Everything I got WRONG about Hendrix' 'Little Wing' 

Hey folks. Here’s an awesome Hendrix quote that seems to speak to his eclectic tendencies: “I’d like to get something together - like a Handel, Bach, Muddy waters, flamenco type of thing. If I could get that sound, I’d be happy.”

Over 50 years since Little Wing was recorded and guitar players are still trying to figure out what exactly he did. Testament to the genius of Jimi.

The greatest song that Hendrix ever recorded. I saw him in concert in '68 right before Axis was released. I was 14 and he has been my "Hero" ever since. I am proud to say that I am "Experienced".

When Jimi was living in London, he would receive unexpected visits from classical music fans who were coming to see the house where Handel once lived. They would be shocked to see a wild-haired black man answer the door. But it raised Jimi's curiousity. So he bought a copy of Handel's Water Music. Other than the obvious harpsichord in Burning, I had not noticed the Baroque influence in some of Jimi's other songs. Thanks for that cool insight!

This is THE best, most intricate breakdown of the intro ever. EVER!

Jimi (perhaps unconsciously, but maybe purposely) conceived of many of his songs and solos as a conversation between two voices. One spoke in straight time, the other in swing.

I’ve been playing Little Wing wrong for over thirty years and will most likely continue to do so…now I’ll just hear an ominous bell ring when I do lol… great video man…subscribed!

Little Wing is a song I have spent several hundred hours working on in my life. I first 'learned' it by ear in my early years of playing guitar (1970's). I have studied transcriptions and tabs and recorded it live and in my home studio a number of times. This video is profound for those of us who love this song and Jimi.It is an epiphany to me how you explained the swing sections and the straight time sections of the intro and how he used this in other great songs he wrote. I sort of knew this and play some of the sections with correct time, but like many, I could not fully analyze it and explain what was going on. Truths are so obvious when they are presented clearly. I am forever thankful to have found this video! I will be recording a 'corrected' version of me playing this song - thanks to you!. Fantastic insights.

Fellow small-handler here who really appreciates seeing someone play at this level and prove that it truly can be done without freakishly long appendages. Kudos!

Honestly? This was one of the best tutorial videos I’ve ever seen. Well done. Really. I’ve been playing for coming up on 40 years and this is really unbelievable. Really well done.

By far the best deep dive ive ever seen into Little Wing.

Its like swimming in the waters of enlightenment and hearing the truth .You have a special understanding of Jimi , nicely done JB .

Your version of having learned the understanding of jimi is exposing to the world his level of guitar playing. Your guitar playing i hear the respect you have of him. Thank you.

Beautifully & lovingly done by him - now beautifully & lovingly studied by you. 👏👍 Another underdiscussed aspect of "Little Wing": Jimi NEVER jammed on it, never extended it live, always played that exact same short structure of intro, 2x verses, 2x solo, end. Of course it is a beautiful and inspiring sequence of chords for soloing, jamming, improvising, noodling... but he never did. And that is what all the famous covers of it, from SRV to Gil Evans via Sting or The Corrs etc, get so very wrong. To Jimi, this was a perfect miniature (again, a concept one might see in classical composers of the past), a pure little ode to his muse, or probably his two true muses: music, and his mum.

Man, you are so right, it never registered what I was doing wrong I knew it wasn't right but I couldn't work out why. Thank you so much and hearing you play those passages correctly gave me tingles down my spine. Back to the drawing board for me and I wonder how many other Hendrix tracks I'm doing wrong lol. Please do more like Axis Bold as Love maybe. Thanks again for opening my mind.

JB Eckl continues to provide the best, high-quality deep dive. I think Jimi alternated between swing and straight to make it sound like there were two guitar players doing a back and forth call and response - classical and R&B.

I relate to this entirely. Spent weeks agonising over this as a kid in the 80s and I’ve been playing it wrong every since.

There is something magical in Jimi's original version. It touched my soul like few things in life do. And still does, 23 years after I heard for first time.

"Grey Poupon style." I love it! This is a tremendous contribution. Well done!

I think you have perfectly described the secret sauce to Jimi Hendrix.

So interesting. Mr Hendrix was one of a kind. We won’t see his like again. Thank you for the insightful and skilful analysis. From the age of 13 when my brother put Hendrix in the tape recorder and turned it up my music life was forever changed. It’s going to be a Hendrix day to rock me through the boring housework.❤️‍🔥

What a great video - thanks for this, JB. Just like you, I obsessed over this tune as a kid and thought I had it stone cold down until today. Holy shit! My own personal error bell was going ding ding ding all the way through this video. Thanks for re-educating all us Jimi acolytes on all the little intricacies that eluded our ears (and fingers) until now. Major props too for absolutely nailing Jimi’s touch, feel and tone in this vid. Goddam, son!

