How to Write a 60s Psychedelic Rock Song
Contents
Psychedelic rock was a genre that reached its peak in the late 1960s. If you’re looking to write a song in this style, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. In this blog post, we’ll give you a crash course in how to write a 60s psychedelic rock song.
Introduction
In the 1960s, Psychedelic Rock emerged as a new and exciting genre of music. Characterized by its innovative and experimental sound, Psychedelic Rock quickly gained popularity among young people all over the world. If you’re interested in writing your own Psychedelic Rock song, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. Here’s a quick guide on how to write a 60s Psychedelic Rock song:
1. Use unusual or distorted instrumentation.
One of the defining features of Psychedelic Rock is its unique and often strange sound. To create this effect, manyPsychedelic Rock songs make use of unusual or distorted instrumentation.Try incorporating electric guitars with feedback or wah-wah pedals, sitars, Mellotrons, and other strange and fascinating sounds into your song.
2. Write long, meandering jams.
Another feature of Psychedelic Rock is its lengthy, drawn-out jams. ManyPsychedelic Rock songs are much longer than traditional pop songs, often clocking in at over 7 minutes. If you want to write a true Psychedelic Rock song, make sure to include at least one extended jam session in your track list!
3. Incorporate elements of drug culture into your lyrics.
Psychedelic Rock is often associated with the drug culture of the 1960s. As such, manyPsychedelicRock songs make reference to drugs and drug use in their lyrics. If you want to write a authentic PsychedelicRock song, try referencing drugs such as LSD, marijuana, and mushrooms in your lyrics. Just don’t forget to include those all-important trippy sound effects!
The Basics of a 60s Psychedelic Rock Song
60s Psychedelic Rock songs were all about creating an experience for the listener. The lyrics were often written to be open to interpretation, and the music was designed to evoke feelings of happiness, love, and peace. If you want to write a 60s Psychedelic Rock song, you’ll need to create a catchy melody, write lyrics that are open to interpretation, and choose instrumentation that will create an experience for the listener.
The Chorus
The chorus of a 60s psychedelic rock song often features one or more lyrical themes that are repeated several times. These themes can be about love, peace, drugs, or anything else that was important to the counterculture of the time. The chorus is typically the most catchy and memorable part of the song, so it is important to make sure that it is interesting and unique.
Instrumentally, the chorus of a psychedelic rock song often features heavily distorted guitars and organs playing catchy riffs. The drums usually keep a steady beat, but they may also include crashing cymbals and other sound effects. The bass guitar may also play a prominent role in the chorus, providing a solid foundation for the other instruments.
The Verse
The verse of a 60s psychedelic rock song usually contains the main message or story of the song. It is typically 8 measures long, but can be anywhere from 4-12 measures. The verse should have a hypnotic quality to it, with a constant groove that allows the listener to “trip out” and space out. The lyrics of the verse should be fairly simple and straightforward, without being too literal or on the nose. The goal is to create a feeling or emotion with the words, rather than to tell a specific story.
The Bridge
The bridge is a contrast to the rest of the song, usually in terms of tempo, feel, or both. It’s a place to “break out” of the usual structure and provide some variety.
The bridge might be a completely different section of music, or it might use the same chord progression but with a different rhythm or feel. In either case, it should be a contrasting section that provides relief from the repetitiveness of the verse and chorus.
The Instrumentation of a 60s Psychedelic Rock Song
To create a psychedelic sound, rock bands in the 60s used a combination of distorted guitars, feedback, and heavy reverb. Drums were usually played with a lot of cymbal crashes. To create a more psychedelic sound, some bands would use sitars and tablas.
The Drums
In a 60s psychedelic rock song, the drums usually have a lot of reverb and sound very “spacey.” Thecymbals are often played with a lot ofCrash and ride, and the hi-hat is usually kept open. The bass drum is usually played on the 2 and 4beat.
The Bass
The bass is the foundation of any psychedelic rock song. It provides the low end frequencies that give the music its groove and help to drive the rhythm section. The most important thing to remember when writing a bass line for a psychedelic rock song is that it should be simple and catchy. The goal is to create a groove that will get the listener’s feet moving and keep them hooked for the duration of the song.
While there are no hard and fast rules for writing a psychedelic bass line, there are certain elements that are typically found in these types of songs. A good place to start is by utilizing eighth notes played on the downbeat of each measure. This will create a solid foundation for the rest of the band to build upon. From there, feel free to experiment with different rhythms and patterns. One of the most important things to remember is to keep it simple. Psychedelic rock songs are all about creating a groove that will get the listener moving, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different ideas until you find something that feels right.
The Guitar
In a psychedelic rock song, the guitar generally takes on a lead role, providing the primary melody and harmony. The basic ingredients for a psychedelic guitar sound are extensive use of reverb and/or delay, and occasionally some type of modulation effect such as phaser or flanger. Chorus effects can also be used to create a thicker, more textured sound.
