The Hendrix Chord | The Story Behind Rock's Most Famous Chord

In this episode we take a look at the famous chord that Jimi had popularized for guitar players, its origins, later applications and the theory behind it.

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[sowhat]

I never thought of this until I read it elsewhere, but Hendrix never started playing guitar until he was 15 and died at 27. 12 years and he set the whole musical world on fire, influenced countless rock guitarists. Just freaking amazing.

[siskokidd]

Rick's gift as a teacher: Teaches jazz theory on a Strat with cranked Marshall, Strat volume turned way down for a clean sound, Marshall left cranked with evident amp noise throughout jazz theory demonstration.
No one complains.

[Nayansinghmusic]

I love how the Beatles are always there no matter what genre or the context of the video is

[PianoVampire]

Best part of this video, not the Hendrix, not the Miles Davis, not even the Alice in Chains recreations... it's those great improvisations at 7:30 - love it!

[crisslastname]

Let's just keep calling it "The Hendrix Chord." Jimi deserves it!

[neuromantoo]

I can't play an instrument. I know nothing about music theory. So why am I such a fan of Rick? The guy has such enthusiasm for teaching and informing about music I love that I watch even though it all goes over my head. Thanks, Rick!

[annanimmitty]

Rick, I truly hope you realize how much you're helping some of us!! As a 53 year old that started jammin' back in 1981, continued through high school and college, kinda walked away while married for 20 years, then after brain surgery and a divorce, picked my old Kramer back up, you Sir have been a Blessing!!! Thank You for helping me recall SO MUCH, and LEARN SO MUCH MORE!!!

J. Baker
Columbia, SC to Charlotte, NC

[DavidDiMuzio]

Loved listening to you play those three different scales over the "Hendrix chord" to hear the various musical vibes that could be used over it.

[marcanglin]

Rick: "Ooh, here is the chord in a Miles Davis song" (plays the chord and vamps on piano). Rick: "Oh, and here's the chord used in Pink Floyd" (plays the song). Rick: "And here it is in these Steely Dan tunes" (proceeds to play them all). Da-yum, Rick: What's next ?!? Some Gentle Giant or Ozark Mountain Daredevils ?!? Maybe some Henry Cow or Matching Mole ?!? God, what a musical vocabulary !!! Love you, Rick !!!

[larrypower]

On the first album Hendrix was not yet tuning down a half step. The songs are played in standard tuning. He didn’t
start tuning down until the second album, Axis: Bold As Love. Purple Haze, Wind Cries Mary, If Six Turned Out To Be
Nine, Manic Depression, Hey Joe, even Third Stone From The Sun - they’re all in standard pitch.

[ceabr]

The Doors use this chord in "Love me two times" as well, very intensely at the end. I loved it in that song! gives a killer ending. This was an awesome video! Thank you for the great music value

[GPWalsh]

Cream used that chord a great deal as well. Actually before Hendrix. It is the first chord on their first album "Fresh Cream" on the song "I Feel Free" which was in 1966. We always thought of it as the "Clapton Chord".

[OldDarwish]

Hey Rick, I just want to say that I've been playing for two years now and in the beginning of the video I felt so proud that I know that the chord was a dominant #9 and it came from the half whole diminshed scale and then it hit me that I knew this only because of the tons of other videos you've talked about it on the channel, thank you for all your work and time and all you provides with free of charge, I've been a subscriber for the last two years and I've almost seen all your videos, you're the closest thing to a teacher and a musical mentor In my life, thank you and tons of love from Egypt❤️.

[jbasti]

Rick is like a musical encyclopedia. He just gave me over a dozen songs to check out all just from discussing a single chord.

[pallhe]

It was always called the Hendrix chord when I was playing in bands decades ago. I didn't even think about its constituent notes back then but basically played the blues over it with major and minor variations. I guess it's a chord that captures an important element of blues music, which is the pull between major and minor, which I think gives bluesy music much of its emotive power.

[paragburman]

I have no idea what he's talking about.... Goes over my head... But it's so satisfying listening and watching him 💜 Well At least someone knows what he's talking about!

[dropitinthepocket]

The 7#9 effectively combines a 7 chord and minor 7 chord. The blend of major and minor tonalities gives you that “funky” sound. It’s versatile, with a hip twist. Functional in jazz harmony, funky in a blues or rock and ambiguous enough to work anywhere. The voicing just works so well on a guitar to boot.

[Remco]

I heard it first in AC/DC's Shoot To Thrill! Right before the chorus.

Cool video, Rick.

[STETTRACE]

Jimi was just a natural. I haven’t watched it yet but, I’m wondering if you’re going to talk about his incredible RHYTHM playing?? He always gets props for his lead playing of course. He changed the world of guitar in an era that wasn’t short on world changing guitarists! But he really was an incredible rhythm player and songwriter. It just seems so natural for him in the footage I’ve seen... and that’s most of it lol I’m a fan

[timtravasos]

Never seen anyone play the Steely Dan chords, especially from memory. Amazing ability.