About this recording
…And Justice for All · 1988 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Start with one small B minor listening map for the later solo. Work on the tapped notes slowly before connecting the longer runs.
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
Main solo
Guitar: Kirk Hammett
Where is this solo?
The later fast lead after the heavy repeated rhythm, beginning with tapping. The opening clean solo is a different section.
B Natural Minor
Listening guide
B natural minor is a suggested map for the later fast feature. Find B, D and F♯ 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 a suggested map for the later fast feature. Find B, D and F♯ before following a longer line.
B · C♯ · D · E · F♯ · G · A
B Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
B minor pentatonic is a smaller comparison for the blues-shaped material. Do not assume this same map explains the opening solo.
B · D · E · F♯ · A
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea Tapping means sounding a note by tapping a fret with a finger from your picking hand. It changes how the note is played, not which scale it belongs to. First identify a few landing notes; leave the fast details for a second pass.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- tapping: Tapping sounds a note by tapping a fret with a finger from your picking hand. Start slowly on one string and keep unused strings quiet. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Choose two notes on one string from the map. Pick the lower note and hammer onto the higher note. Add a single picking-hand tap on another scale note only when the first pair sounds even.
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.