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Click this link or the picture to enlarge and copy. Many folks are mystified at what chords were used and how Jimi Hendrix used them in order to create some of the extraordinary sounds unheard of now and at the time.

Note: The chart was handwritten years ago. I hope you can understand them. Structurally speaking, Jimi did not invent these chords. If one understands chord structure, than any chord can be formed anywhere on the neck using basic chord making rules. Jimi had no formal instruction, there fore if it sounded good he played it.

As mentioned, this is a really old chart made up years ago for reference purposes. Very advanced and takes lots of practice. These chords are not for beginners, simply put, to master these chords, one should probably become a master of the essential guitar chords and scales stage 0ne(1), and essential chords and scales stage two(2). Realistically speaking, one must know all of the guitar chords listed in the chords category first. Basically if you play a guitar for beginners, then you are not ready for this.

One recommendation would be to learn all of the essential chords first, until they become instinctual. However, I don’t see any harm in learning the Jimi Hendrix chords and practicing them for literally years while you learn the essential chords. Basically it is a matter of muscle memory. For obvious reasons, the more difficult the chord, the more time it takes to become instinctual. By the time you learn these particular chords, you should have developed some ‘chops’ by then.

I bet a lot of veteran players know these chords. Every one of them will agree that it takes a while for your fingers to even be able to manipulate these chord positions. By the way they are chromatic, which means in part that they are move able, essentially making them playable any where you want on the neck. The R stands for the root note of the chord.

We are all in the guitar vibe for the long run, and by the time you master these chords, they will start to sound like what you expect them to sound like. Sometimes when you don’t have the chops, a chord or phrase does not sound the way it does on the record. Mostly this is due to not being advanced enough to play the rhythm properly and time your hammer ons and hammer offs correctly. Using a logical and effective method to practice your guitar will put you on the right path.

Other than the unusual way Hendrix manipulated seemingly ordinary essential scales in his unique and quirky way, he was a master at harmonically and melodically integrating these chords, so the sound had a memorable impact on you. Leaving you wanting for more. Tension and release.

As I mentioned before, Jimi did not invent the chords presented here. He made use of them in a manner that made a lot of guitarists follow his lead(no pun here). Stevie Ray Vaughan also had a vibe for these chords. In fact Jimi and SRV were the only guys I know of, at least at the time, who could play lead guitar with chords only! Wow!

Take your time and learn them, don’t become frustrated. They will become handy someday. Guitar Players Center will continue to share the unusual Hendrix vibes and some of the quirky stuff he did that separated him from everyone else. Are you thinking out of the box? Can you add anything to this article? Please do. Share it with your friends and most important, enjoy.

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