The Hendrix Chord | The Story Behind Rock's Most Famous Chord

[@siskokidd]

Rick's gift as a teacher: Teaches jazz theory on a Strat with cranked Marshall, Strat volume turned way down for a clean sound, Marshall left cranked with evident amp noise throughout jazz theory demonstration. No one complains.

[@RickBeato]

Haha!

[@50gary]

I was going to say wrong pu selection on some of the jazz demos but why bother? It's the idea in the teaching session.

[@sowhat1073]

I never thought of this until I read it elsewhere, but Hendrix never started playing guitar until he was 15 and died at 27. 12 years and he set the whole musical world on fire, influenced countless rock guitarists. Just freaking amazing.

[@mickchilly1112]

If you want to hear anything good listen to. Jeff beck 11 year old kids play better than hendrix could. 🎉🎉🎉😭

[@ujustgotpwnd123]

@@mickchilly1112 you aren’t getting the point of what makes Hendrix one of the greatest of all time

[@mickchilly1112]

@@ujustgotpwnd123 That's just my opinion and more than likely a lot of others out there would share that opinion..Just tired of hearing about Hendrix ...Truth of the matter is Jeff BECK is by far the greatest player...And he's still playing his Ass of to this day...I'm afraid you can't get any better than that.

[@ujustgotpwnd123]

@@mickchilly1112 you can’t really use the fact that he’s still playing today as a reason lol. But yeah Jeff Beck is phenomenal. But the reason Hendrix is one of and will always be one of, if not the greatest player, is because of what he did in the short time he had. Like you said, Jeff Beck is one of the greatest players who is still playing today and has what? 50+ years of work? And he is still being compared to a kid who had less than 10 years of work and died 50 years ago. Hendrix changed the music industry and guitar playing forever. There are plenty of people more technically gifted than him for sure, but that’s not what makes him the GOAT

[@mickchilly1112]

@@ujustgotpwnd123 Yes I used the 10 year old kid comment mainly because it's true hey don't get me wrong Hendrix was great. But I haven't heard a 10 year old kid get the sounds out of a Guitar like JEFF has or anyone else for that matter..it all comes down to you like JIMI an I like JEFF 👍

[@Nayansinghmusic]

I love how the Beatles are always there no matter what genre or the context of the video is

[@crisslastname9417]

Let's just keep calling it "The Hendrix Chord." Jimi deserves it!

[@robcox2553]

Eddie Kramer says it was him that introduced Jimi to the chord, first playing it on piano. Jimi asked him to show him on guitar, and he declined, telling him to figure it out.

[@andrejz8954]

@@robcox2553 Source?

[@NoTy-s2t]

@@andrejz8954 Eddie Kramer

[@dummybert]

@@robcox2553 nice story if it was true. But Kramer joined after the song had already been recorded. Purple Haze was recorded on De Lane Lea Studios on January 11, 1967. Chas Chandler took the four-track tape to Olympic Studios for overdubbing, were Eddie Kramer was assigned as a sound engineer.

[@PianoVampire]

Best part of this video, not the Hendrix, not the Miles Davis, not even the Alice in Chains recreations... it's those great improvisations at 7:30 - love it!

[@kineahora8736]

Yup, and you see Hendrix would do the first blues scales and Carleton of Steely Dan played diminished...

[@neuromantoo]

I can't play an instrument. I know nothing about music theory. So why am I such a fan of Rick? The guy has such enthusiasm for teaching and informing about music I love that I watch even though it all goes over my head. Thanks, Rick!

[@siskokidd]

Not even the cowbell?

[@neuromantoo]

@@siskokidd Man, I tried cowbell in kindergarten and got kicked out of class. Had an anxiety attack watching that SNL skit.

[@socratesapprentice5440]

+1

[@jeremybrown7470]

Well that makes you a perfect hardcore punk vocalist.... Or Roger Waters

[@spiderbabybill]

Keep watching and you'll know a lot of music theory soon enough :-)

[@annanimmitty4098]

Rick, I truly hope you realize how much you're helping some of us!! As a 53 year old that started jammin' back in 1981, continued through high school and college, kinda walked away while married for 20 years, then after brain surgery and a divorce, picked my old Kramer back up, you Sir have been a Blessing!!! Thank You for helping me recall SO MUCH, and LEARN SO MUCH MORE!!! J. Baker Columbia, SC to Charlotte, NC

[@OldDarwish]

Hey Rick, I just want to say that I've been playing for two years now and in the beginning of the video I felt so proud that I know that the chord was a dominant #9 and it came from the half whole diminshed scale and then it hit me that I knew this only because of the tons of other videos you've talked about it on the channel, thank you for all your work and time and all you provides with free of charge, I've been a subscriber for the last two years and I've almost seen all your videos, you're the closest thing to a teacher and a musical mentor In my life, thank you and tons of love from Egypt❤️.