Yes, there is lot to learn from this video. There is no limit to “ Little Wing” over the years I have seen many customize version and there are equally good to catch the essence of how Jimi created this master piece. For many they don’t have the luxury to own a Stratocaster imitating Jimi’s let alone and / or an amplifier to re-create his tone. I think whatever gear one has or not having exactly the one ; they should practice hard to perfection and learn the best way they can giving the limitations……after all self-satisfaction in music is what one should aim for.

This song is beautifully somber. Maybe his masterpiece. So much packed into such a short song.

Wow! This blew my mind. I'm just learning and this has made my day to have things talked out and expressed in detail. Thank you so much. What a beautiful work.

That album was deemed a miracle of 4 track recording. Id love to see your breakdown of 'bold as love'! castles made of sand sounds like it may have that same little wing moving guitar chord as well. Great Job!

Love these JB, keep em coming brother.

I will always love this song. I wanted to be an acoustic finger style player in the beginning until I heard this song in a lesson by Sean Daniel, and then I wanted to play like Hendrix. This video came at an appropriate time in my guitar playing career. I am a decent player now and have played little wing so much it’s about time I learned the subtleties of his playing. Thanks!

Hendrix was a musical genius and some postulate that he wasn't even human, which makes sense when you really listen to his music and get super granular. I mean, what human can do what he did? There's the song, then there's the song under the song. The hidden notes he plays and everything else. Can you imagine what he could do with today's technology?! *Mind blown*

Miles Davis also beautifully employed straight time runs over a swing feel, switching back and forth between swing and straight time.

This is awesome, JB 🙌

Great video man! Would love to see more like this!

Wow you're so right!! I subscribed and have been watching your videos for about two weeks. really enjoying them. your insights into the nuances of little wing are eye opening and so helpful. I can't wait to get back to Canada and my electric guitars. I will go back to this video and have a month or so of Little Wing. I like what you said about this song being a sort of right of passage for so many of us. we've all been playing this short song for years and you can always learn more about it! In the Tim Pierce video he talks about that I seem to recall. I have't read them yet but I think a lot of the comments here go on about it. ~ your RockSplaining channel is great. Relishable subject-matter, well researched and presented well.

Excellent analysis. Im off to freakin re-learn little wing now. Very cool.

Fantastic breakdown. Thanks for diving into this in this amount of depth!

This was my favorite 26 minutes of 2022. Thank you for this incredible effort! I loved this!

Amazing stuff! Never realized the swing/straight thing, wow! And the C major 6th, beautiful, what a genius he was! Thank you for sharing this :-)

Thank you so much! This is amazing! I have a new understanding of how to approach playing this. By all means I would love to see you break down the solo to Little Wing, that would be awesome. Thanks again.

Great video my man. Your explanation of all things Hendrix is amazing. Keep doing what you do.

Thanks so much for this great in-depth breakdown of this iconic classic!

I never noticed the swing to straight change ups throughout, It really makes me wonder if Hendrix was choosing different takes of each part and mixing them together into one take and he just happened to be swinging whole takes and playing other takes straight or.... he was sooo far ahead of his time that we're just now picking up on it in 2022. Either way I'm glad I clicked on this video, a lot of good info was shared

Well, you nailed it completely. I could tell because I was brought right back to the heart stopping beauty of that composition. I honestly have never heard anyone play it like the record, and I have never enjoyed anyone's (sorry SRV! One of my hero's) version as much as Jimi's original take of that album. You explained it perfectly, the way it swings and then is straight time at those moments. I was like you in the 80's rewinding the hell out of my cassette of Axis trying to figure out all the nuances. To this day, that intro is one of the most beautiful heartfelt moments of guitar playing I have ever heard. It was also THE moment when earth collided with space, the lights turned on in my mind and I understood why Hendrix was so good. Listening to this record for the first time with headphones was one of the greatest most rewarding musical experiences I have ever had. You clued me in on many intricacies of this! Man, thanks for this video. The only thing I wish you would have done is play the whole thing at the end! Cheers!!!!

Absolutely fascinating! Thanks!

Great breakdowns man! Thanks.

I guess I've been playing this song 20 plus years, and I've actually put together 98% of what you've put together. I've hit it live on stage and people have gone crazy. With that said, I never counted it out. I've just remembered it by ear. With that said, I've tried to improvise my own versions in the vain of Jimmi, and I've had cool versions, but nothing close to the studio version. I can't wait to go from swing to straight. I know it's going to make a huge difference I can already hear it in my head. Thank you so much.

Really wish Jimi's music was just as accessible as Page, Beck, and Clapton's. I had only heard the hits most people know, but didn't truly understand how great he was until I finally listened to an album. The context in the album is part of what makes the songs so special, they lead into eachother and compliment seamlessly. If the other cats can pull it off, I'm not sure why Jimi's people can't. Apologies for the rant lol, I hope it's not too heavy of a topic.

Thanks for the time and explanation! Some interesting stuff 👏

We’ll done! I also like Jimi’s live version on the “Hendrix in the West” album

Bravo young man. The best analysis I've ever come across. Thank you

Man…I watched your video for When the levee breaks and now this one. This is damn good content, keep up the good work 👍🏻

Love the honesty and dedication and time this must have taken!

