About this recording
Powerslave · 1984 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
The three lead breaks share a B minor reference. Follow one break at a time and notice how the phrasing changes.
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 Natural Minor | B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| B Minor Pentatonic | B · D · E · F♯ · A | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
First solo
Guitar: Dave Murray
Where is this solo?
The first lead break over the quieter B minor backing, before Adrian Smith takes over.
B Natural Minor
Listening guide
B natural minor is the seven-note reference for Murray’s first lead break. Find the outlined B notes before following a longer line.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · 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 9: C♯, interval 2
- String 1, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 7: F♯, interval 5
- String 2, fret 8: G, interval ♭6
- 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 5, fret 10: G, interval ♭6
- String 6, fret 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 9: C♯, interval 2
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
More about these scales
B Natural Minor Listening guide
B natural minor is the seven-note reference for Murray’s first lead break. Find the outlined B notes before following a longer line.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A
B Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
B minor pentatonic leaves out C♯ and G. Use the smaller map to find the blues-shaped parts inside the longer lines.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea A B minor chord contains B, D and F♯. Those same landing notes can anchor a slower phrase or a fast run. A change of player does not automatically mean a change of scale.
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
In B Natural Minor, make a slow three-note phrase ending on B. Hold B for four beats. Let the note ring evenly before making a second phrase.
Check: You can keep a steady pulse and hear the final note clearly.
Solo breakdown
Second solo
Guitar: Adrian Smith
Where is this solo?
The middle lead break, between Dave Murray’s two featured solos.
Keep B minor in view as Adrian Smith takes over. Compare his note lengths and pauses with the first solo.
B Natural Minor
Listening guide
B natural minor is also the reference for Smith’s middle break. Keep the same home note and listen to a different set of phrases.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · 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 9: C♯, interval 2
- String 1, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 7: F♯, interval 5
- String 2, fret 8: G, interval ♭6
- 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 5, fret 10: G, interval ♭6
- String 6, fret 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 9: C♯, interval 2
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
More about these scales
B Natural Minor Listening guide
B natural minor is also the reference for Smith’s middle break. Keep the same home note and listen to a different set of phrases.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A
B Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
B minor pentatonic leaves out C♯ and G. Use the smaller map to find the blues-shaped parts inside the longer lines.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea The home-note reference stays B minor for this break. Try ending on D, the minor third, instead of always choosing B. Both notes belong to the chord, but the endings feel different.
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
Choose B Minor Pentatonic. Make a short phrase ending on B, then repeat it with D as the ending. Keep the same rhythm so you can hear just the change of landing note.
Check: You can keep a steady pulse and hear the final note clearly.
Solo breakdown
Third solo
Guitar: Dave Murray
Where is this solo?
Dave Murray’s return after Adrian Smith’s middle solo.
Return to B minor for Murray’s final break. Follow a short repeated idea before trying to hear the whole run.
B Natural Minor
Listening guide
Use B natural minor again for Murray’s return. Learn one small group and its ending before connecting a longer run.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · 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 9: C♯, interval 2
- String 1, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 7: F♯, interval 5
- String 2, fret 8: G, interval ♭6
- 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 5, fret 10: G, interval ♭6
- String 6, fret 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 9: C♯, interval 2
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
More about these scales
B Natural Minor Listening guide
Use B natural minor again for Murray’s return. Learn one small group and its ending before connecting a longer run.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A
B Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
B minor pentatonic leaves out C♯ and G. Use the smaller map to find the blues-shaped parts inside the longer lines.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea B, D and F♯ still give you three chord-note landmarks. A run can grow longer while returning to the same landmark. Listen for the ending before trying to follow every note in between.
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
In B Natural Minor, repeat a three-note idea twice. On the third attempt, keep the first two notes and finish on a higher B. Leave a bar of silence before starting again.
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.