Tune each string down half a step: E♭ · A♭ · D♭ · G♭ · B♭ · E♭, from thickest to thinnest. These fret positions sound different in standard tuning.
About this recording
Rising Force · 1984 · Original album studio recording
Playing level: expert · Theory level: beginner
Start with E♭ Harmonic Minor for the electric lead. Compare its raised seventh slowly before trying the faster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E♭ Harmonic Minor | E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · 7 | Listening guide |
| E♭ Natural Minor | E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭ | 1 · 2 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭6 · ♭7 | Practice idea |
| E♭ Minor Pentatonic | E♭ · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · D♭ | 1 · ♭3 · 4 · 5 · ♭7 | Practice idea |
Solo breakdown
Main solo
Guitar: Yngwie Malmsteen
Where is this solo?
The featured electric lead development after the main theme, separate from the opening acoustic introduction.
E♭ Harmonic Minor
Listening guide
Try E♭ Harmonic Minor as a listening guide for the electric lead. D is one fret below E♭, giving a strong pull towards the home note.
E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D
◎ Outlined dots = E♭, the home note.
E-flat 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 3, fret 12: G♭, interval ♭3
- String 3, fret 14: A♭, interval 4
- String 4, fret 13: 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♭ Harmonic Minor Listening guide
Try E♭ Harmonic Minor as a listening guide for the electric lead. D is one fret below E♭, giving a strong pull towards the home note.
E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D
E♭ Natural Minor Practice idea
E♭ Natural Minor has D♭ instead of D. Compare that note with E♭ Harmonic Minor using the same home note.
E♭ · F · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · C♭ · D♭
E♭ Minor Pentatonic Practice idea
E♭ Minor Pentatonic gives a smaller practice map. It helps you find E♭ without using every note of the larger scales.
E♭ · G♭ · A♭ · B♭ · D♭
How the chords shape the solo
Chords and note choices
Listen for the landing note
Listening idea A diminished seventh chord uses notes three frets apart. It is a chord pattern, rather than another name for a minor scale. Keep the chord notes separate from the scale map when comparing fast figures.
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 play D♭–E♭. Then choose E♭ Harmonic Minor and play D–E♭. Let E♭ ring after each pair and keep the same rhythm while comparing the sounds.
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.