Here are some burning blues runs similar to what Jimi utilized in songs like "Purple Haze" and "Foxey Lady". They are all based on the pentatonic minor and these sorts of blues-rock licks set the pace for guitar players to follow.
Example one uses a rapid-fire bend & pull simile followed by some quick descnding pull-offs. Notice the "blue note" (flatted 5 in bars 3 & 4) and the quick shift from the 12th position to the 5th position at the end of bar 3. Finally, be sure to play the opening licks freely, rather than perfectly as written.
Example two: The beginning of this example is notated to imply the speed changes Hendrix was noted for. That is, he'd play in free-time over the band, then jet back in and play in perfect time. Don't play bar one as notated, then, but with a free feel. Just be sure to hit bar #2 right in the pocket. Bar 4 can be played either as written or freely, depending on how close you want the call & response effect. Note in the final bar that you can almost hear how Jimi would start calling up the feedback and bashing on the whammy bar!
Have fun with these licks and then apply some of the free-time concepts to your own playing within - or outside of - the blues framework and see what you come up with.
See ya next time!
===== (January 2004)
Index
David
M. McLean is the proprietor of Skinny
Devil Music Labs, former guitarist of the avant-garde fusion-metal
band Aurora-Sen, guitar instructor, and columnist for TinFoil
Music Magazine (where he conducts interviews in the on-going series
“Guitar Gods”). His new solo album, “HUNGER”,
will be released later this year.
Sheet Music to Buy by Jimi Hendrix
Experience Hendrix "By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar, voice, bass guitar and drum set. Hal Leonard Transcribed Scores. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Classic Rock. Difficulty: medium to medium-difficult. Complete score songbook. Guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody
Smash Hits - Guitar Play-Along Volume 47 "(Guitar Play-Along Volume 47). By Jimi Hendrix Experience. For guitar and voice. Hal Leonard Guitar Play-Along Series. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Play Along. Difficulty: easy-medium. Guitar tablature songbook and accompaniment CD. Guit
In Deep With Jimi Hendrix "(A Complete Exploration of His Innovative Guitar Style). By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar. Guitar School. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Instructional. Instructional book. Guitar tablature, standard notation, chord names, instructional text, pe
Blues "By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar and voice. Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Classic Rock. Difficulty: medium. Guitar tablature songbook. Guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, guitar notat
Signature Licks "(A Step-by-Step Breakdown of His Guitar Styles and Techniques). By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar. Hal Leonard Guitar Signature Licks. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Instructional. Instructional book (song excerpts only) and examples CD. Guitar
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland "By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar, bass and drum. Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions (Authentic note-for-note transcriptions). Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Classic Rock. Difficulty: medium. Songbook. Tablature, vocal melody, lyrics, piano accompaniment, c
Jimi Hendrix - Volume 2 (A Step-by-Step Breakdown of His Guitar Styles and Techniques). By Jimi Hendrix. Signature Licks Guitar. Softcover with CD. Guitar tablature. 104 pages. Published by Hal Leonard
Jimi Hendrix Smash Hits (Bass Play-Along Volume 10). By Jimi Hendrix. For bass guitar. Bass Play-Along. Play Along. Softcover with CD. Guitar tablature. 96 pages. Published by Hal Leonard
Live At Woodstock "By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar and voice. Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Classic Rock. Difficulty: medium. Guitar tablature songbook. Guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, guitar notat
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man "By Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon. For guitar. Blues; Rock. Guitar TAB. 4 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
Are You Experienced? "By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar and voice. Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Classic Rock. Difficulty: medium. Guitar tablature songbook. Guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, guitar chord
Axis: Bold As Love "By Jimi Hendrix. For guitar and voice. Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Classic Rock. Difficulty: medium. Guitar tablature songbook. Guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, guitar notat
Purple Haze "By Winger, Jimi Hendrix, and Paul Gilbert. For guitar. Blues; Metal; Rock. Guitar TAB. 7 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
Purple Haze - Violin 1 By Jimi Hendrix. By Jimi Hendrix. Arranged by Larry Moore. Orchestra. For Violin 1. Rock. Individual instrument part. 2 pages. Duration 2:00. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music
The Wind Cries Mary "By Pat Boone, John Mayer, and Jimi Hendrix. For guitar. Pop; Rock. Guitar TAB. 6 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
All Along The Watchtower "By U2, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix. For guitar. Pop; Rock. Guitar TAB. Guitar TAB. 12 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music"