[@jbasti227]

Rick is like a musical encyclopedia. He just gave me over a dozen songs to check out all just from discussing a single chord.

[@marcanglin7127]

Rick: "Ooh, here is the chord in a Miles Davis song" (plays the chord and vamps on piano). Rick: "Oh, and here's the chord used in Pink Floyd" (plays the song). Rick: "And here it is in these Steely Dan tunes" (proceeds to play them all). Da-yum, Rick: What's next ?!? Some Gentle Giant or Ozark Mountain Daredevils ?!? Maybe some Henry Cow or Matching Mole ?!? God, what a musical vocabulary !!! Love you, Rick !!!

[@timtravasos2742]

I totally agree

[@FerrickOxhide]

...and he has the chops to pull it off! Luv it!

[@epicmeade]

You had me at Henry Cow. I love the KZbin live performance of Tubular Bells where Fred Frith is playing alongside the Rolling Stones Mick Taylor, Steve Hillage, Mike Oldfield and most of the members of Henry Cow, Soft Machine ,and Gong. Maybe Rick could break that performance down in a 'What Makes This Song Great' video some day.

[@marcanglin7127]

@@epicmeade That video is SUCH a joy to watch with all of those great musicians !!!

[@docwill184]

@@epicmeade My YT search gets such a workout when you guys pull out a "Huh?"

[@paragburman]

I have no idea what he's talking about.... Goes over my head... But it's so satisfying listening and watching him 💜 Well At least someone knows what he's talking about!

[@ceabr12]

The Doors use this chord in "Love me two times" as well, very intensely at the end. I loved it in that song! gives a killer ending. This was an awesome video! Thank you for the great music value

[@robertvavra414]

Good example! also the ending of "Break On Through"

[@drleinad]

I love it how when you start explaining, I can't understand anything, but I enjoy the rest of the video lol

[@timtravasos2742]

Never seen anyone play the Steely Dan chords, especially from memory. Amazing ability.

[@conflagratus]

I used to play those too; then I forgot them. Now I will have to learn them again. Thanks Rick! for jogging my memory.

[@StewSpaull]

I'm sure the 7#9 is in Kid Charlemagne, too!

[@pallhe]

It was always called the Hendrix chord when I was playing in bands decades ago. I didn't even think about its constituent notes back then but basically played the blues over it with major and minor variations. I guess it's a chord that captures an important element of blues music, which is the pull between major and minor, which I think gives bluesy music much of its emotive power.

[@Remco96187]

I heard it first in AC/DC's Shoot To Thrill! Right before the chorus. Cool video, Rick.

[@mattjns]

Who else nods along with zero clue, but still enjoys this immensely? 😂

[@erniemathews8130]

Me, I’m him

[@jansabarth9466]

me...

[@carsgunsandguitars]

I don't nodd off, I enjoy and learn. 😏

[@JDDavid]

nodding off and nodding along: two different things! Brain slowing vs. brain growing (potentially, and in terms of its potential, not size). Here's a tip that may lessen quizzical feelings; A "third" really means two (not 3) steps of a certain scale away from a starting note. Since the most commonly taught chords are stacks of thirds, and the stacking starts with scale step 1, the root (not "zero"), the chord tones and chord extensions built going up two steps at a time are named by odd numbers: 1, (+2=) 3, (+2=) 5, then (+2=) 7, 9, 11, 13. But if you momentarily forget about the octave, it's illustrative to subtract 7 from the larger members in that list, and you learn more clearly what those extensions are like. 9th -7 is 2, the note between 1 and 3. The 11th -7 is the 4th scale step. Suspend (aka omit/drop) the 3rd above the root and you might decide to call these "SUS 2" and "SUS 4" respectively if not sharped or flatted. The natural (not sharp or flar) 13 -7 = 6, so you can think of the 13 chord as effectively a "6 chord." Nobody bothers with a "15" chord, because the "15th step" up a scale would be acting like (15 -7 = 8) just our root note again, up 1 or 2 octaves but not special enough to call it a new chord. Ok. . . So. . . Dang. Now I'm hella confused. =D

[@mattjns]

@@JDDavid *nods along.

[@chuckdunlap470]

Keep pushing "fun" chords Rick! There has to be other producers who watch your channel and hopefully, sooner or later, your input will start showing up again in new music.

[@evans7665]

MF Doom said it best, Music today is more about the image, the person behind the song, and not as much the music itself.

[@Guitarisforgrins]

Plenty of people doing it right now. You just have to look.

