About this recording
Rising · 1976 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Compare the close C-to-B sound with the two different thirds, D and D♯. Keep these local colours separate rather than calling the whole solo one scale.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B Phrygian Dominant | B · C · D♯ · E · F♯ · G · A | 1 · ♭2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| B Phrygian | B · C · D · E · F♯ · G · A | 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| B Minor Pentatonic | B · D · E · F♯ · A | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Practice idea |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Ritchie Blackmore
Where is this solo?
Blackmore’s featured guitar solo after the second verse, including the slide-led opening and the later fretted runs.
B Phrygian Dominant
Listening guide
B Phrygian dominant contains C and D♯. The close first step and major third give this map its distinctive sound.
B · C · D♯ · E · F♯ · G · A
◎ Outlined dots = B, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 7–10 · 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 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 8: C, interval ♭2
- String 2, fret 7: F♯, interval 5
- String 2, fret 8: G, interval ♭6
- String 2, fret 10: A, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 8: D♯, interval 3
- String 3, fret 9: E, interval 4
- String 4, fret 7: A, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 9: B, interval 1, root
- String 4, fret 10: C, interval ♭2
- String 5, fret 7: E, interval 4
- String 5, fret 9: F♯, interval 5
- String 5, fret 10: G, interval ♭6
- String 6, fret 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 8: C, interval ♭2
More about these scales
B Phrygian Dominant Listening guide
B Phrygian dominant contains C and D♯. The close first step and major third give this map its distinctive sound.
B · C · D♯ · E · F♯ · G · A
B Phrygian Listening guide
B Phrygian uses D instead of D♯. Compare this map with the later minor-coloured material.
B · C · D · E · F♯ · G · A
B Minor Pentatonic Practice idea
B minor pentatonic is a smaller practice comparison. It leaves out the close C-to-B step that makes the other maps distinctive.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea B Phrygian dominant and E harmonic minor contain the same notes, but B is the reference note in this part of the solo. A chromatic run uses one-fret steps and can leave either map briefly.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- slides: A slide joins notes by moving a fretting finger along the string. Pick the destination first, then slide into it and stop cleanly. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
In B Phrygian Dominant, play B–C–B slowly, then B–D♯–B. Choose B Phrygian and compare B–D–B. Keep the first and last B the same length each time.
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.