Deep Purple - When A Blind Man Cries - Guitar Solo Tab

Machine Head (2016 Version)

1972 3:31

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About When A Blind Man Cries

Slow and heavy at 72 BPM, this 1972 Deep Purple B-side sits in A minor and demands a very different touch from the band's more aggressive material. The feel is mournful and deliberate, so right-hand control matters far more here than speed. Staying in E Standard tuning keeps things straightforward, but the challenge is sustaining that bluesy, weighted tone through the chord movements without rushing the tempo. Ritchie Blackmore leans hard on expressive bends and vibrato in the lead passages, and nailing that slow, wide vibrato is the real test for most players. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop those lead phrases slowed down until the pitch of each bend lands exactly where it should before you bring the tempo back up. The hard rock context can tempt you to play too aggressively, but this track rewards restraint and dynamics above everything else.

• The slow tempo of 72 BPM means every note is exposed, so clean vibrato and precise bends matter more than technical speed.
• Played in E Standard tuning in A minor, the chord voicings and lead work sit comfortably in the open blues-rock positions on the neck.
• Practise the lead phrases with wide, slow vibrato at half speed using the Practice Toolbar before attempting the full emotional delivery at tempo.