Top 10 Iron Maiden Guitar Solos

Yes, I know this is very opinionated, but no one else I know has strong enough opinions on Maiden to have this kind of discussion with me, and I really want to know what other Maiden-heads think! Ok, here we go...

01. Janick Gers - Hallowed Be Thy Name, Live At Rock In Rio.

This is my favourite guitar solo ever. I think you need to know Adrian's really well to properly appreciate it though. The bit where Gers carries on where it stops on the recorded version is fantastic. Little things, I guess...

02. Adrian Smith - Paschendale, Dance Of Death.

Wonderfully melodic solo that fits the mood and atmosphere of the song perfectly.

03. Dave Murray - Hallowed Be Thy Name, number of the Beast.

Sends shivers down my spine every time. Awesome

04. Smith/Gers - The Trooper, Live At Rock In Rio

Another fantastically melodic piece. I think they should do all the solos that Janick comandeered from 1990-1999 thius way (ie, both Ade and Janick play it together).

05. Smith - The Evil That Men Do, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son.

Excellent use of delay pedal (as you can see, Adrian is certainly my favourite player!).

06. Murray - Sanctuary, Iron Maiden

Sounds really raw and exciting. The little melodic 'twinkly' bit afterwards is ace too.

07. Smith - No More Lies, Dance Of Death.

Really exciting solo. Takes the song to a whole new level.

08. Smith - Stranger In A Strange Land, Somewhere In Time

Really decent solo in a decidedly average song. Again, brings the song up to a whole new musical and emotional level.

09. Smith - The Wicker Man, Brave New World

Not really the solo as such, but the bit played before and after it. You know, the "doo, diddly doo" bit. No? Ok then.

10. Gers - Lord Of The Flies, The X Factor.

Really laid back and cool this one. One of the fewer Maiden solos that slow down somewhat, rather than speed up.

Well, there you go. I do think I can judge, really. I may not nbe as old as some fans, but I own each and every album, DVD, video whatever. Yes, I know there's far too much Adrian Smith, and yes, I know it's scandolous (is that how it's spelt?) I've only included two from Dave Murray, but this really is just my opinion and I'd love to hear yours.

Jack

Comments

[The Oceanborn]

I think Adrian and Dave are both equally good players
I agree with most of the solos, don't know X factor at all and I wouldn't like Hallowed be thy name enough to name it twice in top ten, but this is a good list
My personal favourite is the Powerslave solo.

[hobo8917]

this should go in the forums...? better for discussing i'd think

[battleofla]

Yeah, I don't really think this is a colum, but good choices, exept for hallowed by they name twice.

[Lymbe]

A true Maiden-head will answer: every f#ckin one However best one for me is the slow-melodic solo in "The Nomad"...Blows my mind every time I hear it, I couldn't believe they could still write music like that

[frazzledazzle]

i know the doo diddly doo part, that part rules
first maiden lick i ever learned

[_TJ_]

I realy like janick's solo in blood brothers, very melodic and cool. Good choices tho.

[IRISH MAN]

Dave is better but Adrian is a brilliant writer

[psychodelia]

I also kindov like the end of the fear of the dark solo. Its all opinions though i guess.

[yertletheturtle]

\m/The Wicker Man\m/

[stiff-upper-lip]

the wicker man solo rules, its just the way he goes from the main bit to the solo awsume and i think its the Evil That Men Do, that has a awsume solo, just the way it carries on like the intro and the bass in it goes amazin with the guitar!!!

[AlekOne]

"02. Adrian Smith - Paschendale, Dance Of Death" -these should be number one on that list...

[marijnnijs]

i cant understand why there fear of the dark!! the melody is just blistering

[guitar_freak523]

i think i like iron maiden but gers solo's are repetive sometimes

[janecoffin27]

Maiden rules. I like pretty much every solo but if I had to choose....I don't know. I don't tend to think of things like favorites. Powerslave and HBTN are really cool though.

[HeyStoopid]

I love maiden and every solo, except the one in dance of death but every one is awesome but my 3 favourite solos are in bruce dickinson's arc of space, Sabbath's Dirty Women and the intro solo to BLAZE's kill and destroy

[Coolvortex]

You should have mentioned smith's solo in number of the beast. that one rocks!!

[maiden explorer]

pretty gd but i woulda mentioned - gers blood brothers , murray brave new world , murray rain maker , smith aces high , & probably more

[PsychoWolfD]

I also like the "Fear of the Dark" solo, sounds best in that Rock in Rio album.

