About this recording
A Night at the Opera · 1975 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: intermediate · Theory level: beginner
Start with E♭ major pentatonic. Then add the two notes that make the full major scale and follow the melody.
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♭ Major Pentatonic | E♭ · F · G · B♭ · C | 1 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 6 | Listening guide |
| E♭ Major | E♭ · F · G · A♭ · B♭ · C · D | 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 | Listening guide |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Brian May
Where is this solo?
Brian May’s main guitar solo after the ballad section and before the operatic voices. The later heavy guitar section is separate.
E♭ Major Pentatonic
Listening guide
E♭ major pentatonic gives five clear melody notes. This is the smaller map in the original lesson.
E♭ · F · G · B♭ · C
◎ Outlined dots = E♭, the home note.
Standard tuning (teaching setup) · frets 11–15 · 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 11: E♭, interval 1, root
- String 1, fret 13: F, interval 2
- String 1, fret 15: G, interval 3
- String 2, fret 11: B♭, interval 5
- String 2, fret 13: C, interval 6
- String 3, fret 12: G, interval 3
- String 3, fret 15: B♭, interval 5
- String 4, fret 13: E♭, interval 1, root
- String 4, fret 15: F, interval 2
- String 5, fret 13: B♭, interval 5
- String 5, fret 15: C, interval 6
- String 6, fret 11: E♭, interval 1, root
- String 6, fret 13: F, interval 2
- String 6, fret 15: G, interval 3
More about these scales
E♭ Major Pentatonic Listening guide
E♭ major pentatonic gives five clear melody notes. This is the smaller map in the original lesson.
E♭ · F · G · B♭ · C
E♭ Major Listening guide
E♭ major adds A♭ and D. Compare the fuller map where the melody moves between its longer notes.
E♭ · F · G · A♭ · B♭ · C · D
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea E♭, G and B♭ form an E♭ major chord. Find those notes in both maps. They give the melody places to rest while the other notes connect one landing to the next.
Technique tips
Technique and phrasing
- vibrato: Vibrato is a small, repeated change in pitch on a held note. Start with a steady note, then add a small movement and return to the same pitch. Practice suggestion
Practice ideas
Try the ideas yourself
Original practice suggestions; these are not the recorded solo.
Try this slowly
Choose E♭ Major Pentatonic and make a slow three-note phrase ending on G. Then choose E♭ Major and add a short A♭ before returning to G. Keep G longer than the passing note.
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.