Jimi Hendrix - Jimi Hendrix - Free Sheet Music Riff
Jimi Hendrix Chordal Style
by David M. McLean
Jimi Hendrix needs no introduction. In all likelihood, there are
many comprehensive studies of Jimi's style available in books and on the
web, but I write this mini-series at the request of several students. Most
of those students were born long after Jimi was dead, thus are unsure of
why his playing was considered so revolutionary by so many from such a
diverse array of musical genres.
This discussion will cover some of Jimi's chordal stylings as used
on songs like "Angel", "Castles Made of Sand", and "Little Wing". I once
was told that "Little Wing" was one of the most recorded songs in history
(Sting, Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Rolling Stones, Otmar Leibert, Tuck Andress,
Lawrence Juber, and many others have performed this piece). While I find
this claim somewhat doubtful (especially considering all those recordings
of "Yesterday" and "White Christmas"), there is no doubt that Jimi's chordal
work has been a major influence on guitarists far and wide. Soooooo.....let's
take a look at some examples in this style.
Example one is a simple progression (Am-G-C-Em-D7-G-C) that utilizes
full barre chords, arpeggiations, and embellishments (including those cool
quasi-modulations).
Example two is another look at this style. I used a standard 1950s
pop & gospel sort of progression (which sounds more than a tad like
Prince's "Purple Rain", as well as some famous 50s & 60s pop tunes)
and kept the rhythmic ideas as close to example one as possible for comparative
purposes. Note the A-F#m-E-D(sus2) progression and try out some of your
own quasi-modulations (turn that ambiguous "E" into an E7 on one pass and
an E pentatonic minor on the next, for example, or change my "D sus2" into
a Dm7).
In addition to listening to Hendrix for tips on this style, check
out some Steve Cropper and Curtis Mayfield. This is a gorgeous style of
playing that Hendrix took and made his own - now it's your turn.
=====
(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
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Jimi Hendrix: Experience Hendrix Performed by Jimi Hendrix. For guitar, voice, bass guitar and drum set. Format: complete score songbook. With guitar tablature, standard notation, vocal melody, lyrics, chord names, bass tablature, drum notation, guitar notation legend, bass notation legend, drum notation legend and performance notes. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock and Classic Rock. Series: Hal Leonard Transcribed Scores. 368 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.672397)
See more info... |
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Jimi Hendrix: Signature Licks (A Step-by-Step Breakdown of His Guitar Styles and Techniques) Performed by Jimi Hendrix. For guitar. Includes instructional book (song excerpts only) and examples CD. With guitar tablature, standard notation, chord names, instructional text, performance notes and guitar notation legend. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Instructional. Series: Hal Leonard Guitar Signature Licks. 80 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.696560)
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Jimi Hendrix: Blues Performed by Jimi Hendrix. Guitar tablature songbook for guitar and voice. Series: Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. 142 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.694944)
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Jimi Hendrix: Experience Hendrix - Book One Performed by Jimi Hendrix, written by Michael Johnson. For guitar. Includes instructional book and examples CD. With guitar tablature, standard notation, instructional text, instructional photos, illustrations, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Classic Rock and Learn To Play. Series: Hal Leonard Guitar Method. 64 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.695159)
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Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced Performed by Jimi Hendrix. For drum set and voice. Format: drum songbook. With drum notation, vocal melody, lyrics, drum notation legend and chord names. Psychedelic rock, hard rock and classic rock. Series: Hal Leonard Drum Recorded Versions. 104 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.690372)
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Jimi Hendrix - Volume 2 A Step-by-Step Breakdown of His Guitar Styles and Techniques. Performed by Jimi Hendrix. Signature Licks (Authentic guitar transcriptions in notes and tab). Book & CD Package. With notes and tablature. Size 9x12 inches. 104 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (695835)
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Jimi Hendrix: Smash Hits Performed by Jimi Hendrix. Guitar tablature songbook for guitar and voice. Series: Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions. 120 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.690602)
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Jimi Hendrix: Anthology (Lead Sheets for 73 Songs) Performed by Jimi Hendrix. For voice and instrument chords. Format: fakebook. With vocal melody, lyrics, chord names and black & white photos. Psychedelic rock, hard rock and classic rock. Series: Hal Leonard Fake Books. 202 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.306930)
See more info... |
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Jimi Hendrix: South Saturn Delta Performed by Jimi Hendrix. Guitar tablature songbook for guitar and voice. Series: Hal Leonard Guitar Recorded Versions (Authentic note-for-note transcriptions), . 232 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (HL.690280)
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