[@TranscendentBen]

It's not just today, I heard this from (post-fame) interviews with Alice Cooper ("I did/became whatever parents hated") and Gene Simmons (in it for the money, sex and fame), but they must have had something musical about them as well as their looks, makeup and stage presence.

[@evans7665]

@@Guitarisforgrins You do not have to tell me this, I know this and have seeked them out. But the main industry, the popular stuff, is more about the image.

[@STETTRACE]

Jimi was just a natural. I haven’t watched it yet but, I’m wondering if you’re going to talk about his incredible RHYTHM playing?? He always gets props for his lead playing of course. He changed the world of guitar in an era that wasn’t short on world changing guitarists! But he really was an incredible rhythm player and songwriter. It just seems so natural for him in the footage I’ve seen... and that’s most of it lol I’m a fan

[@snowmancometh3847]

I learned to play via the punk rock route. This goes so far over my head, I can't believe it's real. It really is wonderful. But, I'd bet dollars to donuts if Hendrix was alive and asked he'd say "I don't know any of that. I just love the way it sounds."

[@geraldfriend256]

Jeff Beck plays and understands jazz chords but can't name them.

[@mobgod6667]

@@Hooked_on_Gyro that’s the part that flies over a lot of people’s heads how knowledgeable he was of music.

[@VlogColton]

But that's objectively false. He played with Little Richard's band for crying out loud! Doing what he did required knowledge of some theory and reading chord charts. Hendrix may not of been a theory guru but this while "these guys didn't know what they were doing!" Is a bit of ah exaggerated myth

[@snowmancometh3847]

@@VlogColton Of course they knew what they were doing. Otherwise they wouldn't be able to do it. As Gerald Friend mentioned Jeff Beck could play next to anyone. But, he couldn't name the chords.Listening to Hendrix, it's the heart first, mind second. Hendrix was intuitive, that's obvious.

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

It is not that difficult to understand. Chords all revolve around the major chords as base. With that laid down, it is just a matter of choosing a note (or notes) and either making it sharp or making it flat. That's the way I operated back when I played around with composing music. It is all about playing around with musical conventions. If you "love the way it sounds," that probably that means that others with a similar musical background will get it. Otherwise, they won't. For the same reason, in order to sell records, you have to determine what sounds your listeners will be open to.

[@DavidDiMuzio]

Loved listening to you play those three different scales over the "Hendrix chord" to hear the various musical vibes that could be used over it.

[@keithcope1402]

Rick, great video! I love it when you take a progression or chord and give us such a broad overview of where it comes from, why it works, and how to use it. A sense of history always helps players move the instrument forward, not matter what instrument it is. Thank you!

[@DJGreenArrow]

So-called world leaders meet at the G7 Summit. For those who are really in the know, we meet at the E7#9 Summit. 🤗 Great video Rick. You nailed that first note of “Hey Joe”.

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

This comment needs more votes!!! 🤣👍💯🔥🎸🤘😎

[@DJGreenArrow]

EddieRay VanLynch thanks!

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

@@DJGreenArrow - You're welcome, but honestly, I think Rick was playing the breakdown section from "Born To Be Wild." 😉😁😃🎸🔥💀😎

[@noisyneil]

i'm assuming Rick means the live versions of Hey Joe, cause there's no E7#9 on the record.

[@larrypower8659]

On the first album Hendrix was not yet tuning down a half step. The songs are played in standard tuning. He didn’t start tuning down until the second album, Axis: Bold As Love. Purple Haze, Wind Cries Mary, If Six Turned Out To Be Nine, Manic Depression, Hey Joe, even Third Stone From The Sun - they’re all in standard pitch.

[@TimeGallon]

Ah yes, the classic song, “if six turned out to be nine”

[@christophermitchum6829]

If six was mine...🎶😎

[@ralphthomas7868]

Right on

[@boatjunkie1000]

What made Hendrix’s use of that chord so dynamic was that his strat was reverse strung, putting the bridge pickup at the reverse angle of the intended tonal pickup angle of a strat. Because the bridge pickup was at a reverse angle, the warmer deeper low strings were left even warmer and deeper and darker, hence resulting in an unheard of and a unique tone of these chords.

[@ParchmentKH77ftw]

No Rick Beato video is complete without a reference to Alice in Chains

[@RickBeato]

Haha!! True :)

[@martinds4895]

Yeah! Love AiC references. Great video Rick

[@SquigglyBeasst]

And we thank him for it.

[@artemanan4540]

@@RickBeato and please a song from Jerry-William era in What makes...

[@astronorthwet636]

AIC was the best band of the grunge era IMHO.

[@dropitinthepocket]

The 7#9 effectively combines a 7 chord and minor 7 chord. The blend of major and minor tonalities gives you that “funky” sound. It’s versatile, with a hip twist. Functional in jazz harmony, funky in a blues or rock and ambiguous enough to work anywhere. The voicing just works so well on a guitar to boot.

