Wait...what? Are you saying there are other scales out there besides blues scales?
Jawohl, I've heard about that,
lieber Dave, but they appparently only teach it in Europe I believe, at 03:00,
sehr elucidating as regards pinkie use too,
meine Güte ...
Some people can even do both!
I jest about it, but it might be an explanation, Eric Clapton learned guitar comparatively late and was primarily self-taught from Blues records, Ritchie learned guitar at a very early age, took classical lessons and had (in England) legendary Big Jim Sullivan as his teacher.
In the 60ies, Blackmore adored Nashville players, he thought them technically superior to anything in rock. That is why he rated Albert Lee so highly who (though not from Nashville and a Limey) mastered that style in ole Blighty.