Jimi Hendrix

Jimi, whose soul was from another planet, once said his fingers and the guitar were one. He played the most amazingly melodic riffs like you are I would chew on a piece of gum, without even thinking about it, because running his fingers all over the frets was as natural to us as breathing. Watch his Monterey concert on YouTube. Fresh to America, he was so happy and pure, the
world in front of him. Listen to his two Hey Joe solos. I wasn't in the audience but their minds must've got blown away with those first notes, not only that he was playing with his teeth and then second solo behind his head without even looking, that's what he meant by fingers and guitar being one. God Almighty what a sound he made with those two solos. This is the essence
of Hendrix, that concert and those Hey Joe solos. As time went on he got tired and didn't know how to handle the stress and the business end of rock. It's very sad and I feel for him greatly. He was very depressed and it's possible he just wanted it over with. "I wish you'd hurry up and rescue me so I can be on my miserable way..."

PS--I saw him at Stony Brook in 1968--came out cigarette dangling from lips, 10 minute intro to Foxey Lady, fantastic concert, after last song tossed Strat over his head behind him, it hit the back wall over Mitch's head, he had to duck. Later I hung out by the stage, a roadie picked up the Strat and shoved in under his arm with all the other guitars like they were firewood and walked off with them. The Strat Jimi threw didn't break.

PSPS--Jimi's Marshall amps were turned up so high he could play with one hand. If you watch that first Hey Joe solo, his teeth don't really pluck
the strings, they didn't have to.

Will always love you Jimi...

Sit back and watch him play " my train is coming", knowing that for atleast an hour he pulled every string off that guitar and restrung it backwards, then tuned it , then tamed it. And after, wipe the tears from your eyes.

Saw Jimi in Seattle on Sept 1968 with my then boyfriend. We were both 16. Jimi performed on the revolving stage. Jimi was Randy's favorite. That was just a few months after sitting front row to The Doors. Wow it was quite the summer.

Jimi hendrix couldnt hold a candle to people like yngwie malmsteen or steve vai or joe satriani.Just because someone paved the way it doesnt make them greater than or even equal to.He was good for being self taught.But he doesnt compare to alot of people

A guitarist of the 70s who at the time was rated higher than Page Clapton and Beck was Rory Gallagher educate yourselves on youtube.

Billy Cox is the last surviving member of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. He also played with Gypsy Sun and Rainbows and Band of Gypsyes.

I think hands down Jimi is the best guitarist of all time. I also think Carlos Santana belongs on the "best of" list.

Hendrix is the greatest because of what he did in so little time. He was only around 3 years and he influenced alot. Just imagine where he would be today if he didn't die.

Jimi played guitar backwards, under his legs, behind his back, with his teeth, and then set it on fire, beat that.

No offence to the Van Halen fans, but to me Hendrix looked so cool and natural playing his guitar, Eddie looks like he practised in a mirror?

The BBC has recording of Stevie Wonder playing drums with Jimi Hendrix they just released a year or so ago. He was apparently playing with Eric Burdon and War the night before he died, that some forensics research recently suggested that his sleeping pills had been switched with German ones that looked the same though were four times as powerful. I think I saw him in Woodstock, NY at a outdoor cafe in 1968, working nearby in Camp Timberlake as a dishwasher. A friend's Mom, starting in real estate up there in the Catskills where Bob Dylan and family and the Band were staying, where the Fugs lived that summer, recalls showing a house with someone who looked like a Janis Joplin look-a-alike, and guard dogs when she surprised them showing the house to a prospective buyer. I saw the place in a documentary later about him, two little cute window dormers. He had been on the venue of an extensive tour with Pink Floyd in Great Britain I read years ago over at CompuServe. He played bass guitar on a Timothy Leary album according to one of those computer databases in a record shop. He had been in the US Army Airborne "Screaming Eagles" until after 19 jumps had twisted an ankle I read. I missed his concert at Stony Brook University.

Uhhh im pretty sure Stone Free is an original Hendrix song not Bob Dylan...

Does anyone out there know if Jimi was truly the first or one of the first Hair Club for men spokesperson?

I happened on to this site and I see people discussing others as the greatest guitar player of all time.....Are you kidding? Jimi was the only guitar player I have ever heard play in 3D....he is STILL misunderstood. Nate, you are so right

-Paul

HE IS MY CREATIVE IDOL! The way he writes songs.. I wish I could produce such beauty in my own poetry. I am honored to be a fan of his.

