HOW JIMI HENDRIX CHANGED THE GUITAR
Jimi Hendrix was a hugely influential rock guitarist, singer and songwriter who paved the way for modern rock guitar during his brief but extraordinary career in the late 1960’s
His virtuosic playing and his use of guitar effects like heavy distor- tion, flange and wah changed the sound of rock guitar forever.
His dramatic stage moves, such as playing behind his head, playing with his teeth and burning his guitar on stage, changed the way rock music was performed.
THINGS YOU’LL NEED
• Computer or device with internet access to watch videos and listen to music. QUICK OVERVIEW OF JIMI’S LIFE AND CAREER
• Jimi Hendrix was born in 1942 in Seattle, Washington • He started playing guitar at age 15. • After a brief time in the army, Jimi moved to Tennessee and began playing in various bands, including the Isley Brothers’ and Little Richard’s backing bands. • In 1966 he moved to England and started his own career. Within months he had 3 top ten hits in the UK with his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience. • From there he quickly reached fame in the US, and by 1969 he was the world's highest paid rock performer. • In 1970 Jimi Hendrix passed away due to drug complications at the age of 27.
1. Listen to this famous song of his, Purple Haze. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoDaYjdfSg
Can you hear the crunchy, fuzzy tone of his guitar? Jimi Hendrix was largely responsible for making this type of tone popular.
2. Listen to another famous recording of his, All Along the Watchtower (A song originally by Bob Dylan): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY
What do you think of this recording? Do you hear the interesting guitar effects starting around 2:17? Jimi Hendrix was a leader in using interesting guitar effects and recording techniques such as this. JIMI’S PERFORMANCES
Jimi Hendrix was a dramatic performer, who’s wild performance style largely influenced rock performances for years to come.
3. Watch this video of Jimi taking a solo to get a feel for his expressive and virtuosic performance style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2_2HCWjSVI
What do you think of Jimi’s Playing? Does it remind you of the way people still play guitar today?
4. Probably Jimi Hendrix’s most iconic performance was his rendi- tion of the Star Spangled Banner at the Woodstock festival in 1969. This performance was controversial at the time, because many people saw it as a protest against the Vietnam War. It has remained famous ever since. Watch this video of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKAw- PA14Ni4 What do you think of this version of the national anthem?
5. Listen again to the sound effects he makes with his guitar starting at 1:22.
What is he trying to do with these sounds?
6. Listen again to what he plays at 2:53-3:02. This is “taps”, a melody that is played at military funerals. Why do you think he would include this?
7. Jimi Hendrix also had wild and shocking performance techniques. Watch this video of Jimi playing guitar with his teeth!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFwsZjbUGrM
Think how much time Jimi must have practiced to be able to do that! How would you react if you saw someone do that live for the first time?
8. Watch this video of Jimi burning his guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7toYWFEyk
Why do you think he chose to do this? How did the crowd react? Do you think they had ever seen something like this before? What do you think of Jimi Hendrix’s music and performance style? Can you see and hear his influence in modern rock music? How so?