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“Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock song centered around the blues and psychedelic rock styles. The verse features an interesting and unconventional chord progression, which adds to the distinctive sound of the piece. The verse progression itself consists of four chords: E7#9, G, A, and E.

“Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock song featuring a cyclic chord progression in the key of E major. The song is well-known for its distinctive and temporarily ambiguous harmonic structure, bluesy vocal melodies, and Jimi Hendrix’s influential guitar playing. The verse chord progression constantly circles back on itself, creating a hypnotic effect.

“Castles Made of Sand” by Jimi Hendrix is a psychedelic rock song that features a unique and colorful chord progression, blending major and minor tonalities in a way that creates tension and a sense of longing. The verse consists of a 12-chord progression that builds upon the foundation of the major key of C, even though it starts with the IV chord (F), which contributes to the song’s unusual character. The progression includes borrowed chords from the parallel minor and elements specific to Hendrix’s own style, making it a remarkable piece in terms of its harmonic complexity and eclecticism.

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney. The song is primarily in the key of D Major and exhibits a mix of major, minor, and dominant seventh chords. This verse progression manifests the distinctive Beatles’ sound which often includes chromaticism and prevalence of secondary dominants that link the chords together, giving a smooth flow and color to the harmonic progression.

“As Tears Go By” by The Rolling Stones is a popular song from the mid-60s that features a mix of major and minor chords along with modulations between closely related keys. The overall harmonic structure shares similarities with other rock and pop songs of that era, including The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

Base Key and

Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

E7#9, G, A, E

Chord Progression Analysis

The E7#9 chord, often referred to as the “Hendrix Chord,” is a dominant 7th chord with a raised 9th. This chord creates a strong sense of tension, which is released when the progression moves to the G chord. The G chord, as a borrowed bIII chord from the parallel minor key, adds a sense of modal mixture and contributes to the psychedelic and bluesy feel of the song. The progression then moves to an A chord, the IV chord in the key of E Major, before resolving back to the tonic E chord. This circular and nontraditional progression adds excitement and unpredictability to the song.

Similar Chord Progressions

Musical Analysis

The use of the E7#9 chord is characteristic of Hendrix’s style, reflecting his affinity for blending blues elements into his rock compositions. The integration of modal mixture (borrowed chords), as seen in the G chord, is evocative of the psychedelic aesthetic that was prevalent during the late 1960s. The irregular chord progression also lends a unique, exploratory feel to the piece, which mirrors the adventurous spirit of the time period.

Overall Analysis

“Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic example of psychedelic rock and blues-infused music from the late 1960s. This particular chord progression, found in Verse 2, demonstrates Hendrix’s innovative approach to harmony and showcases his integration of blues and rock influences.

Chord Progression Analysis (Roman Numerals):
E7#9 (I), G (bIII), A (IV), E (I)

Borrowed Chord:
`G (bIII)` – This chord is borrowed from the parallel minor key of E minor.

Style Analysis

1. Cream – “Sunshine of Your Love”
Chord progression: D (I), G (IV), A (V), C (bVII), G (IV), A (V)

2. The Beatles – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Chord progression: A (I), C#m (iii), F#m (vi), C (bIII), G (bVII), A (I)

3. Led Zeppelin – “Hey Hey What Can I Do”
Chord progression: G (I), C (IV), D (V), F (bIII), D (V)

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix are:

E7#9, G, A, E