As good as a person can imitate the sound of a guitarist or band its an entirely different skill from possessing the creativity of that person or group. This is something that keyboard warriors sometimes overlook when they criticise certain musicians online. Anyway as ever another great video demonstrating the skill of Maiden.
you're right that it's the small details that make the difference and give Maiden songs their singular charm, but: 1. the band themselves ignore (or, to be generous, reinterpret) many of them live 2. when Janick joined he butchered Adrian's feel - you could say he made the songs his own and I've grown to appreciate his playing a lot, but he really stepped all over not just the classic Maiden sound, but the idea that such a thing is that "sacred" anyway and I think we hear echoes of this attitude in their post-2000 records. Of course the songs are played like nobody but them would, but gone is the attention to detail of the Martin Birch days.
For sure but of course it's different when you're in front of a large crowd and trying to also be entertaining, sometimes there are sound issues, sometimes someone in the band (or the entire band) is having an off night, the tour gets tiring, you get a bit careless or distracted because you go on autopilot... The Janick thing, for better or worse, I think he just decided he would give it his own flair from day one.
@@LicksOfTheBeast Janick Gers brought into maiden even more showmanship. That guy is hyper on stage. Janick gave Iron Maiden an edge because he can surely move around on stage and he stands out. So hyper.
Actually when I listen to live recordings of Maiden, especially on isolated channels, one can say the boys are sometimes somewhat sloppy, especially and surprisingly Adrian (who I am a huge fan of, my reason to pickup the Guitar). However, combination of everything creates that amazing Maiden sound and I get so much joy to listen to those live recordings. İt's not like you can do countless takes at the studio to achieve perfection. İt's live, Real and happening at that very moment as it is. That's what Real musicianship to me. By the way, thanks Nico for yet another masterclass.🤘🎸🤴🏼
Yes! You definitely understand the concept of what "live" means. I commend you for that. Because it seems that many kids these days dont care if they're watching a concert that is lip-synch & tracks as opposed to a true & live setting. As you stated.....real musicians play turley live. Period! No excuses.
Yikes, you wanna talk "sloppy" hear some isolated Steve Harris tracks, I mean it works fine in the mix but man oh man, it's not clean or precise at all
The Hallowed be thy Name riff is my favorite riff to play on guitar, and how I’ve played it has changed over the years as I’ve developed my ear and technique. You demonstrated a great example of the finesse! Love your channel
This was a very good video. One thing I like very much about their music is that it manages to hit a very fine balance. It is complicated enough to sound elaborate an impressive, but at the same time it is just straight forward enough so that it sounds achieveable. That makes it very inviting and uplifiting, and when I hear it I immediately want to play it myself. It can't be easy to write music like that.
For me, the conclusion is true for many of the greatest metal bands - be it Iron Maiden or Judas Priest and Accept. There's an underlying simplicity that is augmented by the subtle yet often rather sophisticated skill of the players (and singers). That's one of the biggest reason I love 70's and 80's heavy metal! (Oh, he said more or less the same thing at the end)
There's beauty in simplicity and in executing simple things organically and with feel. And of course, the genius of the band in composing "simple" riffs and reducing things to a point where all instruments have a space in time, frequencies and panning to create these "simple", yet exquisite songs!
One thing I love of Adrian's playing from the eighties whenever he did the classic blues lick and he started a little behind the beat, accelerate and finish ahead like in numbed of the beast. And doing it live with all the adrenaline pumping is quite a task.
Thanks Nico. That was quite insightful. Way too often, the little things are overlooked; yet, they make a lot of difference. Keep it up, man. The ones of us who love music appreciate your work, and your input about Maiden is stunning.
HUGE shout out to you. I totally respect your comments regarding your explanation about the little details, hammer ons, palm muting on "Back to the Village" . Your break down of the skill level is spot. Please keep this up.
It's all in the phrasing. When I started learning as a kid I thought I had certain riffs off to perfection, then I'd go and jam with a mate and he'd always play them so much better. You can teach yourself to be good technically but to be a musician you have to really listen and soak up the feel of the music.
Last week I played Phantom Of The Opera live on stage for the first time. It's a bit of a special song for me, because it was the first Iron Maiden song I ever heard (courtesy of Lucozade), and I was given a short passage from it on my first guitar lesson to help me alternate pick. There were a few wobbles, but overall it went pretty well. It really does highlight how much stamina is a requirement of their playing.
