Hendrix chord, C7(#9), as it may be played on a guitar
Hendrix chord E7#9, as it may be played on a guitar in an open position
In this lesson I will teach you the Hendrix chord. This is a great sounding chord - really powerful, harsh and bluesy. Jimi used this chord in songs like “Purple Haze”, “Foxy Lady” and “Vodoo Child”. The chord is an augmented 9th chord. It is generally referred to as “7#9″ - seven sharp nine.
The chord fingering:
To play an E7#9 chord
- Place your 2nd finger at the 7th fret of the A string
- Then, your 1st finger at the 6th fret of the D string
- Then, your 3rd finger at the 7th fret of the G string
- Then your 4th finger at the 8th fret of the B string
- You can also play the E open strings because this is an E7#9
This chord shape is a movable shape. So you can move it up and down the fretboard. Just remember the root note is played on the 5th string with your 2nd finger. This chord works well in blues rock music. In 12 bar blues it is often used to replace IV7 and V7 chords.
Jimi Hendrix died September 18 , 1970. His music was way before it’s time, and his influence on the instrument is unparalleled. Almost every rock/blues guitarist knows a little Hendrix. I have always felt his playing was never about technique or style, but just pure emotional expression. Long live the music!