The guitar tab (chords and melody) for “Penetration” is available for download as a PDF.
Penetration
“Penetration” is a high-energy surf rock instrumental composed by Steve Leonard (credited as S. Leonard) and performed by the Long Beach, California band The Pyramids. Released in late 1963 on Best Records (as the B-side to “Here Comes Marsha”), it became a surprise hit in 1964, peaking at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a Riverside DJ flipped the single and played the infectious, reverb-drenched track instead. Often cited as one of the last major surf instrumentals of the era, its twangy guitar riff and driving rhythm captured the fading wave of surf culture amid the British Invasion.
The Pyramids, known for their bald heads (shaved in protest against a promoter), appeared in the 1964 film Bikini Beach with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. The song influenced later surf and rock revivals, with covers by The Ventures (on Ventures in Space) and enduring play in compilations. Its bold title and raw sound added a cheeky edge to the typically sunny genre.
Guitar Tab
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