[Wounded Hamster]

Agreed on the Lord of the Flies solo, the whole X Factor album is so underrated. Having said that I like all your choices, and I disagree with whoever said 'Number of the Beast', that is one of Iron Maiden's worst songs...

[#_of_the_beast]

terrible list.. the solos in brave new world, 2 minutes to midnight, 7th son, and the best one.... sign of the cross at rio, are not even on there, the ones i just listed are the best

[#_of_the_beast]

ohh.. and i forgot about the solo in dance of death, all 3 are great. dave goes insaine

[Valhalla]

Im sure evvv..eryone agree's with you #_of_the_beast.

[YouKnowYourRite]

See..why does everyone care about your opinion, no offence but this seems like a pointless opiion-based article

[Rockstar_450]

i didn't rate it because i'm not that into iron maiden (i got a couple of thier albums but i'm not into them enough to be worthy to rate this lol)

but please do not abbreviate a band name on an article. :/

[Lymbe]

Hallowed...

[slash is god]

The clairvoyant is one of the best songs and best solos. I dont know who plays it

[Gullder]

hye buddy all these solo are freakin good, but you totally forgot about the aces high solo. i think its the best since the hallwed be thy name solos!

[Erich yeung]

i love the solo done by both adrian and dave in killers

[reed]

Their best solo was on Murders in the Rue Morgue.

[EarthAD]

2 minutes to midnight should be on the list...

i like the Futureal solo too.....

I think the numbe of the beast solo should be on... the solos good, but i dont like the song

[cpt_pimp]

2 Minutes to Midnight, definetily. Just how it builds up, slows down, then goes back into the intro. Hallowed Be Thy Name is awesome, my personal favorite. And the Trooper on Rock in Rio is the sh^t for me... basically 'cause the melody is pertty simple but he just makes it sound so cool (when i say "he", i don't know who 'cause they're all so good can't tell them apart).
What i don't like about Maiden's solos is that you really can't tell them apart anymore; a lot of them are similar.

[bobjewell87]

What no Fear of the Dark at Donnigton? ah well nevermind, fun article

[dirk009]

acdc

[dirk009]

just talking

[dirk009]

lalallaalalal
f u all

[erling]

the Wasted years solo is the best imo....

Go *** yourself dirk009

[Metalirondeth]

Well... Iron Maiden is the best band that ever lived i don't really hav a favourite but i think many many would agree that the HBTN solo is one of the best ever gives me the chills everytime i hear it!!! All solos are great!!! Adrian Smith you are the best guitarist ever!!! Don't stop writing!! I like all the songs they ever made but i also think that some will agree that Back In the Village is the best fast song they ever wrote. Written of course by Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson... until next time keep playin guitar heros...

[frusciante_5]

TJ_:
I realy like janick's solo in blood brothers, very melodic and cool. Good choices tho.
[POSTED: 09 November 2004 - 13:27]

totally agree with u there,

im also glad u chose hallowed be thy name at rock in rio, thats ***ing awesome

[reed]

Metalirondeath: Smith is not an amazing guitarist. I love his solos and all the stuff he writes, but there are many guitarists out there that beat him into a cocked hat.

[Adrian_Smith]

Janick's take on HBTN is ***ing disgrace IMO.
IMO the best solosection they've ever done is Powerslave(Dave/Adrian/Dave), ROTAM or Alexander the Great. Those three are all jawdropping displays.

[Hammet15]

they all suck, not one good solo on there

[Metalology]

My favourite is the Powerslave solos

[MisterChainsaw]

Maiden is cool, but thier solos get repetive sometime, but so do all 80's hair band solos. they all sound the same, on B and high e from the 12th to the 21st frets. Always.

[reed]

MisterChainsaw, you are wrong on that statement.

[ahg_9004]

i think all of them complement each others , that's a characteristic of this great band (one of my favorites), i'm agree that the solos of "dance of death" and "paschendale " are the best ones . I wonder if somebody knows where to get that tabs?

[estranged_2003]

1 word transylvania.

[yeller56]

^3*

[erling]

1 *

[BMAN12688]

i think your hott, and all the solos are great (feeling pretty random so yeah)

[Gullder]

yo maiden kicks ass along with its fans, but buddy, u 4got aces high solo

[R00k13]

I agree on this one..aces high is one of the great. transylvania is also a great. dude..you know what wouldve save trouble...talking about the crappy maiden solos..that way.. there wouldnt of been any article.

