About this recording
Master of Puppets · 1986 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Keep the melodic interlude and the later fast solo separate. Start with the E minor notes, then listen to how each player phrases them.
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 Natural Minor | E · F♯ · G · A · B · C · D | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | 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 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Melodic interlude solo
Guitar: James Hetfield
Where is this solo?
The melodic lead over the quieter interlude before the heavy section returns.
Start with E natural minor for the melodic interlude. Let the longer notes ring and follow one phrase at a time.
E Natural Minor
Listening guide
E natural minor is a listening guide for the melodic interlude.
E · F♯ · G · A · B · C · D
◎ Outlined dots = E, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 12–15 · 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 15: G, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 12: B, interval 5
- String 2, fret 13: C, interval ♭6
- String 2, fret 15: D, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 12: G, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 14: A, interval 4
- String 4, fret 12: D, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 14: E, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 12: A, interval 4
- String 5, fret 14: B, interval 5
- String 5, fret 15: C, interval ♭6
- String 6, fret 12: E, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 14: F♯, interval 2
- String 6, fret 15: G, interval ♭3
More about these scales
E Natural Minor Listening guide
E natural minor is a listening guide for the melodic interlude.
E · F♯ · G · A · B · C · D
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea The melodic interlude lead is associated with James Hetfield; the later fast solo with Kirk Hammett. A shared home note does not make the two leads the same passage.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- alternate picking: Alternate picking means taking turns with downstrokes and upstrokes. Use a small movement and keep each note clear before increasing speed. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Choose E Natural Minor and make a slow four-note melody. Answer with E, G and B, then finish on E. Leave a full bar between the melody and its answer.
Check: You can keep a steady pulse and hear the final note clearly.
Solo breakdown
Later fast solo
Guitar: Kirk Hammett
Where is this solo?
The later fast lead over the heavier band, after the melodic interlude.
Start with E minor pentatonic for this listening guide of the later fast lead. Add the blues note only as a local passing colour.
E Minor Pentatonic
Listening guide
E minor pentatonic is a smaller listening guide for blues-shaped phrases in the later fast lead.
E · G · A · B · D
◎ Outlined dots = E, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 12–15 · 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 15: G, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 12: B, interval 5
- String 2, fret 15: D, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 12: G, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 14: A, interval 4
- String 4, fret 12: D, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 14: E, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 12: A, interval 4
- String 5, fret 14: B, interval 5
- String 6, fret 12: E, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 15: G, interval ♭3
More about these scales
E Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
E minor pentatonic is a smaller listening guide for blues-shaped phrases in the later fast lead.
E · G · A · B · D
E Minor Blues Listening guide
E minor blues adds B♭ as a local passing colour. It does not explain every outside note in the faster feature.
E · G · A · B♭ · B · D
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea The melodic interlude lead is associated with James Hetfield; the later fast solo with Kirk Hammett. A shared home note does not make the two leads the same passage.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- alternate picking: Alternate picking means taking turns with downstrokes and upstrokes. Use a small movement and keep each note clear before increasing speed. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Choose E Minor Pentatonic and make a short four-note phrase ending on E. Leave a beat, then repeat its last two notes. Keep the ending clear before adding speed.
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.