Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple
Released in 1984 on the album Perfect Strangers, Deep Purple's reunion record brought back the classic lineup—Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice, and Blackmore—and relaunched the band's presence on radio and MTV. The title track, with its instantly recognizable riff and swaggering groove, became a defining moment of 80s hard rock and helped reintroduce Purple to a new generation of fans.
The riff-driven track showcases Purple's chemistry: the guitar's heavy chug sits against Jon Lord's keyboard accents, Ian Paice's propulsive drums, and Gillan's triumphant vocal chorus. Its enduring appeal lies in the way a simple, memorable motif can carry a song from studio to stadiums, becoming a staple of classic rock playlists and a go-to study for riff-based guitar players.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson, students will learn the iconic main riff built on E power chords, how to apply precise palm muting for that tight chug, and the verse/chorus rhythm that drives the groove. We'll cover the picking approach for the riff (alternate picking), the basic shapes shaping the riff within an E-based context, and practical tips for clean transitions into the chorus. We'll also point out tricky sections—staying in time with the drums, maintaining muting control while the chords ring, and keeping the tempo steady as you move between riffs.
Intermediate; prior experience with power chords, palm muting, and accurate alternate picking will be very helpful.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Break the riff into small phrases and practice each at a slower tempo with a metronome before combining them; speed will come with accuracy.
- 💡Keep the left-hand palm near the bridge to maintain tight muted chug and avoid stray open-string noise as you switch shapes.
- 💡Dial in a mid-gain guitar tone and ensure your pickups are balanced so the riff sits tight in the mix without sounding too harsh or muddy.
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