*** CORRECTION *** Someone sent me an alternative music video for this song (without any movie footage) which shows Dave and Adrian playing the intro. Adrian's fingering is as shown here but Dave actually plays it as I do at 1:57 of this video. Looks like I was wrong on that bit! 😬🤦🏻
Hell... the video was genital without this correction; now it's perfect at last (at least for me -finally- playing on Maiden's studio backing track). What a confusing intro... Great Nico, as always 🎸🎵🎶
Maiden always seem to play by feel, hardly ever used metronom/click track. That is a major reason their songs has such great dynamic and feel IMO. Well done, man😎🤘
I agree with everything you sau (you just have to listen to a metronome under them). As you say, I think it is an essential characteristic in the feeling of their interpretation, that can only achieve that result after many, a lot, of rehearsal.
Man, I've been playing this song for almost 20 years and I quite literally never noticed that major second. I was just harmonizing in thirds and it sounded good so I didn't even question it.
Oh same here, man... It always felt like something was "wrong" but I was sure I was doing it right so it was making me crazy until I decided to really sit down with it and take it apart.
Hi @Licks Of The Beast. I'm 40 years old. I've been a fan of Maiden since I first heard SOASS in 1992 or 1993. I always wanted to play guitar like them, so as a kid, I would play air guitar until I finally got my first electric guitar at 15 or 16. Like many Maiden fans, my friends and I formed a band and had a great time. One of my biggest dreams was to buy an original Fender Stratocaster to play like Dave Murray. Last year, I finally bought it, and it has made me the happiest person alive. For the past 20+ years, I've been playing Iron Maiden songs, but when I discovered your channel, I was blown away. Your talent for analyzing song structures and sharing them with others is amazing. I feel a real connection with your passion and dedication to the music. As a big fan, I immediately hit the subscription button and have been enjoying your content ever since. Thank you so much for what you do. Your work is truly appreciated. Keep it up, and up the irons!
Thank you so much Nico!!! You just solved a mystery that haunted me for 30 years! I’m a bass player and everytime I played it with other guitar players the intro never sounded right. The poor bastards always sweared it was just like the sheets but I knew there was something off. The 9/8 and the change on accents you explained finally made me feel my internal metronome wasn’t damaged from factory as I always thought!
Love your videos. Your understanding of Maiden's music is incredible. Your technical explanations of their guitar rhythms and leads helps me appreciate the beauty of this music even more.
I'm so glad to read that, thank you!! I always hope these videos help some fans to gain a little different appreciation for the music they already love - and perhaps even be able to enjoy it from another perspective as well 🙂🤘
So interesting the way you break this down. Another lead that has some not so obvious harmonies is the main riff of The Trooper. Just isolating Adrian’s part, you’d barely recognize the song, but when it’s played together with Dave’s part it’s totally killer!
You think so? Maiden's harmonies are usually pretty basic to me.They usually harmonize in 3rds, sometimes 5ths & octaves as well. Just like Thin Lizzy did before them. Ultimately, the complexity (or lack thereof, depending on who's listening) doesn't matter at all, as long as it sounds good! :D
Hi Nico, great work as always ! I believe it is more correct to assume that the first note preceding the song is not in a 9/8 time signature, but rather an anacrusis. An anacrusis refers to the unaccented note that precedes the first accent in any rhythmic division in a composition. It is more accurate to describe it this way rather than changing the entire first measure to a 9/8 time signature when all the others are in 4/4. Keep up the good work !
That's the thing though: the first note IS accented the first time around.... Which is why I don't think the typical transcription you see with the anacrusis truly captures what is actually being played. Let me explain it this way: if you're playing with a band, how would you start the song to get it to sound exactly like the album - that is, with the accent (including the crash) on the very first note? Does the drummer cue 1-2-3 and you all start on the very next UPbeat? Or is it 1-2-3-4-BAM! ? 🙂
@@LicksOfTheBeastAt the end of the day, it all comes down to music notation. Coming from a classical background, I don't see it as an issue for an ensemble to start with an anacrusis, even with challenging ones based on eighth rest . Having said that, one could argue that the crash on the cymbal doesn't necessarily imply that the guitars need to be accented. However, if desired, the anacrusis can be notated with an accent mark (such as a > or a ^) or indicated through specific performance instructions, such as a stronger attack or dynamic emphasis.
@@olivierpierre968 I agree in principle, and of course you can write the whole thing in 4/4... It's how it's always been transcribed. The reason I think it makes sense to consider that first measure as 9/8 is that this intro has a very specific feel: the first note is heavily accented and the second note feels very much like a weak beat. So by keeping that first measure in 4/4 with an anacrusis preceding it, the One of the first measure has to be a weak beat which isn't really the way 4/4 feels. After that first time around, then the 4/4 feels right because the accent is on the second note of the pattern, which falls on the One. Again, my argument here is not just about about notation but capturing how the part is supposed to feel within that notation, which I don't think is happening with the usual way I see this transcribed.
@@LicksOfTheBeast We are in agreement then! I believe that your dedication to capturing the subtle nuances of these guys' playing is truly remarkable. When it comes to executing these nuances with accuracy, including the intricate fingerings and rhythmic subtleties, you are quite possibly the only one, if not one of the very few, who achieves it in such a detailed way. Once again, I extend my warmest congratulations to you for your outstanding work. On a related note, there is one particular aspect that has always astounded me. In the song 'Aces High,' during the specific moments when Bruce sings 'no time to WASTE' or 'out of the SUN,' there is a specific chord that serves as emphasizing those lyrics within the song. Despite the significance of this chord, it is astonishing to see the number of people who misinterpret and misplay it in their covers. Its texture holds considerable importance in the overall composition, and finding someone who renders it correctly is truly rare if not impossible. This is just one example among many, and I am certain that you have an abundance of further captivating content to share.
