History
One of rock's most iconic opening riffs. The song's dissonant E7#9 chord (the 'Hendrix chord') became his signature sound. The lyrics were inspired by a dream and possibly influenced by his love of science fiction. The phrase 'Purple Haze' may reference a type of LSD, though Hendrix claimed it was about a dream involving walking under the sea.
Awards & Recognition
- Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs: #17
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll
- Grammy Hall of Fame (2000)
Notable Cover Versions
- The Cure (1993)
- Frank Zappa (1988)
- Wyclef Jean (2004)
- Kronos Quartet (1988)
Guitar Details
Key: E Major
Capo: None
Tempo: 105 BPM
Difficulty: Intermediate
Chords Used:
E7#9 G A
Recording Details
Written: Late 1966
Recorded: January 11, 1967
Length: 2:50
Producer: Chas Chandler