I love Hendrix's music! the man was a genius and i can't believe he's been died so long, almost 40 years.

I mean come on! hendrix changed my life!Clapton and page and others, the list is endless are quality, but the way (Buster)Jimi's nik name as a kid, can make u feel!ah man!there just no words to describe it!Get your ipod,get electric ladyland,get stoned and revel in the word of jimi.

Personally, I agree with a few people on here- there really isn't a 'Best Guitarist Ever'. I would however rank Jimmy Page as the best '12-string' guitarist, and I think that YES's Steve Howe is the best 'accoustic' guitarist. The problem that I have with ranking guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen and Tony Iommi as great is that I can pretty well recognize their work in songs that I previously have never listened to- the same holds true with Slash. Most people would state that this is what makes them so great... unique, yes- great, no- I think a good guitarist doesn't really have 'one particular sound'. One guitarist that I have noticed that no one on here has mentioned that I don't think gets enough recognition is Alex Lifeson, because he is overshadowed by Geddy Lee's bass and synthesizers and Neil Peart's percussion. However, there are a couple guitarists that are listed on here that I wouldn't even have listed as 'honorable mentioned', let alone good- but I guess each to their own.

Everyone is comparing random guitarists with Jimi Hendrix, yet nobody has mentioned Frank Zappa? Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, Stevie Ray Vaughan.. so many greats are dead :-(

The Eddie Van Halen vs. Jimi Hendrix debate is entertaining. Eddie benefits from decades of work by pioneers before him. He rides on a road that people like Hendrix cut out of the earth. That's a fact. You have to look at an artist in their entirety, and Eddie just doesn't stack up to Hendrix. Eddie has ZERO charisma and never could get out of his front man's shadow. He's a guitar player that can play fast. Hendrix is an icon. Barry Bonds to Hank Aaron. Shaq to Wilt Chamberlain.

im not a big hendrix fan, but spanish castle magic ROCKS!

Jimi Hendrix rocks. You cannot beat him nor can you say that anybody else is better at electric guitar. there are some other great guitarists out there but this guy was the best. he's inspired so many people and musicians. he had a perfect mixture of everything into his music. also, to all you people who say hendrix sounds bad in concert, you suck. i think his music sounded the best in concert. especially Ezy Ryder, Purple Haze, and Voodoo Child from Blue Wild Angels. amazing performance =D

les paul designed the electric guitar...hendrix created it.

Hey Bobbtu. You say Eddie's better? Well Eddie came onto the scene in the late 70's. Hendrix came on in the late 60's! Eddie could've looked at Jimmy Page, Hendrix himself, Jeff Beck, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore and everybody else as his influence. Jimi had BB King, Muddy Waters, Clapton, and Chuck Berry. Notice anything? Jimi created a rocket and launched it into the sky, all Eddie did is ride it and steer it somewhere else. Jimi started it, and thats why you must give him much more credit.

I dont know where to start. I know I was given Jimi Hendrx SMASH HITS (released in 69 I believe) as a child, and I still listen to it today. It never gets old. One song written by Hendrix called "remember" off of this album I now make a challange for you to listen to if you havent heard it. I think it should be played before or after any of his songs are played. Also, I have another album of him playing with Curtis Knight. Many songs haveto deal with being poor and held down, but one song, called "Hush now" is a ditinctive Hendrix solo ontop of solo. It is unmistakeable. If you have never heard this and someone was to play it for you by suprise, you would stop what you were doing, hold your head sideways like a dog and say "HENDRIX.?!.?!."

Cap'n Willy you remind me of a person I once met who told me that Hendrix sounded like he didn't even know how to play after she heard his Isle of Wight concert. I really like this idea, for somebody to know and love their instrument so much that they can redefine the way that that instrument is played to such an extent that it sounds like they're just beginning to learn again.
As for his noise, I think it's beautiful. He gets lost, but it makes it so much sweeter once the song finds itself again. Just because it's harder to listen to, doesn't necessarily mean that it is worse.

Ediie Van Halen is better at guitar.

So many musicians come under the pressure of the business. If sent Brian Wilson insane, killed the Beatles, and was eating away at Hendrix. It's unfortunate that artists with the mentality that it's all for the music are thrust into a world of business with complete sleaze.

Oh, and right on Jaco.