[animike123]

I have to say Flight of Icarus is one of my favorite..its not amazingly good, but its one of the only i can actualy play all through, lol (intermediate guitarist over here)

[The Oceanborn]

well now that everybody said HBTN is so great I listened to it over and over and now i think it's one of he worst solos ever, it's somewhat fast, maybe, but not melodic at all and sounds just bad i think

[streetrider16]

the solo in age of innocence on dance of death is brilliant. just the right sound and very melodic
or in 22 acacia avenue thats good too

[)Eric(Draven]

If everyone did this with a band that they felt strongly about we would have a UG full of dumbasses... oh... wait... ok nevermind I guess this was alright then.

[Scottydont26]

Smith and Murray are the only guitarists that deserve mentioning. You need to listen to the first 3 albums
more. Hallowed is the only one worth a crap on your list.

[danielreid]

my fav maiden solo is wasted years, its classic smith and that complicated bit towards the end (which i the tab on this site is totally wrong for) is amazing i wish i could play it! also it has an extended bit where it still plays when the chorus comes back in, i love that stuff.

[glpledzep145]

who gives a shit?

[Michaelpalkowsk]

yeah i agree with you. i dont like maden much anymore though

[TornadoOfSouls]

The Duellists from the album Powerslave.

[chadhack]

hmmm i love maiden i have all their cds and alot of the unreleased stuff. I agree with alot of his songs but he left out alot. Fear of the dark live(donnington or rock in rio they both kicked ass). Dance of death (the solo acompanied by the keyboard was rel cool) Blood brothers.Sign of the cross.

[GreGus]

forgetting Phantom Of The Opera????

[mr_johnny_lee]

Blood Brothers!!

[slash1965]

i agree with most of the choices made, although i do agree with "chadhack" Blood Brothers and Dance of Death both have kick ass solos... And thank god someone else out there agrees with me about Adrian Smith he is my favourite guitarist in Maiden, but everyone else really prefers Dave Murray...

[danielreid]

most people prefer dave because they think he is better because he plays the faster parts of solos, which im not sayign is bad at all, but i (and most other guitarists i know) prefer adrian because his solos are way more melodic and well crafted, and his licks are just gorgeous.

[scumfuc_69]

wow, who the *** really cares?! how about the Ramones top 50 guitar solos.

[danielreid]

everyone who has posted here with a valid comment cares, so why not stop being an ass and piss off scumfuc_69 (wow a 69 in your name how original)

[Eddy Vanhalen]

johny ramone never did a guitar solo in the ramones

[Atreideslegend]

hmm i think aces high definatly deserved a mention in there...theres just sumthing about those dive bombs that ure blood tingle...

[Metal_Onslaught]

Powerslave must be on this list too... give it a listen again, you'll see what I mean Up the irons!!

[Iron-Priest]

What about the entire Killers album?? Every song has 1 or more kick ass solo in it! esp Wrathchild,Another Life, Killers, and Ghengis Kahn. And what about Children of the Damned, 22 arcacia Avenue and Run to the hills!? PS. Stranger In A Strange land is an awesome song even without the solo...

[moulpatr]

The Maiden will never get old!

[moulpatr]

The Run To The Hills solo sounds pretty sweet also.

[jamjarohrah]

Theres to many, u cant reeli make a top ten. More lime a top 50.

[slash_rhoads]

Please some one stop top 10 lists

[deadkenedy]

I concur.

[SteveHarris]

its impossible to name the top ten maiden solos as they are all amazing. if i had to pick i would choose the dance of death solo as its f***..g amazing. i suggest you listen to it!

[SteveHarris]

Forgot about sign of the cross in rio. watch the dvd when dave starts playing the finger tapping!!!!

[JoeBoy779]

All of them rock I love maiden

[Cradl_of_filth]

i personally loved fear of the dark rock in rio solo , but iron maiden just rocks and thats it

[Gullder]

yes iron maiden rocks, but dont forget the aces high solo

[Italianstallion]

No more lies and wicker man, best maiden songs ever?

[Little blood]

I think the solo in run to the hills is ace! Dunno who does it though in the album version

[istandalone]

i like the solo on the lost in time song of there newer album it is really good but i dont think it is one of the best

[Half Monkey]

You can't rate Maidens solos, they all rule!

[eddie_giggs]

i can never find fault with maiden but have to say that my fav has to be the solo in live after death 22 acacia avenue

[high voltage]

Sure. Those are great solos. But who are you to judge? You can't raelly compare solos either, each peice has its own deep meaning.

