Jimi Hendrix Guitar Lesson

About Jimi Hendrix

His Bio * Equipment * Instructionals


Lesson Part 1

This lesson will help you become familiar with some
of Jimi Hendrix lead guitar techniques. These excerpts 
have been taken from Jimi's classic hit "All Along The 
Watchtower", which is based upon the key of C#. Guitar 
chords and lyrics sample's below are:

Basic Song Outline For "All Along The Watchtower"

Intro:
acoustic 12-string:
(B B C#m C#m C#m C#m
B B A A A A)2x

Then play C#m B A B throughout.... on 6 string electric.

Guitar Chords In Tablature For 6 String Electric Guitar
   C#      B     A
e :-9------7-----5----------------------------------|
B :-9------7-----5----------------------------------|
G :-10-----8-----6----------------------------------|
D :-11-----9-----7----------------------------------|
A :-11-----9-----7----------------------------------|
E :-9------7-----5----------------------------------|

Guitar Chords & Lyrics Sample:

C#m            B              A          B  
There must be some kind a way outta here    
C#m       B              A   B
said the joker to the thief
C#m              B         A   B  
There's too much confusion 
C#m         B      A 
I can't get no relief...


Part 2

Lead Guitar Studies:

Although Jimi was well known for his ability to combine
many guitar scales in combinations, this song demonstrates
the most basic of guitar scales which he often used.

C# Minor Pentatonic

The notes played in this scale are C#,E,F#,G#,B,C#.

   Tonic           1st octave          2nd octave
    C#              C#                 C#
e :------------------------------------9---12-------|
B :----------------------------9---12---------------|
G :---------------------9--11-----------------------|
D :--------------9--11------------------------------|
A :-------9--11-------------------------------------|
E :-9--12-------------------------------------------|

C# Minor Pentatonic Ascending Run
The notes played in this guitar run are C#,E,F#,G#,B,C#.

  1st octave      2nd octave   3rd octave
   C#               C#         C#
e :------------------------------------12-----------|
B :----------------------------12--14---------------|
G :---------------------9--11-----------------------|
D :--------------9--11------------------------------|
A :----7--9--11-------------------------------------|
E :-9-----------------------------------------------|


                4th octave
e :-14--16--19--21----------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|


This example shows how Jimi used the unison bend 
technique on many of his solo's. To perform this technique, 
play both strings together, and bend only the B string 
(12th fret)to a full bend (whole step) so that it matches 
the sound of the note on the small e string, 9th fret.
Once the full string bend is complete, both notes
become C#.

e :--9----------------------------------------------|
B :-b12---------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|

This example shows how the unison bend in use, ending
on the note C#. A good common skill to develop when
using these scales to create or improvise guitar licks
and guitar solos, is to play from the "tonic" note to
it's octave, or... from octave to octave.
    =C#                      C#
e :--9----------------------------------------------|
B :-b12-------12------------------------------------|
G :----------b11-------9----------------------------|
D :--------------------------11---------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|

More example's of "Unison Bends" that are derived from
C# natural or pure minor diatonic scale: 
(C#,D#,E,F#,G#,A,B,C#), which is a good example of how 
Jimi used the commbination of these two minor scales:
Diatonic and Pentatonic.
    
     C#    D#    E     F#
e :--9-----11----12----14---------------------------|
B :-b12---b14---b15---b17---------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|

Part 3

Guitar licks from "All Along The Watchtower" guitar
solo. Symbols used: f=full bend  v=vibrato s=slide
p=pull-off

#1

   s         f.v   f.v   f.v    f.v
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-----12---14----14----14-----14------------------|
G :-13----------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|

    f              v
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-14----12--14------------------------------------|
G :----------------11-------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|

#2
   s       f        f.v   f            p
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-----9--11--11----11---11---11--9--11-9----------|
D :-11----------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|

         f.v
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :------12-----------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-11----------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-------------------------------------------------|


  


    
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...
  


Griff HamlinPlaying Through The Blues


Red House Blues Guitar Tab

Blues Lead Guitar Scales DVD Guitar Lesson

Guitar Ear Training Methods

Guitar Practice Tools

Buy * Purchase * Online
Jimi Hendrix Guitar Tablature & Sheet Music