About this recording
Still Got the Blues · 1990 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: advanced · Theory level: beginner
Start with A minor. Then compare the seventh note when the chords pull the music back towards A.
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 Harmonic Minor | A · B · C · D · E · F · G♯ | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7 | Listening guide |
| A Dorian | A · B · C · D · E · F♯ · G | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · ♭7 | Practice idea |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Gary Moore
Where is this solo?
The main instrumental guitar break in the studio song, after the vocal material. The opening theme is not this selected break.
A Minor Pentatonic
Listening guide
A minor pentatonic is a useful smaller map for the bending 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
A minor pentatonic is a useful smaller map for the bending phrases.
A · C · D · E · G
A Natural Minor Listening guide
A natural minor is the main seven-note reference in this analysis.
A · B · C · D · E · F · G
A Harmonic Minor Listening guide
A harmonic minor raises G to G♯. That note fits E major or E7 when the harmony pulls back to A minor.
A · B · C · D · E · F · G♯
A Dorian Practice idea
A Dorian replaces F with F♯. Compare it over a separate A-minor-to-D7 practice change; do not put it over every part of the selected solo.
A · B · C · D · E · F♯ · G
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea Desi Serna’s analysis follows the chord changes rather than assigning one scale to the whole song. E7 contains G♯, while A natural minor contains G. Try hearing that one-note change before learning another large shape.
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
Choose A Minor Pentatonic and play A, C and E slowly. Then choose A Harmonic Minor and play G♯ followed by A. Give the final A two beats and listen to the pull from the note just below it.
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.