[@dropitinthepocket]

Chip Gaasche , Wanna shower us with some expert musical knowledge Chip, ol’ buddy?

[@RC32Smiths01]

Music is so rich in history, there's such a cool story for just a chord. Hendrix is the greatest guitarist in history!

[@DeeEllEff]

Or so says almost every other great guitarist in history.👏

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@chipgaasche4933 Indeed!

[@gustavoperezramirez2717]

He's one of the greats for its innovation but to me there's no "greatest guitarist".

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@gustavoperezramirez2717 I respect that viewpoint, although I feel like there is no denying that Hendrix is in some objective way the most influential by status and iconicness.

[@samplayle1858]

There's an A7#9 chord in the opening bar of the Lacrimosa in Mozart's requiem (written 1791): C natural in the upper voice over a G and a C#, resolving to D minor in the next bar.

[@bjornborg3195]

Nice

[@antidotetodoublespeak311]

Well... there it is

[@josephwright2271]

Have my babies

[@thrillofbattle3801]

Omg bro

[@marktaylor7963]

great video. I taught myself so many chord shapes by playing along with the KIND OF BLUE album and especially the Bill Evans penned tune BLUE IN GREEN. I learned recently the Duane Allman practiced with tunes from this album for over a year. There is no better practical tutorial on jazz harmony in my experience. I will also note that learning to Love artists like Miles has an added effect of greatly widening the possibilities in one’s head when writing. It takes lots of just listening

[@frank2778]

It's hard for me to comprehend how musicians back then could learn such varied chords just by listening and not through a systematic study of scales, modes, and chords. I studied drums briefly using Jim Blackley's "Syncopated Rolls for the Modern Drummer". I got lucky. When you learn things in a systematic way, you progress at an exponential rate because you have a conceptual understanding. Just proves how magical Hendrix's playing was.

[@Wohodix]

Im sorry but most musician here and in western world are stuck in a few genres. If you get interested in music world wide you will get lots ideas and new chords. Im gonna try to verify this but im pretty sure brasilian musician used this chord way before .

[@rbiznezz2]

I love how you snuck that Miles Davis reference/reverence in there at the beginning of the lesson

[@davidfleuchaus]

I love how much you can learn from just one of Rick’s videos (if you absorb it and apply it). If you watch this video, play every note of this video, learn every song in this video, learn the scales and apply them then you will probably be 6 months older and a LOT better of a guitar player!

[@jatmachado]

Hey Rick! I just love how passioned you talk about music, and smile when you play and recognize a great chord used in someone's song. It's really enjoyable watching, learning and having a good time with you.

[@masterofdrones7287]

Stravinsky. Rite of Spring. 1913. Opening chord of “Ritual of abduction” and climatic chord of the slow section of “Spring Rounds”. Charlie Parker used to walk around with the score under his arm. It all begins with the Rite.

[@laurisalokoski2719]

In the same year, 1913 Debussy used it in his second book of preludes.

[@goatonaboat2053]

There is a story that Igor went into a club where Parker was playing and as soon as Charlie saw him he played the bassoon solo from the Rite then back to his solo. Stravinsky was thrilled of course the story goes.

[@kineahora8736]

All of this stuff is way older than Hendrix lol. But Hendrix sure was great. Stravinsky and rite of spring were unbelievable. And Stravinsky learned interesting chord progressions to some extent from Don Carlo Gesualdo, of the late 16th century, if you *really* want to explore origins. Gesualdo’s style was so unorthodox he influenced just about nobody to follow him... until Stravinsky about 300 years later. Talk about “ahead of his time”!!

[@JoryGKenneth]

​@@kineahora8736 i'd say gesualdo's line of harmony continued in the 19th century non german composers, starting with glinka and borodin, and obviously debussey (most original composer ever) stravinsky.

[@kineahora8736]

@@JoryGKenneth hmm, I don’t know very much Glinka was not aware he or Borodin knew of or developed off of Gesualdo. But there certainly was a big break: Gesualdo’s work was not continued directly or did not appear to have influence on the next style or even a few afterward...

[@andycopeland7051]

So glad im not the only one who calls it the Hendrix Chord

[@EligatorEric]

And in the intro to "Spinning Wheel" by Blood Sweat and Tears, great blaring horns.

[@gustavogentilin9894]

"Breathe" by Pink Floyd uses this chord in a very clever way too. Very nice video Mr. Beato.

[@goldenultra]

Gilmour does come from a blues angle, the soul of his playing is there.

