Lockdown Licks no. 401. “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones.

Intro pedal tone riffs. Played on a Stratocaster into a NUX M8 amp set to clean with some reverb.

A repeating pedal tone on the open E string alternating with the melody line on B string. Original by Brian Jones.

“Paint It Black” is a song recorded in 1966 by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of the songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it is an experimental rock song with Indian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European influences and lyrics about grief and loss. London Records released the song as a single on 7 May 1966 in the United States, and Decca Records released it on 13 May in the United Kingdom. Two months later, London Records included it as the opening track on the American version of the band’s 1966 studio album Aftermath, though it is not on the original UK release. It was a chart success reaching number 1 in the US/UK.

Originating from a series of improvisational melodies played by Brian Jones on the sitar, the song features all five members of the band contributing to the final arrangement although only Jagger and Richards were credited as songwriters. In contrast to previous Rolling Stones singles with straightforward rock arrangements, “Paint It Black” has unconventional instrumentation, including a prominent sitar.