The Hendrix chord stops most blues guitarists cold. It’s one of the most distinctive sounds in rock and blues. Yet it doesn’t belong on the fretboard for more than a second or two at a time. When you use it right, it creates pure magic. When you overuse it, it becomes harsh and uncomfortable.
The good news? The Hendrix chord isn’t complicated once you understand what makes it different.
The sharp ninth is one of those blues chord colors that makes your playing instantly recognizable. It’s a powerful tool in your chord substitution arsenal—used sparingly, it transforms ordinary progressions into something memorable.
What Is the Hendrix Chord?
The Hendrix chord is a ninth chord with a sharp (raised) ninth. You’ll see it written different ways: augmented ninth, sharp ninth, or sometimes seventh sharp ninth. The names all mean the same thing.
Think of it this way. A regular ninth chord includes the ninth note, which sits one octave above the second note in your scale. If you’re playing D, the ninth would be the E note one octave higher. The Hendrix chord takes that ninth and pushes it up a half step. Instead of E, you use F. That small change creates the signature harsh-yet-cool sound.
Understanding the Ninth Note
Before you can sharpen the ninth, you need to know where it lives on your guitar. In Colin’s lesson, he uses D as an example.
The D scale goes like this: D (one), E (two), F (three), G (four), A (five). When you play E in a higher octave, that E becomes the ninth instead of the two. That’s the crucial bit. Same note letter, different octave.
On the D ninth chord Colin shows, the ninth note sits on the fifth fret of the second string. The Hendrix version sharpens that note by raising it up one fret to the sixth fret. If you haven’t yet, make sure you can play the D9 chord cleanly before adding the sharp ninth.
Building Your First Hendrix Chord
Start with any ninth chord you know. Let’s say D ninth. Now add a sharpened ninth with your pinky. That means placing your pinky on the second string, sixth fret.
Here’s what matters most: you’ll still clear the high E string while you do this. That takes practice. It takes hand strength. But once your fingers learn the shape, it becomes second nature.
Remember, you’re only holding this chord for a moment. It’s an embellishment, not a full-measure position. One second, maybe two. That’s the secret to using it without it sounding terrible.
The Hendrix Chord in a 12-Bar Blues
Colin demonstrates the Hendrix chord inside a 12-bar blues progression in the key of E. He moves through E ninth, A seventh, B seventh, and back to E ninth with that sharpened ninth on the way home.
The progression looks like this:
E ninth, then A seventh with an extra seventh for effect, then back to E ninth. Then B seventh, A seventh again, and finally E with that augmented ninth.
What makes this work? The raised ninth lands right where it needs to create tension and release. It’s the musical equivalent of a quick shock that resolves before it wears out its welcome.
Why This Chord Works on Multiple Harmonies
The ninth and augmented ninth don’t just work on seventh chords. You can use them over major chords too. The theory behind it gets deeper, but the practical truth is simple: these chords sit on the edge between major and minor. They adapt to their surroundings.
This adaptability is why Colin calls them “chameleon chords.” Their color depends on what happens before and after them in your progression. Use them smart, and they sound brilliant. Throw them everywhere, and they lose their punch.
Making It Musical
The best way to learn the Hendrix chord is to keep it simple at first. Play your standard blues changes, then add the raised ninth for just a beat or two when the moment feels right. Don’t force it. The chord has a definite flavor that won’t fit every song or style.
As Colin shows in the lesson, you can bounce between the straight ninth and the augmented ninth too. That call-and-response creates nice texture without leaning too hard on the harsh sound.
If you want to dig much deeper into how ninth chords work and where they fit in the bigger blues vocabulary, Colin’s Ultimate Blues Chorus course covers all the details. You’ll learn the theory, the practical applications, and how these chords interact with the rest of the progression.
Next Steps for Your Playing
Start by getting comfortable with regular ninth chords. Make sure you can move between D ninth and E ninth without hesitation. Once that’s solid, add the raised ninth as an occasional embellishment.
Record yourself playing a simple 12-bar blues. Try adding the Hendrix chord at different moments. You’ll quickly discover where it sounds good and where it doesn’t. Your ears will tell you the truth faster than any lesson.
The ninth chord family is huge. If you’re serious about blues guitar, explore more about ninth chords and how they differ from other shapes. You might also check out suspended chords to round out your harmonic vocabulary.
For a complete foundation in how chords work together, our guide to guitar chord types covers the full spectrum. And if you’re just starting to learn guitar chords, that’s the place to begin.