Hey Joe

"Hey Joe" is one of Jimi Hendrix’s most legendary songs, even though he didn’t actually write it. It was originally penned by Billy Roberts in the early ’60s and had already been recorded by several artists before Hendrix put his own spin on it. His 1966 version with The Jimi Hendrix Experience slowed things down, giving it a bluesier feel and letting his signature guitar tone, expressive bends, and dynamic phrasing shine. The song tells a dramatic story about a guy on the run after shooting his unfaithful lover. Hendrix’s version became a huge hit in the UK, climbing to No. 6 on the charts and helping kickstart his career. It also became a staple of his live shows, often serving as a closing song—most famously at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

"Hey Joe" has become an essential song for guitar players, especially those diving into rock and blues. Hendrix’s version made it a classic, and learning it has almost become a rite of passage for guitarists. Its simple yet iconic chord progression—C, G, D, A, E—makes it a great starting point for beginners, while the expressive solo and fills give more advanced players a chance to explore phrasing and dynamics. Players around the world put their own spin on it, whether playing it note-for-note or adding their own style. Whether played faithfully or reimagined, Hey Joe remains a must-know tune for any guitarist.

In one of my earlier videos, I transcribed the solo from Hey Joe for electric guitar, but I’ve always wanted to do a full fingerstyle version—similar to what I did with Little Wing and Muddy Waters’ You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had. For this cover, I combined Jimi’s vocal phrasing with his guitar lines, so you can hear the outline of the lyrics in the parts where he sings. The harmony stays the same—C, G, D, A, E—but the arrangement follows a clear structure. It starts with an intro, then a verse with four cycles of CGDAE where the lyrics are outlined. After that comes a section with two cycles of CGDAE that outline the original bass line (which, in Hendrix’s version, appears after the solo). Then, I play two cycles of CGDAE as a solo, followed by two more cycles of the bass line section, and finish with an outro that’s basically the same as the intro.