[@paul-singhgurth1599]

I learned this when I was 15 from my cousin's boyfriend way back in 83. He wrote it in a little notebook of mine and he called it "the chord". It was the first chord I learned and I knew nothing about theory. It was what sparked my love of chords and my deep study of people like holdsworth and McCoy Tyner. It's why I decided to go to study with Dick Grove in 86. Keep studying and learning all you newbies and all the old timers you never stop being amazed at everything and pass on the fire!

[@nadavegan]

@rick beato, you may be the best combination of fanboi appreciation, virtuostic understanding, and patient competent instructor I have ever seen. LOVE this channel.

[@johntalley6028]

The chord existed and was widely used before Hendrix hit the scene... ...and every guitar player since 1967 has learned that chord only because of Hendrix and Purple Haze. Guaranteed. No player has ever went to learn Purple Haze and said “hey , there’s that chord I play all the time again” lol. Great vid. Appreciate the education.

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

Funkadelic's Pre-1976 work is heavily inspired by Jimi Hendrix. Friday Night August 14th's main riff can only sound like it was inspired by Foxy Lady. I'd love to see Rick make a video on Funkadelic at some point

[@blastomaticdisel6189]

The legendary Eddie Hazel!

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

@@blastomaticdisel6189 yes. He was an amazing guitar player. Out of all the Jimi Hendrix rip-offs George Clinton needed for Funkadelic, Eddie was probably the one who filled in the majority of qualifications needed to be a Jimi Hendrix rip-off. Though he wasn't able to deconstruct and manipulate the guitar to accommodate his style in the same way that Jimi Hendrix did, he played the same kind of music that Hendrix played; Omniversal Blues, with a tinge of both Psychedelic Hippie Rock and Funk. Maggot Brain is a very iconic guitar solo, and his work should be listened to by everyone.

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

@@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051 - Thanks for reminding me about Maggot Brain. 👍🤘🎸🔥💯🥓😎

[@blastomaticdisel6189]

@@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051 While I wouldn't go as far to refer to him as a rip-off, I would say that he emulated some of Jimi's style and technique to build upon his own. But it definitely sounds like he was influenced by him.

[@thevfxmancolorizationvfxex4051]

@@eddierayvanlynch6133 yes. I'm quite surprised that hardly any famous music youtuber has spoken about this wonderful piece of Omniversal Transcendental Blues Rock. Hopefully if Rick takes notice of this comment, he'll make a video on it

[@ScottEgan69]

I've actually been going through and "old school" stage, admiring guitarists of yesteryear like Scotty Moore with Elvis. These guys wee tasty and restrained. I think from Hendrix on guitarist took off shackles and improv like wild men. the old school guys weren't like that. They were all about the song. This video goes in depth about scales and chords and music, very useful in jazz and improv.

[@EBUNNY2012]

I love all this history that Rick puts into his work. Thank you, Rick, for all of the research and sharing it with us!

[@Holonomics]

This, as always, is a hugely interesting and excellent video. I used this chord in my most recent tune (I just play at home for fun), wah wahing on the top two notes and then the bottom three to split the chord in two. Doing this over the top of an Indian tanpura drone really made it tonally interesting for me.

[@rebeltuba9422]

Chicago used that chord constantly in their early days, particularly in the horn parts and rhythm guitar starting in '68. I believe Jimmy Pankow said they lifted it from Don Ellis experimental jazz albums from the early and mid-'60's.

[@JoryGKenneth]

chicago - i'm a man. origin: spencer davis group, meaning 18 year old steve winwood

[@michaelwebb8161]

I first heard the #9 chord from Blood Sweat and Tears Spinning Wheel intro!

[@JohnResciniti]

Yes! Thats how I learned what a #9 was! HS music theory class!

[@wr5347]

A few Halloweens ago, my wife and I went out as enharmonic equivalents. One T-shirt with "F#" printed on the front and another with "Gb" lol

[@ggilleland8903]

That’s next level music geek stuff

[@ridgerunner4943]

I hope you got more candy,

[@restojon1]

This is absolute GOLD for us long time players who have never studied any theory but know their way around a fretboard. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience, Rick. We are in your debt

[@sherloq1]

Awesome video Rick. Love how you approach this from All angles and styles

[@8MinuteAxe]

Interesting history of the chord. I've listened to Kind of Blue 1000 times and I never made the connection. Revolver is as close as anyone has ever come to a perfect album. Anyway, another ace video. Thanks.-Mark

[@kaitsu9608]

Id say on guitar its more distintctive as "hendrix chord". I was suprised too on the all blues example

[@dougrobinson8602]

Agreed. Revolver is pure genius. Best Beatles album by a country mile.

[@GuitarFunhouse]

Zeppelin I-Houses.

[@1badsteed]

And here I thought Abbey Road was their perfect album. I love every song on it!

