Iron Maiden - The RIFFS of Powerslave
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2021
- In this week's video, we take a close look at some killer riffs of one of the most influential metal albums of all time: Powerslave
Gear used in this video:
Guitar: Gibson Les Paul '50s Standard Gold Top
Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10-46
Picks: Dunlop Jazz III XL Ultex
Plugin: Bias FX 2
DAW: Reaper Audio
Soundcard: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 
Видеоклипы
It wasn't til this past month that I realized the genius of Powerslave. Pure epicness.
Dude, you’re like my fav RUclips channel right now. I worship Iron Maiden. They’ve been my favorite band since middle school. & I love that this content is all about maiden and breaking their stuff down and talking about it. & you’re also very talented and I’m so impressed with how you can play in the style of all 3 guitarists. Keep it up dude!
You just made my weekend with this comment, brother! Thank you very much and I'm glad these videos are interesting to a die-hard fan as well!! Cheers 🤜🤛
I have to echo Robby's thoughts. I learned guitar in high school on Maiden riffs and Powerslave was my all time favorite album for a long time. It's probably the album I know the most riffs from. Really good to hear your breakdown and explanation, especially the relation to the scales. Your grasp of it all is very admirable. I will keep watching your videos as they are very entertaining and instructional. Love your tone and technique. Thanks for the content.
I also need to reply, this channel has been so important for me in the past year, thanks for the hard work Nico.
That means a lot to me. Thank you!!
THIS.
up the Irons
Im glad u mentioned "A Matter of Life & Death" as one of your favourite Maiden's album, a very underrated album in my opinion!
It's a real work of art!!
When I was in junior high back in '84, my older brother stole a cassette from someone and told me to hide it. It was Piece of Mind. I started to listen to it and that's when my love for Maiden started. Posters from Spencers at the mall covered my walls and pictures from Hit Parader and Circus magazines covered my doors. I don't know how to read music or play an instrument, but I love watching your videos. Thanks for all you do!!
One of the greatest albums of all time.
Is it your favorite Maiden album? It's definitely in my top 5, I wanna say top 3 but hey that's tough to decide on lol. My favorite is 7th Son! What's yours?
@@joshl.8950 So many great albums. I choose Piece of Mind. Seventh Son is right up there though.
@@joshl.8950 7th Son is my favourite too!
Adrian's harmonization on losfer words is a matter of study. No theory to explain it, just genius.
I recently got back into playing guitar after many years of not really playing. Your channel has been a godsend. Thanks so much for that. I admire your passion for Maiden!
Thank you, John! It's awesome that you got back into it - playing and studying music is good for the soul! Cheers 🤜🤛
Beyond epicness, we need EVERY SONG OF EVERY ALBUM
Haha thank you very much! I will definitely be making more like this.
Powerslave was my cherry-pop to Maiden, too. Although, my favourite will always be the first track to hook me, which was 'Back in the Village' - track 1 side 2 of the cassette... I'm now going to have to pick up my guitar and play through the album... again...
Would love to get some AMOLAD videos too, definitely one of my fav albums as well
For sure!! 🤘
PowerSlave is a masterpiece
Awesome analysis! Thank you! You took me back to year 84-85 What an amazing sound Maiden had at that time! Something I truly miss after Seventh Son.
Another awesome video! I remember going to see them live back in 2006 in Manchester UK, when they played the entire AMOLAD album from start to finish! Adrian broke a guitar string on the solo for different world! Great show though 😊
Thank you you much!
That tour was ridiculously good! Loved the stage and the fact that they played the whole album was solid statement as well 🤘
Still my favorite album of all time.
Decades long fan myself. I really appreciate some of the channels deconstructing the various technical aspects of Maiden because it's renewed my love for music all round by giving me a better grasp of music theory. A few videos in and you're my favourite next to Daily Doug and Charismatic Voice. Nice guitar skills.
