Black Magic Woman – Peter Green

Unlock the soul of British blues rock with our in-depth, note-for-note guitar lesson for Black Magic Woman by Peter Green. This masterclass captures the essence of Peter Green’s original composition – before it was famously covered by Santana – and breaks down the key techniques used throughout the track. As part of Licklibrary’s premium lesson collection, this course delivers everything you need to faithfully replicate the rich tone, tasteful phrasing, and emotive playing that made Black Magic Woman a timeless classic. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Whether you’re a blues enthusiast or a guitarist looking to improve your expressive lead playing, this lesson will elevate your musicality and technical skills.

About the Guitarists: Peter Green’s Signature Style

Peter Green, founding member of Fleetwood Mac, is widely regarded as one of the most expressive and tasteful blues guitarists of all time. His playing on Black Magic Woman is subtle, emotional, and rooted deeply in the blues tradition. Known for his velvety tone, melodic phrasing, and minimalistic but powerful style, Green carved a unique space among British blues legends.

Unlike many of his contemporaries who leaned heavily into technical showmanship, Green prioritised feel and timing. This made his solos deeply resonant and emotionally charged. His influence echoes through players like Gary Moore, David Gilmour, and John Mayer, all of whom have cited Green as a major inspiration.

Guitar Techniques Featured in the Lesson

Vibrato

Peter Green’s signature wide and slow vibrato is a defining part of Black Magic Woman. In this lesson, we’ll explore how he uses vibrato to add emotion and sustain to his lead lines. Mastering this technique will allow guitarists to create a vocal-like quality in their solos, adding depth and character to each note.

Slides

Slides are used frequently in Green’s phrasing to transition smoothly between notes. In this song, slides help convey a fluid, legato style that enhances the overall bluesy feel. They’re not only stylistically important but also improve your fretboard navigation and help in developing phrasing precision.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Green incorporates tasteful use of hammer-ons and pull-offs to articulate notes without constant picking. These techniques add smoothness and articulation to solos and are essential for developing expressive phrasing and dynamic contrast in your playing.

String Bending

One of the most vital techniques in this lesson is string bending. Peter Green’s bends are deliberate and pitch-perfect, often mimicking vocal inflections. Learning this technique improves your intonation and emotional delivery, letting you “sing” through your guitar.

Bluesy Bends

Bluesy bends give Green’s playing its mournful and soulful character. This lesson teaches you how to execute subtle and expressive microtonal bends that are a cornerstone of blues lead guitar. Incorporating these bends can add a deeply human element to your solos.

Double Stops

This lesson also covers Green’s use of double stops, where two notes are played simultaneously. This adds harmonic texture and groove to his melodic lines. Double stops enhance your ability to harmonise within solos and improve finger coordination.

Arpeggios

There’s a tasteful use of arpeggios to outline the song’s chord progression melodically. These are perfect for players looking to connect lead and rhythm parts seamlessly, and understanding them can drastically improve your fretboard awareness.

Chord Progressions

Our lesson also walks through the chord progressions that form the foundation of Black Magic Woman. These are essential for grasping the harmonic context of the solos, and learning them will help you craft your own solos that complement a song’s structure.

Why Learn Black Magic Woman?

Learning Black Magic Woman provides an ideal opportunity to develop expressive control, taste, and phrasing – qualities that are often harder to teach than speed or technical accuracy. This lesson emphasises the importance of touch and tone, challenging guitarists to focus on “how” a note is played, not just “what” note to play.

By mastering the techniques in this song, students will gain:

• Improved bending accuracy and control
• A deeper understanding of melodic lead guitar playing
• The ability to craft emotionally resonant solos
• A solid foundation in blues phrasing and dynamics

Peter Green’s subtle yet powerful approach proves that less is often more. This song is a masterclass in restraint, tone, and feel – a perfect piece for any guitarist looking to mature as a player.

Guitar Techniques Used

• Vibrato
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends
• Double Stops
• Arpeggios
• Chord Progressions

Take your blues lead playing to the next level by mastering the soulful style of Peter Green in Black Magic Woman. This lesson is a deep dive into one of blues rock’s most emotional guitar performances – now it’s your turn to bring it to life.