BRILLIANT!!! Thanks for this, it was one I was never really confident with it being correct, and like you said the studio recording plays the intro section when they perform it live, so really appreciate the effort on this Nico! Have a great weekend!
Nico, THANKS! Excellent video. Those notes that stand out may be subtle at the same time, making it difficult to discern. Perfect practice equals perfection. Years of practice looking for these notes.
Great work, Nico! I hadn't picked up on the dissonance in the harmony until you pointed it out. If I can nitpick one thing however, notating the opening bar in 9/8 is misleading. It's simply 4/4 with the riff starting on the "and" of 4, so IMO it makes more sense to notate the opening bar with a rest until the anacrusis (pick-up note). Otherwise, thanks for another stellar video. 🤘
Actually, I find that having that first bar in 4/4 is what's misleading. Because only the first time around, the accent is on the first note so it cannot be a pickup note. An anacrusis is by definition an unaccented note before the accented downbeat. That's why I find that having that first bar in 9/8 and then moving to 4/4 with the first note of the pattern becoming a pickup note is the best way to transcribe what is actually being played. I hope that makes sense 😊
You'll find a fair bit of videos on that album here! I have some cool covers from killers (purgatory, innocent exile, killers, and twilight zone) tutorials on the rhythm parts of Wrathchild and a full one for twilight zone...and also a tutorial on Adrian's Prodigal Son solo. Cheers 🤜🤛
Fantastic video, I really appreciate the depth of analysis. I will dare to say that your lessons have academic value. Funny thing is that probably Iron Maiden never analysed the whole thing the way you do, but just came up with this part "by accident"....
Thank you very much! That's hugely appreciated. I have no doubt it's all done by feel... The analysis is good to help explain the music and it's a good way to help learn the concepts, principles or techniques involved in the piece. 😊
Thanks for your great videos - I've learned so much from them! If using the boss ps-6 harmonist, can you provide me with info on what the settings should be for this part of the song? Cheers!
Hello Nico, excellent explanation and musical analysis. Paying attention to all these overlooked details is really useful. By the way, the section of 'Total Eclipse' that starts at 03:05 of the song, would also need some analysis as nobody seems to play it right. Another head-scratcher :-)
Hey man, you’re doing some fine work here. It’s amazing how many people are getting the intro riff wrong. Every time I hear the riff played wrong I cringe…every time. What they’re doing wrong is that they’re inadvertently rhythmically displacing and inverting the riff and emphasizing the wrong part of the beat. So to me the riff sounds like it’s being played backwards or upside down. Digging your videos.👍
I was learning this song a few days days ago and the intro immediately confused me. The riff is very simple but the timing is surprising. Great explanation. Edit: I've just noticed you literally posted this on the day I started learning the song :)
That's great! Glad I could help 🙂 Interestingly I just discovered that my fingering for Dave's part is not the way Dave actually did it. Looks like he played it like the one I play at 1:57 (same notes but different fingering)
Nico, thanks for the video! Super helpfull, however what i would really like to ask is how tp play the intro for "DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON", its so confusing to me.
great lesson ...Iron Maidens little nuances, man, they can be tricky to get..i've been working on this song and doing 1 guitar part at a time can be frustrating do to both guitars and bass making the one riff...it's why the Maiden are kings.. im not an but advanced player of "cover" tunes getting better and learning Maiden has certainly opened alot of doors for me ..really appreciate your video's..i have the maiden anthology book and it seems to be pretty correct tab wise ..it's the timing..so you breaking down so many riffs sure has helped me hear and see, especially see how its played as im a visual auditory learner on guitar..when i see it played i can get pretty quick ,,so many thanks,,and cheers mate...and it's weird when other people analyze my songs this way when i just play and write my songs by feel..haha just as Maiden does as well..lol..sure fun tho
Thanks man! So glad these videos are helpful 😊 Most of the time we write what feels right. The analysis afterwards can be helpful to explain the music and to teach whatever principle/technique was being applied... Cheers! 🤜🤛
Have to say to me that sounds perfect. Its true when you play along with the song from the Tab I could here something was a bit off. I have a play along CD from total guitar magazine and the tab with that sounded wrong and a couple of the riffs were way too complex.
I think saying the first bar is a 9/8 bar is a pretty big leap…. The perceived accent is likely due to it being the beginning of the song and also just a picking inconsistency in order to nail the beginning of the song. It’s not inconceivable that the anacrusis was inadvertently accented and they just left it in the song, feeling the whole intro in 4.
Another one with a tricky harmony that people dont play right is "different world" adrian plays the harmony upward on the A String 7nth fret ...he plays (E F# G a few times....then finishes with (E F# D) finishing the D on the E string....Dave on the other hand plays on the B string the same notes..(though on the video it looks like hes playing A F# G starting on the E string,....i used to play the harmony starting on the c ...but like aces high it does not sound the same ...this would be a good harmony for a video ..as the tabs online are never right as u can a see on the music video(the studio version)its an upward pattern they play ...its a nice harmony, maybie u could work out what is beeing played ?
This Intro is what I think influence whole genre of Melodic Death Metal & Melodic Metalcore, you can hear this signature on many songs from In Flames, Trivium, Amon Amarth, etc. & I'm a big fan of them
Tried for years to get that to sound correct from the tab that I had... Always thought it was just my timing that was out but looks like the tab itself was out!
