In this free video guitar lesson, you’ll use the CAGED chord system to play the movable chord shapes, chord inversions, and chord fragments that appear throughout “The Wind Cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix. This style of rhythm playing—built from small, movable shapes—is essential for creating smooth R&B fills, soulful double stops, and expressive chord fills across the neck.

As you follow along with the free The Wind Cries Mary guitar tab below, you’ll see how Hendrix blends the major pentatonic scale with CAGED-based shapes to craft the flowing fills and melodic embellishments that define his rhythm-guitar style. These techniques are the foundation of his signature approach and are a big part of why songs like this feel so fluid, expressive, and distinctly “Hendrix.”

This lesson also highlights the tone aspect—how Hendrix used his Stratocaster guitar tone to make simple chord moves and pentatonic ideas sound huge, clean, and vocal-like. By learning these shapes and fills, you’ll not only understand the harmony behind the song but also develop the tools to add Hendrix-style flavor to your own rhythm playing.

The Wind Cries Mary Chords and Tab

Download The Wind Cries Mary Chords and Tab PDF file

(The complete and official sheet music can be purchased from Sheet Music Direct. See also, Jimi Hendrix – Experience Hendrix tab book)

Gear

Bluesman Vintage ’62 Sedan custom Strat-style electric guitar
Fender Pro Junior amp
Rivera Silent Sister Isolation Cabinet
Celestion Vintage 30 speaker
Alexis MultiMix8

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