It is no doubt that the iconic band The Beatles influenced the way we hear and make music today. With the revolutionary sound of Beatlemania sweeping the world, the Fab Four set precedents that are still relevant today.
When considering how The Beatles’ impact on the music industry, one of the most prevailing aspects of their sound that stands out is their use of distortion. Put simply, distortion is a distortion in sound caused by either exceeding a device’s amplitude capacity or intentionally with a device that uses it. This technique is now widely used in music made today to create a unique sound.
So, did The Beatles really pioneer this technique? According to Bruce Spizer, a music author and Beatles expert, they did. Spizer suggests that it was George Harrison who was the first to successfully experiment with guitar distortion in The Beatles’ sound, and cites 1965’s ‘Think for Yourself’ as the track that inadvertently started it all.
This was not the only track that The Beatles utilised this effect on, with the classic ‘Revolution’ and their iconic concert close ‘Long Tall Sally’ also hosting the effect. Despite the fact the distortion might not be incredibly obvious, it was the technique’s uses in songs like these – and The Beatles’ use in general – that helped craft the iconic, unmistakable sound of the band.
One of the primary reasons The Beatles were able to create such a sophisticated distorted tone is due to their frontman George Harrison’s insistence of using the same bass amp for recording and live performances, according to Michael Bailey, a professor of music. This choice allowed them to employ the effect successfully, with the sound that was produced being more organic and representative of the sound they intended.
To get the most authentic understanding of The Beatles’ story when it comes to their use of distortion, it is worthwhile to take some time to explore the Abbey Road Studios’ most famous spot that was used to record the likes of ‘A Day in the Life’ and ‘Come Together’. Here, it is rumoured, The Beatles sought sanctuary and experimented with the kind of electric sounds that could help define the era. With the focal point being the infamous mixing desk that reigns the main room, one could hardly find a more historic place that was an incubator for the beloved sound of The Beatles.
All in all, it is evident that The Beatles made a significant contribution the use of distortion in music. Despite the relatively obscure nature of one of their most impactful techniques, The Beatles managed to alter the way music is heard.
The Development of George Harrison’s Distortion Technique
When discussing The Beatles’ influence on distortion, very little is discussed regarding George Harrison’s development of the technique. Although Harrison certainly was responsible for the introduction of the effect, it was also due to his exemplary skills as a guitarist and producer that enabled him to reach new boundaries with his sound.
Harrison himself was the first to explore different types of distortion and unusual effects such as the sound of a vibrato arm. Through the sixties, Harrison was becoming accustomed to this electronic sound and by the time they entered the Abbey Road Studios to record ‘Revolver’ in 1966, Harrison was able to explore this effect by using the studio’s heavy guitar amplifiers. This allowed him to take his guitar sound to an uncharted level of distorted sound and venture into a realm of sound that had never been explored before.
Furthermore, Harrison found chances to explore the boundaries of feedback in 1967 whilst composing the track ‘I’m Only Sleeping’. Here he instructed the recording engineers to capture the sound of feedback for an extended eight bars, signifying the importance of the effect for The Beatles’ production.
It is also suggested that Harrison was the first pop musician to deliberately overload a valve amplifier and record it. As a result, it was through his experimentation and skill that The Beatles were truly able to utilise distortion and add a new layer to the collection of sounds they had already crafted.
The Relevancy of Distortion in Music Today
In today’s modern music world, distortion continues to be a vast part of the sonic landscape. Especially in genres such as heavy metal, punk and even pop, distortion is used to enhance every texture in a song and to create a sonically diverse and pleasing sound.
For example, in heavy metal genres, distortion is used to quite extreme levels and when combined with the other sounds of the song can create an intense sonic field. This allows the listener to experience a larger range of sound and truly explore the sonic capabilities of the project.
On the polar opposite, genres such as indie-pop have created a more tasteful use of distortion which can illustrate an artist’s sound further. By using a light distortion, extremely compressed signal, and a subtle flanging, artists can create sound that stands out in a quite delicate, yet effective way.
In essence, it is very clear that distortion is still used to incredibly high levels today. Whether it is used to create an intense sound for a metal song or a more subtle approach to pop music, distortion remains an incredibly relevant and important tool for artists and producers today. It is no surprise therefore that it remains a crucial part of The Beatles’ sound and still stands the test of time today.
The Impact of Using Distortion on The Beatles
Through the ingenious use of distortion, The Beatles achieved unprecedented levels of success in the music industry. Not only did the use of the effect help craft an instantly recognizable sound but it allowed them to reflect the musical and political revolution of the era in a way that no other band had been able to.
Especially with the invention of the atomic age and the civil unrest that welcomed the sixties, The Beatles were able to attempt to capture the raw emotion and intensity of the era through distortion. Songs like ‘Revolution’, ‘Come Together’, and ‘Helter Skelter’ were revolutionary pieces of art that constructed a large, powerful sound and truly symbolized the dissatisfaction with politics at the time.
What’s more is that the use of distortion also meant that The Beatles could explore the boundaries of their own sound by recording with the same speakers and amplifiers which undoubtedly helped their overall sound. This further propelled them to success, with The Beatles becoming the definitive sound of the era.
By putting distortion to good use, The Beatles were able to break free from the rigid studios and production techniques of the era and create a sound that was truly fitting of the sixties. Not only did this catapult their status in the music industry but it has also helped influence the music that is created today.
Other Influential Artists Using Distortion
Although The Beatles were pioneers of distortion, they certainly were not the only influential artists that helped altered the soundscape of modern music. Artists such as T-Rex’s Marc Bolan, Link Wray and Jimi Hendrix were also some of the first musicians to incorporate distortion in their music.
Especially with Hendrix, it has been suggested that he was the first musician that made guitar distortion acceptable to the public. Using effects like wah-wah and fuzz, Hendrix and his techniques completely changed the way the guitar was used and what it was able to achieve. In-fact, without Hendrix’s influence, it is unknown how The Beatles would have progressed their experimentation with the instrument.
In a similar way to The Beatles, these acts also helped popularise the use of distortion in music and made it a viable production tool for musicians and producers alike. Whether it be Led Zeppelin’s use of distortion to reflect an intense sound or The Who’s overdriven amplifiers providing the basic sound for their minimalist rock ’n’ roll production, it is clear these iconic acts have used distortion to break boundaries and introduce a courageous and daring sound.
Conclusion
Taken as a whole, it is clear that The Beatles were one of the first acts to truly adopt the use of distortion in their music. Moreover, the influence and experimentation of George Harrison has helped pave the way for other seminal acts such as Jimi Hendrix to develop exciting and innovate uses of the sound. Lastly, it is also evident that distortion is still highly relevant in modern music and The Beatles’ sound remains influential in the industry today.