[@brainfingercephalopod2198]

A young Hendrix probably perked up his ears if he heard "Chitlins Con Carne" on the radio. That track, off the 1963 album Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell, wasn't released as a single, but I think it did get some radio play on the hipper stations around the US. (A little before my time . . .) A good early example of a 7#9 being used not as an altered 5 but as a bluesy tonic chord is the song "Black Coffee" which was published in 1948 and charted in several different versions, most notably by Sarah Vaughan in '49 and Peggy Lee in '53. "Black Coffee" itself seems to have been based on an instrumental piano piece called "What's Your Story Morning Glory" from 1938 by Mary Lou Williams.

[@6stringstorulethemall967]

Legit college level class here and it's FREE!

[@TheShepherdFilms]

Man I play chords based on shapes and feel, it is very cool to see how much you know as a musician. I am like a butcher, I whack at things I don't know, making things I like, but have no idea about the names or vast knowledge of music as a whole that you do, and it is very inspiring. Cheers

[@carsandhealthtoddrosenzwei2661]

Mr Beato knows his schitt!! I love listening to him teach and explain. Reminds me my 7th grade "music in our lives" teacher, who was Phenomenal too.

[@dean9498]

Purple Haze,first song I learned all the way through.

[@matturner6890]

Ahh, remember how awesome that felt?! Not sure which feeling I've been chasing harder, that or my first joint. It's a toss-up.

[@jaiguru4641]

The Beatles called it “the Gretty chord” because Paul and George learned it from Jim Gretty, a guitar salesman at Hessy’s Music Centre in Liverpool. Paul used it in Michelle, just before the words “ma belle.” There it’s a Bb7 with added minor third, rooted on IV in the key of F.

[@NytronX]

Led Zeppelin - We're Gonna Groove. That song basically just spams this chord. The live version is amazing.

[@paulgroben5337]

Rick's lead guitar playing when improvising is some of the best I've ever heard.

[@bobboberson2024]

Great break-down as usual, Rick. I really loved this post. I'd say "A Hard Days Night" is rocks most famous chord in a singular sense.

[@GPWalsh]

Cream used that chord a great deal as well. Actually before Hendrix. It is the first chord on their first album "Fresh Cream" on the song "I Feel Free" which was in 1966. We always thought of it as the "Clapton Chord".

[@Teleman73]

I call it the Hendrix/Doobie/Clapton/Allman chord, they all have songs featuring it.

[@robertvavra414]

GP, I just posted the same example, and then I found your post! I especially liked how Cream used the chord chromatically on the ending of "Sitting On Top of the World" Ab7#9 to G7#9

[@GPWalsh]

@@robertvavra414 Oh wow! Right. I completely forgot about that one! Man, that was such a great time for music!

[@MostlyDead1973]

Only Rick could an entire episode about a chord (and actually make it interesting).

[@thenear1send]

When I was taking guitar lessons ages ago we discussed the chord one day, and I remember pointing out an example of its use on Pink Floyd's "Breathe"--the part where they transition from the chorus back to the verse. They use the chord in a unique and interesting way. Check it out. Great use of suspense.

[@thenear1send]

Specifically the chord changes are D7#9, D7b9, Em. Beautiful

[@breadfan4317]

yeah watching this video I was like heeeeeyyyyyy that's breathe

[@Turbulator]

When you say unique, Richard Wright himself explained that he borrowed it from Miles Davis.

[@dyerob]

Great video, Rick! Love that chord! Gershwin probably did use it, but an even earlier usage would be Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (1913), in a beautifully mysterious section about 2 mins into the second half, in the strings under the trumpets: alternating Bflat7#9 with C7#9.

[@maxmusikuhn]

I can't find this passage. Are u talking about "The Augurs of Spring, Dances of the Young Girls"?

[@dyerob]

@@maxmusikuhn Starts a couple of bars after rehearsal mark 86, before Mystic Circle of the Young Girls.

[@sbove]

Great exploration and lesson! 7:35 - killer example of how three different scales work with the same chord yielding amazingly different tonalities...

[@jeeannevahnknight8015]

One of my favorite songs that features the 7#9 is Outside Women Blues.

[@MrKrinkly]

One of Cream's finest blues covers!

[@jeeannevahnknight8015]

Kerry McNeil Great God, without a doubt!

[@6StringStories]

The Hendrix Chord: Making Me Look Better Than I Am For Many Years

[@1982pencil]

Now you need to do a video on the other “most famous rock chord”: the first chord of A Hard Day’s Night. Even better, bring your son with the crazy perfect pitch in and see if he can ID it!

