About this recording
Completely Well · 1969 · Universal Music Group album-track upload dated 2018-08-07; provider metadata lists release 1969-12-05. Do not substitute a later live duet or tribute.
Playing level: developing · Theory level: beginner
Start with B minor pentatonic. Listen for how much B.B. King says with a held note and a pause.
The scales at a glance
Compare the notes
Learn these shapes, then see how they help explain each solo below. Some are extra ideas for your own practice.
| Scale | Notes | Intervals | Use in this study |
|---|---|---|---|
| B Minor Pentatonic | B · D · E · F♯ · A | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| B Natural Minor | B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Practice idea |
| B Harmonic Minor | B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A♯ | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7 | Practice idea |
Solo breakdown
Opening solo
Guitar: B. B. King
Where is this solo?
The opening studio lead break before the first vocal. Later live versions have different phrases.
B Minor Pentatonic
Listening guide
Use B minor pentatonic to follow the short blues phrases. Keep B, the home note, easy to find.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
◎ Outlined dots = B, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 7–10 · high string 1 at top · toward nut →
These dots show where the scale notes are. They do not show the order of the solo.
Read the note positions
- String 1, fret 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 7: F♯, interval 5
- String 2, fret 10: A, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 7: D, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 9: E, interval 4
- String 4, fret 7: A, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 9: B, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 7: E, interval 4
- String 5, fret 9: F♯, interval 5
- String 6, fret 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
More about these scales
B Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
Use B minor pentatonic to follow the short blues phrases. Keep B, the home note, easy to find.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
B Natural Minor Practice idea
Add C♯ and G for a seven-note comparison. This extra map is a practice choice, not a claim that every phrase uses all seven notes.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A
B Harmonic Minor Practice idea
Compare A with A♯ as the music turns back towards B minor. The raised note can fit F♯7; it does not replace the whole blues map.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A♯
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea A chord tone is a note in the chord underneath you. B, D and F♯ belong to B minor. F♯7 contains A♯ instead of A, so one landing note can change as the chord changes.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- vibrato: Vibrato is a small, repeated change in pitch on a held note. Start with a steady note, then add a small movement and return to the same pitch. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Play one B and let it ring for two beats. Answer with two nearby notes and return to B. Leave a full beat of silence before repeating.
Check: You can keep a steady pulse and hear the final note clearly.
A simple practice plan
Put the study into practice
- Listen to the chosen solo and identify its beginning and ending.
- Find the root notes: the notes the scale is named after. Say their names, then play them.
- Add one new note, or aim for a note from the chord. Make a short phrase of your own.
- Listen to the solo again. Can you hear where the phrase comes to rest?
Updated 2026-11-10
This analysis may contain errors or inaccuracies.