Thanks, seeing all the other online transcription I always tought that I was the only one hearing this thing. But I think that the 9/8 measure should be the second one, because on the first repetition the downbeat is still on the first note, on the "7". Is after the second measure that it get changed.
Fucking true. I always knew something was wrong, but did not break it down like you. Perfect video. In fact, nobody has ever played that intro like the original recording! Not even them 😂🤘 up the Irons!
I'm happy yo see that I'm not the only guy that scratches his head thinking "WTF they're doing on this intro ??? Does even they know what they're doing?? HAHA That would explain why they never play it live !" :p
Silly question ... almost. What role does Steve have on the guitar riffs on his compositions? At least some of them must have been completely written by him on bass or guitar.
If it's all his composition, then surely he has written the parts. I remember somwhere in a video, I think it was Bruce, saying that Steve comes either with an acoustic bass playing the tunes to the band or even just whistling them. ( It might have been an acoustic guitar too.) But if the song is credited to another band member along with Steve, then it depends. But you can tell by ear if you know the style of each member. To my experience, the member whose name is first mentioned in the credits is the main song writer, the second one is either the lyricist or the arranger ( in most Steve Harris co-works ). Let me give examples from the same album: 22 Acacia Avenue is credited to Harris- Smith meaning, Steve has done most of the song writing ( but the marvelous outro is obviously Adrian's and the riff in the bridge) whereas The Prisoner is a "Smith-Harris" song which means the music is mostly ( or entirely ) Adrian's work, Steve being the arranger and/or the lyricist. And when there's three ( again, this is to my experience and ear ) it's almost always Adrian has written the tune, Bruce the lyrics and Steve has arranged and "Maidenized" the songs like Evil that man Do & Can I play with Madness. ( It's known that Can I play with Madness was originally an Adrian Smith ballad called "On the Wings of Eagle" ( i might be wrong with tthe name, and yeah reminds me of the lyrics from Sea of Madness ) but it was never recorded.
@@fatihsendur7544 What I mean is, what happens when the others like Murray aren't credited and Harris is listed as the sole composer. The riffs in Infinite Dreams and No Prayer for example. Who really came up with those. It sounds like Murray to me.
@@ColtraneTaylor I personally think they are Harris's. But, I see your point. I have always thought that Dave has been Steve's handyman since they are the oldest. It's highly possible that Steve comes up with an idea and Dave starts playing it. But still the idea is Steve's. In my first comment I just mentioned the things I am sure about. Another clue is, again somewhere in a video when Bruce was talking about Steve's epics on Senjutsu, he saiid, Steve usually writes his epics all by himself and comes to the band with complete work done. Another thing is that, the 3 guitarist, they all write and/or improvise their solos but don't get creditted for those ( unless it's their song ). Again Bruce mentioned that they aren't a very democratic band and they like it that way because that's how things work with Maiden when everybody does what they want the way they want it.
On the Gibsons and on the Janick Strat, I use 10-46. The others, some I use 9-42 and others 9-46. I always list that sort of info in the description of each video 🙂
Hi Nico, are u sure about the riff section after the intro? If i slow it down to 20% i hear less notes; its like: d-string 10,9,10,9,10,9 g string 9,9 d string 10, 10,9,10,9,10, 12,12,12 g string 9 d string 12,10,9. Anyway, awesome video!
....yeah! That intro always bothered me! Also Senenth Son song... the guitar harmonies at the ending is a labyrinth and at the middle while goes soft...
Maiden don’t have guitar riffs, they have a strings section. A lot of their stuff is weird because of the way each guitar interacts with each other and how the bass works with the guitars.
Exactly! A lot of times we go to the diatonic notes out of habit, forgetting that a little dissonance sometimes makes all the difference between bland and awesome! 😊
Hi Nico, yesterday i've posted a comment with a link to a video, Dave and Adrian playing this Intro Riff. But it seems my comment had been blocked, perhaps becauce of this link. So how can I post it here?
Brilliant. My two cents: I think that the intricacy in the harmonies are the result of Dave and Adrian's arranging genius. The boss whistled these simple, yet beautiful melodies, which these two guitar monsters worked on until they sounded perfect. I think the middle sections on 'Flash of the Blade' (ok, a Bruce song in this case) and 'The Duellists' are a perfect example of this. Cheers Nico!
I always thought that but lately Adrian talked about how Steve actually has a lot to do with how the harmonies turn out because he doesn't like when they sound to conventional...so apparently, he'll get them to change stuff around a lot.
@@LicksOfTheBeast Indeed. I've been listening to them for 28 years, close to 29, and I still can't believe they exist. I see music as a Galaxy with so many solar systems, and every musician is a planet. And then, there's Maiden and Pink Floyd, and a few others, who do not obey or adhere to the laws of gravity. They choose to roam free instead, in and out of these galaxies, and through and around them. I know it sounds cheesy, silly even, but this is really the only way for me to describe what I think and feel about them. Anyway, bless you man. You're doing an amazing job!
So basically on Adrian's part, the fourth note of the phrase is the G#..so instead of G#-A-B-A-C#-B, it's G#-A-B-G#-C#-B..while Dave plays E-F#-G#-F#-A-G# (C#-D-E-D-A-G# on the third time)...but then on that part wouldn't Adrian's G# clash with Dave's D? 🤔
@@LicksOfTheBeast Yes, the G# over F# I understand; however, if the same thing is played by Adrian on the third phrase (where Dave and Steve change notes), then that would mean Adrian plays that G# against a D note by Dave, which would be *extremely* dissonant. Unless Dave is playing something like an F# at that point as well rather than a D 🤔 Adrian (G#-A-B-*G#*-C#-B) Dave (C#-D-E-*D*-A-G#) See what I mean?
