Jimi Hendrix

Subject: Hendrix ban
From: C-flat
Date: 13 Apr 02 - 04:45 AM

Reading this months edition of "Guitarist" I notice a letter from a reader asking for transcription of a Hendrix song "Little Wing". In reply the magazine points out that Jimi Hendrix estate has a blanket ban on any of his compositions being reproduced in magazines and that the only Hendrix tracks you'll see covered in this way are non-Hendrix compositions such as "All along the watchtower". Whilst this news is not exactly going to spoil my weekend I am curious to know what the estate trustees are protecting by banning transcriptions. Would Jimi have approved?

Subject: RE: BS: Hendrix ban
From: DMcG
Date: 13 Apr 02 - 05:00 AM

Its probably just that good old-fashioned control thing again. Letting a magazine publish something reduces the potential to sell it directly. Would Jimi have approved? I don't know, but I bet these some expert out there who can say what his attitude on this kind of thing was.

More generally, would C Sharp, Maud Karpeles and co have approved of having all their research directly available on the Net or would they want it controlled and copyrighted? My guess is that they would have been keen Mudcatters themselves :-)

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Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Jimi Hendrix
From: Amos
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 02:31 PM

A recording has been found of a Jimi Hendrix concert previously thought lost.

Story on this site. A fine addition to the estate's company holdings!

A

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 03:10 PM

I think the text of the article is worth posting. I know there's a lot of stir about Jimi's live recordings, but I have to say that I've always preferred his three studio albums. When it's dark and I'm alone in the house, it's nice to turn down the lights and turn up the volume, and travel back to the days of my youth.
-Joe Offer-

'Lost' Hendrix concert uncovered



An original recording of a Jimi Hendrix concert, which was thought to have been destroyed, has been found in Sweden.
Technicians at SVT - Sweden's public television - unearthed the recording made at a concert in Stockholm in 1969.
The unmarked tape was found stashed on a shelf deep inside the station's enormous archives.
Part of the 56-minute concert was aired on SVT in 1969, before the Jimi Hendrix Experience disbanded, but it has never been shown in its entirety.
SVT spokeswoman Catarina Wilson said the black-and-white recording was found during a project to transfer archived material from tape and film to digital.
She said: "They looked through the tape and found it had some Jimi Hendrix. Then they saw it had a lot of Jimi Hendrix - the entire concert, which is what makes this tape unique."
Ms Wilson said the tape should have been destroyed after broadcast, at a time when it was too expensive to keep all raw footage.
But one of the network's workers probably hid it on the shelf, where it sat for 35 years gathering dust.
SVT is determining if it still has the rights to show the entire broadcast of the concert.
Ms Wilson added: "This is great material that we would love to show."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/3670608.stm

Published: 2004/09/19 12:28:53 GMT

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Chris Green
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 06:55 PM

I would have thought that guitar transcriptions for Hendrix are a bit pointless as he never played anything the same way twice!

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: M.Ted
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 01:51 AM

I don't know why that would make a transcription pointless--any more than it is pointless to trancribe a Parker solo or a Django solo--they help to understand how he did certain things--the only problem is that, especially with Hendrix, the transcriber doesn't get it right--

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 04:30 AM

"And I thought I knew this place from stem to stern" he mumbled, stumbling into this quiet, wood-panelled alcove, quiet and cool as a cave, and he found a leather armchair near the window and sat down. Leaning against the wall, hidden by a shadow from the chair that stopped the only light coming from a small, latticed window, he found an old sixstring. The fretboard was worn, the dark stain lightened where years of fingering had taken the finish away. The spruce top was yellowed, the lacquer finish alligatored as if some invisible spider had woven its web within the translucent surface. A mother-of-pearl rosette encircled the sound hole, glowing with a dim luster even in the darkness of this forgotten corner.
He picked it up, the string sounding a subdued note as the guitar settled against his thigh. He pressed down the E minor, feeling the soft give and smooth action, hearing the resonance that seemed to come not so much from the guitar as from the air around him. Quietly he began to sing

If I had possession over Judgement Day
If I had possession over Judgement Day
No woman without lovin'
Would have a right to pray

The voice, like the guitar, might have been inside his head rather than coming from the figure who sat ten feet from him, half-reclining on a couch. "Not bad. Robert wouldn't mind hearing that, I bet," it said. How long had the man been there? In the dim light of the room, he saw a figure dressed rather absurdly : silk shirt with ruff at the collar and cuffs, concho-studded leather belt, long legs clad in burgundy velvet, heavy-lidded eyes above a wide smile, long black hair that framed the even deeper black of his skin. A slim forefinger played gently across his chin. The man's fingers were disproportionately large, but seemed possessed of elegance and beauty.

"You know you look just like him," he said.

The figure smiled again and said "no, I really think he looks more like me. You have all the hand positions just right, man. It sounds real clean. You play with skill. Do you love to play?"

He smiled and said "thanks. Yeah I really enjoy playing."

The figure smiled and stammered a little as he said "no, that's cool. But do you love to play? Would you die if you couldn't."

