Shapes of Things

The Yardbirds, 1966, from single. Solo by Jeff Beck.

Beck's Eastern-sounding, feedback-drenched break is often cited as a starting point for psychedelic lead guitar.

Shapes of Things marked a turning point for rock guitar, and Jeff Beck's solo is often cited as one of the first truly psychedelic leads. His playing is raw and adventurous, with Eastern-sounding scales, sustained notes and feedback that swells and bends in unpredictable ways. It moves away from standard blues phrasing, pointing toward the experimental sounds that would dominate the late 1960s. The solo is short but full of ideas. Listen for the way Beck lets notes feed back and hang in the air, and for the exotic, droning phrases that sound more like a sitar than a typical electric guitar, adding a strange, unsettling edge to the song.

Shapes of Things by The Yardbirds is featured in our Psychedelic (#14) list. The solo is played by Jeff Beck and the song was released in 1966.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Psychedelic Guitar Solos — #14
• The Best The Yardbirds Guitar Solos — #1
• The Best Jeff Beck Guitar Solos — #8

Sources