The lead: key of A minor

For the lead part we are using the A minor scale in a couple of places across the neck. It is really important to visualise the scale shapes as you learn the part, which allows you to take the licks you are learning and use them in your own improvisation. Below are 5 shapes of the A minor scale. Remember that most of the lead part is based in that shape 4 on the 12th fret... So try to visualise that!

Other scales: The harmonic Minor

You will also occasionally hear a note that is outside of the basic A minor scale. This note is from the A harmonic minor scale. The harmonic minor scale is identical to the natural minor, except we raise the 7th degree by a semi-tone (one fret). This gives us a slightly darker sound that really wants to resolve to the root of A. In the video, Simon uses this note within shape 4 & shape 1 of the A minor scale, and therefore we get the A harmonic minor scales as shown here:

Chords: Arpeggiated open chords

When you come to play the chord part of the song you will notice that we are using all open chord shapes and that we are arpeggiating through the chords. This simply means to pick through individual notes rather than to strum them. The chords we are using for the entire track (which loops these chords) are:

melodic run: Chord shapes

There is a really cool melodic chord pattern that happens in the third loop, which we have popped onto the fretboard below, to help you learn this viually.

Bonus parts: The Held Note!

Halfway through this track Gary Moore takes the first note off the lead part and holds it... For some time! In the recorded track it's for a few seconds, but live he manages to stretch that out even further. How? Well, as Simon explains you need:

• 1. Have a lot of gain on your amp
• 2. Have the amp nice and loud!
• 3. Be close to the amp to start the feedback loop
• 4. It also helps to have a compressor on
• 5. Hoit the note sweetly, and then add vibrato as the note dies out

This is just a bit of fun really... See how long you can keep that note ringing out for! Can you beat Simon, even when he is just at teaching volume?! Good luck!