
Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Chile is a 15-minute-long song from his 1968 album Electric Ladyland. The song was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City and featured additional musicians, including Mitch Mitchell, Steve Winwood, and Jack Casady. The following day, Hendrix and his band returned to the studio and improvised on Voodoo Chile, creating Voodoo Child (Slight Return), one of Hendrix's most famous songs. While there is no exact record of the equipment used, it is believed that Hendrix used a Fender Bassman top, providing a very warm amp sound.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Recording location | The Record Plant, New York City |
| Recording date | May 2, 1968 |
| Performers | Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Steve Winwood, Jack Casady, Noel Redding |
| Equipment | Fender Bassman amp, Fender Stratocaster, Fender Showman, Wah Wah |
| Recording process | Live recording, multiple takes |
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What You'll Learn
- Jimi Hendrix used a Fender Bassman top for Voodoo Chile
- The Voodoo Child (Slight Return) tone can be recreated with a BOSS GT-1
- Hendrix used a Fender Showman top with eight 10-inch speakers for Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
- Voodoo Chile was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City
- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) was recorded the day after Voodoo Chile

Jimi Hendrix used a Fender Bassman top for Voodoo Chile
"Voodoo Chile" is a song written and performed by Jimi Hendrix, recorded in 1968 for the album Electric Ladyland. The song is based on the Muddy Waters blues song "Rollin' Stone", but with original lyrics and music. At 15 minutes long, it is Hendrix's longest studio recording.
For "Voodoo Chile", Jimi Hendrix sang live while playing guitar through a Fender Bassman top. The Fender Bassman amp provided a "very warm" sound, with Hendrix's guitar tuned down a whole tone. The song was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City, after a late-night jam session with Mitch Mitchell, Steve Winwood, and Jack Casady.
The following day, Hendrix, Mitchell, and Noel Redding returned to the studio for the filming of a short documentary. They improvised on "Voodoo Chile", using some of the imagery and guitar lines. This improvisation became "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", one of Hendrix's signature songs.
While the exact gear used for "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is not known, it is believed that Hendrix used a similar setup to "Voodoo Chile", with his Strat plugged into a Fender Bassman amp. Eddie Kramer, a Fender engineer, recalled that Hendrix used at least three different amps for the recording.
To recreate the tone of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", some guitarists have used a BOSS GT-1, a multi-effects unit.
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The Voodoo Child (Slight Return) tone can be recreated with a BOSS GT-1
The iconic "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by Jimi Hendrix is a song that many guitarists aspire to replicate. The song is the final track on the album Electric Ladyland and features a distinctive guitar tone that can be recreated with the right equipment. While there is no exact record of the gear used by Hendrix, it is believed that he used a Fender Stratocaster played through a Fender Bassman amp. This setup produced a very warm and consistent tone that has become synonymous with Hendrix's style.
To achieve a similar tone using the BOSS GT-1, guitarists can follow specific settings and techniques. The GT-1 is an entry-level multi-effects unit that allows users to simulate various effects and amp sounds. By accessing the internal factory sounds and utilising specific patches, it is possible to get closer to the "Voodoo Child" tone. Roland V-Drums specialist Simon Ayton has created patches specifically for this purpose, which can be downloaded from his website. These patches take into account the unique characteristics of Hendrix's left-handed playing style on a right-handed Fender Stratocaster, resulting in subtle differences in the tone.
Additionally, when using the GT-1 to de-tune, guitarists can follow these steps: navigate to the FX1 section at the start of the signal chain, select PITCH SHIFTER, adjust the PITCH to -1, set the EFFECT LEVEL to 100, and the DIRECT LEVEL to 0. This will allow players to recreate the distinctive tuning used by Hendrix on "Voodoo Child."
It's important to remember that the BOSS GT-1 is a simulation tool, and while it can get close to the "Voodoo Child" tone, it may not perfectly replicate all the nuances of Hendrix's setup and playing style. However, with careful adjustment and experimentation, the GT-1 can be a powerful tool for guitarists seeking to capture the essence of Hendrix's iconic sound.
