Violet Grohl: The Rising Star Inspired by Joni Mitchell’s Unique Tunings
From his iconic role in one of the most influential bands of the ’90s to leading the rock sensation Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl has made a critically important mark in the music industry. However, he admits that his daughter, Violet grohl, is charting her own course as a guitarist, often surprising him with her skills.
Excitement fills the Grohl household as Foo Fighters unveil their twelfth studio album,Your Favorite Toy. Simultaneously occurring, Violet is gearing up for her debut album, Be Sweet to Me, set to drop on May 29, following her recent signing with Republic Records/Island EMI.
“I’m fully hands-off,” Dave shared in a recent interview with MusicRadar. “I’m just a dad who wants to be involved, but she’s forging her own path.”
(Image credit: courtesy Grandstand Media)
Violet’s initial singles, “THUM,” “595,” and “Applefish,” showcase her ability to blend gritty ’90s alternative rock with an unsettling, cinematic vibe. While many might assume that her father taught her guitar, Grohl clarifies that this is far from the truth.
“She had a lot of emotion in her singing even at eight,” he recalled during a SiriusXM Lithium interview (via Louder). “when she turned 13, she expressed a desire to make a record.”
“I told her she needed to write songs,but I didn’t guide her. I simply handed her a pen and a notebook and encouraged her to start writing. And she did just that.”
Fans of Foo Fighters may recognize Violet from her contributions to tracks like “Making a fire” from the 2020 album Medicine at Midnight and “Show Me How” from But Here We Are (2023).
“She learned to play all her instruments by ear, teaching herself in her bedroom,” Dave explained. “There were moments when I’d come downstairs and find her guitar in an unusual tuning. I’d ask her what it was, and she’d respond, ‘Oh, that’s a Joni Mitchell tuning.’ Then she’d start playing this intricate fingerpicking style, and I’d be left wondering, ‘Where did you learn that?’”
Grohl emphasizes that Violet has always been determined to pursue her own musical journey.
“She wanted to drop out of school to focus on music,” he said. “I advised her to finish, and right after graduation, she met with her producer, Justin Raisen, without my involvement in the recording process. She would come home and share her music without seeking my advice.”
“Now that she’s delving deeper into her craft, we discuss the broader aspects of the industry. But I didn’t want to be that overbearing dad.”
– Dave Grohl
“As she explores more, we have conversations about the bigger picture, since jumping into this world can be overwhelming.I just didn’t want to be a stage dad.”
violet has found a rich source of inspiration in Joni Mitchell’s tunings. The legendary artist developed her own unique guitar style, often referred to as “Joni’s weird chords,” utilizing over 50 alternate tunings to break free from conventional electric guitar norms.
Mitchell’s innovative approach was partly born out of necessity; her childhood battle with polio left her hands weakened, making standard finger placements challenging. Alternate tunings became her solution.
“I envision the top three strings as muted trumpets or the high notes of an orchestra,” she once shared with Guitar Player. “The midrange feels like a viola,while my thumb creates a sparse,eccentric bass line.”
(Image credit: Harry Durrant/Getty Images)
“In terms of tuning,” she elaborated, “my thumb can play vertically while the other fingers are in motion, creating a unique rhythm that feels almost Senegalese – as if my thumb is echoing a monkey chant while the rest of me grooves somewhere in the U.S.A., like Robert Johnson on Mars.”
Moreover, the guitar she used for her first four albums, a Martin D-28, carries a rich history, and her distinctive style has inspired numerous musicians eager to replicate her unconventional approach.
Violet Grohl is not just another artist in the shadow of her father; she is forging her own identity in the music world, complete with her own set of unique tunings and a sound that stands apart from the Foo Fighters.
