Jimi Hendrix played the Star-Spangled Banner on a dairy farm at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in Bethel, New York on the morning of August 18, 1969. It is historically significant for its cultural impact, social commentary and of course for its musical achievement. His Woodstock performance lasted over two hours, but the portion we are most interested in is the twenty plus minute medley near the end of their set which includes his iconic version of the national anthem.

I’ve edited a 20-minute video from the film shot that day as an educational tool to better understand Hendrix’s masterpiece. I used the best source for video and soundtrack, which is not available on YouTube in this quality or length. It is essential, I believe, to see Hendrix perform visually to begin to understand how he makes the sounds that we hear in the recording.

Jimi was playing his upside-down, white Fender Stratocaster for one and a half hours by the time he was wrapping up Voodoo Child, which is where this video comes in. The Banner was really part of a medley of songs that included Voodoo Child (Slight Return), Stepping Stone, The Star-Spangled Banner, Purple Haze, Instrumental Improvisation, and Villanova Junction Blues.

There are a few guitar effects devices on stage, a Vox wah-wah pedal, a Uni-Vibe, and an Octavia. He uses all three while playing the anthem, but is also managing a feedback loop between the guitar strings, pickups and amplifiers. This of course, while playing at high volume! You'll notice he changes tuning a few times and mixes in ample vibrato bar effects, one-handed playing and finger vibrato.

The band goes loosely by the name Gypsy, Sun and Rainbows. It's a new group and rather experimental for Hendrix. Mitch Mitchell is the member most familiar with Jimi's playing, so you'll notice Jimi has to be very communicative with the other musicians as he directs them through the sometimes very spontaneous set.

The outfit Jimi is wearing is coordinated with blue velvet slacks, a white fringed leather jacket and a single red head scarf.

Interesting articles:

American Experience: The Sound of Woodstock [LINK]

Hendrix and Woodstock: 10 Little-Known Facts about the Performance That Defined the '60s, By Joel Brattin [LINK]

The Star-Spangled Banner during Times of War, By Carolyn MacLeod [LINK]

Revisiting Jimi Hendrix’s Adaptation of the National Anthem, By Sweetwater July 3, 2017 [LINK]

Rewinding Jimi Hendrix’s National Anthem, By Paul Grimstad January 26, 2021 [LINK]

The Star-Spangled Banner as Performed by Jimi Hendrix, By A Pagan in Arizona, July 4, 2023 [LINK]

Jimi Hendrix Live At Woodstock (1999), By Zowie Ziggy [LINK]