About this recording
Hide Away · 1961 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: intermediate · Theory level: beginner
Compare E major and E minor pentatonic. The shared home note makes it easier to hear the change in blues colour.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E Major Pentatonic | E · F♯ · G♯ · B · C♯ | 1 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 6 | Listening guide |
| E Minor Pentatonic | E · G · A · B · D | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| E Minor Blues | E · G · A · B♭ · B · D | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · ♭5 · 5 · ♭7 | Practice idea |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Freddie King
Where is this solo?
A studio lead chorus in the original Freddie King instrumental. Keep this separate from Clapton’s later cover.
E Major Pentatonic
Listening guide
Use E major pentatonic for the brighter blues sound.
E · F♯ · G♯ · B · C♯
◎ Outlined dots = E, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 12–16 · 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 12: E, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 14: F♯, interval 2
- String 1, fret 16: G♯, interval 3
- String 2, fret 12: B, interval 5
- String 2, fret 14: C♯, interval 6
- String 3, fret 13: G♯, interval 3
- String 3, fret 16: B, interval 5
- String 4, fret 14: E, interval 1, root
- String 4, fret 16: F♯, interval 2
- String 5, fret 14: B, interval 5
- String 5, fret 16: C♯, interval 6
- String 6, fret 12: E, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 14: F♯, interval 2
- String 6, fret 16: G♯, interval 3
More about these scales
E Major Pentatonic Listening guide
Use E major pentatonic for the brighter blues sound.
E · F♯ · G♯ · B · C♯
E Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
Compare E Minor Pentatonic with E Major Pentatonic. Listen to G beside G♯, then compare the other notes in the two lists.
E · G · A · B · D
E Minor Blues Practice idea
Add B♭ briefly between A and B. This is a small blues exercise rather than a claimed extra scale throughout the selected chorus.
E · G · A · B♭ · B · D
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea Both maps contain E and B. Those shared notes are useful places to begin or end as you compare the major and minor sounds. Follow one chorus at a time: a chorus here is one trip through the blues chord pattern.
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 E Major Pentatonic and put G♯ in a short phrase ending on E. Then choose E Minor Pentatonic and use G in a new phrase. Keep the rhythm the same and listen for the change in character.
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.