About this recording
Disraeli Gears · 1967 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: intermediate · Theory level: beginner
Keep the same home note as you compare D minor and D major pentatonic. The change in colour matters more than speed.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Minor Pentatonic | D · F · G · A · C | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| D Major Pentatonic | D · E · F♯ · A · B | 1 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 6 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Eric Clapton
Where is this solo?
Clapton’s studio guitar solo after the vocal sections, before the main song returns.
D Minor Pentatonic
Listening guide
Use D minor pentatonic as the first map for the blues phrases.
D · F · G · A · C
◎ Outlined dots = D, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 10–13 · 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 10: D, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 13: F, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 10: A, interval 5
- String 2, fret 13: C, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 10: F, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 12: G, interval 4
- String 4, fret 10: C, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 12: D, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 10: G, interval 4
- String 5, fret 12: A, interval 5
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 13: F, interval ♭3
More about these scales
D Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
Use D minor pentatonic as the first map for the blues phrases.
D · F · G · A · C
D Major Pentatonic Listening guide
D major pentatonic gives the brighter comparison. Find F♯ and hear how it differs from F in the minor map.
D · E · F♯ · A · B
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea F is the minor third above D; F♯ is the major third. A third is the note that helps a chord or phrase sound major or minor. Compare those notes slowly before mixing the two maps.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- bending: A bend raises a note by pushing the string across the fretboard. Play the target note first, then bend a lower note until it matches. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Choose D Minor Pentatonic and play a short phrase ending on F. Then choose D Major Pentatonic and make a phrase ending on F♯. Keep the same rhythm so you can hear what the changed note does.
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.