Overall, the BOSS GT-1 provides a versatile and accessible option for guitarists aspiring to recreate the legendary tone of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." With the help of custom patches and a understanding of Hendrix's gear and playing style, players can get one step closer to emulating the master himself.
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Hendrix used a Fender Showman top with eight 10-inch speakers for Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is one of Jimi Hendrix's most famous songs. It was recorded in 1968 as the final track on the album Electric Ladyland. The song was recorded the day after "Voodoo Chile", a 15-minute-long jam session with Stevie Winwood on organ and Jack Casady on bass.
According to Eddie Kramer, who worked as an engineer on the album, Hendrix used a Fender Showman top with eight 10-inch speakers for "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". This is surprising, as most people expected he would have used a Marshall stack. The Fender Showman was a blonde 30-watt amp, and it was used to create a very warm sound.
Hendrix was known for recording in one take, and it is likely that the same gear was used for both "Voodoo Chile" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", with some effects added in the mixing process. The song has a classic fuzz tone fattening out the Strat single coils, which is a classic Hendrix sound.
The song is based on the Muddy Waters blues song "Rollin' Stone", but with original lyrics and music. It has been described as a "study of what the guitar is capable of" and is considered one of the greatest album closers of all time.
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Voodoo Chile was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City
"Voodoo Chile" is a song written and performed by Jimi Hendrix, recorded in 1968 for the third Jimi Hendrix Experience album, Electric Ladyland. The song was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City, after a late-night jam session with Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell on drums, Steve Winwood on organ, and Jack Casady on bass.
The recording session for "Voodoo Chile" took place on May 2, 1968, and was produced by Chas Chandler. The song is based on the Muddy Waters blues song "Rollin' Stone", but with original lyrics and music. At 15 minutes long, it is Hendrix's longest studio recording.
During the recording, Hendrix sang live while playing guitar through a Fender Bassman top, providing a "very warm" amp sound. The bass coming out of the guitar amps on the "Voodoo Chile" blues jam is described as huge, and the room sounds pretty large.
The day after recording "Voodoo Chile", Hendrix, Mitchell, and Noel Redding returned to the studio to film a short documentary. They improvised on "Voodoo Chile", using some of the imagery and guitar lines, and this became "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", one of Hendrix's signature songs.
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Voodoo Child (Slight Return) was recorded the day after Voodoo Chile
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" was recorded the day after "Voodoo Chile". The latter was recorded on May 2, 1968, during a studio jam with Steve Winwood on organ and Jack Casady on bass. The next day, Jimi Hendrix returned to the studio with Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell for the filming of a short documentary by ABC television. Redding explained, "We learned that song in the studio ... They had the cameras rolling on us as we played it".
"Voodoo Chile" was written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded in 1968 for the third Jimi Hendrix Experience album Electric Ladyland. It is based on the Muddy Waters blues song "Rollin' Stone", but with original lyrics and music. At 15 minutes, it is Hendrix's longest studio recording and features additional musicians in what has been described as a studio jam.
"Voodoo Chile" was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City, after a late-night jam session with Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, organist Steve Winwood, and bassist Jack Casady. The song became the basis for "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", recorded by the Experience the next day.
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is one of Hendrix's best-known songs. It was developed from "Voodoo Chile", with the lyrics of the chorus being the only similarity between the two songs. According to Hendrix biographer Steven Roby, eight takes of the song were recorded, and the final one was chosen as the master, which appeared on Electric Ladyland.
For the recording of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", Hendrix used the same setup as "Voodoo Chile"—his Strat through a warm Fender Bassman amp.
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Frequently asked questions
Jimi Hendrix sang "Voodoo Chile" live while playing a Fender guitar through a Fender Bassman top, providing a "very warm" amp sound.
It is believed that Jimi Hendrix used a Fender Showman top with a huge cabinet with eight 10-inch speakers for "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". However, some sources suggest that he used a 67 Super Lead or a 69 Superlead.
"Voodoo Chile" is a 15-minute-long song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded in 1968 for the album Electric Ladyland. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" is a variation on the riff of "Voodoo Chile" and is the final track on the album.











































