Psychedelic Rock: The Sound of the Sitar
Contents
Psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The sound of the sitar is often associated with this type of music.
Origins of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The sound of psychedelic rock was inspired by the sitar, an Indian musical instrument. Psychedelic rock often contains elements of Eastern music, such as drone-like repetition and sitar-like sound effects.
Indian Classical Music
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that became popular in the mid-1960s and peaked in popularity in the late 1960s. The style is marked by a preoccupation with melody, introspection, and headphone-friendly sonics, as well as lengthy compositions.
The music is often cited as a Bridge between Eastern and Western cultures, drawing uponBoth Indian classical music and the Western psychedelic tradition. Psychedelic rock sitars are also frequently used in the music, which helps to create the distinctive sound.
The genre’s origins can be traced back to India with the introduction of Indian classical music to the West in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Ravi Shankar, one of the leading figures of Indian classical music, became popular in the West after performing at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Shankar’s influence can be heard on The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),” which features a sitar solo by George Harrison.
As psychedelic rock developed in the late 1960s, more and more artists began incorporating elements of Indian classical music into their sound. The Grateful Dead were particularly inspired by Shankar’s work, and their 1968 track “That’s It for the Other One” features sitar playing by Jerry Garcia. Garcia would also go on to play sitar on Jefferson Airplane’s “She Has Funny Cars.”
American Jazz
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that was popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The style was inspired by folk, blues, and jazz music, as well as the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD. Psychedelic rock often used unusual sounds, production techniques, and song structures.
One of the earliest examples of psychedelic rock is the song “Interstellar Overdrive” by the British band Pink Floyd. The song was recorded in 1966 and features a sitar played by band member Syd Barrett. Barrett’s use of the sitar helped to create a sound that was new to rock music.
In 1967, the American band The Doors released their debut album, which included the song “Light My Fire.” The song featured a lengthy guitar solo by band member Robby Krieger that made use of feedback and other effects. This solo is considered one of the first examples of psychedelic guitar playing.
Other important early psychedelic rock bands include The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane. These bands helped to popularize the use of LSD and other drugs among young people in the United States and Europe.
The Sitar in Psychedelic Rock
The sitar is a Hindu stringed instrument that was introduced to the Western world in the mid-20th century. The sitar found its way into psychedelic rock in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The sitar’s distinctive sound became a hallmark of the psychedelic rock genre. The sitar added an exotic and otherworldly element to the psychedelic rock soundscape.
George Harrison of The Beatles
George Harrison of The Beatles is often credited with popularizing the sitar in the Western world after he used it on the band’s 1966 song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”. Harrison became interested in Indian music and culture during the filming of the band’s movie Help! in 1965, and he later took sitar lessons from Hindustani classical musician Ravi Shankar. The use of the sitar on “Norwegian Wood” was a groundbreaking moment in the history of psychedelic rock, and it helped to herald a new era of cross-cultural musical collaboration.
The sitar continued to be used by many psychedelic rock bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including The Doors, The Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Airplane. These bands were influenced by Harrison’s use of the instrument, as well as by Shankar’s own recordings with Western rock musicians like Jackie Lomax and Donovan. The sitar became an emblem of the psychedelic rock movement, helping to create a unique sound that was based in both Eastern and Western musical traditions.
Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones
In the mid-1960s, The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones began experimenting with the sitar on several of the band’s tracks, most notably “Paint It, Black.” His use of the instrument helped to popularize it in the Western world and gave a distinctive sound to psychedelic rock.
The Legacy of Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. The sound of psychedelic rock is characterized by the use of sitars, Mellotrons, and various other electronic effects. The genre is often seen as an extension of the earlier garage rock sound.
The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band is known for its eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, country, bluegrass, blues, and jazz, and for live performances of long musical improvisation. The Grateful Dead’s music grew out of the San Francisco counterculture and psychedelic scene of the 1960s. They had many songs in their repertoire that became classics, including “Casey Jones”, “China Cat Sunflower”, “I Know You Rider”. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and their 1977 performance at Cornell University is regarded as one of the greatest live concert recordings of all time.
Jimi Hendrix
Few artists have been as influential – or as controversial – as Jimi Hendrix. A virtuoso guitarist, Hendrix pushed the boundaries of what was possible on the instrument, and his innovative style has influenced countless musicians over the years. His use of feedback and distortion altered the sound of rock music forever, and his onstage antics – including setting his guitar on fire – made him a legend.
Born in Seattle in 1942, Hendrix began playing guitar at an early age. He was drawn to blues and rock music, and he quickly developed a unique style that blended these genres with his own individual flare. In the early 1960s, he played with a number of R&B bands before forming the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1966. The group released three albums – Are You Experienced?, Axis: Bold as Love, and Electric Ladyland – before disbanding in 1969.
Hendrix continued to perform as a solo artist until his death in 1970. Though he only recorded three studio albums, his legacy continues to this day. His songs have been covered by a wide variety of artists, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless guitarists.
