Glenelg Guitar Studio

I’m sure you know that today is Friday but did you know that it is the 76th day of the year 2017 ?. There’s another chronological fact that I would like to share with you; If you have a 1967 calendar lurking in the shed pull it out and stick it on the fridge. The 2017 and 1967 calendars are exactly the same, except for school holidays I suppose.

But the most interesting fact about today, March 17th, is that it was the release date of Purple Haze by the Jimmy Hendix Experience in 1967.

I can tell you that in 1967 Jimmy Hendrix helped change the way that people saw the role of the guitar in modern music (trust me, I was there). Contrast the number-one pop hit song in the U.S. on this day, Penny Lane by The Beatles to the driving guitar of Hendrix and you will see what I mean.

Purple Haze is an excellent piece to learn for grade 2 students as it contains a range of skills to master with its’ notes, slides, bends, vibratos and bar chords and best of all it sounds great. I have recorded a short video of the introduction of the song so check it out and if you want to learn this piece let’s talk about it at your next lesson.

Make sure to have a look at the live recording in the second video. Note that Jimmy Hendrix was left handed and used a right handed guitar which he had restrung to suit.

Cheers
Leigh