Psychedelic rock facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Psychedelic rock
Liquid oil projections: a popular visual accompaniment for live psychedelic rock performances.
Stylistic origins	Rock psychedelia folk jazz blues electronic novelty music surf Indian Middle-Eastern
Cultural origins	Mid 1960s, United States and United Kingdom
Typical instruments	Electric guitars keyboards harpsichord Mellotron electronic organ synthesizers sitar tabla theremin
Derivative forms	Art rock hard rock heavy metal krautrock neo-psychedelia glam rock jam band occult rock progressive rock proto-prog shoegazing space rock
Subgenres
Acid rock
Fusion genres
Psychedelic soul psychedelic funk psychedelic pop stoner rock
Regional scenes
Turkey Australia Latin America New Zealand
Local scenes
Canterbury scene San Francisco Sound
Other topics
British underground experimental rock folk rock freak scene Haight-Ashbury hippies jam band psychedelic folk psychedelic pop raga rock

Psychedelic rock is a special kind of rock music. It became very popular in the 1960s and still has many fans today. This music style first started in San Francisco, but it also grew in other cities like New York City. It spread to other countries too, especially England.

What is Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic rock tries to create a unique sound experience. It often uses new sounds and studio effects. The goal is to make the listener feel like they are on a journey. This music can be very dreamy or even a bit strange.

The Sound of Psychedelic Rock

Songs in this style sometimes have no words at all. Many songs were quite long, lasting 10 to 15 minutes. A big part of these long songs might be a solo. This could be a drum solo or a guitar solo, letting musicians show off their skills.

Special Instruments

Psychedelic rock uses many common rock instruments. These include electric guitars and keyboards. But it also added some unusual instruments.

• The sitar and tabla are instruments from India. They give the music a unique, faraway sound.
• The theremin is an electronic instrument. It makes spooky, wavering sounds without being touched.
• Keyboards like the harpsichord, Mellotron, and synthesizers were also used. They helped create new and interesting textures.

Where Did Psychedelic Rock Come From?

This music style grew out of different types of music. It mixed rock with blues, jazz, and folk. It also took ideas from Indian music and Middle Eastern music. This mix of sounds made psychedelic rock very unique.

Cultural Roots

Psychedelic rock was a big part of the 1960s youth culture. It was linked to the "hippie" movement. This movement was about peace, love, and new ways of thinking. Concerts often had liquid light shows (like the one in the picture). These colorful projections added to the dreamy feeling of the music.

Famous Psychedelic Rock Bands

Many famous groups played psychedelic rock. They helped shape its sound and make it popular.

• The Beatles
• The Doors
• The Byrds
• The Grateful Dead
• The Who
• Jimi Hendrix
• Jefferson Airplane
• Pink Floyd
• Frank Zappa
• The Animals

These bands created some of the most memorable songs of the 1960s. Their music continues to inspire new artists today.

What Came Next?

Psychedelic rock led to many other music styles. It helped create hard rock and heavy metal. It also influenced progressive rock, which has long, complex songs. Some newer bands still play music inspired by psychedelic rock. This is called neo-psychedelia.

Images for kids

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  "Swinging London", Carnaby Street, circa 1966

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  Producer Terry Melcher in the studio with the Byrds' Gene Clark and David Crosby, 1965

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  The Beatles on tour, July 1965

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  The Fillmore, San Francisco (pictured in 2010)

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  Poster for Jefferson Airplane's song "White Rabbit", which describes the surreal world of Alice in Wonderland

• 

  The stage at the Woodstock Festival in 1969

• 

  Primal Scream performing live with the cover of their album Screamadelica in the back

See also

In Spanish: Rock psicodélico para niños