The Last in Line by Dio, from The Last in Line (1984), features one of Vivian Campbell’s finest guitar solos. Fast, aggressive, and melodically coherent — it combines harmonic minor phrasing with classic heavy metal energy in a way that few solos of the era could match.
About This Lesson
Campbell constructs this solo with real musical intelligence — the phrases have direction, the technique is formidable, and the energy never lets up. It is a benchmark for 80s metal lead guitar and essential study material for anyone serious about the genre.
What You Will Work On
- Harmonic minor metal phrasing — Vivian Campbell at his most dramatic
- Fast, precise alternate picking — clean execution under metal conditions
- Melodic solo construction — phrases that tell a story from start to finish
- Aggressive bends in a metal context — wide, powerful, accurate
- Classic heavy metal energy — commitment and intensity throughout
Tips for Learning
- Compare this solo to the Holy Diver solo — Campbell’s technique evolved between albums.
- Learn the harmonic minor scale first — it is the foundation of this solo.
- Build speed methodically — clean slow playing is always better than fast sloppy playing.
- Listen to the full Dio catalog to understand the full context of Campbell’s 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.