Just to be mentioned in the same sentence as Doug and Elizabeth is a great compliment as both have fantastic channels so thank you very much! Glad you're enjoying the channel and I think you might really like this week's video 🙂
Cheers! 🤘
@@LicksOfTheBeast Beautiful! Will no doubt happen upon it soon. All the best!
Excellent study. I loved the way you teach us the “what if” scales, really appreciate your dedication. And, finally, RIP Dusty 🙌
Thank you so much!!!
Yes, I love that study too, it serves a lot ..!!
This was just a great lesson! Really enjoyed this, and will definitely watch it and work with it multiple times. The World Slavery Tour was my first live Maiden experience. I remember it quite well for being so many years ago. Definitely made me a fan for life! Like you I remember sitting with my copy of Powerslave and reading the lyrics and looking at the artwork (I had bought it on vinyl, and I remember the album cover being textured… pretty sure that was the first time I had ever seen anything like that). So cool!
I like your ZZ Top shirt and appreciated the tribute to Dusty at the end. I just watched the live from Nerdville with Joe Bonamassa episode with Billy Gibbons the other day. Good stuff.
That's great to hear man! Thanks!!
Dusty's passing hit me pretty hard so if I was going to release a video shortly after, a small tribute was the very least I could do.
Oh and I watched that Nerdville episode just yesterday morning. Great stuff indeed!
This one and somewhere in time are definitely my favorite albums as of now
Tried many, many times to play guitar but I've got two left hands. As a Maiden fan, that's exactly though why I love this channel: makes me appreciate the guitar play of Smith, Gers and Murray (and Harris of course) even more.
I'm from Costa Rica and just speak spanish, but here on this Channel I can learn english because the guy speak clearly and play guitar with our heroes because each riff is amazing, learn and play at the dame time. LOVE this Channel!!!
Muchisimas gracias! I feel the same way... I get to practice my Spanish and Portuguese a bit in the comments :)
Great video Nico! always a joy to see you delve in to the Iron Maiden canon with the passion of a true fan. Kudos for wearing a ZZ TOP shirt. Way to pay respect to the recently departed Dusty Hill! Many blessings a keep on playing.
Thank you!! And yes Dusty will be sorely missed. As a longtime fan of ZZ Top, I felt the least I could do was acknowledge his passing.
Love the new backdrop! Looks killer
This video and your channel is a true gem! Makes me wanna pick up the guitar and play along with an entire maiden album!
Massive thanks for watching and for the kind comments!! I honestly appreciate it very much as it really does encourage me a lot and makes me feel good about the work that goes into making these videos. And I am so glad to see it inspires you to get jammin'! That's everything right there! Cheers 😃🤘🤘
Love it! Right, that’s it, I’m learning Back in the Village. Thanks man. 🔥🤘😜🤘🎸🔥
When I was a teenager my guitar teacher made me always play blues (which is great), but I only wanted to play Maiden songs: where were you back in the days??
Great channel, keep going and up the Irons!
Hahaha thanks! Hey the blues will help A LOT with Maiden 🤘🤘
Yeeeesss A Matter of Life and Death is one of my favorite IM albums as well! Good taste Nico
Found your Channel while scrolling in one of my insomnia driven episodes. I can't play a lick (no puns, lol) of guitar but the way you break everything down is understandable to my noob ears. Keep it Up!!
Thanks man! Glad you found me! 😃
Tons of cool stuff coming up 🤘🤘
Like the new studio! Congrats!
Great video! Please show us how to get that tone🙌🏼
Great guitar sound. Raw, heavy and unpolished. Like at a soundcheck. I doubt I heard anyone play a similar sound here. Love your videos, man. Especially the ones where you play the single riffs without drums or bass from the cd (I guess that's what you're playing to when you're doing a whole play through). Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I have always liked that kind of Live After Death type of sound that doesn't feel too smoothed out or rounded off and still has a little edge. Still trying to nail it the way I hear it in my head but I'm glad to know I'm on the right track! And glad to hear you're enjoying the videos. Definitely more to come without backing tracks. Some of the full covers don't have any of the original guitars (seventh son, rime of the ancient mariner, Icarus, Phantom, infinite Dreams, Trooper and Prisoner) so maybe you'll enjoy those 😃
Cheers 🤘
The fact that Bruce wrote Powerslave all by himself is a testament to his ridiculous talent within Iron Maiden. What an asset he is, not only is he a fantastic singer & frontman, he's a FANTASTIC songwriter as well.