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

It’s been done.... look up : “Randy Bachman and the Beatles Chord”

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Phil Mingin of course

[@AndrewAMartin]

@Phil Mingin I think Rick already has a video on "The Chord"...

[@ianrickey208]

Those who bought and read Rick’s “Beato Book” are able to follow and absorb all the insight and wisdom Rick is laying on us. Maybe I’ll be able to study it some more and truly understand everything Rick is so generously sharing. Thanks Rick!

[@mrupert22]

This video got me thinking- I’d love to see something about common chords in different music styles and if chords come and go out of popularity.

[@CarnivoreIntelligence]

That would be interesting. It feels that chords get influence from different decades.

[@JCridford]

0:59 - that's the chord from the turnaround in 'Breathe' by Pink Floyd! I always wondered where Rick got it as he said it was from a Miles Davis tune!

[@sharkeynoyz]

I like how his Strat makes a buzzing sound! Beautiful!

[@richsackett3423]

LOL

[@fhqwhgads1670]

60Hz REPRESENT!

[@HareDeLune]

@@fhqwhgads1670 Lol!

[@oe542]

His is really bad and his mic picks it up and makes it sound even worse. It’s actually really acidic to the ear and sometimes hard to listen to. My Strat is the same way. Good thing I’m such a bad player it doesn’t make a difference.

[@dougrobinson8602]

@@fhqwhgads1670 Like a ground loop?

[@roderickwhitehead]

Full disclosure: When you started playing Josie, I really just wanted to hear you continue.

[@user-qr8ki8ue4i]

Me too.

[@folldarol]

Me too. Then looked up the original and decided I preferred Rick's version.

[@StratMatt777]

Me too. I also wanted a Josie guitar lesson!

[@thomasgilmartin1]

Watch the Martin Miller version of Josie, it's excellent!

[@roderickwhitehead]

@@thomasgilmartin1 - Thanks, will look it up.

[@GuyNirpaz]

Thanks Rick - thanks to COVID I can finally follow and understand the nuances you’re making on the various scales - I truly appreciate the passion you have when you teach - keep it up!

[@tylerama]

Thanks for taking the time to make these videos Rick. I learn so much about music even though I know so little. Thanks for your passion :-)

[@tomconverse7862]

This guy would make an excellent music teacher! I would definitely take his class! 😃🎸🤘

[@DoeDillinger]

"remember when you where young?... You shined like the sun! Shine on you craaaaazy diiiamond..." Thats the jam, Hey Jo too!.. very cool.

[@joliveres]

I heard that and now I have to go listen to Wish You Were Here. Such a good album.

[@DoeDillinger]

@@joliveres welcome to the machine is one of my favorites!.. ever. awesome album.

[@kyraandamysdad]

Wonderful lesson. I wish it had been available in 1977 when the "Josie" chord was driving me nuts. How could it be major and minor at the same time, I wondered. Incidentally the 7#9 chord occurs on the word "home" in every chorus of "Josie" also.

[@Baci302]

I love this channel. Thanks Rick for sharing all the knowledge. Revolver is my favorite Beatles album too. SRV uses the chord in Scuttle Buttin’ too.

[@robclancy6001]

AC/DC shoot to thrill has this chord as a turn around and Steve Miller abracadabra. Great video as usual Rick. Killer guitar tone.

[@KurtGAndersen]

Yup! Thought it was strange that nobody mentioned AC/DCs Shoot to Thrill, but you did...🎸

[@twoweeksout]

Dang this makes me wanna play some Hendrix next

[@mcmike100]

That was a no-brainer

[@JohnSmith-lu4yb]

go for it!

[@TobiaBreda]

I love when Rick speaks about Alice In Chains: his eyes glitter! 😁

[@esahutske]

I noticed that, too 👍🏻

[@salvatorevetro1743]

Yeah I think Rick actually enjoys Cantrell as a "nice variation on the theme".

[@fishsurfer1]

The kids dont even know

[@denisefreitas6727]

The Hendrix's chord is amazing!

[@rcdowdy]

This was a great session. The Hendrix chord affected everyone playing guitar at that time. Don't forget Foxy Lady.

[@Biscuit-Triscuit]

Love Purple Haze and especially that rift, first song I ever learned to play bass alongside!

[@JKenjiLopezAlt]

Hey Rick, long time listener first time caller. I’m pretty sure this is the same chord used in the Beatles’ earlier song You Can’t Do That on the line “I told you before.” Does that sound right to you? (I ask because my college band covered that song a few times and we could never figure out exactly what was going on. We chalked it up to a minor and major V chord on top of each other.)