@@jamesv337 It's a tritone... Very metal 😄 Like I said in the video, Steve seems to prefer when harmonies aren't too standard or necessarily always consonant. Also in this case the notes go by so quickly that you just feel the dissonance as slight tension. The outro riff in Senjutsu has a similar thing going on where they're playing the same thing but where one plays an E, the other hits an F. You don't "hear" it because it goes by so quickly but you definitely feel it and it's a really cool effect!
@@LicksOfTheBeast Yeah, stuff like that is interesting. They even make a B over a C work. In the interlude between Adrian's solo and the final chorus on "These Colors Don't Run" Steve plays the standard progression of E-G-C-D, but the very moment Steve plays the C, the lead guitar is coming back from a C note and lands on B. Similar thing with the intro melody on "Hell On Earth"..the lead guitar plays B-A-D-C, while Steve plays C-A-D-C. I guess because they're far enough apart in octave that it works without sounding dissonant at all.
I only can say that his English sounds very clear and articulate to me; no hard effort to understand him (I'm from Spain, and my English is basic). It's one more reason his videos are pleasant to me 🙂👍 (in fact, it's easier to understand him than the automatic translated subtitles by RUclips...😁).
Just one thing: Dave's part, the fingering I used here is not the way Dave plays it. It's actually the way I showed it at 1:57 of this video. Still the same notes but I wanted to specify for the sake of accuracy 😊
Don’t worry bud, I think I can help you as well. Now using the first pass of the riff as an example: 7969-7-6-. First the time signature is 4/4 through out and the rhythm is 1&2&3-4-. The first downbeat is the 7 then the upbeat is 9 then 6 on beat 2 then 9 on the upbeat and the long note 7 will land on beat 3 and the long note 6 will land on beat 4. One thing to note: the guitar riff does not play any upbeat accents. The rhythm section does that, which is the bass and drums. Now I’m not a guitar player, I’m a drummer with over 35 years of experience. I’ve also been transcribing the music of bands like Dream Theater for over 20 years. I’m confident if you follow what I’ve given you, you will be playing the riff correctly. Let me know is this helped or if you have other questions? Good luck.👍 🎸
*** CORRECTION ***
Someone sent me an alternative music video for this song (without any movie footage) which shows Dave and Adrian playing the intro. Adrian's fingering is as shown here but Dave actually plays it as I do at 1:57 of this video.
Looks like I was wrong on that bit! 😬🤦🏻
Could you link the video of the fellow someone so we can check it out too? Thanks for the nice video and the explanation!
Hell... the video was genital without this correction; now it's perfect at last (at least for me -finally- playing on Maiden's studio backing track). What a confusing intro... Great Nico, as always 🎸🎵🎶
would love to see that clip...
@@miguelanxomuradolo2638‘genital‘?
Maiden always seem to play by feel, hardly ever used metronom/click track. That is a major reason their songs has such great dynamic and feel IMO. Well done, man😎🤘
I agree with everything you sau (you just have to listen to a metronome under them). As you say, I think it is an essential characteristic in the feeling of their interpretation, that can only achieve that result after many, a lot, of rehearsal.
This is why I love Live After Death. Dave and Adrian are 100% panned in each L & R channel to help dissect those songs. Great video as always !!! 🎸
Your videos are pure gold! You definitely deserve more views and subscribers! Thank you for all this work you share with us! 🙏
Man, I've been playing this song for almost 20 years and I quite literally never noticed that major second. I was just harmonizing in thirds and it sounded good so I didn't even question it.
Oh same here, man... It always felt like something was "wrong" but I was sure I was doing it right so it was making me crazy until I decided to really sit down with it and take it apart.
This channel never fails to make me smile, every single day.
Comments like these make my whole day so thank you!
Hi @Licks Of The Beast. I'm 40 years old. I've been a fan of Maiden since I first heard SOASS in 1992 or 1993. I always wanted to play guitar like them, so as a kid, I would play air guitar until I finally got my first electric guitar at 15 or 16. Like many Maiden fans, my friends and I formed a band and had a great time.
One of my biggest dreams was to buy an original Fender Stratocaster to play like Dave Murray. Last year, I finally bought it, and it has made me the happiest person alive. For the past 20+ years, I've been playing Iron Maiden songs, but when I discovered your channel, I was blown away. Your talent for analyzing song structures and sharing them with others is amazing. I feel a real connection with your passion and dedication to the music.
As a big fan, I immediately hit the subscription button and have been enjoying your content ever since. Thank you so much for what you do. Your work is truly appreciated. Keep it up, and up the irons!
Thank you so much Nico!!! You just solved a mystery that haunted me for 30 years! I’m a bass player and everytime I played it with other guitar players the intro never sounded right. The poor bastards always sweared it was just like the sheets but I knew there was something off. The 9/8 and the change on accents you explained finally made me feel my internal metronome wasn’t damaged from factory as I always thought!
I hear ya man! It made me crazy for a long time too 😄
I've never picked up a guitar in my life, but I love these videos. Looking forward to the next entry in the best guitar harmonies series.
Putting Churchill speech at the beginning was genius!! People should appreciate the history of the Battle of Britain! Great Lesson bro!!
Love your videos. Your understanding of Maiden's music is incredible. Your technical explanations of their guitar rhythms and leads helps me appreciate the beauty of this music even more.
I'm so glad to read that, thank you!!
