Question on those Hendrix chords

[Beth]

Okay...when you play the Hendrix chords video....and that great E7#9 chord....and then those 2 bar chords...in key of E, why is it that in this progression, the G major chord works so well....the chords are E7#9, G, and A.

[robert]

That is because the E7#9 has both the major 3rd and the #9. The #9 is the same note as the Minor 3rd, only one octave higher. So in a way, the chord sounds both minor and major. Since G is the third chord when you harmonize the E minor scale, it ends being a progression that sounds minor, and the G fits perfectly into that. So does A of course.

Hope that 'splains it!

[BogHead]

Robert, G# (G#-B-D#) is the 3rd chord of E major.

[robert]

Robert, G# (G#-B-D#) is the 3rd chord of E major.

Yes, it is. And G is the 3rd chord of E minor. I think that's what Beth was talking about? Why G sounds good in the progression?

The 7#9 chord can be a static chord, like Purple Haze, but it can also be 5 chord, a Dominant chord typically leading to a form of A minor or A major chord. Very common in jazz.

[BogHead]

E7#9 = E-G#-B-D#-G

Is that correct? I don't understand this chord but does it make it Em with a major 7?

and a G# as a jarring note, I don't know.

[Beth]

Well this is great I understand why it works...and yeah...I also wondered because it's G major and not G minor...but it makes perfect sense. I chatted about this with another guitar player today. 

[BogHead]

Em is relative to G so here's Em again. I wonder if the key is Em (G).
 

[robert]

The chord E7#9 has the notes E, G#, D and G. There is no major 7 in there - won't work at all.

You can view the progressions as the key of Em if you want. However, when you are playing over the E7#9, you can use a LOT of cool scales and tricks... I often play different scales over each chord in a progression. For example, I may not play just the E minor scale over the progression Em, G and A - that's where you trust your ears and play any ideas you might think of. I like using triads and the diminished scale too. This is getting too theoretical and advanced at this point, so I'll stop here.

[BogHead]

I'm with you. Let Hendrix have his chord.

Ah, I got it, I wrote it wrong.

[BogHead]

Can anyone show me the fingering to the Hendrix chord?

Nevermind, it's x7876x (no 5) for E7#9 right?

[robert]

I wrote about it here too - http://www.dolphinstreet.com/blog/ultimate-guitar-chord.php

[BogHead]

Yea, I see it and I see how it works. Putting the minor third in the next octave doesn't clash so bad with the major third. Gotta keep that in mind.

[zagatron1]

Hey guys, I know this is kinda off the subject, but I just had to throw this in there. Do y'all remember the Hendrix song "Rainy day Dream Away"? It was on the "Electric Ladyland" album. Talk about havin' fun with a wah pedal.... man, that  was the joint.

[creekster52]

Hey guys, I know this is kinda off the subject, but I just had to throw this in there. Do y'all remember the Hendrix song "Rainy day Dream Away"? It was on the "Electric Ladyland" album. Talk about havin' fun with a wah pedal.... man, that  was the joint.

I love that song!

[diaper head]

to do the hendrix chord properly, you have to turn into a negative of yourself, and radiate glow-in-the-dark colors in a strobe sort of effect while you heavily use a rotovibe pedal.  i was only able to do it once, and it was exhausting.