How to Write a Psychedelic Rock Song

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

So you want to write a psychedelic rock song? You’ve come to the right place. This blog post will give you all the tips and tricks you need to write a hit song that will leave your listeners in a daze.

The Elements of a Psychedelic Rock Song

Psychedelic rock songs typically contain elements of extended jam sessions, altered states of consciousness, and surreal or psychedelic imagery. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the experience of taking psychedelic drugs. If you’re interested in writing a psychedelic rock song, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

The sound

Psychedelic music is intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Common features include distorted guitars, heavy repetition, and childlike themes. The sound is often intended to be as “trippy” as possible.

There are a few key elements that are essential for any good psychedelic rock song. The first is a catchy, repetitive riff that will linger in the listener’s head long after the song is over. This can be accomplished with either a distorted guitar or keyboards. Second, the song should have a heavy beat that will keep the listener’s feet moving. The drums should be as tight and as loud as possible. Finally, the lyrics should be either nonsensical or about subjects that are mind-bending in nature (e.g., aliens, space travel, etc.).

The lyrics

Psychedelic lyrics are often based on trippy, dream-like concepts that explore the inner workings of the mind. They often deal with topics like ego death, expanded consciousness, and spiritual awakening. Many psychedelic songs also contain elements of fantasy and science fiction.

In terms of structure, psychedelic lyrics can be very loose and free-flowing, or they can follow a more traditional verse-chorus-verse format. Either way, they should create a sense of dizzying euphoria that transports the listener to a higher state of consciousness.

Some common lyrical themes in psychedelic rock songs include:

-Altered states of consciousness
-Transcendence
-Ego death
– God/the universe/spirituality
-Fantasy/sci-fi worlds
-The subconscious mind

Writing a Psychedelic Rock Song

Psychedelic rock songs are a genre of music that are designed to replicate the experience of a psychedelic drug. The first thing you need to do when writing a psychedelic rock song is to come up with a catchy melody. The lyrics should also be suggestive of the psychedelic experience. You can use metaphors and similes to describe the sensation of a psychedelic drug. The goal is to create a song that will make the listener feel like they are on a trip.

Finding inspiration

Psychedelic music often contains energy, long jams, mind-bending lyrics, and a sense of exploration. As you begin writing your own psychedelic songs, look to other artists in the genre for inspiration. The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Pink Floyd are all well-known psychedelic rock bands.

When you’re inspired by another artist, start by listening to their music and identifying the elements that make it psychedelic. Is it the electric guitar riffs? The use of feedback? The Mellotron? Once you’ve pinpointed what makes the music psychedelic, you can begin incorporating those elements into your own songwriting.

In addition to listening to other artists, try experimenting with different sounds and musical arrangements. Psychedelic music is all about pushing boundaries and expanding your sonic palette. Don’t be afraid to try new things!

Writing the song

Now that you have your chord progression and melody, it’s time to start writing your psychedelic rock song. Start by fleshing out your chord progression with some basic strumming patterns. As you strum, pay attention to the rhythms that you create and try to find a groove that feels natural. Once you have a basic strumming pattern that you’re happy with, start adding in your melody.

As you write, don’t be afraid to experiment with different sounds and textures. Psychedelic music is all about pushing boundaries and exploring new sonic territory. If you’re not sure how to get started, try adding some of the following elements to your song:

-Reverb: This is an essential element of any psychedelic song. To get started, try adding a simple reverb plugin to your DAW or recording space.
-Delay: Delay can be used to create everything from simple echoes to complex soundscapes. Again, there are lots of great delay plugins available, so experiment and see what sounds best.
-Modulation: Chorus, phaser and flanger effects are all great way to add movement and depth to your sound. Try using modulation on both your guitar and vocal tracks for best results.
-Distortion: A little bit of distortion can go a long way in a psychedelic song. Just be careful not overdo it — too much distortion will make your song sound muddy and unclear.

Recording the song

To ensure your song has the psychedelic edge you desire, it is important to take care in how you record it. Many psychedelic songs make use of techniques like reverb, echo, and flanging to create an otherworldly atmosphere, so be sure to experiment with these during the recording process. You might also want to consider using a distorted or overdriven guitar sound to add to the trippy feel of the song.

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