Purple Haze Guitar Lesson (Jimi Hendrix)

What if you had a chord named after YOU?

Picture this…

It’s 50 years from now…

And a bunch of guitarists are all sitting around talking about music.

Suddenly one of them says, “Oh that chord. Yeah, that’s the [YOUR LAST NAME] chord.”

That would be pretty cool.

I mean, how many guitarists have accomplished this?

To be honest, I can only think of one.

Jimi Hendrix!

In fact, here’s a crazy story about the first time I ever learned about the “Hendrix chord." 

Decades ago when my parents got our first computer, I discovered this thing called TAB sites.

Now I’d already been playing guitar for a bit, but this was an amazing thing. 

You see, I figured out (from a TAB at the time) the opening riff to “Purple Haze”.

I was about 12 years old, but I never connected it to the “Jimi Hendrix chord.” 

But I couldn’t stop playing the riff…

I LOVED it!

I remember playing it and thinking, “Wow! What a sound!”

Anyway, a few years later my parents let me take a music theory class at the local community college.  

I was still in high school at the time but I took some night music classes.

In the course, we studied fancy music theory concepts like counterpoint, microtonality, and serialism. 

The class was taught by a very smart classical instructor. 

He knew all about Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, plus all the different periods of classical music.

One day we were listening to a classical song and this chord came up in the song…

My instructor started writing the notes out on the chalkboard staff in the classroom.

He started writing…

E…

G#...

B…

D…

G…

He then turned around to the class and said, “You guys know this chord right?…it’s the JIMI HENDRIX CHORD.”

I remember thinking, “Wow! Even this proper classical composer guy referred to this chord as the Jimi Hendrix Chord.”  

And that was when I made the connection. And ever since that day, I’ve never forgotten it.

Today I want to show it to you.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Purple Haze” guitar lesson. 

Who wrote Purple Haze? 

"Purple Haze" was written by the legendary American guitarist and singer-songwriter Jimi Hendrix. It was recorded with his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, which consisted of Jimi Hendrix on guitar and vocals, Noel Redding on bass, and Mitch Mitchell on drums.

The song was recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in London, England, on January 11, 1967, and later re-recorded at Olympic Studios on January 24, 1967. The recording was produced by Chas Chandler, who was also the bassist for The Animals and had become Jimi Hendrix's manager.

"Purple Haze" was released as a single by Track Records in the United Kingdom on March 17, 1967, and it appeared on the U.S. version of the album Are You Experienced, released in August 1967. The song is known for its distinctive and innovative guitar work, including the iconic guitar riff and its use of feedback and distortion. 

Is Purple Haze Tuned down? 

No. Jimi Hendrix did not tune down on “Purple Haze”. The song is played in standard tuning, where the strings are tuned to E-A-D-G-B-E from low to high. 

However, Jimi Hendrix did tune down quite often for a lot of his songs. "Purple Haze" and “Hey Joe” are a few of the exceptions. 

Jimi Hendrix was known for experimenting with alternate tunings in some of his other songs, such as "Voodoo Child", (the live version from Electric Ladyland) he tuned his guitar down a whole-step D-G-C-F-A-D from low to high.  

Or even “Hear My Train A Coming” acoustic where he tuned down two whole steps to drop C standard. In Drop C Standard tuning, the guitar is tuned to C-G-C-F-A-D from low to high. This tuning allows for a deep, bluesy sound. But it’s also used for many metal and hard rock guitarists. 

Purple Haze Chords 

There are 3 main chords you’ll need to know to play “Purple Haze” on guitar. Those chords are E7#9, G, and A.

Let’s take a look at how I might play these chords on the fretboard next.

E7#9 is a chord that uses all 6 strings and can be played like this: 

G is a thumb-chord played in 3rd position like this:

A "thumb chord" refers to a chord shape or voicing that involves using your fretting hand thumb to play on the fretboard. So in this G chord example, the root note played on the 6th string is done with the fretting hand thumb.

Then (using the same thumb technique) move the G chord up 2 frets and you’ll be at the final chord A like this:

What key is Purple Haze in?

“Purple Haze” is in the key of E. It essentially moves from the I chord (E7#9) to the IV chord (A) in the key of E. With the addition of a bluesy bIII chord (G) in between.   

What scale is used in Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix?

The primary scale for this song would be the E minor blues scale. This scale can be played at the 12th fret like this:

Here's the theory behind the E minor blues scale and the notes it contains: 

• E (Root Note): E is the tonic or root note of the scale. This is the note that the scale is built upon.
• G (Minor Third): The G note is the minor third of the E minor blues scale. It creates a minor chord quality and is a crucial note for establishing the scale's minor tonality.
• A (Fourth): The A note is the fourth degree of the scale. It adds some tension and a bluesy flavor when played against the minor third (G).
• B♭ (Flat Five/Blue Note): The B♭, often referred to as the "blue note," is the hallmark of the blues scale. It's a chromatic passing tone that adds the distinctive bluesy dissonance and character to the scale.
• B (Fifth): The B is the perfect fifth of the scale, providing stability and resolution.
• D (Minor Seventh): The D note is the minor seventh in the scale. It contributes to the minor quality of the scale and can be used for bluesy bends and slides.
• E (Octave): The E at the octave is the same as the root note, completing the scale. 

In summary, the E minor blues scale has the notes E-G-A-Bb-D. The addition of the blue note (B♭) is what distinguishes it from the minor pentatonic scale and gives it its characteristic bluesy and soulful sound. This scale is a favorite among guitarists for creating expressive and emotive solos in blues and rock music.

What is the famous Hendrix chord? 

The famous Hendrix chord refers to the E dominant seventh sharp nine chord (written as E7♯9). This chord is often associated with Jimi Hendrix because of how many songs he used it in. This chord is most famously used in "Purple Haze", and it's sometimes referred to as the "Purple Haze Chord." 

The E7#9 chord is built from these notes:

E (the root note)

G# (the major third)

D (the dominant seventh)

G (the augmented ninth)

In tab notation, it can be played like this:

e|---0---

B|---8---

G|---7---

D|---6---

A|---7---

E|---0---

Conclusion:

Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze" remains an iconic masterpiece in the world of rock and blues music. It's a song that not only showcases Hendrix's exceptional guitar skills but also introduces us to the famous "Jimi Hendrix chord" (E7♯9), which has become synonymous with his groundbreaking style. 

As I shared earlier, the discovery of this unique chord can be a memorable experience for any guitarist.

"Purple Haze" is just one shining example of Hendrix’s genius. 

So keep practicing and who knows? You might just discover your own signature chord along the way. 

For more Jimi Hendrix-style guitar check out this Hey Joe guitar lesson, Little Wing guitar lesson, or All Along The Watchtower guitar lesson next!