Phantom is very special to me as well. Like you, it was the first thing I ever heard from Maiden 😊 It's not an easy song to pull off live so big CONGRATS! 🤜🤛
Somebody else who gets it! Music is about connecting with the music.The best guitarists are those that create memorable riffs and melodies, that move you emotionally.Therefore Adrian Dave and Jannick are amongst the best guitarists ever, and a lot of those rated ahead of them are nowhere near as good
hey, i'd like to say that these videos are absolutely insightful and very interesting. I'm only a beginner and know 2 songs and a handful of riffs but these videos are always a joy to watch because it's always inspiring to learn about my most favorite band and that goes for guitar in general, sure I may not be that proficient in the instrument but its always so alluring and enjoyable to the fullest extent to learn about the topic. I love this channel because it teaches lots of general guitar knowledge while being themed around Maiden (My absolute favorite band :D). In short, youre videos are very fun and interesting as well as informative and I give you my most heartfelt thanks for the content you make. Perhaps you might see this comment and I just wanted to express how much i appreciate this channel. Either way, Thank You :D
That really means a lot - especially because when I make these videos,.I always try to think of what I would have wanted to have had available back when I was starting to learn this stuff (way before the internet). So thank you very much for your encouraging comment and keep practicing!! 😃
Hey, Nico - Really helpful video as usual. My question is, what makes Dave's solos Dave's and what makes Adrian's solos Adrian's? What are their similarities and what are their differences?
That is a good question and a big discussion. I made a video about some of their stylistic differences a while back but I might do a part 2 later in the year or perhaps a live chat could be cool 😊
That's a tough one. I'd say that listening to their influences might give you a good indication on what sets them apart. Dave was inspired heavily by Hendrix, whilst Adrian was inspired a lot by Michael Schenker for example.
I guess Adrian has more phrasing while Dave is on the legato side more. Also their pick-up choices are different on solos. Dave is a neck guy which gives hım a smoother, fluid tone Adrian is definitely a bridge guy with lots of edge and sharpness. And Adrian is a master of bending imo. Dave's bends are short and mix with the notes. Adrian is more like Gilmour, long bends with more emphasis. My two cents.
I usually don't have a lot of trouble learning Iron Maiden songs, BUT to learn them correctly is the challenge. Nico has been such a big help in that respect. I want to learn them correctly and do justice to the song and Iron Maiden. All the nuances.. Great lesson here Nico. Could be one of my fav. vrdeos you've done..
4:03 this hited my heart. Back in 2005 when I received my first guitar, I installed guitar pro 4 and download Hallowed be thy name tab with the help of a friend. I was so addicted in listen to this music that I played it on TH-cam several times at lan house. So I started to play trying to learn my first riff ever and it was exactly this Hallowef be Thy Name riff. I started at 10 or 11 pm and when I looked to the window of my room,.it was morning already. I will never forget this day. Thank you for this. I liked a lot your approach in details exemplifying everything you say. Subscribed, can't wait to watch more.
So much of Maidens mojo is feel, and like you said so much of what they do is super subtle. The notes and riffs aren’t terribly difficult but there’s a TON of touch
A bit of a nitpick, but check the notes in Hallowed Be Thy Name riff. It should be: E F# G F# G A G F# B G F# G F# E, E F# E F# G F# G B G F# G F# E. And it should also start on the downbeat (and the 2nd phrase starts on a 16th after the downbeat). The way you played it in the video either skipped a note or started it a 16th note after the downbeat, and the notes are not exactly correct. Actually, it seems like you are skipping the 2nd note of the riff (F#), and are going straight from E to G. But there needs to be an F# between those notes - otherwise the rhythm doesn't work properly. (Other than that, it seems like the notes are the same, although it does also seem like you are not playing the E in the beginning of the 2nd phrase after the long E note.) Sorry, it just bothered me too much and no one else was pointing it out.
Hi Nico. Really interesting video. When I was young I did not have the ear to pick up music and I would rely on tab books. I gave up learning maiden because many of the tabs were almost impossible to play because they were so bad. I learnt classical and developed my ear and realised the importance of correct finger positions. Even nowadays, I often notice amazing guitarists on you tube playing the right notes, but in very difficult positions. It is great you take the time to demonstrate the correct way - which is often the easiest - because they were not written to be hard. Excellent examples are the beginning of Adrian's Solo in Aces High and the positions he uses in the Sea of Madness solo.
You make a very good point! I think with some tab books the transcriber might not have been a metal guitarist or perhaps guitar wasn't their main instrument. That's the only way I could ever explain some of those odd choices 😂
For sure. Probably the worst tab ever was for Megadeth Rust in Peace. The tab for Marty’s solo in tornado must have been transcribed by a pianist. Lol.
The thing about old maiden music that makes me love it is it's just like a Cosworth: it picks up and goes like a supercar, steers and handles like a sportscar, but without being too flimsy or over articulated I think they can be easily considered part of the cool Britannia era although preceding it by a decade.
Watching the video confirms they are hard. I've been playing for 40 years and can semi-mimic many of the songs..... but every time I watch a "how to video" I realize that my mimic is completely wrong. As he mentions in the video, there's usually more going on in the Iron Maiden song than my ear and hand can handle simultaneously. And that's why Iron Maiden can make a fine living playing their songs, while I go to work at a normal job and take my pay.
