What Makes Jimi Hendrix Such a Good Guitarist

Photograph by Thom Lukas

00:00 Intro
00:45 Title Card
00:53 Jimi’s Introduction
01:44 The Hendrix Chord
03:25 Bends
05:16 Rhythm
06:17 Little Wing
07:19 Thumb Placement
07:37 Technology
08:27 Live Performance
09:39 All Along the Watchtower
12:26 Conclusion

[GuitarHeroPhenomSux]

Something you didn't mention and a lot of people tend to overlook is that he practiced ALL the time. He took his guitar with him everywhere. Outside, to the bathroom, to bed etc. I understand people thinking he was a god or from another planet in a complementary way. But we must acknowledge the man's commitment to his art. He dedicated his entire life to improving his playing. A true "expert" never stops. Because knowledge is infinite. You can always improve.

[TChingArts]

Highest compliment paid by a musician that I have heard is from an interview with Joe Satriani, they asked him if he could time travel and talk to any guitarist in the past who would it be? Joe said 'Jimi Hendrix of course!', then they asked, 'what would you ask him?' and Joe replied, ' Nothing, I would just shut up and listen and watch.'

[simongarrettmusic]

1. He was incredibly creative 2. His technique was superb 3. He was a great songwriter 4. He was a great singer 5. He was a great frontman.

[windell]

Jimi started playing at 15. In and out of the Army at 19 playing with older bands by 22 blowing their socks off. Released ‘Are You Experienced’ by 25 created ‘The Band of Gypsies’ at 26. By the time he died at 27 he changed the face of Rock snd Roll.. 12 years.. Wow

[LtPeeWeeHerman]

You forgot to mention he did this in a career less than 5 years

[dexblue]

I (a young boy along with my family) met Jimi and the band when they were staying at the Travel Lodge Motel in Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco in June of 1967 - just before their debut at Monterey Pop Festival. Jimi's room was on our floor and he did indeed walk around with his Strat out of the case. The Coke machine in the hall was broken and we found that if you reached up in it you could jiggle the bottle and it would come out free. My sister stopped Jimi in the hall and asked him to reach up and grab us a bottle. He smiled and said, "Sure." He reached up and pulled out a dripping small bottle of Coke. Free! We all laughed. We made small talk for a bit. You could tell he was a very sweet guy who loved kids and life. My sister asked him if he was in a group and he said, "Yes, " and then off he walked to his room and that weekend to change the world.

[geraldlavelle]

In high school my friends and I were driving around stoned on weed and suddenly Purple Haze played for the first time on the radio -- we had to pull the car over and just sit there totally amazed. That's the first time I experienced the concept of 'mind-blowing.' It was like "WTF is this?" After the song finished the radio DJ said "And that was Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix."

[Guitar]

Hendrix was so good it’s hard to describe in words. His music was beyond earthly presence, he didn’t need to play fast alternate picking runs or sweep picking or tapping tricks, he was above that ! his soul and playing was spiritually on another plane to anyone who came before or since.

[MrUndersolo]

The most terrifying/depressing thought?
If he had lived longer, he would only have gotten better...
We miss you, Brother Hendrix!

[colinp]

It is said that when Dylan heard the Hendrix version of All Along the Watchtower he said that he realised that he had written to be interpreted like that or that he had written it for Hendrix. Great praise indeed.

[Karch.Dah-Veed]

Not to mention, he did it ALL before his 30th birthday. :o

[timbrown]

He invented a whole new style of playing. Can you imagine being at his gig in London with George Harrison and Clapton sitting there with their jaws on the floor

[LeeJCander]

Little Wing is a masterpiece. It's the perfect song.

[nja]

I heard Dylan once said when he performed Watchtower, he felt like he was playing tribute to Hendrix. Just wow. What Hendrix did to that song was nothing short of perfection, perfection meaning there is nothing you can add, remove or change to improve upon it.

[eddiewillers]

And he did all this while playing left-handed on a right-handed guitar that had been reverse-strung.

Edit 07/2020 - Looks like a fair storm of controversy hath been generated by my comment; 62 replies. Doesn't matter how Jimmi played - he was a genius.

[JHFAN]

Jimi was the greatest guitarist of all time. The fact that this man managed to accomplish so much even though he died at only 27 years old is testament to how good a musician he was. He was to guitar playing what Pelé was to football/soccer.

[phildirt]

Saw him3 times, all in Seattle. I actually didnt think he was human. Larger than life from a different universe!!!

[andrewcruz]

*ARE WE NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT HIS FLASHY OUTFITS LIKE DAMN THATS ALSO WHAT MADE HIM STICK OUT*

[barryispuzzled]

Just unafraid to experiment, with a brilliant ear for what experiments worked, and a sublime talent to execute them. Genius.

[estarling]

His spontaneity was above any other guitarist. He had the capacity
to see and understand music in a different new way. His creations are controlled
brute force, much more interesting and intriguing than anything ever.
This was making them magnetic, attractive, hypnotic.