The best Maiden album period!!!! Not a bad song on it.
Great video! A matter of Life and Death is an amazing album that gets overlooked alot...seeing it live in its entirety was truly remarkable. Chicago 2006 was an amazing show...I drove 11 hours to see it! Up the Irons!!
Thank you and I wholehearted agree... it was a phenomenal tour!
My first Metal record ever!
Nico: the finest analysis of Maiden guitar work, positive vibe, gorgeous guitars!
Too kind my man! Thank you 😊
Great overlook and analysis!! Also, I love that you mentioned Phenomena by Dario Argento, such a wild movie!
Such a great album that I’ve been learning over the past couple decades. Great breakdown and I learned a lot!
REALLY glad to hear it 😀
Hi Mr, you are the first one I hear putting a Matter of Life and Death in your favorite two. I don't feel alone anymore 😂
Oh it's KILLER record!
Cheers 🤜🤛
It's one of my favorites as well!!
Back in the Village - Main riff learned 👍 now for the next bit.
This was amazing to watch and listen to.. Thank you for sharing!
So glad to hear it, man! Thank you for watching and for the kind words. 🙏
Amazing video!
Very interesting!
And tone, that tone!
Thank you!
Up the irons! \m/
You're killing it, Nico!! The tone of that Gold Top is amazing, btw. I LOVE that you give us what the riffs *could* have sounded like, had they not used various other modes and scales. As always, great stuff and keep it coming!! UP THE IRONS!!!
It does sound great! Especially in the room with the amp 😁
It also helps to keep the gain fairly low.
Definitely tons more to come!!
Great stuff!! Keep it coming
I have played that pentatonic lick from Back in the Village as my go to “Guitar Store” lick since I was 14 years old. If you hit the pinch harmonic right you will always get the respect from your fellow Guitar Center patrons. 😀💯🔥🔥
I thought i was the only one lol it melts faces every time
Lots of great stuff in this!
Epic, really good, i enjoyed that a lot!
Back in the Village - Intro/main riff learned and next bit (Am pentatonic bit) learned. 🔥🤘😁🤘🎸🔥 Now to practice it relentlessly and commit it to long term memory.
Rockin and rollin! 🤘
Just discovered your channel, already a big fan!
Great video Nico!
Always doing great!
Soundwise "Powerslave" is their peak of a record. Clear as Olympus waters when heard through a proper hi-fi device.
Powerslave has a simplicity to it, I am not a virtuoso on guitar, but I can play this entire album with ease, and more importantly, I like every song except track 5 and can play for an hour without having to switch discs. Never understood how Back In The Village wasn't one of their most famous songs. It's so fun to play too.
I love this channel. Keep it up.
1000 thanks man! 🤜🤛
Love your deep analysis here. Nice work.
Brilliant, mate, keep rockin the Maiden absolutely ace, thank you and you've just got a new subscriber cheers 🤘🤘🤘🤘🎸👍👍👍
Thanks so much, man! Welcome to the channel and I really appreciate you subscribing and taking the time to leave some kind words. Cheers! 🤜🤛
@@LicksOfTheBeast Your more than welcome cheers 👍🎸
aaahhh... EXCELLENT SERVICE, Nico!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for your time and work! I love watching your videos, always a great pleasure. Can't wait for "the riffs of Somewhere in Time" ;-) Up the Irons from Germany! \m/
Thank YOU so much for watching and for the kind encouragement! I really appreciate your support and yes there will be more Riffs videos including somewhere in time 😃 Cheers from Canada 🤘
Buen vídeo, enhorabuena!!