[oppressor]

Yes you can some solos just get to you more than other solos. UP THE IRONS!

[axeslinger01]

FEAR OF THE DARK!!!..

[shaofu0424]

i can remember eating toaster strudel and listening to iron maiden b4 going to junior high... i guess i grew up with them... i saw a bootleg not long ago from a concert somewhere in germany and dave murray just kept wailing after the song was done with these hendrixian feedback bluesy licks... and bruce dickinson comes running over... seemed like he wanted him to shut up... this got me to thinking, i wonder what it was like to have those five guys, who were all talented at playing and partying, having to hit cues night after night for a year or two at a time... i bet it drove em crazy... practice the beginner's mind... peace...

[Rodders]

Phantom of the Operas my favourite

[slashs_snakepit]

I think the bestsolo of maiden is the solo in Face in the Sand

[adriansmith82]

someone forget the prisoner and die with your boots on solos....they rocks

[NilsNiiils]

Hey, don't forget the nice, melodic solo on Prowler! *roflmao* Man, it's not a bad solo, but it kinda sucks in a special way

[InitialJRift]

ehh, i don't think any of Janick's from RIR were THAT awesome, i think he tends to just shred a liii..ttle too much, Davey's solo in Brave New World from RIR, amazing!!!

[eddie_giggs]

some of the solos sound that good because the other solos compliment them. adrian is a brilliant writer but i think murray is just so unique. i cant think of another metal guitarist who sounds like murray. janick's ben producing some good stuff lately but HTBN in RIR no 1. well, mate he's absolutely butchered smith's solo. yeah i agree, he shreds a little too much during live performances in particular

[Stian_S]

Have you heard "The Sign of the Cross" solo from Rock in Rio.. Amazing, Dave and Janic owned!

[Gayan D.]

the solo in New Frontier is awesome, the way adrian smith comes in with the 7th fret harmonic on the G3rd string... just listen to it, its awesome. Janicks solo in DOD (the third one) is bloody awesome, too. i love clairvoyant, too, i mean, there's such a change when they go from the chorus to the solo, and the solo itself is damn good. all three solo's in paschendale are awesome too. janicks solo in blood brothers really hits the spot. you know what, it's not possible to judge which solo is the best. all are frikin' awesome. Maiden rules.

[Punk_Dude2005]

Ah so many good Maiden solos out there..Yeah Dance of Death is my favorite one..Im surprised none of you have mentioned Run to the Hills tho I get jumpy everytime I hear that

[Wickerman_18]

WAt abut Aces High omg how could ull guys forget that

[tidus730]

aces high is the shit

[tidus730]

and caught somewhere in time is also awesome, where smith begins and then does a slide on bass E string and then palm mutes while tremolo picks; that brings shivers down my back. transylvania is also awesome, great harmonies

[NilsNiiils]

I mean, pointing out 10 great Iron Maiden solos must be hell... 80-90% of their solos are awesome!

[metalhead10691]

daves better at crazy fast solos but janic n adrian r better a chords n dat
UP THE IRONS!!!

[Damage, Inc.]

Best solos: wasted years, paschendale, wicker man, HBTN, ROTAM, blood brothers, aces high, afraid to shoot strangers

Best Guitarist: Adrian Smith > Dave Murray > Janick Gers

Adrian Smith's solos are technically the hardest to play as he sweep picks, shreds and crafts a solo more than his counterparts, yet he still makes it flow well and sound melodic and catchy. His licks are somewhat unorthodox to produce from an improvisational point of view, which is what gives his solos that more crafted and pre-meditated feel. Best songwriter of the 3 also.

Dave's solos are the fastest because of his amazing legato speed (hammering and pick offs) using minor scale, dorian mode and blues/pentatonic scales. He can play a flurry of notes in these scales at blistering speed and also uses some really cool tapping to make his solos sound fast and agressive. His style seems more improvised than that of Adrian and Janick

Janick is more of a raw soloist. He can too can play quite fast like Dave but it doesn't usually have the same effect because he picks more of his notes rather than relying on legato. This leaves his faster solo work sounding somewhat untight and less natural in his delivery compared to the smoothness of Murray or the crafy Smith. I think he at the top of his game when he plays a slower melodic solo such as Blood Brothers

[Damage, Inc.]

by the way, im not trying to pass off my opinions as fact although i am a very experienced guitarist myself and i think i have a decent opinion

i just want to see what others thought and provoke some discussion/abuse

cheers

[vinayrulz]

totally agree with Damage ...

