How to Play Psychedelic Rock

Playing psychedelic rock is all about creating an atmosphere. To do this, you’ll need to use feedback, reverb, and delay.

Introduction

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psychedelia, is a type of rock music that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The genre is characterized by its use of unusual sounds, mind-altering themes, and often exploratory song structures.

Psychedelic rock began to emerge in the mid-1960s with bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones experimenting with new sounds and drugs like LSD. The genre reached its pinnacle in the late 1960s with bands such as Pink Floyd and The Grateful Dead creating some of the most iconic music of the era.

Despite its popularity, psychedelic rock has largely faded from the mainstream in recent decades. However, the genre continues to influence many modern musicians and continues to be popular among underground music fans.

What is Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style typically uses distorted electric guitars, psychedelic effects, and borrows from other genres such as Indian classical music, electronica, and jazz. Psychedelic rock was often used by bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Hendrix to enhance their live performances.

The Origins of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as acid rock, is a style of music that emerged in the mid-1960s and became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The genre’s defining features are distorted guitars, mind-altering lyrics, and extended improvisation.

Psychedelic rock originated in the garage rock scene of the United States, particularly in California. It was inspired by popular music of the time, such as folk rock and surf rock. Psychedelic bands used unorthodox instruments and sounds to create a “trippy” experience that was meant to replicate the effects of psychedelic drugs such as LSD.

The Beatles were the first major band to experiment with psychedelic sounds on their album Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). The album’s iconic cover art, which featured the band members dressed in colorful costumes with unusual facial expressions, was a nod to the psychedelic aesthetic. The album also contained songs with surrealist lyrics about love and loss (” Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”), death (“A Day in the Life”), and drug use (” With a Little Help from My Friends”).

The Rolling Stones followed suit with their album Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967), which featured psychedelic elements such as sitar-played melodies and sound effects meant to evoke a “trip.” The Doors also experimented with psychedelia on their self-titled debut album (1967), which contained the hit single “Light My Fire.”

Psychedelic rock became increasingly popular in 1967, often being referred to as the “Summer of Love.” At this time, many young people were experimenting with drugs such as LSD and marijuana, which may have contributed to the popularity of psychedelic music. Other factors that contributed to the genre’s popularity included the development of new technologies such as multi-track recording and Marshall amplifiers, which allowed bands to create more elaborate soundscapes.

The genre began to decline in popularity in the early 1970s, as bands started to return to more traditional styles of rock ‘n’ roll. However, psychedelic rock has had a significant impact on subsequent musical styles, including punk rock, new wave, and jam bands.

The Sound of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The sound of psychedelic rock is often characterized by distorted guitars, extended instrumentals, and drug-related lyrics. The genre is heavily influenced by Eastern philosophical and religious traditions, as well as the psychedelic experience.

Psychedelic rock reached the height of its popularity in the late 1960s, but has continued to influence musicians in the decades since. If you’re interested in learning how to play psychedelic rock, there are a few things you should know.

Instrumentation
The sound of psychedelic rock is defined by its unique instrumentation. In addition to traditional rock instruments like drums, bass, and guitar, psychedelic bands often incorporate sitars, tablas, and other Indian instruments. They may also use unusual techniques like backward tapes and feedback to create a more “trippy” sound.

Because of the complex instrumentation, psychedelic songs often have long instrumental sections. This allows band members to show off their virtuosity and explore different sonic textures. It also allows listeners to get lost in the music and experience a sense of transcendence.

Song Structure
Psychedelic songs typically have loose, open-ended structures that allow for extended improvisation. This is in contrast to the more traditional pop song format, which is usually built around a tight verse-chorus form. Psychedelic songs may also make use of modal playing, which gives them a dreamlike quality.

Lyrics and Subject Matter
Psychedelic lyrics often deal with themes of mind expansion, spiritual enlightenment, and drug use. However, not all psychedelic songs are about drugs—some simply strive to create an atmosphere of strangeness and oddity. And while many psychedelic bands sang about peace and love, others used their music to protest the Vietnam War and other social injustices.

Production Values
In addition to their unique instrumentation and song structures, psychedelic bands also experimented with innovative production techniques. Recording technologies were still relatively new in the 1960s, so bands were able to experiment with different sounds and textures in the studio. For example, the Beatles made liberal use of backward tapes on their landmark album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Psychedelic producers also employed electronic effects like reverb and phasing to create a more “otherworldly” sound

The Key Players in Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that was popularized in the 1960s and characterized by a distorted, “trippy” sound. The genre is often associated with mind-altering drugs such as LSD. Many psychedelic bands used flamboyant costumes and stage shows to enhance the music’s hallucinatory effect.

There are four key players in psychedelic rock:
-The lead singer/frontman: This is the most visible member of the band, and he or she often takes on a larger-than-life persona. Think of Jim Morrison of The Doors or Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd.
-The lead guitarist: This member of the band typically plays solos and contributes to the overall soundscape with feedback and other effects. Eric Clapton of Cream and Jimi Hendrix are two famous examples.
-The rhythm section: This consists of the bassist and drummer, who provide the foundation for the rest of the band. Jack Bruce of Cream and Ringo Starr of The Beatles were both influential rhythm section players in psychedelic rock bands.
-The keyboardist: The keyboardist often provides psychedelic sounds with a variety of keyboards and synthesizers. Rick Wright of Pink Floyd was a master of this role.

The Legacy of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as “psychedelia”, is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style is characterized by distorted electric guitars, drug-related lyrics, and experimental sound effects.

Psychedelic rock began to decline in popularity in the late 1970s, but experienced a resurgence in the 1990s with the popularity of neo-psychedelia groups such as The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols.

The legacy of psychedelic rock has been cited as an important influence on genres such as punk rock, grunge, and jam band music.