Very good thanks for the guide of Powerslave
Amazing insights, Nico! Powerslave was also my first Maiden album. Been a fan ever since!
AMOLAD deserves more love
frick yeah!
Love the "dark mode" of your new background! And Powerslave is amazing!
Flash of the Blade has such a damn good main riff, love it got a mention! This is a great video, so much care taken to get the details right. Great work, thank you
Great analysis, thanks for the vid! Powerslave has always been my favorite, though Somewhere In Time was the first Maiden I heard, and criminally underrated imo (I still love that one too). I think the only Maiden I didn't care for were the first 2 with the original singer. Certainly not bad, but just not as good as everything else that came after imo.
Edited for an funny, but unintentional spelling error 😋
Really like the stuff you put out. I absolutely love Iron Maiden, and really dig the vids you do. Great player too, keep on keeping on. Up the Irons! 🤘🙏🤘
Hugely appreciate it man! Thank you 😊
Great analysis and interpretation, live your videos but this one is really different, on a good way! Hope you can do more of this! Cheers from Portugal 🤘🙏
Muito obrigado amigo!
I will definitely be doing more of these 😀🤘
my favorite album....one of the best ever
It's a brilliant album... the cover art alone is legendary!! 😀
Oh my word this is a sensational video - what a find! Totally subbed immediately. Only downer was you didn’t launch into the post-instrumental gallop at the end of the Rime breakdown - I was all set to rock out to that! Anyway, you make these riffs look so easy but, as a dreadful guitarist, I know they’re really not. You’re bringing them all to life once more. Thank you!
Awesome video! I am currently recovering from an injury (for a couple months now) but your channel and great explanations feed my love for guitar. Definitely hypes me up to play some more Maiden once I'm healed!
Hey brother, I am honoured that I could help you stay motivated and excited about playing while on the mend. I wish you a speedy recovery and that you'll keep playing your ass off for a long time to come!! Cheers 🤜🤛
Great video series. Keep it up. I really like the attention to detail when you are explaining the music theory behind these riffs. Greetings from Greece 🇬🇷 .
1000 thanks!! Definitely much much more to come 😃
Ciao ciccio! Amazing video as always! Cant wait til you do this for BRAVE NEW WORLD ! Abbraccio
Yeah here are some killer riffs on that one for sure!
Night mode: on 🙃 great looking set!!! And, as always, highly valuable stuff
1000 thanks!
Interesting you noticed Adrian's change in pickng-style on his return. He was quoted in one interview saying he had learned alot about picking from Roy Z during the Bruce solo projects.
Roy Z's picking is ridiculously good so I'm not surprised he would have tried to pick up a few pointers from him 🙂
Great explanation!
I know very very little about music theory and cannot play an instrument aside from my skin-flute, but these videos are fantastic breakdowns of my favorite band allowing me to appreciate their work more than I already do!
No concert has even come close to the epic Powerslave tour. I was floored! Thanks for a great video. I've been playing guitar for a long time and only recently taken an interest in learning the music theory behind the songs. Your explanations of what makes the songs work is fantastic.
if the Seventh Son stage hadn't looked so silly I'd put it as a solid 2nd place... since it did look a bit naff I have to give their current tour the 2nd spot. would be Somewhere on Tour if the inflatable Eddie hadn't been such a huge PITA
Great idea to show us the difference between minor modes and aeolian
I just found out your channel today, sent by a fellow great guitarist friend of mine. Excellent channel!
Please, make videos only about the solos of the song Powerslave and Rime of the Ancient Mariner, two of my fav solos of all times.