[@yoshennaidoo2846]

Big fan kenji

[@SpencerTwiddy]

Just gave it a listen, and yes! Except a whole step lower. I’m hearing for sure a D in the bass while the F (which is the #9) is being sung on top, also the C (the b7) is in there, I’m not 100% sure about the natural third F# below the F, but the Beatles bend their 3s all the time and he was definitely in that “neutral 3” zone on that one, so good ear!

[@Breeze1]

Thats a c7 but moved up a tone (2 frets) idk what its actually called lmao

[@johnm6201]

@Alex Plays Yeah if you watch the live versions John plays it like that (I do play it with the #9 though)

[@JKenjiLopezAlt]

Spencer Twiddy I think the guitar is playing the major third.

[@returnofthedeathprobe6535]

You can also hear it on Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue (C7#9). Hendrix (rightly) admired Kenny very much, I wouldn't be surprised if that's who he took it from.

[@bryana297]

Kenny is an awesome player.

[@tomasrodriguezguitar]

I actually think that "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker and the All Stars (of which there is video of Jimi Hendrix playing it in 1965 with Little Richard's backing band) may be one of the sources of Hendrix' use of the chord in "Purple Haze". (A bit surprised that you didn't cite that one). Hendrix' extensive experience as an R&B sideman infused his compositional palette with the harmonies and styles of classic 1960's R&B. Also, Hendrix was under a lot of pressure to generate original material very quickly upon arrival in England. In many of his earliest compositions, he was drawing very much on his R&B experience. For example, "Fire" is clearly emerging from "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett.

[@CYGNO]

Love these theory videos and they are brought to life by Rick's playing and presentation.

[@55ou812]

Hey Rick. As always, love all your episodes. Thanks for sharing this, it's awesome, I learned a lot. By the way, I also love the Beato Book. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn about music. Thank you. Rick.

[@rickb1973]

I've always thought that it was one of the most physically comfortable chords to play. Its like your fingers just want to stack that way. I look down at my hand now and I make a gesture like an Italian explaining something and that's an E7#9 chord....Buh, buh...blah!

[@wesleyAlan9179]

😄

[@roma540]

Em7add11 is easier in my eyes. If you know, what I mean

[@TanguyBlanchard]

I guess it would still be E7#9 because Hendrix didn't tune down a half step on the first album ;)

[@Psychedelian]

He tuned down live I think, but maybe not always

[@krakaka8218]

Imagine if Jimi had lived till this day, what he could've created. He was a poor black gypsy kid in 1960's America and before his death at 27 changed music forever in only 3,5 short years of massive fame and expression. He played an upside-down strat behind his head while singing and creating sounds only a hand full of guitarist can match to this day, 50 years after his death. His fashion and recording style has also influenced countless others after him. May he rest in peace forever.

[@chewycenter7690]

I always imagine had he lived he would have eventually done a plug for a high end SUV where he pushes aside a Land Rover and then says "Move over Rover and let Jimi take over." Hey, why settle for walkin?

[@bordershader]

I recently saw a KZbin video of Hendrix playing a 12 string, it was a proper left handed 12 string, ie with the bass strings at the top... this blew my mind!

[@whyyeseyec]

Duane Allman and SRV too.

[@leskobrandon691]

@@bordershader while Jimi tradiotionally played a right-handed Strat, it was strung left handed. I'm not sure if your reference to the left-handed 12-string being strung left-handed was atypical of his natural way of playing, but that is how he played all his guitars....strung left-handed.

[@whyyeseyec]

@John Gardy - No he wasn't.

[@heavymetal19610]

30 years ago, the only way to experience any of the mythical knowledge was to listen to all your fav bands and hope to figure out that fingering. Now we have you, unlocking the mysteries of the greatest instrument ever played! Many thanks, cheers!

[@wolfgangheinrich7019]

Been waiting for that chord to be explained a long time, and Rick just does it. Thanks man!

[@viniciusfreitas2935]

You also find this chord in Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, it is the first chord of the turn around in Breathe. It goes: D7/9+ > D7/9- > Em Sounds great.

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

Miles... Birth of the CooooooooLLL Thanks for the lesson Rick.!!!!!

[@jamingaming3453]

What about the lemon song by Led Zeppelin? That has the Hendrix chord

[@JohnnyTronny19841]

We're Gonna Groove also

[@northernLIT517]

Cream - I feel free

[@brendanfrye123]

the word by the Beatles

[@MrMysteriosguy]

Also some live versions of Dazed and Confused, usually a break after the main tempo change

[@Teleman73]

@@northernLIT517 Starts with it

[@davidsanders5153]

Rick, I am continuously.amazed at the volume of information you retain and can link together for us....and that you are willing to do that. Saving all of us a lot of time trying to figger it out. 😀

[@JerryOvermyer]

I have always wondered about the "music theory" behind the Hendrix chord. This video makes it all so clear!! Thank you! Thank you!