I don't understand why people are actually comparing Hendrix to other contemporaries. The sound innovations that Hendrix achieved can't be compared to others. Jimmy Page is a god, but much of his Zep material was six guitars layed over another (Achilles Last Stand, Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven). Stevie Ray Vaughn was completely influenced by Hendrix - listen to his covers of Hendrix songs. Gilmour is yet another God in his own right, but his playing style was much slower and drawn out than Hendrix. Clapton, while the ultimate God in my mind, was very focused on Bluesy riffs and lead, whereas Hendrix's sound ventured deep into soul and R & B (Axis: Bold as Love, First Rays of the New Rising Sun). Don't put Hendrix any lower than his contemporaries, and especially don't compare him to bums like Dimebag (God rest his soul). Hendrix was not God, he was a living legend, and now a mythological legend. No one compares.

jimi enjoyed driving his corvette and had a cassette player and liked to hear his music while driving.
his brother used to go to his concerts and said he would enter another world when back stage..he was uplifted by his brothers music and jimi told him stay away from the hectic that he had been involved with by the the business. jimi was very stressed and his real release was when he could leave his self on stage....

well he's dead,
so are alot of misicians....i still find stuff i didn't hear before. i had over 50 lps back in the 70's, i must admit. a lot of what i read on this site is pure luv for the guy. and i realy do, being a life time guitar player... i can say that rock is a creation of the old too new. and even though, there will never be another jimi hendrix. we can rejoice in the knowledge that some young punk with a giutar will attempt to surpase the unsurpassable!!!LONG LIVE ROCK &JIMI Hendrix

I've heard his live stuff and wow he's really really good... at making noise. Live shows define who a guitarist really is. Yes, experimentation is very important but you can't lose sight of the music in the process. I really can't understand why someone would think he's a good guitar player after seeing him so strung out on acid that he all he can do is make noise. Now i'll admit he was perty good in the studio but it's at the live show where the true legends shine.

I don't have Electric Ladyland, but I have heard some of hte songs from it, and they're great!

I always say it "Listen to Electric Ladyland." so many people just listen to "Are You Experienced?". It's a damn shame!!!!! You all need to go to ""Electric Ladyland".

jimi is my hero and my hugest idol ever, but jimi was the best ELECTRIC GUITARIST ever. i think that andres segovia was the greatest guitarist. but of course i still love hendrix by far the most

When Hendrix first went to London, he told his producers that he wanted to play wiht his idol, and later friend, Eric Clapton. They proposed the idea to Clapton and his band, and while his band was against the idea, Eric asked only one question "Can he play?" Their response was to the effect of we will see if you can keep up. Hendrix later played and burned Clapton that night. HIs biography puts it beautifully saying that he had been in London three days, met god (as bilboards had dubbed Clapton), and burned him!

Jimi hired Noel because his hair looked like Bob Dylan's, one of Jimi's idols. But Jimi was never homeless, but at times he was so poor, he had to eat dog food!

I heard somewhere that Hendrix was homeless for sometime before he was discovered. I also heard that he hired Noel Redding because he liked his hair. Can anybody tell me if that's true or not? I'd like to know.

It's embarressing reading you guys actually comparing someone with Hendrix. It's a shame to even put another guitarist's name in the same sentence as his. No one is better than Hendrix. No one was ever close to him. Page is awesome, and Eddie too, but don't you see, if it wasn't for Hendrix, there wouldn't be an Eddie, or Page. No whammy dives, or lighting fast guitar. He either invented, revolutionized, or owned everything there is to guitar. The others are great, but you have to consider the era he was in. He was way before Dimebag and them. So if you consider that, you have to agree he's the best.

Wow, I'm surprised only two people include Stevie Ray Vaughan in the best guitarists. He was influenced almost directly by Hendrix.

What about George Thorogood? He isn't the greatest, but a very good guitarist anyway

Mitch Mitchell is an awsome drummer. Very underrated in my opinion.

Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding deserve a lot of credit too.

Hendrix is no doubt the greatest, but my 2 favorites are Angus Young & Eric Clapton. Clapton is pretty cool b/c of his unique rythmic sound.

I wouldn't say Stevie Ray Yaughan is overrated. He does play alot of Hendrix stuff but stuff like Texas Flood and Scuttle Buttin and Lenny are what make him great. He's got a nice bluesy, sometimes almost rock sound to him. Not a Hendrix rippoff. I wouldn't say Jimi is the best either, deffinately good though

To David Corino: That's true, Pete Townshend declared in a 1996 interview for guitar world that he was asked by Hendrix on what kind of amps he used. He was switching between marshalls and mesa boogies (I'm not sure from which to what ones though)

I herd that Hendrix asked Pete Townshend which amp he used because he like the sound. Hendrix is the man!!!!

