Learn to Play "Highway Star" by Deep Purple | Guitar Lesson

Get ready to channel the raw power and virtuosity of 1970s rock guitar with our note-for-note guitar lesson for “Highway Star” by Deep Purple. Featured as the opening track on their landmark Machine Head album, “Highway Star” is a high-octane masterpiece packed with driving rhythms, blazing solos, and tight, aggressive playing. This track has long been regarded as a blueprint for hard rock and early heavy metal, and now you can learn to play every riff, rhythm, and lead section with total precision.

In this detailed LickLibrary tutorial, we guide you through the entire song, focusing on core techniques such as power chords, palm muting, alternate picking, and hammer-ons. Each technique plays a crucial role in delivering the relentless energy and articulate phrasing of Ritchie Blackmore’s iconic performance. This lesson is taught by Danny Gill.

Song Breakdown & Techniques Covered

Power Chords

Right from the opening bars, “Highway Star” leans heavily on the use of power chords to create its relentless drive and sonic punch. Power chords are a cornerstone of rock guitar, and in this lesson, you'll learn how to play them with the precision and aggression required to lock in with the song’s pounding rhythm section. Mastering power chords helps solidify your rhythm playing and gives you the ability to drive a track with authority.

Palm Muting

To maintain tight control over the tone and rhythm of the verse riffs, Blackmore uses palm muting—a technique where the edge of the picking hand lightly rests on the strings near the bridge. This creates a chugging, percussive effect that gives riffs added definition and attack. Practicing palm muting improves your timing, dynamic control, and helps you add texture and groove to your rhythm work.

Alternate Picking

The fast-paced licks and arpeggiated runs in “Highway Star” require precise alternate picking. By alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes, this technique allows for speed and fluidity while maintaining clarity. Our lesson breaks down Blackmore’s blazing runs, helping you build up your picking speed while keeping every note articulate. Learning alternate picking is essential for tackling fast lead passages in rock, metal, and beyond.

Hammer-Ons

To create smooth, flowing legato lines, Blackmore employs hammer-ons in both his lead phrases and fills. Hammer-ons allow you to articulate ascending notes using your fretting hand alone, creating a seamless sound without relying entirely on picking. This technique enhances finger strength, adds fluidity to your solos, and improves overall phrasing. You’ll learn how to combine hammer-ons with fast-picked runs to mirror Blackmore’s iconic soloing style.

Why Learn “Highway Star”?

Learning “Highway Star” is a rite of passage for rock guitarists. It’s a perfect fusion of driving rhythm, melodic phrasing, and technical brilliance. This track allows you to develop essential skills in both rhythm and lead guitar, from tight chugging riffs to soaring solos. With a mix of precision, speed, and expression, “Highway Star” challenges you to push your playing further—while offering some of the most satisfying riffs and licks in rock history.

With LickLibrary’s step-by-step guitar lesson, you’ll get in-depth breakdowns of every part, from the intro riff and power chord progressions to the complex guitar solo. On-screen tab and clear guidance make it easy to follow along and lock in each section with accuracy and confidence.

Whether you're looking to tighten up your rhythm playing, build picking speed, or explore advanced soloing concepts, this lesson delivers everything you need to master one of Deep Purple’s greatest tracks.

About the Guitarist: Ritchie Blackmore

Ritchie Blackmore is one of the most influential guitarists in rock history. As a founding member of Deep Purple and later Rainbow, he brought a unique blend of classical music theory, blues feel, and rock aggression to the forefront of guitar playing. His ability to combine technical mastery with melodic sense changed the landscape of rock guitar forever. “Highway Star” remains one of his most revered performances, combining fast-paced riffing with classically inspired soloing that showcases his extraordinary control, speed, and finesse.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Alternate Picking
• Hammer-Ons

Play with power, speed, and finesse—learn “Highway Star” with LickLibrary’s in-depth guitar tutorial and bring one of rock’s most explosive guitar tracks to life, note for note.