About this recording
Machine Head · 1972 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Start with D minor. Then compare C and C♯, and look at the chord notes behind the repeating runs.
The scales at a glance
Compare the notes
Learn these shapes, then see how they help explain each solo below. Some are extra ideas for your own practice.
| Scale | Notes | Intervals | Use in this study |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Natural Minor | D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| D Harmonic Minor | D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C♯ | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Ritchie Blackmore
Where is this solo?
The featured electric guitar solo after the keyboard feature. Follow the guitar rather than the organ.
D Natural Minor
Listening guide
D natural minor is a starting map for the minor-key material. It contains C.
D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C
◎ Outlined dots = D, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 10–13 · high string 1 at top · toward nut →
These dots show where the scale notes are. They do not show the order of the solo.
Read the note positions
- String 1, fret 10: D, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 12: E, interval 2
- String 1, fret 13: F, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 10: A, interval 5
- String 2, fret 11: B♭, interval ♭6
- String 2, fret 13: C, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 10: F, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 12: G, interval 4
- String 4, fret 10: C, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 12: D, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 10: G, interval 4
- String 5, fret 12: A, interval 5
- String 5, fret 13: B♭, interval ♭6
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 12: E, interval 2
- String 6, fret 13: F, interval ♭3
More about these scales
D Natural Minor Listening guide
D natural minor is a starting map for the minor-key material. It contains C.
D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C
D Harmonic Minor Listening guide
D harmonic minor raises C to C♯. Compare the notes near an A major chord, whose third is C♯.
D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C♯
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea An arpeggio means playing a chord’s notes one at a time. Blackmore described planning this solo around D minor, G minor, C major and A major. C♯ belongs to A major, so the chord change matters more than one scale label.
D Minor arpeggio
D · F · A · 1 · ♭3 · 5
Play these chord notes separately and listen for a clear ending. This is a chord-note reference, not the order of a recorded passage.
Practice idea Compare the notes of D minor as an original chord-tone exercise.
G Minor arpeggio
G · B♭ · D · 1 · ♭3 · 5
Play these chord notes separately and listen for a clear ending. This is a chord-note reference, not the order of a recorded passage.
Practice idea Compare the notes of G minor as an original chord-tone exercise.
C Major arpeggio
C · E · G · 1 · 3 · 5
Play these chord notes separately and listen for a clear ending. This is a chord-note reference, not the order of a recorded passage.
Practice idea Compare the notes of C major as an original chord-tone exercise.
A Major arpeggio
A · C♯ · E · 1 · 3 · 5
Play these chord notes separately and listen for a clear ending. This is a chord-note reference, not the order of a recorded passage.
Practice idea Compare the notes of A major as an original chord-tone exercise.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- alternate picking: Alternate picking means taking turns with downstrokes and upstrokes. Use a small movement and keep each note clear before increasing speed. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Open “How the chords shape the solo” to find the chord notes. Play the D minor notes separately and leave a pause. Do the same with A major. Make each chord easy to hear before adding connecting notes.
Check: You can keep a steady pulse and hear the final note clearly.
A simple practice plan
Put the study into practice
- Listen to the chosen solo and identify its beginning and ending.
- Find the root notes: the notes the scale is named after. Say their names, then play them.
- Add one new note, or aim for a note from the chord. Make a short phrase of your own.
- Listen to the solo again. Can you hear where the phrase comes to rest?
Updated 2026-11-10
This analysis may contain errors or inaccuracies.