How Sitar Psychedelic Rock is Taking Over the Music Scene

How sitar psychedelic rock is taking over the music scene, and what it means for the future of music.

The Origins of Sitar Psychedelic Rock

It all started in the summer of 1967. San Francisco was abuzz with a new sound that was coming out of the Haight-Ashbury district. This new sound was a combination of Eastern Indian music and Western rock and roll, and it was unlike anything that had ever been heard before. The band that started it all was The Grateful Dead, and the sound they created would come to be known as sitar psychedelic rock.

The Beatles and Ravi Shankar

The Beatles’ connection to the sitar began with George Harrison, who took an interest in the instrument after hearing it on the band’s 1966 tour of India. He received lessons from virtuoso Ravi Shankar, and sitar quickly became one of Harrison’s favorite instruments. His use of sitar on tracks like “Norwegian Wood” and “Within You Without You” helped introduce the sound of Eastern music to a Western audience, and influenced a generation of rock musicians.

The sitar continued to be popular in psychedelic rock throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Bands like The Byrds, The Doors, and Pink Floyd all incorporated sitar into their music, giving their sound a unique edge that helped them stand out from the pack.

Sitar psychedelic rock is having a moment again in the 2010s, thanks to bands like Tame Impala and The Growlers. These bands fuse sitar with more traditional rock instrumentation to create a sound that is both vintage and modern at the same time. If you’re looking for something new to listen to, check out some of these artists and see how they’re keeping the spirit of psychedelia alive.

The Grateful Dead and the Maharishi

The Grateful Dead and the Maharishi
In the 1960s, the Grateful Dead began to experiment with LSD and other hallucinogens. They soon became interested in Transcendental Meditation (TM) and its founder, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

The Maharishi had a profound impact on the Dead, particularly lead guitarist Jerry Garcia. In 1967, the band even considered relocating to his ashram in Rishikesh, India. However, they eventually decided against it after thinking better of living in such close proximity to the Maharishi.

In 1968, the Dead released their classic album Anthem of the Sun, which featured heavily Indian-inspired sitar and tabla playing by Garcia and drummer Mickey Hart. This was followed by 1969’s Aoxomoxoa, which included even more sitar and Indian instrumentation. The Dead’s interest in Eastern religion and culture continued to grow throughout the 1970s.

The Evolution of Sitar Psychedelic Rock

Sitar psychedelic rock is a subgenre of psychedelic rock that utilizes the sitar, an Indian stringed instrument, as a lead instrument. The sitar was first used in Western pop music in the late 1960s by British Invasion bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. In the 1970s, American sitarists such as George Harrison of The Beatles and Steve Winwood of Traffic popularized the use of the sitar in psychedelic rock.

The British Invasion

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new form of rock music began to emerge in Britain that would come to be known as “sitar psychedelic rock.” This style of music was characterized by the use of the sitar, an Indian stringed instrument, as a lead instrument in rock songs. The sitar added a new dimension to the sound of British rock and helped to create a more “exotic” and “psychedelic” sound.

The sitar was first introduced to the British rock scene by George Harrison of The Beatles, who used it on the band’s 1966 album Revolver. Harrison had been introduced to the instrument by his friend Ravi Shankar, an Indian musician who was then living in London. Shankar had been giving Harrison sitar lessons and encouraged him to use the instrument in his music.

Harrison’s use of the sitar on The Beatles’ album was groundbreaking and led other British bands to experiment with the instrument. In 1967, The Rolling Stones released their album Their Satanic Majesties Request, which featured the song “Paint It Black” with a sitar solo by Brian Jones. Later that year, Pink Floyd released their debut album Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which also featured sitar sounds.

The sitar quickly became synonymous with British psychedelic rock and would be used extensively by other bands in the genre, including The Doors, The Byrds, and Jefferson Airplane. By the end of the 1960s, sitars were being used in all sorts of pop and rock music, from country-influenced records like The Beatles’ “Lady Madonna” to more experimental fare like Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.”

The Psychedelic Movement

Psychedelic music, also known as psychedelic rock, came to prominence in the 1960s. It was then that bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys began experimenting with mind-altering drugs like LSD, and incorporating Eastern instrumentation into their music. The Beatles’ landmark album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is often cited as the pinnacle of psychedelic pop.

The sitar, an Indian stringed instrument, played a significant role in the development of psychedelic rock. George Harrison of The Beatles was the first Western musician to popularize the sitar in Western music. His use of the instrument on the song “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” helped to create a new sound that would become synonymous with the psychedelic movement.

The sitar quickly became a staple of psychedelic rock, and would be used by subsequent generations of musicians to create mind-bending sonic experiences. Today, sitar psychedelic rock is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, thanks in part to modern bands like Tame Impala and Black Moth Super Rainbow. If you’re looking to trip out on some seriously good tunes, look no further than sitar psychedelic rock!

