For those who think they are virtuosic enough, we have picked the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar to start with.
Jimi Hendrix was born in 1942 in Seattle. His first touch and introduction with music was when he found an old ukulele which only had one string left. Later on, he bought his first guitar, which was when he was about 15 years old. He never had a proper musical education in terms of learning notation, but he was a very talented and gifted musician with a great ear for music. It was not long before Jimi started playing in his first band, the Velvetones, and soon after he joined Rocking Kings (in which he played bass lines on a regular guitar). After these first experiences with music, Jimi joined the army in 1961 where he was supposed to stay for next three years. He completed training for a paratrooper but was released from army soon after in 1962. Afterwards, he had played in several bands in America, trying out and being exposed to some new genres especially when he moved to New York, and during the time developing and creating his own playing technique and improvising.
But what was left behind Jimi as the most recognizable of his works is, of course, Jimi Hendrix Experience. The band was formed in 1966 in London where Jimi has moved after the period of searching for his musical signature in America. Even though the band existed only for four years until Jimi’s death, it has become very popular during that time, and its popularity has not fainted ever since, leaving Jimi as one of the most iconic figures of Rock’s’Roll music.
Pamela Au/Shutterstock.com
Songs such as Hey Joe or Purple Haze have gained immediate popularity, reaching tops at music charts, while the Are You Experienced LP has topped charts for a long time. Even though Jimi was influenced by psychedelic rock, blues, R&B, soul and still dwelling in the realm of rock music, he has developed his own style letting himself be as free as he could, especially by not being bonded by classical musical education. That is why, when looking for easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on a guitar, some would say that is impossible. That is why it cannot be easily decided which one is the hardest Jimi Hendrix song. What also made Jimi Hendrix guitar music recognizable is the “Hendrix chord,” or “Purple Haze” chord, which became somewhat of his signature chord. And that is dominant seventh sharp ninth chord (or 7#9), and that can be heard throughout his opus.
He was not only a great musician but had also surprised audience and media with some new moves for that time by which he gained even more popularity, such as burning and of his guitars while playing several times. He was also left-handed, and thus he held guitar upside down.
Jimi Hendrix died in his apartment in London in 1970, officially by asphyxiation with his own vomit, though such a sudden unconvincing cause of death has risen many questions among the public. Moreover, the question of his death is still a hot topic, was it a murder, or some other conspiracy considering that Janis Joplin died only 16 days after Jimi, officially from a drug overdose. Whatever happened in the end, what we now have after both of these brilliant musicians is an unrepeatable musical expression which makes their music immortal and never out of date. And after all these years, this apartment in London where Jimi has spent his last years of life has recently been opened as a museum.
Jimi Hendrix is one of those musicians belonging to 27 Club, a name to the group of musicians who died at 27 years of age. Apart from Jimi, other musicians in this “club” are Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse, but this, of course, is not the end of the list, but also not the topic of our list as well.
Since basically, Jimi Hendrix songs are not generally hard in theory, what makes them hard is his level of improvisation and experimentation with music. So, naturally, to see which the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar are, we have searched for places where guitarists share their experiences and advice. The forums we searched for our answers were Ultimate Guitar, Reddit Quora, and Music Player Network. After going through the treads, we have seen that of course opinions differ, based on a level of guitar skills and on whether people were focused on playing riffs, chords, or lead parts. We have taken in mind those songs which were recommended for beginners, or starting playing Jimi and which cover all the song parts: leads, chords… Though you might be searching for Jimi Hendrix solo tabs, this might be a tricky task, since all the tabs are written by people listening, and the tabs given are their own experience and impression of the song. And finally, we have ranked the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs on our list by the number of counts. The chords used in songs we put here just to get the insight in the song before deciding to learn it, and we have taken them from the Ultimate Guitar tabs.
Before we go on to our list of easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar, we assume you are fan of rock music, so you might take a look at 11 Easiest Classic Rock Songs to Play on Guitar as well, or perhaps 6 Easiest AC/DC Songs to Play on Guitar, if you like a bit later sound of Rock’n’Roll. And now, let’s see which the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar are:
8. All Along The Watchtower
Chords: Cm, A#, G#
Even though this song was not originally composed by Jimi Hendrix, but Bob Dylan, it has been recorded only seven months after Dylan has released it and it is on the Electric Ladyland album. Nevertheless, it has become known as one of the most popular and the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar.
7. Red House
Chords: Bb7, Ab7, Eb9, F9, Ddim7, Edim7, E9
This song shows a huge impact of blues in Jimi Hendrix’s music, inspired by Hendrix’s previous career in bands oriented towards blues. This is a slow twelve-bar blues, so here is a good choice of a song to practice some blues.
6. Foxy Lady
Chords: A, F#, Bb, E,
Foxy Lady is one of the most famous Hendrix’s songs coming from the debut album Are You Experienced. As one of the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar, you will also be able to master the “Hendrix chord”. We have picked for you a YouTube lesson that includes tabs as well.
5. Manic Depression
Chords: A, G, A7, E, D, C, (for guitar tuned ½ step down)
Manic Depression is one of the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar, released in 1967 on his debut album Are You Experienced. Manic Depression is a song that nicely blends many experimental elements, having 6/8 (or ¾) meter, with jazz-influenced drumming, which will make it fun and different to learn from the others.
4. Purple Haze
Chords: Bb, Eb, E, A, G, B
Purple Haze is one of the well-known psychedelic rock songs, but also a variety of weed, but whether or not the song has something to do with it, the term became well known after the song was released and became popular. Interesting fact about this song that it has more covers than any other Jimi Hendrix’s song, as much as 40 of them.
3. Wind Cries Mary
Chords: Eb, E, F, C, Bb, G, Db
Since Wind Cries Mary is a ballad, the rhythm of this song is slower and chill, so it is perfect for beginners making it one of the easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar. Interestingly, according to Chas Chandler, who was Hendrix’s manager during that time, this song was recorded in 20 minutes, and that was it, just enough time to record one of the most popular songs if you are a guitar genius. Anyway, below here you will see a guitar lesson for Wind Cries Mary that we have picked. Nevertheless, there are many other videos, and also Wind Cries Mary tabs if you don’t like this one.
2. Hey Joe
Chords: C, D, G, A, E,
Although well-known song best known for Jimi Hendrix’ performances, this song is not originally Jimi’s. The story of this song is interesting nevertheless. Although Billy Roberts copyrighted it in 1962, there were other authorship claims on it, and it is still not entirely sure who actually made the song. Anyway, the song was also recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in 1966. Now, back on the playing of this simple Hey Joe chords.
1. Fire
Chords: Ab, G, F, D, C, A, Dm7, Em7
Fire was a song released on Are You Experienced album in 1967. The song is described as being influenced by soul, psychedelic rock, and polyrhythmic jazz drumming. According to the most suggestions we have come upon, it seems that Fire was, if not the first choice, then the easiest Jimi Hendrix song to play on guitar. We have found a video lesson on YouTube, which you can see below, and if you prefer reading music and looking for Jimi Hendrix Fire tab, there are plenty of choices, like this one from the Ultimate Guitar.
This wraps it up for our list of easiest Jimi Hendrix songs to play on guitar.