Regards
Hey man, thanks so much! I'm really glad you found the channel and big thanks to your friend for the recommendation. That was really cool of them 🙏🤘
I have done tutorials for Adrian and Dave 's Powerslave solos. Check 'em out here:
ruclips.net/video/uLybF2FThRM/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/Z96NF9Qc-Jo/видео.html
Cheers! 🤜🤛
@@LicksOfTheBeast Wow You replied. 😃 Thank you so much. I've been watching your videos. Watched the whole Rime of the Ancient Mariner video today. Great! I'll watch this one too. Cheers. Keep on the good work. 🤘🔥👊
After 37 years, I’m still blown away by RotAM every time I listen to it.
Same... that one and Seventh Son blow my mind each time!
Can't wait for the riffs of Somewhere in Time
Another Awesome Video! I think it would definitely be cool if you did this for all of their albums eventually. Another idea is you could do videos where you discus the solos of each album and talk about how each of the players solos evolved. But either way you have definitely become my favorite youtube channel and I’m excited for whatever videos you make. Also September 3rd is my birthday, so thats gonna be an awesome day.
That's super kind of you to say. Thank you!! I started with Piece of Mind as it was one of their more riff-heavy albums but yeah I'll probably end up covering all of 'em 😄 I like the solos idea too... And I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate a birthday than with a long-awaited brand new Maiden album. Cheers!
@@LicksOfTheBeast Thanks!
I was going to mention Beato before I read it in your comments. Well done, very technical and well thought-out explanations. You, mr.Nico, are the Iron-maiden-specialist-Rick-Beato of YT. I hope you realise this is a compliment:-))
By the way, Satriani knows all about the music-making process, scales, modes, etc, he's not just playing at random and let's see if it sounds attractive, just like Rick Beato, and you, Nico. Canada is very lucky to have you!
Thank you very much!
I really don't deserve to be in the conversation as Rick though. The guy had literally forgotten more about music than I'll ever know (pardon the cliché) but it's nice to know that what I'm doing here is helpful and useful! Cheers 🤜🤛
Ciao Nico!! Grande!🤘👋
🤜🤛
I love that Nico loves AMOLAD as much as I do.
Wow you opened my ears to hear 2 minutes to midnight differently. So much more spicy than I was hearing before !!!
That's awesome! I'm really glad to know I could help with that 😃
Thanks!
Hey man, thank you so much!!
It's HUGELY appreciated 🙏
@@LicksOfTheBeast Hey! Welcome! You could EASILY replace David, Adrian or Jennick. :)
Damn! Studio in the dark really hits different! I'm in 😂
Damn! Now I have to listen the whole album :)
Yeah sorry about that! 😂😂
@@LicksOfTheBeast I love that album, but likewise Somewhere in Time is the number one for me as well. Greetings from Brazil, Nico! Great job!
DAMN FINE VIDEO MAN. BIG MAIDEN FAN HERE. I WOULD LOVE A MATTER OF LIFE AN DEATH DESCONTRUCTION LIKE THIS, HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITES ASWELL, SOMEWHERE IN TIME ITS THE UTTER METAL ALBUM, BEST OF THE BEST AND BETTER.
Really glad you enjoyed it and yes I will be doing a video like this for those two as well in the future 😀 🤘
@@LicksOfTheBeast A matter of life and death will be quiet a test, very progressive album, but I know you can pull it off, Janicks songs in Maiden XXI century are the very best and yes that goes for all those stupid jans haters, and I'm waiting for The Talisman cover man, there you have a challenge. Keep on the good work and... Up the Irons.
Flash of the Blade is sooooo good
subscribed...enjoyed it
Thanks a ton, man!!! Cheers 🤜🤛
2:02 never noticed the difference until you pointed it out haha
This was amazing! Please do other albums! I'd love to hear you do this with SIT or 7th Son
I definitely intend to!
@@LicksOfTheBeast hell yes! If it's not too much to ask, less popular albums like No Prayer or Fear of the Dark would be great to dive into as well.
@@PolarisCastillo I am a big fan of both those albums so yes, absolutely!!
