How Jimi Hendrix Wrote ‘Little Wing’

Let’s dive back to 1967 when the Monterey Pop Festival was the coolest gig during the Summer of Love. It’s where Jimi Hendrix got the vibe to create the timeless “Little Wing.” The festival had big names like The Who and Janis Joplin, pulling in a whopping 200,000 fans and laying the groundwork for the legendary Woodstock in ’69.

Amid all the good vibes, Hendrix cooked up “Little Wing” and saw it as more than just a song—it was like a musical character that could take off into the wild blue.

Beyond the Strings

Hendrix, the guitar maestro, played “Little Wing” in his unique way. He used his thumb for chords, threw in some cool shifts in harmony, and plugged his guitar into a Leslie speaker (normally for organs) to create this captivating sound.

This song is a big deal in the guitar world. It’s like a puzzle that guitar players can study forever. Tom Morello, in a shoutout in Rolling Stone in 2011, called it a “gorgeous song” with layers that keep guitar players intrigued.

But “Little Wing” is more than just a cool tune. Hendrix poured his heart into it, comparing the song to a “beautiful girl.” It’s a musical masterpiece that not only shows off Hendrix’s creative brilliance but also reminds us of how the Monterey Pop Festival shaped the music scene we know and love today.