I always hope these videos help some fans to gain a little different appreciation for the music they already love - and perhaps even be able to enjoy it from another perspective as well 🙂🤘
So interesting the way you break this down. Another lead that has some not so obvious harmonies is the main riff of The Trooper. Just isolating Adrian’s part, you’d barely recognize the song, but when it’s played together with Dave’s part it’s totally killer!
You think so? Maiden's harmonies are usually pretty basic to me.They usually harmonize in 3rds, sometimes 5ths & octaves as well. Just like Thin Lizzy did before them.
Ultimately, the complexity (or lack thereof, depending on who's listening) doesn't matter at all, as long as it sounds good! :D
Dude. That’s was the best explanation I’ve ever heard for this song. Thanks 👍🎶🎶🎶🎶
Hi Nico, great work as always ! I believe it is more correct to assume that the first note preceding the song is not in a 9/8 time signature, but rather an anacrusis. An anacrusis refers to the unaccented note that precedes the first accent in any rhythmic division in a composition. It is more accurate to describe it this way rather than changing the entire first measure to a 9/8 time signature when all the others are in 4/4. Keep up the good work !
That's the thing though: the first note IS accented the first time around.... Which is why I don't think the typical transcription you see with the anacrusis truly captures what is actually being played.
Let me explain it this way: if you're playing with a band, how would you start the song to get it to sound exactly like the album - that is, with the accent (including the crash) on the very first note?
Does the drummer cue 1-2-3 and you all start on the very next UPbeat?
Or is it 1-2-3-4-BAM! ? 🙂
@@LicksOfTheBeastAt the end of the day, it all comes down to music notation. Coming from a classical background, I don't see it as an issue for an ensemble to start with an anacrusis, even with challenging ones based on eighth rest . Having said that, one could argue that the crash on the cymbal doesn't necessarily imply that the guitars need to be accented. However, if desired, the anacrusis can be notated with an accent mark (such as a > or a ^) or indicated through specific performance instructions, such as a stronger attack or dynamic emphasis.
@@olivierpierre968 I agree in principle, and of course you can write the whole thing in 4/4... It's how it's always been transcribed.
The reason I think it makes sense to consider that first measure as 9/8 is that this intro has a very specific feel: the first note is heavily accented and the second note feels very much like a weak beat. So by keeping that first measure in 4/4 with an anacrusis preceding it, the One of the first measure has to be a weak beat which isn't really the way 4/4 feels.
After that first time around, then the 4/4 feels right because the accent is on the second note of the pattern, which falls on the One.
Again, my argument here is not just about about notation but capturing how the part is supposed to feel within that notation, which I don't think is happening with the usual way I see this transcribed.
@@LicksOfTheBeast We are in agreement then! I believe that your dedication to capturing the subtle nuances of these guys' playing is truly remarkable. When it comes to executing these nuances with accuracy, including the intricate fingerings and rhythmic subtleties, you are quite possibly the only one, if not one of the very few, who achieves it in such a detailed way. Once again, I extend my warmest congratulations to you for your outstanding work.
On a related note, there is one particular aspect that has always astounded me. In the song 'Aces High,' during the specific moments when Bruce sings 'no time to WASTE' or 'out of the SUN,' there is a specific chord that serves as emphasizing those lyrics within the song. Despite the significance of this chord, it is astonishing to see the number of people who misinterpret and misplay it in their covers. Its texture holds considerable importance in the overall composition, and finding someone who renders it correctly is truly rare if not impossible. This is just one example among many, and I am certain that you have an abundance of further captivating content to share.
BRILLIANT!!! Thanks for this, it was one I was never really confident with it being correct, and like you said the studio recording plays the intro section when they perform it live, so really appreciate the effort on this Nico! Have a great weekend!
Thanks a lot Nico I just discovered I was doing it wrong too, those little details make a huge difference. It´s never too late. Horns up!!!!
Nico, THANKS! Excellent video. Those notes that stand out may be subtle at the same time, making it difficult to discern. Perfect practice equals perfection. Years of practice looking for these notes.
As usual with your channel, I'm learning new things about songs I'm listening to for almost thirty years! :-) Thanks Nico!
Nico this channel is awesome. It's at warp speed become my favourite channel.
That's so crazy for me to read... Thank you!! 🙏🤘
Great hair even greater video.
Ive always been curious about that intro, especially since they never play it live.
Thanks Nico!
Now is finally clear! Thank you so much!
This is why we keep coming back for more. Unparalleled detail and brilliance in breaking this down!
Some Really good stuff on this channel. Kudos on the effort you put into it. All the best Nico. 👍
Thanks so much! 🙏
Great stuff as always, Nico!!
Killer video and explanation Nico! Thank you UP THE IRONS 🤘
Yes Nico! Its finally clear to me, great video!
Great explanation and breakdown of the parts
Great work, Nico! I hadn't picked up on the dissonance in the harmony until you pointed it out. If I can nitpick one thing however, notating the opening bar in 9/8 is misleading. It's simply 4/4 with the riff starting on the "and" of 4, so IMO it makes more sense to notate the opening bar with a rest until the anacrusis (pick-up note). Otherwise, thanks for another stellar video. 🤘
Actually, I find that having that first bar in 4/4 is what's misleading. Because only the first time around, the accent is on the first note so it cannot be a pickup note. An anacrusis is by definition an unaccented note before the accented downbeat. That's why I find that having that first bar in 9/8 and then moving to 4/4 with the first note of the pattern becoming a pickup note is the best way to transcribe what is actually being played. I hope that makes sense 😊
Thanks, Nico, that was fantastic. I always find Maiden difficult to work out, because one guitar never sounds quite correct. Up the Irons!!!🤘👏😀
These deep dives are the best! Really interesting stuff.
