Strange Kind of Woman Guitar Lesson

Strange Kind of Woman by Deep Purple, from Fireball (1971), features one of Ritchie Blackmore’s most famous live improvisations. The studio version solo is a masterpiece of blues-influenced hard rock phrasing delivered with Blackmore’s trademark aggression and classical sensibility.

About This Lesson

Blackmore uses this solo to demonstrate his complete vocabulary — blues bends, pentatonic runs, harmonic minor phrasing, and dramatic tension and release. It is a window into the full range of his style and one of the essential documents of early hard rock guitar.

What You Will Work On

• Blues meets neoclassical phrasing — Blackmore’s dual influences in one solo
• Pentatonic runs with classical inflection — how Blackmore mixes vocabularies
• Harmonic minor tension — using the raised 7th for dramatic effect
• Blues string bends in a hard rock context — feel and aggression combined
• Dramatic solo construction — building intensity toward a climax

Tips for Learning

• Study both blues and classical music to understand where Blackmore comes from.
• Listen to Deep Purple’s machine Head and Fireball back to back.
• Work on harmonic minor scale patterns before tackling the classical-influenced phrases.
• Focus on the dramatic arc of the solo — Blackmore always builds toward something.