10 Greatest Hard Rock Guitarists Of The '70s

After the '60s burned out, it was anyone's guess as to where the music would go after the Woodstock craze. Though many kept on with their take on pop and rock, there was a certain draw coming from the bluesy clubs of Great Britain. Instead of just sticking with blues for the rest of their days, Deep Purple managed to turn into a musical force of nature thanks to the guitar talents of Ritchie Blackmore.

Compared to the other bluesy brethren he had on the scene, Blackmore was a much more eclectic fan of music, which came out in spades whenever he played. Across everyone of Purple's classic albums, you could find hints of pop, hard rock, blues, and even traces of classical and jazz sprinkled into every other track. Whether it's the Mozart-style picking on Highway Star or the down and dirty tone on Smoke on the Water, Blackmore always gravitated to all of these different styles as if it were second nature. Look no further than Made in Japan, where he practically turns songs into musical duels with organist Jon Lord.

Even after his tenure in Purple was over, Blackmore's second incarnation with Rainbow proved to be even more adventurous, as he went on to incorporate exotic scales into the mix. While most guitarists hope to find their own unique voice on the guitar, Ritchie Blackmore is one of the few people who actually can sound like he is communicating through his instrument.