Jimi Hendrix was a trailblazer and a revolutionary for much of the music industry, despite only being around for a short period
Although his life wasn’t as long as it should have been, his impact has been so profound, that his legacy continues to be experienced today by many musicians.
Some will have had no issue describing him as a guitar god because of what he had managed to achieve with the musical instrument, playing it in ways that were so advanced during his era of music, he changed the way that certain genres
would sound and the styles that would become synonymous today.
What is Jimi Hendrix’s musical legacy?
As mentioned, Jimi Hendrix is famed for his guitar-playing abilities. He became a legend within the field, as he inspired an entire generation to pick up the instrument and play it in a way that was different from the norm that had previously been experienced. Even today, there are many that will utilize the methods that he came up with and showed everyone was possible.
One of the greatest things that Jimi Hendrix showed was that the guitar was an accessible instrument, as he was self-taught. He didn’t have anybody teach him how to play the strings, making his talent raw and being completely natural. He
was blessed with precision and speed, as he did things with the strings that others at the time didn’t even know were possible.
However, it’s not just in the form of his guitar skills in which his legacy has been lasting. In fact, he could be credited with potentially changing the way that guitarists were viewed at the time in terms of their positions within a band.
The Seattle native would be a jack of all trades, as he could sing, play, and dance all at the same time. This wasn’t something that was very usual or typical of a guitarist during his era, as they would normally just focus on playing. Jimi Hendrix would blow people out of the water with his skills, as he could do it all. In today’s music, it’s not uncommon for guitarists to do all three aspects as part of their normal routines.
Cultural phenomenon
Jimi Hendrix was arguably so much more than just a guitar god, though. His legacy had a lasting impact that transcended music and impacted so much more, even after his untimely and premature passing as a 27-year-old. He has become a popular cultural phenomenon for much of the world’s population, which has led to various different industries having used his legacy as a source of entertainment and inspiration for others. Merchandise has been created with his face or name being used, while forms of visual entertainment have also been created.
Jimi Hendrix has a slot game titled after him that was produced by NetEnt. Although that isn’t a shock in today’s age as there are many slots based on popular rock bands, such as GUNS N’ ROSES, MOTÖRHEAD and KISS. This is in addition to the video games and even Monopoly-themed board games based on the rocker.
It’s not only in the form of entertainment in which Jimi Hendrix became a cultural phenomenon, though. He was also arguably part of a groundbreaking movement within the industry in regard to appearances and equality. At the time, it’s possible to state that he did not look “like the norm” or the “traditional type of guitarist” that would be associated with rock music.
However, he managed to turn opinion and break those barriers that had existed with his unique playing, singing, and dancing abilities. He headlined Woodstock in 1969 after becoming the world’s highest-paid performer.
50 years on: Hendrix is still influential in today’s music
He may have passed more than 50 years ago, but Hendrix’s influence can still be felt throughout the music industry today.
Doing everything in his own style during his time, he showed everyone that anything is possible. He changed the way that the guitar would be played as he showed that he could play it with styles that were not known at the time. Famously, he could play a right-handed guitar with his left hand to give himself a unique way of playing the instrument, as the strings would be upside down. He also restrung the strings in a different way to give him a unique sound, while adding components such as a wah-wah pedal to further enhance and disrupt what was the norm at the time.
The fact that he didn’t even reach his thirties and had a lasting legacy shows just how influential and impactful he was on the world.