About this recording
Diary of a Madman · 1981 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Start with the unusual A minor sound in this solo. Compare D and D♯ before trying to learn the fast lines.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Hungarian Minor | A · B · C · D♯ · E · F · G♯ | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · ♯4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7 | Listening guide |
| A Harmonic Minor | A · B · C · D · E · F · G♯ | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7 | Practice idea |
| A Minor Pentatonic | A · C · D · E · G | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Randy Rhoads
Where is this solo?
The electric guitar solo over the returning verse pattern, separate from the acoustic introduction and the earlier interlude.
A Hungarian Minor
Listening guide
A Hungarian minor contains A, B, C, D♯, E, F and G♯. The original lesson identifies this raised-fourth harmonic-minor sound in the solo.
A · B · C · D♯ · E · F · G♯
◎ Outlined dots = A, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 5–8 · 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 5: A, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 7: B, interval 2
- String 1, fret 8: C, interval ♭3
- String 2, fret 5: E, interval 5
- String 2, fret 6: F, interval ♭6
- String 3, fret 5: C, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 8: D♯, interval ♯4
- String 4, fret 6: G♯, interval 7
- String 4, fret 7: A, interval 1, root
- String 5, fret 6: D♯, interval ♯4
- String 5, fret 7: E, interval 5
- String 5, fret 8: F, interval ♭6
- String 6, fret 5: A, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 7: B, interval 2
- String 6, fret 8: C, interval ♭3
More about these scales
A Hungarian Minor Listening guide
A Hungarian minor contains A, B, C, D♯, E, F and G♯. The original lesson identifies this raised-fourth harmonic-minor sound in the solo.
A · B · C · D♯ · E · F · G♯
A Harmonic Minor Practice idea
A harmonic minor has D instead of D♯. Compare that one note to hear what makes the first map different.
A · B · C · D · E · F · G♯
A Minor Pentatonic Listening guide
A minor pentatonic gives a smaller listening guide for the closing blues-shaped phrases.
A · C · D · E · G
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea Harmonic minor raises G to G♯. Raising its fourth note as well changes D to D♯, giving A Hungarian minor. Learn the sound of D♯ leading into E before worrying about the longer scale name.
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 A Harmonic Minor and play D–E. Then choose A Hungarian Minor and play D♯–E at the same speed. Hold E after each pair and listen to the different first step.
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.