@@LicksOfTheBeast amazing!!! 🤘🏽🤘🏽
Thank you very much, I play guitar also and I've tried learning iron maiden for years but I'm sure none of what I've learned is the correct way to play like you were demonstrating, when I play it sounds like it alittle but I'm certain I'm using the wrong chords cause I've played along with my iron maiden DVD's and Cd's and especially the live DVD's Adrian and Dave have their fingers in total different areas of the neck but I have fun playing. You're an extremely good guitarist and your Maiden tutorials are amazing and I love learning from you and learning the correct methods. I also have a big problem picking properly, like power slave for instance, I know how to palm mute but doing it 4 times in a row consistently is difficult for me for some reason, I just need to watch more of your tutorials and practice more on proper techniques. Thank you so much for everything you're doing for us all and you have great musical knowledge and technique.
Thank you my friend! Greatly appreciated!!
It's a great feeling when you can play along with songs that have meant so much to you. It doesn't have to be the same fingerings or precisely note for note for it to be fun or even musically correct! Just look at the way Adrian and Janick play the solo from The Trooper together... they're not locked in or even playing all the same notes! 😀
For the palm muting on riffs, it's just consistent practice... check out my video on gallop picking as I cover that a little bit and I also talk about the riff to Powerslave. Cheers!
@@LicksOfTheBeast thank you very much for your information and for your tutorials, I'm gonna watch your video on galloping, I'm sure it's amazing, you're an amazing guitarist!
Good luck with it! 🤜🤛
Awesome explanation, Nicko!
Just one thing. In the main riff of 'flash of the blade' I think it's not legato. You can hear picking in the recording.
Cheers and keep rockin'!
I can't hear any distinct picking in the intro riff - it does almost sound like the open A note is being picked separately as a secondary track, but I firmly believe thats just the sound made by aggressive pull-offs ... I've tried it many times legato style on the guitar and it sounds just like the album as far as the attack goes
@@grant041h I've just listened it again. The picking sound is clearly there. You can hear the pick scratches after each pull off. Sounds a lot like Adrian's picking style.
Questo format è fantastico, complimenti per tutta la qualità che porti ogni volta!
Una piccola curiosità: dicono che Bruce avesse registrato le prime idee per la canzone Powerslave sulla stessa cassetta in cui registrò di nascosto Mission From Arry. Nicko stava per distruggerla ma Bruce disse: fermi tutti, ci sono idee per il prossimo album 😅
Grazie tantissime!!
Infatti per poco Powerslave forse non sarebbe stato lo stesso album! 😬
On Rock in Rio Janice plays the opening riff to 2 Minutes to Midnight and it just isn’t the same. They eventually went back to Adrian playing it, which sounds much better. Funny, it’s a simple enough riff, but sounds much better when Adrian plays it!
My favourite 2 minutes opening is from rio with janick so each to his own i guess
Great youtube channel, with my favourite band in the centre of attention. I've been a fan of IM ever since the beginning, I was 15 when I sat down, put on my headphones only to be blown away by the intro of "The Number of the Beast"... The first two albums were great, but The Beast got me right by the throat. This was a game changer. I've been a fan ever since. Anyway, keep up the good work, Nico. (are you from Italian descent by any chance?)
Thank you very much! Must have been awesome to get into the band that early on. I didn't discover them until just before Seventh Son came out.
And yes, I am Italian... Not many people catch than 😃
@@LicksOfTheBeast (recognizing tiny little accents is what you get when you're married to an Italian girl for many years 😉)
I love the tone you got with that guitar!
Losfer Words is not one of my faves (I like Transylvania and Genghis Khan much better) but this makes me want to revisit it. The whole album, actually. 🎸💛
Those two have such a particular vibe that makes them really hard to beat! Losfer Words' is a tad repetitive but it has some cool stuff going on harmonically. If this video made you want to listen to the album again with even one little bit of added insight, I'm thrilled! 😃
4:30 just watching your hand movement, I can picture Adrian doing it like that. I'm not even going to confirm this but just believe it because you obviously know your shit. Great vid, bro!
Thanks a bunch man! Much appreciated!!