Earlier today, we were awestruck by some jaw-dropping musicianship via an article from the AV Club, introducing us to the incredible talents of gayageum player Luna Lee. As it turns out, “Voodoo Child” played on an ancient Korean instrument is the Hendrix cover we never knew we needed, and we think you’ll agree.
For those unfamiliar, the gayageum is a traditional Korean stringed instrument similar to a zither, but on the left side of the instrument, the strings can be bent manually to achieve different pitches. As you can see in Lee’s video, one hand is used to pluck, strum and pick the strings while the other adds vibrato or wild, Hendrix-style bends.
To further achieve that Hendrix flair, Lee even makes use of a number of effects in the video, including the Boss DS-1, Strymon BigSky, NuX Time Force Delay, NuX Loop Core, as well as Korean-built overdrive and EQ by Tone Gauge and Moollon, respectively. Pedal selections aside, we certainly didn’t expect to see anyone slay a Hendrix classic so powerfully without a six-string.
This is the latest of many videos on Luna Lee’s YouTube channel that feature her taking on guitar-centric classics on her weapon of choice. Some Reverb staff favorites include her performances of Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing,” Franz Ferdinand’s “Take Me Out," and Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android.” Find more on her channel and the AV Club's article here.