Riffs and solos should be played with plenty of soul and feeling; in other words, don’t be afraid to let your hair down and get a little loose! As far as specific techniques go, make use of feedback by letting your notes sustain and decay naturally into feedback howls. Also, make use of volume swells by gradually increasing the volume of your notes until they’re nearly deafening, then abruptly cutting them off. This will create an eerie, otherworldly sound that is perfect for conveying the trippy, mind-altering atmosphere of a psychedelic song.
The Keyboard
The keyboard is often one of the most important instruments in a 60s psychedelic rock song. It can provide the chords, melody, and countermelody that create the background for the vocals and other instruments to play off of. Additionally, many keyboardists also played percussion, which added to the overall psychedelic sound.
The Lyrics of a 60s Psychedelic Rock Song
In order to write a 60s psychedelic rock song, you will need to channel your inner flower child. This means writing lyrics that are suggestive, trippy, and overall positive. The goal is to create a sense of peace, love, and harmony. The lyrics should also be easy to sing along to.
Themes
Psychedelic songs often explore themes of unity, love, and peace. They also frequently touch on topics such as mind-altering drugs, Eastern philosophy, and the hippie movement. Many psychedelic songs are written in a free-flowing, stream-of-consciousness style, and they often make use of extended metaphor and surreal imagery.
Imagery
Psychedelic music often contains a lot of imagery, both in the lyrics and in the overall sound of the song. This imagery can be used to create a sense of otherworldly or dreamlike experiences, which can be enhanced by the use of drugs like LSD. In order to create this effect, lyrics may contain references to hallucinations, trips, and other out-of-body experiences. The use of sound effects and distorted guitars can also help create this psychedelic effect.
Wordplay
Psychedelic rock songs often made use of wordplay, especially when it came to the lyrics. Many psychedelic bands would deliberately use words that sounded alike or had multiple meanings in order to create a sense of confusion or disorientation in the listener. This technique was often used in conjunction with other elements of psychedelic music, such as feedback, distortion, and mind-altering drugs, in order to create a more “trippy” experience.
The Structure of a 60s Psychedelic Rock Song
A 60s psychedelic rock song typically has a very specific structure. It usually starts with an intro, then goes into the verse, followed by the chorus. After the chorus, there is usually a bridge, and then the song ends with a outro.
The Intro
In order to start your song off with a bang, it is important to have a strong intro. The intro should be designed to set the mood for the rest of the song and get the listener pumped for what is to come. Here are a few elements that you can use in your intro to create a killer 60s psychedelic rock song:
-Start with a strong drumbeat that will set the pace for the rest of the song
-Include some powerful guitar riffs that will grab the listener’s attention
-Add in some catchy melodies that will stay stuck in the listener’s head
-Make sure to keep the intro short and sweet so that it does not overstay its welcome
The Verse
In a typical 60s psychedelic rock song, the verse is the part of the song where the lead singer “tells a story”. The verses of “Eight Miles High” by The Byrds and “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane are both examples of this. The verses of these songs are what set the tone and atmosphere for the rest of the song. They are usually fairly simple, with a basic chord progression and not too many words. The goal is to create a feeling more than to tell a story.
The Chorus
The chorus is the part of the song that is repeated after each verse. It is usually the most memorable part of the song, and often contains the hook or main melody of the song. The chorus should be catchy and easy to remember, so that people can sing along with it.
There are a few different ways to structure a chorus. One common way is to have the verse be 8 measures long, and the chorus be 4 measures long. This gives the song a nice balance between verses and choruses, and makes it easy to remember where the chorus starts.
Another common way to structure a chorus is to make it twice as long as the verse. This can make for a very powerful chorus, but it can also make it harder for people to remember where the chorus starts.
yet another common way to structure a chorus is to keep the same number of measures as the verse, but add an extra measure or two in between each section. This can make for a very flowing, smooth sounding song, but again, it can be harder for people to remember where the chorus starts.
Whichever way you choose to structure your chorus, just make sure that it is catchy and easy to remember!
The Bridge
The bridge is a section of the song that provides contrast to the verse and chorus. It can be shorter or longer than either of those sections, and it typically has a different melody and chord progression. The purpose of the bridge is to add interest and keep the listener engaged. It can also be used to provide a moment of reflection or to build tension before the song returns to the main hook.
The Outro
The outro is the last section of the song and usually has a different feel from the rest of the song. It may be more relaxed or more intense, but it should always be memorable. The outro can be any length, but it is usually shorter than the other sections.
There are many ways to end a 60s psychedelic rock song, but one common method is to fade out the music. This can be done by slowly decreasing the volume of the instruments or by having the instruments play fewer and fewer notes until they are silent. Another option is to suddenly stop the music, which can create a feeling of suspense or finality.
If you want to extend the length of the song, you can repeat the chorus or verse one last time before ending with the outro. You could also include a solo or instrumental section in the outro. This is a good opportunity to showcase your musicianship and give the listener something to remember.
Whatever you choose to do, make sure your outro is memorable and leaves the listener wanting more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want to write a 60s psychedelic rock song, you need to channel your inner child and tap into your sense of exploration and adventure. Be bold in your lyrical choices, and don’t be afraid to experiment with the sounds of the instruments. With a little imagination, you can create a timeless classic that will transport listeners back to the era of peace, love, and tie-dye.
