About this recording
Rust in Peace · 1990 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Start with B minor and find its chord notes. Listen for how Friedman aims a phrase at a note as the backing 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 Minor Pentatonic | B · D · E · F♯ · A | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| B Natural Minor | B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Marty Friedman
Where is this solo?
Marty Friedman’s extended featured guitar solo in the studio song, before the closing return of the band part.
B Minor Pentatonic
Listening guide
B minor pentatonic gives a small map for the bending phrases.
B · D · E · F♯ · 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 10: D, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 7: F♯, interval 5
- 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 6, fret 7: B, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval ♭3
More about these scales
B Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
B minor pentatonic gives a small map for the bending phrases.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
B Natural Minor Listening guide
B natural minor adds C♯ and G. Use it as a wider listening reference for the connected lines.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea The original teaching analysis follows B5, G5, E5, F♯5 and A5 under the solo. A power chord has no third. Its root and fifth give you two clear notes to listen for as the lead moves above it.
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 and play a short phrase ending on B. Then choose B Natural Minor and make a second ending on G. Keep the beginning the same so you can hear what the new landing note changes.
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.