About this recording
Holy Diver · 1983 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: advanced · Theory level: beginner
Start with A minor pentatonic, then add the two notes that make A natural minor. Keep the bends clear before trying the runs.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Minor Pentatonic | A · C · D · E · G | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| A Natural Minor | A · B · C · D · E · F · G | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| A Minor Blues | A · C · D · E♭ · E · G | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Vivian Campbell
Where is this solo?
Vivian Campbell’s main studio solo after the vocal sections, over the repeating band part.
A Minor Pentatonic
Listening guide
Use the five-note A minor pentatonic core to find the short blues phrases.
A · C · D · E · G
◎ Outlined dots = A, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 5–8 · 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 5: A, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 8: C, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 5: E, interval 5
- String 2, fret 8: G, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 5: C, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 7: D, interval 4
- String 4, fret 5: G, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 7: A, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 5: D, interval 4
- String 5, fret 7: E, interval 5
- String 6, fret 5: A, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 8: C, interval ♭3
More about these scales
A Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
Use the five-note A minor pentatonic core to find the short blues phrases.
A · C · D · E · G
A Natural Minor Listening guide
A natural minor adds B and F to the pentatonic notes. The full scale is a useful map for Campbell’s connecting runs.
A · B · C · D · E · F · G
A Minor Blues Listening guide
A minor blues adds E♭, also written D♯ in some lessons. It is an extra passing colour, not a new home note.
A · C · D · E♭ · E · G
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea A, C and E form A minor. The added B and F can connect those chord notes. Try landing on A after a run so the extra notes still have somewhere to go.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- legato: Legato means joining notes smoothly. A hammer-on sounds a higher note with your fretting finger; a pull-off sounds a lower one. Match their volume to the picked note. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Make a three-note phrase using A Minor Pentatonic. Then choose A Natural Minor and put B between A and C in a new phrase. Keep the final A longer than the connecting notes.
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.