Top 10 Jimi Hendrix Experience Songs for Playing on the Bass Guitar

Jimi Hendix was the most photographed sexy man that has graced this planet. He has been in more snapshots than Mick Jagger, Princess Diana and Paris Hilton. His outrageous style influenced artists and musicians like no other rock star in history. Even my own sexy Italian hubby says that although it would be immediate grounds for divorce, if there were anyone who he would understand my leaving him to have an affair with is Jimi.

Hendrix didn't just play the guitar he spoke through his music. An avid believer in UFOs, ESP and esoteric teachings, he saw his music as shards from channeling through the universe during the psychedelic era. Women wanted to be with him and men wanted to connect with the gods of guitar like he did. His music was the first of its kind that defined the rock-n-roll genre and set off the career for many famous guitar players that followed.

Shadowed by Jimi's limelight and guitar fires, there has not been much credit given to the bass player for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Noel Redding, who held down the beat on the evocative recordings. This Brittish guy was a guitar player driving a milk truck until Jimi's people recruited him to play bass on the album. Playing the bass much to his chagrin, Redding was a bass-playing phenomenon. The white bread Noel pulled through on Jimi's compositions that were heavily influenced by the United States' deep down south chitlin'style soul music.

The nerdy Noel may not have been as good looking as Jimi but his ability to play the bass was astounding. There has been a lot of speculation that Jimi himself wrote out the bass lines but even so, the music is very difficult to play on the bass with juxtapositions of various techniques of walking bass, pounding rhythms and playing with time.

These Experience tunes are great for exercises since the songs incorporate a variety of fingering patterns and techniques and are an amazing workout for rocking on the bass guitar:

Fire - off the Are You Experienced album, this track has walking bass lines Motown would even covet.

Foxey Lady - off the Are You Experienced album, such a sexy song that exudes sexy.

Purple Haze - off the Are You Experienced album, timeless Jimi classic.

Bold of Love - from Axis: Bold as Love, this song radiates the essence of the 1960s.

She's So Fine - from Axis: Bold as Love. Noel Redding wrote this song.

If 6 Was 9 - from Axis: Bold as Love, one of my all-time favorites.

Crosstown Traffic - from Electric Ladyland. This song has Noel Redding wailing in the background.

All Along the Watchtower - from Electric Ladyland, who would have known Bob Dylan wrote the lyrics to this cutting-edge song?

Gypsy Eyes - from Electric Ladyland. I swear that we know each other in another dimension.

Say NO! to posers. Be sure to order the music and tabs only from the Authentic Jimi Hendrix Company that is run by his family.

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