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Practice Tips
- 1Start slow — use the 0.5x speed option
- 2Focus on one note at a time
- 3Keep your fretting hand relaxed
Similar Melodies
About This Melody
Freaks by Surf Curse is a raw, energetic indie rock track that found a huge audience online thanks to its driving guitar line and shout-along chorus. The song captures the scrappy, garage-band spirit Surf Curse is known for — simple parts that hit hard when you lock in the rhythm. This one-string version uses the 1st (high E) string and frets 4 through 12. The riff is built from a short four-note cell that repeats in groups, with a short climb to the high frets in the middle of each half. With 32 notes total, it is longer than a basic beginner melody, but the repeating structure means you are really learning one small pattern and two turnaround moments.
How to Play
- This melody uses just the 1st string (high E string) of your guitar. The fret sequence is: 9, 5, 4, 5, 9, 5, 4, 5, 9, 5, 4, 5, 12, 12, 10, 10, 9, 5, 4, 5, 9, 5, 4, 5, 9, 5, 4, 5, 12, 12, 10, 10.
- The core cell is four notes: fret 9, fret 5, fret 4, fret 5. Practice this bounce until it feels automatic — it is the backbone of the entire riff.
- Play that cell three times in a row. Each time you return to fret 9, it should feel like a strong downbeat.
- After the third cell, climb to the turnaround: fret 12 twice, fret 10 twice. This is the highest part of the phrase — give these notes a little extra energy.
- Step down to fret 9, then drop back into the core cell again. You will play three more rounds of 9, 5, 4, 5, then repeat the same 12, 12, 10, 10 ending.
- The whole melody is two identical halves — once you finish the first 16 notes, the second 16 notes repeat the same shape. Learn the first half first, then loop it twice without stopping.
- The song has a driving, mid-tempo rock feel. Start slow and focus on keeping the four-note cell even and punchy. Speed up gradually until the riff feels tight and rhythmic rather than rushed.
Common Mistakes
Losing count of the three 9, 5, 4, 5 cells before the turnaround — it is easy to jump to 12 too early or play one extra cell. Count “one-two-three” for the three repeats. Making the 12, 12, 10, 10 section sound mushy — each note should be clear, especially the two 12s and two 10s at the top of the neck. Missing the single fret 9 that connects the turnaround back to the core cell — that 9 starts the second block of cells; do not skip it. Playing too softly — this is an indie rock riff; use confident picking so the repeated pattern has groove and attack. Buzzing on frets 10 and 12 — press firmly behind the frets on the thin high E string.