Psychedelic Rock and Electric Guitars: A Match Made in Heaven

Psychedelic rock is a genre that is often associated with electric guitars. In this blog post, we explore how the two go together so well.

The History of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as “psych rock” or “garage rock”, is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The style is characterized by a distorted, “fuzzy” sound created by electric guitars played through overdriven amplifiers, and by the use of feedback and other electronic effects.

The Birth of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, often referred to simply as psychedelia, is a style of rock music that was popular in the 1960s and saw a revival in the 1970s. Psychedelic rock is characterized by its use of electronic effects, such as echo and feedback, and by its experimental approach to composition and sound production.

Psychedelic rock began to emerge in the early 1960s, with bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones incorporating elements of psychedelic music into their work. The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, released in 1967, is often cited as one of the most important works of psychedelic rock. Psychedelic rock reached its peak of popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and the Grateful Dead becoming some of the most popular musical acts in the world.

The popularity of psychedelic rock faded in the late 1970s, but the genre has continued to exert a significant influence on popular music. In recent years, many older bands have seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to renewed interest in psychedelic rock.

The Psychedelic Sound

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psychedelia, is a style of rock music that was popular in the 1960s. The term is often used interchangeably with the terms “acid rock” and “garage rock.” Psychedelic rock is characterized by its use of feedback, distortion, and multi-tracked instruments. The Electric guitar is the most commonly used instrument in this genre.

The first recorded use of the term “psychedelic” was in 1956 by psychologist Humphry Osmond. Psychiatrist Paul Boutin later coined the term “acid rock” in an article for Rolling Stone magazine in 1967. The term “garage rock” was coined by music critic Dave Marsh in 1971.

The first psychedelic song is generally considered to be “I Hear a New World” by Joe Meek, which was released in 1960. The first psychedelic band was The 13th Floor Elevators, who formed in 1965. Other important early psychedelic bands include The Byrds, Love, and Jefferson Airplane.

Psychedelic rock reached its peak of popularity in the late 1960s with the release of The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is often considered to be the best example of the genre. Psychedelic bands continued to be popular through the 1970s, although the style had evolved significantly by that point. Some important late-period psychedelic bands include Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin

The Psychedelic Movement

Psychedelic music is a style of rock music that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The term “psychedelic” comes from the Greek words for “mind” and “manifesting,” and it was originally used to describe a class of psychiatric drugs known as psychedelics. Psychedelic music is often credited with being the first genre of music to use electronic instruments, such as the synthesizer and the Theremin.

Psychedelic music was born out of the psychedelic movement, which was a cultural phenomenon that began in the 1950s and reached its peak in the 1960s. The psychedelic movement was influenced by Eastern philosophy, art, and literature, and it sought to create an altered state of consciousness through the use of drugs, music, and other forms of media.

The first wave of psychedelic rock began in the mid-1960s with bands like The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane. These bands blended traditional rock instrumentation with elements of Indian and Eastern music to create a new sound that was both spiritual and mind-expanding. Psychedelic rock reached its peak in 1967 with the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles. This album is often cited as being one of the most influential albums of all time, and it helped popularize psychedelic rock around the world.

In the late 1960s, psychedelic rock began to lose its popularity as bands started experimenting with other genres such as funk and disco. However, psychedelic rock made a comeback in the 1990s with bands like Nirvana and Radiohead who were inspired by the original psychedelic bands of the 1960s.

Electric Guitars in Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s. It is characterized by a distorted, “fuzzy” sound created by electric guitars. Electric guitars are often used in psychedelic rock to create an overall atmosphere of sound.

The Fender Stratocaster

The Fender Stratocaster is one of the most popular electric guitars in psychedelic rock. It was first introduced in 1954 and quickly became a favorite among musicians. The Stratocaster features a sleek body, three pickups, and a tremolo bar. This combination of features allows for a wide range of sounds, from clean and mellow to distorted and feedback-laden.

The Stratocaster was used by some of the biggest names in psychedelic rock, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. Hendrix in particular was known for pushing the boundaries of what the guitar could do, using feedback and other techniques to create new sounds.

If you’re looking to get that classic psychedelic rock sound, then the Fender Stratocaster is the perfect choice.

The Gibson Les Paul

The Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first introduced in 1952. The Les Paul was designed by Ted McCarty and Les Paul, who approached Gibson about the idea of creating a solid body guitar with “humbucker” pickups (two single-coil pickups mounted side-by-side to cancel out the interference caused by electromagnetic waves). The Les Paul quickly became one of the most popular guitars in the world, and has been used by some of the most famous guitarists of all time, including Jimmy Page, Slash, and Mark Knopfler.

The Rickenbacker 360

The Rickenbacker 360 is an iconic electric guitar that was often used by famous psychedelic rock bands in the 1960s. The guitar has a distinctive jangly sound that is perfect for creating those dreamy, otherworldly psychedelic sounds. The Rickenbacker 360 was used by some of the biggest names in psychedelic rock, including The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, and The Byrds. If you’re looking to create that classic psychedelic sound, then the Rickenbacker 360 is the perfect guitar for you.

Psychedelic Rock Today

Psychedelic rock is a unique genre that often relies on the use of electric guitars to create its sound. This sound is often described as “trippy” or “out there,” and it can be difficult to replicate without the right tools. Electric guitars are the perfect instruments for creating this sound, and they have been used by some of the most famous psychedelic rock bands of all time.

The Psychedelic Revival

Psychedelic rock is having a moment. Thanks to a new crop of young bands, the genre is enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

Psychedelic rock first gained popularity in the 1960s, when artists like Jimi Hendrix and The Grateful Dead began experimenting with mind-altering drugs like LSD. The music they created was designed to replicate the experience of being on psychedelics, and it soon became the soundtrack to the counterculture movement.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in psychedelic rock, as young people look to the music of the past for inspiration. Today’s psychedelic revivalists are blendign classic sounds with modern sensibilities, and the results are exciting and fresh.

So if you’re looking for something new to trip out to, check out some of the best psychedelic rock bands around today.

The New Psychedelia

By the early 2000s, a new generation of bands had emerged that were influenced by the original psychedelia of the 1960s. They became known as “the new psychedelia” or “neo-psychedelia.” These bands often incorporated elements of other genres, including shoegaze, dream pop, garage rock, and post-punk.

The new psychedelia was typified by a revival of the use of electric guitars and an emphasis on songcraft and catchy melodies. Key bands of the new psychedelia include The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Dandy Warhols, The Flaming Lips, and Tame Impala.