He smiled, sadly. No, it didn't really mean that much. It was a thing to learn, and in the learning he had in fact lost something, some of the lust for the playing that departed in direct relation to the increase of the skill. He looked up to see the figure still gazing at him, still smiling, and it said " no, man, no. It's no tragedy. You see....I'll never be free of it. Never."

And without words the black man held his hands out, and he rose from the armchair and placed the guitar in his hands, the stranger's hand wrapping around the neck as he turned the guitar upside down, the long fingers of the right hand pressing gently on the strings, the left hand moving across the glowing rosette in a cascade of ringing notes. He held his breath for a span of time as the impossible melody summoned the sweep of sailing ships upon the ocean, the howl of cold winds against forlorn towers, the very turning of the earth on its great axis.

The visions flowed quietly on, melding with dreams until at last he awoke in the empty room, the guitar beside him where he had discovered it. He rose and walked to the window and found he had slept some time indeed, for the sky was rich with stars, and the half-moon had already risen high. Outside a cooling breeze had sprung up, as it sometimes did on Summer nights, and it found its way through the trees, and through the windows of the Tavern where it banished the heat of the long day, and fell among the revellers like a blessing.

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Dead Horse
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 05:54 AM

What would Hendrix have done? Set fire to it of course!!!!!

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 06:14 AM

Are you referring to his practice of setting fire to his guitars, or to herbal cigarettes? ROFLMAO!! :0)

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: woodsie
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 06:45 AM

You can find the tabulature for Little Wing here and also here! and countless other places.

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:00 AM

That guitar still exists and has been rebuilt to be playable. It was shown on a Guitar Show TV Series that was made in Australia.

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Amos
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 08:37 PM

LEJ's piece above is stunning. My hat is off to the master Mudcatter!!

A

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: JamesBerriman
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 05:34 PM

Years ago I bought a slim tome entitled 'Original Hendrix' (if memory serves) which includes a passable transcription of Little Wing, amongst other things.

Don't tell the Hendrix shooting brake.

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: PoppaGator
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 06:28 PM

The problem with transcribing Hendrix is not that he played a piece differently every time, but that there's no way for a transcaription to tell us how he got those SOUNDS out of his instrument.

Finding the right notes is only part of the puzzle -- not even the main part.

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: David Ingerson
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 06:36 PM

Powerfully evocative piece, LEJ. I especially like the images summoned by the music.

David

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 08:13 PM

LEJ- if i could have dreams like that, i might just sleep forever! Mind you, if i could play like Hendrix, i might just play forever...

Surely any artist would be flattered and gladdened by someone wanting to play their tunes? I know i would, and there's no doubt that there are thousands who would love to play Hendrix's songs. And while they might never be able to play like Hendrix, having the notes down in front of them would be a start. Having said that, i have a friend who, after much studious listening, scribbling, and playing, managed to come out with a passable version of several songs- i was quite astounded! Maybe this is the best approach, to immerse yourself in the music and try to do it by ear, if you can.

There are countless Hendrix tabs on the internet, but i don't know how accurate they are because i don't have the skill to attempt them :).

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 09:40 AM

Classic, LEJ......

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 12:24 PM

Another lost Hendrix may have surfaced - with Jimi playing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, the Welsh national anthem.

Of course, there as others who say it wasn't him, but it does sound Hendrix-like. Judge for yourself - it's quite remarkable!

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Mooh
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 01:06 PM

In regards to the initial post (and I'm aware it's almost 5 years old), there is very commonly available transcription of Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of Little Wing which sees publication in the guitar press periodically. He's very respectful of the Hendrix version so it's a terrific guide.

In regards to getting the Hendrix tones, Digitech makes a very good pedal to help replicate the tones, though a '60s Strat and Marshall would help too.

Fwiw.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Tom Hamilton frae Saltcoats Scotland
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 01:13 PM

he was no bad at playing the guitar, and he was left handed as well, the same as me. I shit at playing the guitar, I just batter and hope for the best.

tom

Subject: RE: Jimi Hendrix
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 07 Jan 07 - 06:10 PM

Beautiful, Lonesone EJ. Your writing evokes the tenderness, the spiritual vision, and the obsessive musical quest of the man himself. Thank you.

"no bad at playing guitar" is either a rasta cool compliment, or else a typo for the understatement of the era. Hendrix was born left-handed but was forced to write with his right hand as a child by his father. Although he primarily played left-handed, he could chord and play with either hand, with the guitar strung upside-down or right-side up. Of course, he could also play with his teeth, or play with the guitar postitioned virtually anywhere on his body, but that was for theatrics. Hendrix could play a piece of music and then play it backwards, note-for-note.

Hendrix's virtuousity had the effect of making other guitarists feel their talent was cancelled out. When Jeff Beck first heard him, he said, "I think I'll get a job at the post office." Brian Jones told someone in the loo of a club where Hendrix was playing, "Be careful, the floor is wet up there. It's flooded with the tears of all the other guitarists." Mike Bloomfield became so depressed the first time he heard Hendrix he missed his own gig, an important debut in New York.

Elmer