About this recording
Bark at the Moon · 1983 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Start with D minor pentatonic, then add the two natural minor notes. Treat the longer runs as small groups rather than one long shape.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D Minor Pentatonic | D · F · G · A · C | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| D Natural Minor | D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
| A Phrygian | A · B♭ · C · D · E · F · G | 1 · ♭2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Jake E. Lee
Where is this solo?
Jake E. Lee’s main studio solo in the song. The separate lead over the ending fade is not this section.
D Minor Pentatonic
Listening guide
D minor pentatonic is the first map in Chris Zoupa’s breakdown of the main solo.
D · F · G · A · C
◎ Outlined dots = D, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 10–13 · 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 10: D, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 13: F, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 10: A, interval 5
- String 2, fret 13: C, interval ♭7
- String 3, fret 10: F, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 12: G, interval 4
- String 4, fret 10: C, interval ♭7
- String 4, fret 12: D, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 10: G, interval 4
- String 5, fret 12: A, interval 5
- String 6, fret 10: D, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 13: F, interval ♭3
More about these scales
D Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
D minor pentatonic is the first map in Chris Zoupa’s breakdown of the main solo.
D · F · G · A · C
D Natural Minor Listening guide
D natural minor adds E and B♭. These notes widen the connecting lines beyond the pentatonic shape.
D · E · F · G · A · B♭ · C
A Phrygian Listening guide
A Phrygian contains the same notes as D natural minor. It names a different reference point for a later run; this alone does not establish a whole-song key change.
A · B♭ · C · D · E · F · G
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea D minor and A Phrygian share their notes. You do not need to learn a new collection just because a run is described from A. Find the starting note of the small group and keep its ending clear.
D Minor arpeggio
D · F · A · 1 · ♭3 · 5
Play these chord notes separately and listen for a clear ending. This is a chord-note reference, not the order of a recorded passage.
Practice idea Compare the notes of D minor as an original chord-tone exercise.
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 D Natural Minor and pick four notes for a short phrase. Repeat the same rhythm from A using notes in that map. End both ideas on D so you can hear the shared note collection.
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.