Notice
Vinnie Moore proves on this number that he is not just another speed demon/clone, as his playing features imagination, authority and control. He also has no shortage of technique, proven in his execution of the melodic and harmonic sections of the tune. Many of these lines are similar to what you'll find in Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin and Paganini's 24 Caprices, favorite study pieces of many metal guitarists. The opening line [A] and Main Theme [B] are based on G natural minor (also known as the Aeolian mode: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F). Vinnie combines arpeggios (bars 4 & 8) with fleet, descending scalar phrases (bars 6, 7, 10 & 11), utilizing the harmony of a third, primarily diatonic to G natural minor. Theme # 2 [C] is based on the fifth mode of D harmonic minor, which is the same as A Phrygian, with a natural third in place of the minor third (A, Bb, C#, D, E, F, G). Inherent within this scale is the Bb diminished arpeggio (Bb, C#, E, G), which the subsequent harmony lines are based on. Theme # 3 [D] features harmony lines based on F# Aeolian (F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E).
Vinnie's solo [E] begins with slow, balanced phrases based on G natural minor, utilizing wide intervals and references to G pentatonic minor (G, Bb, C, D, F). This is followed by a tonality switch to B minor, featuring lines based on B natural minor (B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A), which is then followed by another switch, this time to E minor, featuring the E natural minor scale (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D). Vinnie's phrasing throughout the entire solo is incredibly fluid, as his execution seems effortless, even during the most difficult sections.
Working this tune up to tempo is a guaranteed chops builder, and if you can catch Vinnie, you'll have accomplished quite a feat. But a more valuable lesson is that music is not made complete by technique alone; guitarists such as John McLaughlin, Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth and Vinnie Moore have proven that a true virtuoso speaks from his heart as well as from his hands.
Andy West plays a 5 string bass on this tune.