Superb content. Thank you for the detailed analysis
It was and still is a very unique and great sounding intro.
Thank you for this explanation. I love these analysis videos.
Can we get a guitar collection video? You truly got some sick guitars
🤔 That could be something cool to do! 😃
One detail some people also forget to sound right, A = 444 Hz
Siiiick loved this breakdown Nico keep it up.
Geniuses! Thanks Nico for the explanation
Amazing Nico! You are Wizard! Best
Finally digging a little deeper into their discography. I’d like to see some stuff off of killers.
You'll find a fair bit of videos on that album here!
I have some cool covers from killers (purgatory, innocent exile, killers, and twilight zone) tutorials on the rhythm parts of Wrathchild and a full one for twilight zone...and also a tutorial on Adrian's Prodigal Son solo.
Cheers 🤜🤛
Maiden is really good. Well done
Wow this sounds really like the record! Congratulations! I'll play it like that now!
Fantastic video, I really appreciate the depth of analysis. I will dare to say that your lessons have academic value. Funny thing is that probably Iron Maiden never analysed the whole thing the way you do, but just came up with this part "by accident"....
Thank you very much! That's hugely appreciated. I have no doubt it's all done by feel... The analysis is good to help explain the music and it's a good way to help learn the concepts, principles or techniques involved in the piece. 😊
Thanks for your great videos - I've learned so much from them! If using the boss ps-6 harmonist, can you provide me with info on what the settings should be for this part of the song? Cheers!
Hello Nico, excellent explanation and musical analysis. Paying attention to all these overlooked details is really useful. By the way, the section of 'Total Eclipse' that starts at 03:05 of the song, would also need some analysis as nobody seems to play it right. Another head-scratcher :-)
I wanted them to play this but they didn’t! But I had a rolled ankle and they let us sit in the handicap seats 30 rows closer lol!
Awesome job at breaking this riff down
Hey man, you’re doing some fine work here. It’s amazing how many people are getting the intro riff wrong. Every time I hear the riff played wrong I cringe…every time. What they’re doing wrong is that they’re inadvertently rhythmically displacing and inverting the riff and emphasizing the wrong part of the beat. So to me the riff sounds like it’s being played backwards or upside down. Digging your videos.👍
I was learning this song a few days days ago and the intro immediately confused me. The riff is very simple but the timing is surprising. Great explanation.
Edit: I've just noticed you literally posted this on the day I started learning the song :)
That's great! Glad I could help 🙂
Interestingly I just discovered that my fingering for Dave's part is not the way Dave actually did it. Looks like he played it like the one I play at 1:57 (same notes but different fingering)
Very interesting Maiden lesson!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Nico, thanks for the video! Super helpfull, however what i would really like to ask is how tp play the intro for "DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON", its so confusing to me.
That's actually a good idea for a beginner-friendly tutorial 🙂
great lesson ...Iron Maidens little nuances, man, they can be tricky to get..i've been working on this song and doing 1 guitar part at a time can be frustrating do to both guitars and bass making the one riff...it's why the Maiden are kings.. im not an but advanced player of "cover" tunes getting better and learning Maiden has certainly opened alot of doors for me ..really appreciate your video's..i have the maiden anthology book and it seems to be pretty correct tab wise ..it's the timing..so you breaking down so many riffs sure has helped me hear and see, especially see how its played as im a visual auditory learner on guitar..when i see it played i can get pretty quick ,,so many thanks,,and cheers mate...and it's weird when other people analyze my songs this way when i just play and write my songs by feel..haha just as Maiden does as well..lol..sure fun tho
Thanks man! So glad these videos are helpful 😊
Most of the time we write what feels right. The analysis afterwards can be helpful to explain the music and to teach whatever principle/technique was being applied... Cheers! 🤜🤛
Have to say to me that sounds perfect. Its true when you play along with the song from the Tab I could here something was a bit off. I have a play along CD from total guitar magazine and the tab with that sounded wrong and a couple of the riffs were way too complex.
Iron Maiden just didn’t think about it too much!
i agree... Steve is not a scholar bassist
Awesome instruction as always. Thanks my brother.
That’s badass thanks for the clarification
I think saying the first bar is a 9/8 bar is a pretty big leap…. The perceived accent is likely due to it being the beginning of the song and also just a picking inconsistency in order to nail the beginning of the song.
It’s not inconceivable that the anacrusis was inadvertently accented and they just left it in the song, feeling the whole intro in 4.
Yes, I agree. It’s just an eighth note pickup, but it’s hard to hear it like that because you have no count in.
Very well articulated 🤙
I really admire that about Maiden. While there is a clear pattern being followed, they go by feel more than by metronome.
great explanation of that intro..Learning that song, I was wondering about the beginning. Oh, are you gonna have t-shirts available now??
I am working on getting t-shirts done, yes! 😃
Another one with a tricky harmony that people dont play right is "different world" adrian plays the harmony upward on the A String 7nth fret ...he plays (E F# G a few times....then finishes with (E F# D) finishing the D on the E string....Dave on the other hand plays on the B string the same notes..(though on the video it looks like hes playing A F# G starting on the E string,....i used to play the harmony starting on the c ...but like aces high it does not sound the same ...this would be a good harmony for a video ..as the tabs online are never right as u can a see on the music video(the studio version)its an upward pattern they play ...its a nice harmony, maybie u could work out what is beeing played ?
I read on Songfacts that the second riff was inspired by the title-track's intro of the first album.
That's great!
Intro riff harmony to title-track intro of first album ICONIC.