Rich from New York" Did you know that Stephen Stills learned some his took lessons from Jimi Hendricks. Look it up under the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and YOung artistfacts. It's an interesting piede of trivia.

Clapton*...wow...embarassing

Some important comments to make about Jimi Hendrix. He greatly expanded the range of timbres that could be created on the electric guitar. No rock guitarist that followed was untouched by his influence and more impressive than his technique was the lyrical and emotional quality of his solos. For these reasons he is possibly the greatest guitarist in the history of rock.

Yes, Don from Pittsburgh you left out, in my opinion the greatest guitarist living, the always underated Stephen Stills. Anyone else agree?
No disrespect to Hendrix.

Hello all, I am researching for a programme about Jimi for the UK & US called Dead Famous. I am researching specifically Jimi and his time in Seattle and the Washington State area - are there areas, places here that are significant to Hendrix when he was alive?? For example where he bought his first guitar, where he rehearsed? Any leads or info would be great, I'd thought I'd quiz some dedicated fans, many thanks and glad I've signed up, cheers. Jenni

I dont understand how people try to compare Hendrix with other guitarists. He didnt play like anyone else...He has his own style...So does page and everyone else. When you guys are comparing and saying who is better your just saying who you like more...If you think about it.

Is it true that Jimi would put acid tablets in his bandana when he would play live shows so the acid would mix with his sweat and give him a trip? Let me know

the Jangling Sounding Explosion that is Jimi Hendrix music is magic. his version of " all along the watch tower"... still stuns me with the depth of travel his notes have into my body.
he was a genius composer, to be admired & played loud..Bend those Strings!
Aaron, Western Australia.

Hendrix was outstanding. Just don't forget some of the session folks like mike finigan.

i'd definitely say there were better guitarists around (jimmy page, david gilmour, eric clapton, the list goes on) but jimi hendrix was pretty awesome.

Hendrix didnt technically die from his OD... He asphyxiated on his vomit.. the paramedics strapped him down because he was a six foot tall black man (and was convulsing)and he subsequently choked on his own vomit.

Santana's got nothing on Hendrix

Jimi Hendricks was a great guitarist, but I don't know if he was the greatest. I mean every guitar player's sstyle is different. I think David Gilmour is my favorite guitarist, but that's just my opinion.

Also to clear up the drugs thing Hendrix was never an really excessive user or abused them extremely badly. Many of his close friends thought he would've easily pulled the stage he was going through when he died and that his death was a sheer accident.

Greatest Guitarists: Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton...

jimi only playing one style?! have you never heard voodoo chile? thats blues. have you ever listened to Axis: Bold As Love? that has a lot of R&B influences in it. and as most everyone knows alot of it was crazy psychedelic rock. so try listening to more of an artist before you make up YOUR mind on what a music artist's style is. good day to you sir! i said GOOD DAY!!!

Let's not forget Ritchie Blackmore from Deep Purple and David Gilmour from Pink Floyd. They were great in their own right.

Kieth richards are you kidding me he cant even compare to hendrix, and don from pitt where the crap is eddie van halen?

kieth richards would kick all of them, at least he was smart enough to live, and he can play more thaqn one diffrent style unlike hendrix, henrix was excelent but, but keith would have to be the best and most influential guitarist of all time.

Ryan from LA your right, you cant just decide that someone is the greatest of all time..but Hendrix was beyond genious. He was the first artist from his time that I had ever heard..he's practically the reason i love music.

Jimi Hendrix is one of the best guitarists of all time. But I like Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton better. They have both been playing for around half a century, so I think they should be more recognised than Jimi Hendrix, but he's still great.

Okay.. Jimi Hendrix is probably the greatest, most amazing ELECTRIC guitarist. I mean.. it's really too hard to title someone as the best guitarist ever.. but i do believe he probably is the greatest ELECTRIC guitarist. There were others who surpassed him in overall styles.. such as acoustic, slide, jazz etc. As for Stevie Ray Vaughn.. come on man.. he was just simply an imitator of Hendrix. I believe he's very overrated. For that guy's list of greatest guitarists.. where's Keith Richards and David Gilmour?

