This is just gonna be a short post guys. I was just sitting and listening to Jimi Hendrix playing and it occurred to me how truly ahead of his time he was and how much he really unlocked on the guitar that would not have been here without him. Now, you have to view this all in perspective but if you think about it, Jimi really was a once in a lifetime visionary and a talent unlike any we may ever see again.
I mean, let me start somewhere a little more tangible. If you look at what was being made when Hendrix released his first album, a lot of it was pretty quite stuff comparably. Most of the bands of the time didn't even seem to know how to use their amps and were not aware of what could be done with the guitar pedals. Let's just take a look at what was released at the same time as Hendrix's first album. In 1967, we saw the Doors release an album, the Grateful Dead, and even Pink Floyd. However, even these bands, or at least the music they released at the time, was pretty mellow compared to Jimi Hendrix.
Jimi Hendrix's music was significantly louder, which back then was a big deal. To really put it into perspective, this was the first time that we had ever really heard someone turn the dials all the way up and play like their life depended on it. However, it wasn't just the fact that his music was louder that made him impressive. Rather, that was almost an after thought when compared to the way that he actually played the guitar.
He was a true, "once in a century", type of musician who, through his innovative playing, changed the course of rock and roll. He played the guitar like no one had ever done before. He played notes and chords that nobody had ever played before. He played riffs that nobody ever would have imagined before Jimi came along. In fact, there are a whole set of chords called "the Hendrix chords" because they were practically created by him.
He shows skill on every song however, if you take a moment and listen to some of the more complex tunes, you will really be blown away. He almost becomes one with the guitar and creates an atmosphere that cannot be replicated. To add to that, he played with such style and ease that his notes blended together to form a sound that is truly one of a kind.
I wish I could go back and hear Jimi Hendrix play in concert just once. That would truly be something special. Unfortunately, that is not possible. However, the Hendrix family is always searching for more live tapes and recordings of Jimi Hendrix and releasing them all the time. Some of these recordings are extremely cool and really give you an insight into what it would have been like to have seen Jimi Hendrix in concert.
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