Andre 3000 played guitar for six hours a day to prepare for his role as Jimi Hendrix in a new biopic.

The Outkast singer, who takes on the lead role of the 'Purple Haze' musician in 'Jimi: All Is By My Side', directed by John Ridley, had to learn to play left-handed and was committed to making sure his performance was believable.

Producer Danny Bramson told Billboard: ''The idea of anyone playing Hendrix, let alone a right-handed guitarist, was one of the greatest challenges of the project.

''I found a really patient teacher and put together a regime for Andre when he came out to Los Angeles.''

Danny revealed Andre was dedicated to the role and sat in a small studio for six hours a day to learn how to play left-handed and make sure his guitarmanship carried the idea of ''grace and fluidity''.

He said: ''John and I declared that we didn't want to have the camera cropped on his face and not the guitar. He kept working in a rehearsal room throughout the production.''

The film will not feature any of the songs composed by the late Hendrix, who died aged 27 after collapsing at a party, as his estate refused, and instead, the biopic will see Andre play songs Hendrix covered in the 1960s, including hits by The Beatles and Muddy Waters.

'Jimi: All Is By My Side' tells the story of Hendrix's life from 1966 and 1967, during which time he formed The Experience, moved to London and played his famous set at California's Monterey Pop Festival.

The film will premiere in the US at South By South West on Wednesday (12.03.14).