How to Write Psychedelic Rock jams that are Long and Groovy

Psychedelic Rock is a genre of rock that is influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. The style is often characterized by distorted guitars, trippy lyrics, and extended jams.

Define what you want the song to sound like

In order to write a psychedelic rock song, you must first define what you want the song to sound like. This includes the genre of music, the tempo, and the feel of the song. For example, if you want your song to have a retro sound, you may want to consider using vintage instruments and sounds. If you want your song to be more modern, you may want to use more electronic elements. Once you have defined the sound of your song, you can begin writing the jam.

Understand the history and origins of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style is characterized by distorted guitars, drug-related lyrics, and extended improvisational jams. Psychedelic rock developed out of the British blues scene and was influenced by American artists such as the Grateful Dead and Cream. The genre reached its peak of popularity in 1967 with the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles.

Start with the drums

Much like in jazz, the drummer in a psychedelic rock band has a lot of freedom to shape the feel of the music with their playing. They can also be responsible for holding down a groove for extended periods of time, which is why it’s often a good idea to start writing your psychedelic rock jams with the drum part.

Once you have a drumbeat that you’re happy with, you can start adding in other instruments. A common approach is to start with the rhythm guitar, followed by the bass guitar, and then add in lead guitar and keyboards later on.

When it comes to actually writing the music, there are no hard and fast rules – it’s all about what sounds good to you. However, there are a few things that are commonly used in psychedelic rock jams that you might want to consider incorporating into your own songs.

Psychedelic rock jams often make use of extended jam sections, where the band will improvise around a central idea or riff. These sections can go on for minutes at a time, and are usually regarded as being one of the most fun parts of playing psychedelia. If you’re not sure how to write an extended jam section, one approach is to start with a basic chord progression, and then have each band member take turns soloing over it.

Another common element of psychedelic rock jams is the use of sound effects. These can range from simple things like feedback or reverb, to more complex effects like backward tapes or Leslie speakers. If you’re not sure how to incorporate sound effects into your jams, a good place to start is by experimenting with your pedals – see what kinds of interesting sounds you can create, and then build from there.

Choose the right chords

Psychedelic rock is all about creating a trip-like experience with your music. The best way to do this is to choose chords that are both long and groovy. To find the right chords, start by finding a basic chord progression that you like. Then, add in additional chords that prolong the progression and make it more interesting. For example, if you’re playing a basic 4-chord progression, try adding in a 9th or 13th chord. You can also add in suspensions or other unique chords to create a more psychedelic sound.

Create a catchy melody

One of the main distinguishing factors of psychedelic rock is the incorporation of catchy melodies. These can be either vocal or instrumental, but they should be memorable and easy to sing along to. The melody should also compliment the rest of the instruments in the song and help to create a cohesive sound. To write a good psychedelic rock melody, try to come up with something that is both simple and complex at the same time. It should have a hook that will stay in the listener’s head, but it should also have some interesting twists and turns to keep things interesting.

Add in some psychedelic effects

To create the spacey, otherworldly sound of psychedelic rock, you’ll need to add in some special effects. The most common and essential effect is reverb, which creates a sense of space and distance in your music. You can add reverb to individual instruments or to the entire mix. Other effects that are often used in psychedelic rock include delay, tremolo, and flanging.

Psychedelic rock is all about creating a sense of atmosphere and mood. To do this, you’ll want to use long, sustained notes and chords, as well as modulations and changes in texture. For example, you might have a section of your song that’s built around a single chord, which is then repeated with different instrumentation or embellishments. Or you might have a section where the instruments drop out completely, leaving only vocals or a solo instrument. These changes can help to create a more dynamic and exciting soundscape for your listeners.

Make sure the song is groovy

To write a psychedelic rock jam that is long and groovy, you need to make sure the song is groovy. The best way to achieve this is by having a solid backbeat. You also want to make sure that your chords are interesting and move around a lot. Additionally, psychedelic rock jams typically have plenty of space for improvisation, so make sure you leave room for your bandmates to show off their skills.