This Intro is what I think influence whole genre of Melodic Death Metal & Melodic Metalcore, you can hear this signature on many songs from In Flames, Trivium, Amon Amarth, etc.
& I'm a big fan of them
Great content!
Tried for years to get that to sound correct from the tab that I had... Always thought it was just my timing that was out but looks like the tab itself was out!
That was great! Thanks.
Thanks, seeing all the other online transcription I always tought that I was the only one hearing this thing. But I think that the 9/8 measure should be the second one, because on the first repetition the downbeat is still on the first note, on the "7". Is after the second measure that it get changed.
Finally someone did it 👌🙏
Fucking true. I always knew something was wrong, but did not break it down like you. Perfect video. In fact, nobody has ever played that intro like the original recording! Not even them 😂🤘 up the Irons!
It's very difficult to find a cover that sounds close to Maiden
That dissonace sounds right for many Maiden songs, cool
I'm happy yo see that I'm not the only guy that scratches his head thinking "WTF they're doing on this intro ??? Does even they know what they're doing?? HAHA That would explain why they never play it live !" :p
Dave plays it like this, Adrian plays it like this and Yannick,well,who knows what he does?
Love this stuff
Silly question ... almost. What role does Steve have on the guitar riffs on his compositions? At least some of them must have been completely written by him on bass or guitar.
If it's all his composition, then surely he has written the parts. I remember somwhere in a video, I think it was Bruce, saying that Steve comes either with an acoustic bass playing the tunes to the band or even just whistling them. ( It might have been an acoustic guitar too.) But if the song is credited to another band member along with Steve, then it depends. But you can tell by ear if you know the style of each member. To my experience, the member whose name is first mentioned in the credits is the main song writer, the second one is either the lyricist or the arranger ( in most Steve Harris co-works ). Let me give examples from the same album: 22 Acacia Avenue is credited to Harris- Smith meaning, Steve has done most of the song writing ( but the marvelous outro is obviously Adrian's and the riff in the bridge) whereas The Prisoner is a "Smith-Harris" song which means the music is mostly ( or entirely ) Adrian's work, Steve being the arranger and/or the lyricist. And when there's three ( again, this is to my experience and ear ) it's almost always Adrian has written the tune, Bruce the lyrics and Steve has arranged and "Maidenized" the songs like Evil that man Do & Can I play with Madness. ( It's known that Can I play with Madness was originally an Adrian Smith ballad called "On the Wings of Eagle" ( i might be wrong with tthe name, and yeah reminds me of the lyrics from Sea of Madness ) but it was never recorded.
@@fatihsendur7544 What I mean is, what happens when the others like Murray aren't credited and Harris is listed as the sole composer. The riffs in Infinite Dreams and No Prayer for example. Who really came up with those. It sounds like Murray to me.
@@ColtraneTaylor I personally think they are Harris's. But, I see your point. I have always thought that Dave has been Steve's handyman since they are the oldest. It's highly possible that Steve comes up with an idea and Dave starts playing it. But still the idea is Steve's. In my first comment I just mentioned the things I am sure about. Another clue is, again somewhere in a video when Bruce was talking about Steve's epics on Senjutsu, he saiid, Steve usually writes his epics all by himself and comes to the band with complete work done. Another thing is that, the 3 guitarist, they all write and/or improvise their solos but don't get creditted for those ( unless it's their song ). Again Bruce mentioned that they aren't a very democratic band and they like it that way because that's how things work with Maiden when everybody does what they want the way they want it.
Best metal intro.
Thank you so much 🥰
Me who doesn't play guitar watching this: 👁👄👁
Mind blown!
Really great, I play this song for years badly, thanks for letting me know 😂
And now for something completely different: What gauge do you use ?
On the Gibsons and on the Janick Strat, I use 10-46. The others, some I use 9-42 and others 9-46. I always list that sort of info in the description of each video 🙂
@@LicksOfTheBeast thanks, sorry I always forget to read the description 😬
Best. Intro. Ever! Up The Irons 🤘🏻
I personally prefer playing Dave's part as shown at 2:06, with a palm muted open D string in the third phrase.
Let me paraphrase one of your sentences in the video: you have eliminated my source of frustration for so many years 😉👍
Hi Nico, are u sure about the riff section after the intro? If i slow it down to 20% i hear less notes; its like: d-string 10,9,10,9,10,9 g string 9,9 d string 10, 10,9,10,9,10, 12,12,12 g string 9 d string 12,10,9.
Anyway, awesome video!
This is exactly how I hear it. 2 votes.
@@fivethumbs101 and they played it like this live yesterday
Holy shit your hairstyle is also different when you play side by side!
😂😂 the things some of you guys notice just cracks me up!
@@LicksOfTheBeast 😄👍
excellent ✨
....yeah! That intro always bothered me! Also Senenth Son song... the guitar harmonies at the ending is a labyrinth and at the middle while goes soft...
The less you think about it, the easier it is to play it. just listen and play.
Awesome
I always thought the intro was timed to imitate a Merlin engine startup...
Interesting take! I don't know if Steve had that in mind, but onomatopoeically I think it makes sense 🙂
So….basically you’re saying it’s impossible to have it sound right on your own?
Cool. 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
I never get fingering wrong
That's what she said
I'm not going to argue with
12 Bruce Dickinsons. 😬
I'm never going down on Juanita 2 fingers at all. H, H, Hey!
Maiden don’t have guitar riffs, they have a strings section.
A lot of their stuff is weird because of the way each guitar interacts with each other and how the bass works with the guitars.
That's a good way of looking at a lot of their parts!