I myself am a younge guitarist. Jimi's work has influenced me greatly. the only guitarist to walk the earth that was greater is Stevie Ray Vaughan, but the way Jimi handled the guitar is amazing. his live performances were WAAAAAY sloppy, but he was probably so loaded at the time that you couldn't really blame him.

You might not have ever heard of him , but Deron Miller from CKY was self taught and he is great, he is alright in CKY but his first band, Foreign Object, He is unbelievable

His band name before the Jimi Hendrix Experience was Jimi James and the Blue Flames

you all are forgetting carlos santana,
the best

all good stuff, but his mom was only half cherokee. his grandma was the full-blooded one.

P.S. -- no guitarist ever played with more emotion than jimi.

jimi is agood guitarist, but the fact that hes self taught makes him great

They've been using hendrix music in new commercials lately

He only had one "Top 20 U.S. Hit", All along the watch tower.

shocked you left out eddie van halen frankly... i mean i dont agree with lists per se anyway... once asked about why eddie didnt cover any hendrix songs he responded that he didnt do them because he couldnt get his 'sound' - and i think this applies to most guitarists and is another good reason why comparisons dont hold up. its not about who's fastest, who's sold more, who's trashed their equipment, who's appeared on the simpsons... its just about the music... check out my post on led zep facts for a more in depth analysis. cheers.
oh and you left out brian may... and pete townsend

A couple more guitar players I want to include,which I can't believe I forgot. Carlos Santana, John Mclaughlin, Robin Trower,Walter Trout,Randy Rhodes and the guitar player for Dream Theater(a band i've been getting into lately) John Pertrucci, this dude is "sick" he's just not human. Well,there you have it.Peace.

I would like to suggest my list of the greatest guitarists. Remember, any list is subjective and these are my best for my era. 1a.) Jimi Hendrix(1b.Stevie ray vaughn)2.Roy Buchanan(3.Johnny Winter(4.Rory Gallagher(5.Luther Allison(6.Tommy Bolin(7.Duane Allman(8.Jimmy Page(9.Jeff Beck(10.Eric Clapton(11.Albert King(12.Frank Marino(13.Robert Fripp(14.Mike Bloomfield(15.Albert Collins. Honorable mention: Steve Vai,Billy Gibbons,Gary Moore,Adrian Belew,CoCo Montoya,Alvin Lee,Paul Kossoff,Joe Satriani. Young Guns: Dereck Trucks, Joe Bonnamassa,Warren Haynes,Kenny Wayne Shepard,Bernard Allison. Two I forgot; Kim Simmonds and Dickey Betts. My era is between 1965 to the present. If I left anyone out,let me know. Once again, this list is on what guitar players I listen to and think are the best.

I heard the reason he changed his name from Jimmy to Jimi is because than he would be more unique. The one and only Jimi Hendrix.

If Hendrix was still around, imagine what else he would do with the guitar!

VooDoo Chile(extended version from Electric Ladyland,VooDoo Chile(slight return, Red House, Machine Gun(Band of Gypsys)Hear my Train'a comin and Once I had a Woman(Blues.) Simply put;the greatest and baddest tunes ever in the blues/rock genre, Hendrix was a master. Imagine what he would be doin' today had he lived. Neil Young was quoted as saying, "Hendrix is the greatest electric guitar player alive today." that comment was made backstage at the Woodstock Festival. A friend of mine was there helping with the artists personal needs at the time,that's why I believe the comment by Neil was genuine. Back when Jimi was first being discovered young people like me had never heard anything like his playing. I remember hearing "Purple Haze" and thinking to myself "What was that" I was never the same. Mindbending,searing,chopping,and biting one minute and the next sweet and beautiful electric music.What you saw you got with Hendrix,one moment a massive assault, the next blues dripping with emotion. Young people today,seems to me do not have the musical meteor that Jimi was. To Jimi Hendrix, thank you and God bless.

I don't think there really is a best guitarist ever. Hendrix is amazing, definitely the most revolutionary. This may sound dumb, but its hard comparing page and hendrix. Its like comparing scary movie 3 to scary movie 1. They are very different! Like star wars to star trek. Simpsons to Friends. Snl to mad tv!

Either way, Jimi is incredible. One of my favorites of all time

No offense, but I don't think Jimi is the best. I personally think Jimmy Page is the best, but Hendrix is close.

Jimi was discovered by Keith Richards girlfriend, Linda Keith.

Hendrix was the greatest guitarist of all time. No one even compares to him. No one ever will, either.