What is Psychedelic Rock?
Psychedelic rock is a type of rock music that is intended to enhance the experience of taking hallucinogenic drugs. Psychedelic rock, also called psychedelia, incorporates elements of blues and folk rock. This music genre also contributed to the evolution of progressive rock and hard rock.
What is progressive rock?
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that emphasizes experimentation, concept-driven lyrics, and ambiguous compositions. Progressive Rock, also known as Prog Rock, is similar to traditional rock and roll bands. This genre tends to base their instrumentals on piano, guitar, bass, drums, and lead vocals. Many well-known progressive rock songs incorporate jazz and classical music elements. They also draw their lyrics from literature, poetry, and history, earning the name “Symphonic rock”.
What are the main characteristics of psychedelic rock?
Psychedelic rock often includes studio effects like reverse, phasing, and distortion.
Creative use of instruments: The sound of an electronic guitar and a pedal is marked for this genre. Psychedelic rock musicians also incorporate elements of Indian instruments like the tambura, along with keyboard instruments.
Lengthy improvised guitar solo sounds are associated with psychedelic rock music.
What are the main characteristics of progressive rock?
Expanded instrumentals: Progressive rock music artists often experiment beyond the traditional musical instruments of guitar, keyboards, drums, and bass. They often make use of Moog, Mellotron, or orchestral instruments. Many progressive rock artists seek the right palette to work with.
Embrace of technology: Many progressive rock bands have embraced the use of technology in their respective eras.
Some progressive rock music is influenced by classical music. For example, progressive bands like Emerson, Lake and Palmer have incorporated Tchaikovsky’s music into theirs.
Literary lyrics: Similar to psychedelic rock music, progressive rock lyrics draw lyrics from literature, poetry, history, and classic films.
The origin of psychedelic rock music
In the 1960s, psychedelic rock originated on the American west coast out of the hippie movement in San Francisco. Taking its first roots in San Francisco, psychedelic rock soon spread to Europe. The first rock band to categorize their music as psychedelic was Austin, a Texan-based rock band. The band was led by guitarist Rock Erickson, and in 1966, they released their first album, “Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevator”.
The Origin of Progressive Rock
The progressive movement began in the 1960s. With notable rock bands such as the Beatles and the Beach Boys pushing the boundaries of concept albums. In the album, they introduced a typical instrument. Other bands that helped the movement were Moodle Blues, Procol Harom, and Love, who created albums that incorporated orchestral instrumentation.
Although progressive rock music and psychedelic rock music are parent genres of new age music they are two different music genre entirely.