Sometimes I forget that 'Arry doesn't know music theory... perhaps in a sense he wasn't limited by what was "conventional" thanks to that.
Exactly! A lot of times we go to the diatonic notes out of habit, forgetting that a little dissonance sometimes makes all the difference between bland and awesome! 😊
Hi Nico, yesterday i've posted a comment with a link to a video, Dave and Adrian playing this Intro Riff. But it seems my comment had been blocked, perhaps becauce of this link. So how can I post it here?
RUclips blocks comments for the strangest reasons...I guess AI doesn't quite get nuance just yet 😊
Try posting it here, sure!
@@LicksOfTheBeast okay, blocked again ;( I will send it via insta
@@Ced-Gauche could you send that link to me too? Thanks
@@sdfgsdfsdf100 Nico has posted the link in his community tab and he will do another version of the video, I guess he will insert the link there also.
Hahaha when you were playing the melody slowed down I started dancing round my kitchen with my toast and coffee 😂🙏
Brilliant. My two cents: I think that the intricacy in the harmonies are the result of Dave and Adrian's arranging genius. The boss whistled these simple, yet beautiful melodies, which these two guitar monsters worked on until they sounded perfect. I think the middle sections on 'Flash of the Blade' (ok, a Bruce song in this case) and 'The Duellists' are a perfect example of this. Cheers Nico!
I always thought that but lately Adrian talked about how Steve actually has a lot to do with how the harmonies turn out because he doesn't like when they sound to conventional...so apparently, he'll get them to change stuff around a lot.
@@LicksOfTheBeast Indeed. I've been listening to them for 28 years, close to 29, and I still can't believe they exist. I see music as a Galaxy with so many solar systems, and every musician is a planet. And then, there's Maiden and Pink Floyd, and a few others, who do not obey or adhere to the laws of gravity. They choose to roam free instead, in and out of these galaxies, and through and around them. I know it sounds cheesy, silly even, but this is really the only way for me to describe what I think and feel about them. Anyway, bless you man. You're doing an amazing job!
@@minask5281 Strange but i feel the same way, Maiden and Pink Floyd created their own music that is somehow beyond music itself.
So basically on Adrian's part, the fourth note of the phrase is the G#..so instead of G#-A-B-A-C#-B, it's G#-A-B-G#-C#-B..while Dave plays E-F#-G#-F#-A-G# (C#-D-E-D-A-G# on the third time)...but then on that part wouldn't Adrian's G# clash with Dave's D? 🤔
I talk about that at 4:22 🙂
@@LicksOfTheBeast Yes, the G# over F# I understand; however, if the same thing is played by Adrian on the third phrase (where Dave and Steve change notes), then that would mean Adrian plays that G# against a D note by Dave, which would be *extremely* dissonant. Unless Dave is playing something like an F# at that point as well rather than a D 🤔
Adrian (G#-A-B-*G#*-C#-B)
Dave (C#-D-E-*D*-A-G#)
See what I mean?
@@jamesv337 It's a tritone... Very metal 😄 Like I said in the video, Steve seems to prefer when harmonies aren't too standard or necessarily always consonant. Also in this case the notes go by so quickly that you just feel the dissonance as slight tension. The outro riff in Senjutsu has a similar thing going on where they're playing the same thing but where one plays an E, the other hits an F. You don't "hear" it because it goes by so quickly but you definitely feel it and it's a really cool effect!
@@LicksOfTheBeast Yeah, stuff like that is interesting. They even make a B over a C work. In the interlude between Adrian's solo and the final chorus on "These Colors Don't Run" Steve plays the standard progression of E-G-C-D, but the very moment Steve plays the C, the lead guitar is coming back from a C note and lands on B. Similar thing with the intro melody on "Hell On Earth"..the lead guitar plays B-A-D-C, while Steve plays C-A-D-C. I guess because they're far enough apart in octave that it works without sounding dissonant at all.
Ha you sound like a fellow montrealer!! Great stuff
Hahaha wow you picked up on that eh? I'm in Toronto but I did grow up in Montreal so I guess some of that accent still comes through here and there 😄
@@LicksOfTheBeast yeah me too . Im from the south shore (brossard) been in T.O since 02 how bout you! Great job on the channel ! Up the irons!!
I only can say that his English sounds very clear and articulate to me; no hard effort to understand him (I'm from Spain, and my English is basic). It's one more reason his videos are pleasant to me 🙂👍 (in fact, it's easier to understand him than the automatic translated subtitles by RUclips...😁).
(1:51) ...so when you transcribe it... you lost me jajajaja
Well, I’ve been playing this all wrong. ☹️
Just one thing: Dave's part, the fingering I used here is not the way Dave plays it. It's actually the way I showed it at 1:57 of this video. Still the same notes but I wanted to specify for the sake of accuracy 😊
Don’t worry bud, I think I can help you as well. Now using the first pass of the riff as an example: 7969-7-6-. First the time signature is 4/4 through out and the rhythm is 1&2&3-4-. The first downbeat is the 7 then the upbeat is 9 then 6 on beat 2 then 9 on the upbeat and the long note 7 will land on beat 3 and the long note 6 will land on beat 4. One thing to note: the guitar riff does not play any upbeat accents. The rhythm section does that, which is the bass and drums. Now I’m not a guitar player, I’m a drummer with over 35 years of experience. I’ve also been transcribing the music of bands like Dream Theater for over 20 years. I’m confident if you follow what I’ve given you, you will be playing the riff correctly. Let me know is this helped or if you have other questions? Good luck.👍 🎸
@@OfficialCesarValdez this’ll take a while to get through but thanks.