Learn to Play “Hawaii Five-O” by The Ventures

Step into the iconic world of surf rock with “Hawaii Five-O” by The Ventures, an exhilarating instrumental that fuses high-energy rhythm, catchy melodies, and classic 1960s guitar tones. At Licklibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson on this legendary track breaks down every riff, run, and rhythm to help you master the song and the essential techniques behind it. Perfect for intermediate to advanced players, this lesson not only teaches the song but also hones your skill set across a range of foundational and expressive guitar techniques. Lee Hodgson breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Song: A Surf Rock Classic

“Hawaii Five-O,” originally composed by Morton Stevens, gained worldwide fame as the theme to the popular TV series of the same name. The Ventures’ cover version turned it into a surf rock anthem. With its driving tempo and memorable melody, it showcases the signature clean, reverb-drenched tone and crisp attack that define the genre. It’s a brilliant showcase for guitarists looking to improve timing, articulation, and tone control.

Guitar Techniques Explored in the Lesson

Our in-depth lesson covers every nuance of the performance, focusing on several important techniques that will sharpen your playing and boost your musical vocabulary. Below, we highlight the main guitar techniques featured in the “Hawaii Five-O” lesson and how mastering each one benefits your overall playing.

Alternate Picking

One of the key components of the song’s fast-paced riffing is alternate picking. By learning to pick consistently in a down-up motion, you’ll increase your efficiency and speed on the guitar. This technique also improves timing and string transition accuracy, which is essential for tackling rapid melodies like those in “Hawaii Five-O.”

Palm Muting

To keep the rhythmic parts tight and percussive, palm muting is used effectively throughout the song. This technique dampens the strings slightly with the picking hand, giving a chunkier, more controlled tone. It’s great for dynamic control and adds clarity to faster passages.

Slides

Smooth transitions between notes are achieved through slides, adding a vocal-like expressiveness to melodic phrases. Slides are a staple in surf rock and allow players to navigate the fretboard with fluid motion while maintaining melodic cohesion.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

In various melodic sections, the lesson breaks down hammer-ons and pull-offs, which help in achieving legato phrasing. These techniques reduce the need for excessive picking, giving lines a smoother, more flowing feel. Practicing these builds finger strength and dexterity.

String Bending

While not as heavily used as in blues or rock solos, subtle string bending adds emotional flair to key melodic notes. This technique enhances intonation control and develops expressive playing.

Vibrato

Adding vibrato to held notes brings them to life, giving your phrases more character and depth. The lesson explores how The Ventures subtly apply vibrato to embellish key moments. Mastering this is crucial for emotional expression on the guitar.

Power Chords

Driving the energetic rhythm are classic power chords, a surf rock and rock staple. These simple yet powerful shapes are easy to move around the neck and essential for building strong rhythm playing foundations.

Chord Progressions

The song is built around tight, surf-inspired chord progressions that reinforce musical structure and help develop your understanding of harmonic movement. Learning these will improve your chordal knowledge and rhythm placement.

About The Guitarists: The Ventures

The Ventures were a pioneering instrumental rock band formed in the late 1950s. Best known for their crisp tones and surf-style grooves, they played a major role in popularising the electric guitar. Lead guitarist Nokie Edwards brought a sharp, articulate touch to the group’s sound, helping define a generation of guitar music. His use of precision picking and melodic phrasing continues to influence guitarists across rock, country, and surf genres. Learning to play a track like “Hawaii Five-O” offers a direct window into Edwards’ articulate style and the band's trailblazing approach to instrumental guitar music.

Why Learn “Hawaii Five-O” with Licklibrary?

This lesson is more than just learning a cool song—it’s a focused study in discipline, tone, and technique. You'll develop better timing, gain command of fast passages, and build confidence with melodic and rhythmic phrasing. Whether you're a budding surf rocker or a player looking to sharpen your chops, “Hawaii Five-O” is the perfect vehicle for expanding your skill set.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Alternate Picking
• Palm Muting
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Power Chords
• Chord Progressions

Explore this classic track, sharpen your technique, and inject your playing with energy and precision through Licklibrary’s expert-led “Hawaii Five-O” lesson today.