Psychedelic Rock - Characteristics

Characteristics

As a musical style psychedelic rock attempted to replicate the effects and enhance the mind-altering experiences of hallucinogenic drugs, incorporating new electronic and record effects, extended solo's and improvisation and was particularly influenced by eastern mysticism, reflected in use of exotic instrumentation, particularly from Indian music or the incorporation of elements of eastern music. Major features include:

• electric guitars, often used with feedback, wah wah and fuzzboxes;
• elaborate studio effects, such as backwards tapes, panning, phasing, long delay loops, and extreme reverb;
• exotic instrumentation, with a particular fondness for the sitar and tabla;
• a strong keyboard presence, especially organs, harpsichords, or the Mellotron (an early tape-driven 'sampler');
• extended instrumental solos or jams;
• complex song structures, key and time signature changes, modal melodies and drones;
• primitive electronic instruments such as synthesizers and the theremin;
• lyrics that made direct or indirect reference to drugs, as in Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" or Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze";
• surreal, whimsical, esoterically or literary-inspired, lyrics.