Wish me luck guys...attempting to play last solo ( Gers ) of blood brothers for a show ( first attempt )...

cheers...

[vinayrulz]

Agree with Damage ...

Ps - Trying to play the last solo of Blood Brothers ...Wish me luck guys ...any advice any one has ??

ciao

[vinayrulz]

undefined wrote:

undefined

Agree with Damage ...

Ps - Trying to play the last solo of Blood Brothers ...Wish me luck guys ...any advice any one has ??

ciao

[vinayrulz]

Agree with Damage ...

Ps - Trying to play the last solo of Blood Brothers ...Wish me luck guys ...any advice any one has ??

ciao

[Damage, Inc.]

make sure you bend in the appropriate places (half and full bends), that's all

i think it sounds nicer when played through the neck pickup too

[Damage, Inc.]

make sure you use bends where appropriate (half and full), that's all

i think it sounds nicer when played through the neck pickup too!

[LMDAVE]

Some jsut made me go back to my Maiden days, for I was the number one fan in the eighties! I was search for what peopel thought the all-time beast maiden solo is. Mine, which is listed here several times on comments, is the Powerslave solo. No one, not even Eric Johnson, combines speed and melody in solos the captains.

[i love skateing]

maiden rule they r the best band ever i they have only been my fab band for about 2 and a half months but my fav song is hallowed be thy name and yes in rock in rio janick gers is the best he plays hallowed be thy name solo super fast i don't even no how any one can play that fast while remembering wat note to play and it sounds really good

[i love skateing]

when i said fab band i meant fav as in favorite

[i love skateing]

o yeah when i said janick is the best hes not dave murray is better

[eddie_giggs]

Hey! Has anyone noticed the song credits on Death on the Road, Brave New World is Credited to Adrian while in BNW album and RIR it's credited to Dave.

[eddie_giggs]

Hey has anyone noticed the song credits on Death on the road. Brave new world is credited to Adrian while in RIR and the studio album it's credited to Dave.

[i love skateing]

nope i didn't notice

[Psychedelic]

move favorite solo by iron maiden is probbaly longview off of american idiot, thats suchn a sick album ive always loved jim morrisons guitar work, although i think i am started to get a little bit better than him

[Darkener]

hey,what about caught somewhere in time and fear of the dark?I truly believe they should be in top 5

[Sanitarium24]

Janick is overrated and a showoff.

Paschendale should be #1.

[the.iron.maiden]

great list. ive only got one for sure favorite, on thats hallowed be thy name. not completely impossible to play, unlike the others, which use alot of the guitarists own style. i cant even begin to compare myself to them, yet somehow, my mind says if i practice 7 hours a day, ill get it. ug.

[Donkey Fly]

I can't believe that someone said Number Of The Beast is one of their worst songs....it's one of their master pieces.....agree with some of your choices therei think Phantom Of The Opera should be in their at about 8.....there are other solo's id put in their too but i like what you've put.....



By the way.....you don't need to practise 7 hours a day...i find it easier to learn the solo of by heart and then build it up in speed.....i've only been playing a year and i can play Number of the beast solo's and Trooper ones , and a bit of wicker man....just by using my method...im a bad ass

[Donkey Fly]

This should of been in the above.....i forgot

I think Janick is a bit wooden Live compared to Dave and Adrian...he kind of spoils some of the solo's and they don't really need him...if you watch some of their gigs from the early 80's , they just do as good a job as they do with him.....

[Hot fingers]

Nobody mentionned Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger. The ending is pretty awesome, what do you think?

[rowan14]

hmmmm dream of mirrors is my favourite solo then bring your daughter to the slaughter

[rowan14]

and ghost of the navigator XD

[el-jono]

I really like daves solo in number of the beast. it really brings out how hes so strong with his left hand i dont think theres much other players that could one hand trill that fast and easyly but to me their all ****en awsome!

[simpleone]

+1 for Smith's Caught Somewhere in Time, the most story-telling solo ever

[Maiden2]

pretty good list. thats what makes maiden so excellent and subvise. a good solo in every song (excusing journeyman album version)

[alosus]

I'd put Janick's and Dave's solos from Dance Of Death

[EclipseNine]

I agree for the most part. I personally really like the solo from be quick or be dead, and I would have found a place for transylvania off of disc 1 of eddies archives. Hallowed be thy name is my favorite maiden song so where are in agreement there, but I would replace the rock in rio recording with the death on the road recording. just amazing with so much extra packed in for this one live track.

[d1ngl3005]

hey im new here how can i find guitar solos?