Hey! I just discovered your channel with your "Levee Breaks" analysis, and now this "Little Wing" video... Awesome stuff man, I'm all in! Brilliant!

Thank you for this great video. This really enhanced my appreciation of this song & Hendrix's music as a whole.

Great video JB- really enjoyed the laser focus detailing- seems we all missed out in parts on this stellar track. Especially enjoyed the swing vs straight highlighted discussion. Thank you for this

Fascinating explanation. Thank you!

Thanks for this! Great work! Love it!

I 100% needed this. This song and red house are a labor of love and I really enjoyed the deep dive. Thanks!

LOVE IT!! Keep rocking it!! Number one fan..

Nice one JB! A little glimpse into the beauty of music.

Killer video, your set looks AHH- MAZING! Loved the classical segue… man I need to have my ears checked because I’m missing out on too many details! Great work 👊🏽

Great video - really well thought out and put together. I learnt a few things.

Awesome bunny hole…. Didn’t think I’d watch the whole thing, but ended up wishing it was longer. Good job 🙂🕊

Great video and very insightful. Jimi’s version is my favourite and this is my favourite Jimi song. Beautiful tones and playing. Well done.

Exemplary - for me it was a stand-out Hendrix number from when I saw him after he had recorded Axis, but it was still to be released. Superb analysis.

Awesome breakdown. I'm gonna start practicing right away. Thanks a lot!

beautifully done sir. Salute

The more i dive into hendrix playing i realize what a genius he was.... PHENOMENON. I never listened to hendrix before i started playing...When i did? i couldnt help thinking classical phrasing, i caught it on a couple tracks, you the 1st person i ever heard what i was thinking....You hit the nail on the head....I'd love to hear an orchestra doing wind cries Mary, or little wing, i bet its beautiful! GreAt video

Brilliant and fun analysis. Really enjoyed this tune which I am learning for a new band I'm playing with. Cheers!

Thank you so much for opening my eyes to those aspects of Jimi's technique, influence and genius to which you point.

Fascinating, so many things I hadn't noticed before, now I can't not notice them. Amazing drill down, thanks

Well done! Fun to see the smallest nuances that you have hammered out.

Incredible dissection. Well f'n, done. Thank you.

Wonderful video lesson. I learned much and will be back to learn more.

Great job, mate. Especially the swing/stright timing. Thanks for sharing.

And your tone is so spot on. Awesome work. Thank you!

That was amazing!! 🙌

Very well done, my brother !!! Keep it up. 💯

I love this! Thanks brother - I am gonna be listening to Hendrix tomorrow with fresh ears. Again, great work and love the overall vibe of the video.

Great introduction about different motivations for learning this great song!

This makes so much sense. Enjoyed this video and subscribed

Sir, that was the most fun I’ve had in some time. Really outta sight! Thanks and I’m proud of you! “Peace and Happiness.” JOK I read that Jimi was shaving one morning in Handel’s House and he saw Handel in the mirror walking past him…

Man, I love this. Thank you. I have to get back to the drawing board and pay attention to all the 'bits' again.

This is my second video that you’ve put together and immediately subscribed after the first. I’d say you’ve found a calling man! Amazing detail and Rock”splaining” Excited to watch more!

wow! excellent analysis. Thanks!

Totally amazing insight into this song. I am astonished by your work ethic.

This analysis is fantastic. Thank you so much.

Just love your analysis of the song man. Very cool work ! Keep it up

Rewinding the cassette over and again back in the day while trying to decipher tracks like this one was certainly a chore, but strangely, I miss it. I had a big smile on my face while you were talking about doing it back in the day because it instantly took me back to the 80s and 90s. We definitely ruined a lot of tapes and tape decks. Also just wanted to reiterate how much I love these deep dives. I get super excited when I see a new video and I appreciate what you are doing. Thanks 😌

I just discovered your channel and I love it

The little details are great. I love them. I could play this my own way later, but I just love going deep into everything HE actually did. It leads to a better appreciation, and and the ideas help to improve my overall musical understanding.

Really valuable stuff, thanks for the effort on this mate! Subscribed.

Id love to see more. I just subscribed. Great job, you did your homework and it shows.

You just earn a new subscriber and it's the first video I've seen on this channel, great explanation!

Dude your channel rocks. I love the way you break stuff down.

Good Lord! Yes fascinated! A fantastic breakdown of this monumentally epic song. Great vid dude

I love your dissection which opens up more wonder...

Dude, you're awesome. Thanx so much for this. I could listen to people talking and playing Jimi all day every day. Cheers!!

Thank you, you are genius. Love your videos. Never learned so much from one video. Great stuff. Thumb up and subscribed. Thanks a million!

Very good discussion. Can't wait for the discussion on the solo part of Little Wing.

I’ve spent countless hours on LW. This video is priceless. Kudos. I hope you get to the solo. Thank you!