 The song is marked by McGuinn 's groundbreaking lead guitar playing , which saw the guitarist attempting to emulate the free form jazz saxophone playing of John Coltrane , and in particular , Coltrane 's playing on the song " India " from his Impressions album . " Eight Miles High " also exhibits the influence of the Indian classical music of Ravi Shankar in the droning quality of the song 's vocal melody and in McGuinn 's guitar playing . The song 's subtle use of Indian influences resulted in it being labeled as " raga rock " by the music press , but in fact , it was the single 's B @-@ side " Why " that drew more directly on Indian ragas . 