The Resurgence of Sitar Psychedelic Rock

The New Wave of Psychedelic Rock

Sitar psychedelic rock is a type of music that combines elements of Indian classical music with Western psychedelic rock. It first gained popularity in the 1960s, when bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones began incorporating sitar into their songs. The genre fell out of favour in the 1970s, but has seen a resurgence in recent years, with bands like Tame Impala and The Growlers incorporating sitar into their sound.

The sitar is a type of stringed instrument that originated in India. It has a distinctive sound that is easily recognizable, and its use in psychedelic rock gives the music a unique flavour. The sitar can be used to create both melodic and percussive sounds, making it an ideal instrument for creating psychedelic soundscapes.

The resurgence of sitar psychedelic rock has been driven by a new generation of musicians who are interested in exploring different types of music from around the world. This new wave of psychedelic rock bands is helping to create a more diverse and interesting music scene, and we can only hope that it continues to grow in popularity in the years to come.

The Modern Era of Psychedelic Rock

The sitar (an Indian stringed instrument) made its first appearance in popular Western music in the late 1960s, when artists like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix began experimenting with it. Since then, the sitar has been used sporadically in psychedelic rock, appearing on landmark albums like The Doors’ Strange Days and Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother. In recent years, however, the sitar has experienced a resurgence in popularity, appearing on albums by Tame Impala, MGMT, and other modern psychedelic rock bands.

This renewed interest in the sitar is part of a larger trend of psychedelic rock bands returning to their roots. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, bands like Tame Impala and MGMT helped spark a revival of 1960s-style psychedelia. This new wave of psychedelic music is often darker and more introspective than the sunny sound of the 1960s psychedelia; it reflects the anxieties and complexities of modern life. The sitar is the perfect instrument for this new brand of psychedelic rock, as its complex tones and shimmering textures add an exotic flavor to the music.

So far, the sitar has been used sparingly in this new era of psychedelia. But as more and more bands continue to explore the possibilities of this unique instrument, we can expect to hear it used more frequently in the years to come.

The Future of Sitar Psychedelic Rock

Sitar psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that is rapidly gaining popularity. This type of rock music is characterized by the use of the sitar, an instrument from India. The sitar gives the music a unique sound that is attracting a lot of fans.

The New Generation of Psychedelic Rockers

A new generation of psychedelic rockers is on the rise, and they’re ready to take the music scene by storm. Armed with sitars and a passion for mind-altering sounds, these artists are forging a new path for psychedelic rock.

From India to England, sitar psychedelic rock is making a comeback. And it’s not just the musicians who are behind this movement – fans are eagerly embracing this sound, too.

What’s driving this resurgence? Some say it’s a response to the over-produced, polished sound of today’s pop music. Others believe it’s a way to reconnect with the spirit of the 1960s and ’70s, when psychedelic rock was at its peak.

Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that sitar psychedelic rock is on the rise. And with each passing day, it’s becoming more and more popular. So if you’re looking for something new and exciting in your music collection, be sure to check out these bands:

The Sitarînî Experience: Hailing from India, The Sitarînî Experience is one of the leading proponents of sitar psychedelic rock. Their debut album, “Flying High,” is a mind-bending journey through sound that will leave you wanting more.

The Psychedelic Furs: One of the original pioneers of this genre, The Psychedelic Furs have been making music since the late 1970s. Their latest album, “Made of Stone,” features some of their most exciting work yet.

Spiritualized: Another veteran band, Spiritualized has been creating THEIR OWN brand OF PSYCHEDELIC ROCK FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. their latest album, “sweet heart sweet light,” is a beautiful exploration OF THIS SOUND THAT IS SURE TO ENTRANCE LISTENERS FOR YEARS TO COME.

The Mainstreaming of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock has been around for decades, but it has only recently begun to enter the mainstream. Artists like the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix popularized the genre in the 1960s, and it has since undergone a number of revivals. In the 1990s, bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish helped to bring psychedelic rock back into the public eye. In recent years, artists like Tame Impala and MGMT have continued to popularize the genre, with both groups reaching new levels of commercial success.

With its mix of catchy melodies and mind-bending sound effects, psychedelic rock has always had a wide appeal. In the past, however, the genre was often seen as being too experimental or niche for mainstream audiences. This began to change in the mid-2000s, as more and more listeners began to appreciate psychedelic rock for its musicality and uniqueness.

The success of Tame Impala and MGMT has played a large role in bringing psychedelic rock into the mainstream. The two bands have achieved massive commercial success while still maintaining their experimental edge. This has helped to legitimize the genre in the eyes of many listeners who may have previously been skeptical.

The future of psychedelic rock looks bright. With more and more artists achieving commercial success, it is only a matter of time before the genre becomes even more mainstream. This is good news for fans of psychedelic rock, as it means that we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting music in the years to come.