Holy Diver by Dio, from Holy Diver (1983), is a heavy metal anthem featuring a guitar solo by Vivian Campbell that is fast, aggressive, and built on classic heavy metal vocabulary. Campbell was one of the best metal guitarists of his era and this solo is a prime example of his work.
About This Lesson
Campbell’s solo combines harmonic minor phrasing with fast alternate picking and explosive bends — the complete package for classic heavy metal lead guitar. The phrases are well-constructed and the technique is demanding. An essential study for any guitarist serious about heavy metal.
What You Will Work On
- Harmonic minor metal phrasing — the dark, dramatic sound of classic metal
- Fast alternate picking — clean and precise under high-gain conditions
- Explosive string bends — aggressive, wide, pitch-accurate
- Metal solo construction — phrases that build toward a climax
- Classic heavy metal vocabulary — the language of early 80s metal lead guitar
Tips for Learning
- Learn the harmonic minor scale before tackling the solo phrases.
- Build speed slowly — sloppy speed in metal sounds worse than slow and clean.
- Match the conviction and aggression — metal soloing demands total commitment.
- Listen to the full Holy Diver album to absorb Campbell’s complete style.
WANT TO MASTER THIS SOLO PROPERLY?
Private Rock Guitar Lessons via Zoom — Diego Fonseca
Rock & metal specialist with 20+ years of teaching. Students across the US and Canada. I will build a lesson plan around the music you actually want to play — solos, technique, theory.
✔ Free 30-min trial lesson ✔ US & Canada timezones ✔ $240/month · 4 lessons
Fill out the form and Diego will reply within 12 hours.