Satriani and Dream theater are my fav musicians ! Iron maiden is my First love though, i still listeni to them and as i grew older i appreciate them more musically. Satriani has a TON of nuance in his playing, vibratos slides the area where he picks.. Like you mention for in iron maiden in your video
I like to think of Maiden as being "challengingly simple." There's not a lot of weird chord voicings, not much for crazy technical riffs, and not much shreddy stuff, so you can focus more on the nuances. Obviously, there's some difficult songs (it's been 25 years and I still can't play Back In The Village or Purgatory well), but Maiden is a lot easier to play than 80s Metallica, to the point where I could definitely jump in with a Maiden cover/tribute band for just about any song (pre-COVID, I tried to put together a Maiden deep cuts tribute band for a venue's Halloween show [local bands do tribute sets], and the group I put together literally played our 60 minute as a first rehearsal...too bad COVID killed that plan, someone's gotta play Judas Be My Guide and Deja Vu live!).
I personally think the little nuance details make the biggest difference in regards to making something sound “right”. As you said its those small things that give the riff/lick/rhythm its vibe/feel which is ultimately what makes it sound like the person you are emulating. Its not what you play - its how you play it.
When I was a teenager I thought that Iron Maiden was very difficult to play because they used a lot of chords and back then I played note for note on just one string, hehe. Then, with a lot of listening and a lot of practice, I quite enjoy it. I need the equalization to enjoy it even regardless of not having reached the domain that you have reached.
The first detail I ever noticed in Iron Maiden songs was that finger roll/mute you mentioned in HBTN. Once you hear something like that, you can't unhear it and it opens a whole new world.
Well, as a basic to intermediate player, Iron Maiden songs are quite difficult to me because there's too much soloing. As a self learner, I have a quite good rythym part, but I really suck at soloing, I just can play pretty basic things like Heading Out to the Highway one. And those gallops kill me too. I tried to learn The Wicker Man, the rythym part is quite easy, but that Adrian solo gets me every time I try to play it
I see that you like Priest as well as Maiden, I grew up playing both all the time. The solos require a little theory and practice. Keep watching Nico and any tutorials you can find on Priest and some music theory and you will be soloing like Glenn, KK, Adrian, and Dave. Try some David Gilmour too, that will help put feeling in your playing.
Because of you i start to play IM once again. I m big fan of them played them 10 years (in my jam style - so i play my solos - take it like my styled moded). I must thank you! I rediscovered the love with old and new albums once again :) BIG THANK YOU :)
Im a metalhead from the 80s, and while I liked Iron Maiden, I have come to realise how important they are in their influence, and the evolution of metal. Obviously one of the most important metal bands of all time
Ciao Nico, complimenti bel video. Anche per chi non suona la chitarra è chiaro che nelle canzoni dei Maiden non ci sono grandi virtuosismi ma sono comunque abbastanza complicate da richiedere una grande esperienza sullo strumento.
Back when i was in high school i was studying music - I was total garbage at it, I sucked at music reading but the only thing i could do was play guitar - 20years+ later im still 100% certain that the only reason I didnt get an F was because I played 'The Trooper' for a music recital. Musically Iron Maiden couldnt be further from my comfort zone in terms of the kind of music i listened to. I was big on electronic music, Trance/Dance/House etc etc but part of my course meant that i had to learn an instrument and i didnt fancy piano much and i was already having some guitar lessons through a family friend so it only made sense that i went deeper into the guitar route. True F'in story.
I think this video hit the nail on the head. I am a pretty garbage player overall, but I have always managed play something in the ballpark and have fun playing Maiden songs, even if I have never been able to get the little nuances.
No such thing as garbage players... there are skill levels and most of the time it's a combination of time spent practicing and (to a lesser extent) natural aptitudes but if you play just for fun because it helps you unwind at the end of the day or because it gives you a good endorphin rush that feels good, you're kicking ass! If you find 10-15 mins a day to throw in a little actual practice, in a year you'll be doing so even harder (and you might even get a few of those elusive nuances in there) 😀 Cheers!
Yeah I missed the first f# in the first part of the riff. I must have gone on autopilot there and played it the incorrect way I originally learned it decades ago... Oh well... It doesn't change the parts I was highlighting so I suppose it's all good 😄
@@LicksOfTheBeast That's part of the charm though isn't it? For me, as long as the "feel" is the same, an odd note here and there doesn't bother me at all. Also, it's sometimes hard to get it 100% correct, since you're not there with them, playing it, since their music is so organic. I find that playing along to songs that have been recorded to a click track is easier than songs that were recorded live, since the groove is more consistent with a click track (the downside being that it feels somewhat more sterile sometimes). Great video as always.
Great video once again man! I feel like this is something I am going through at the minute (which is why I commented about practice routines a few weeks ago). I think I am a good player, I have played for almost 17 years now, but I haven't taken the time to sit down and practice properly. I recently booked lessons to get a sort of review on how I am doing as I would like to learn how to play things properly and not try to cut corners. I have hit walls whilst practicing myself, and need to know how to break through those walls with patience instead of just trying to speed up the metronome aimlessly.
Guitar is one of those instruments that it's fun to just jam so it does take a bit of willpower to make actual targeted and focused practice a priority. I think most of us struggle with that to some degree... Booking lessons is a great step as it will force you to work on specific things in between lessons.
Dave and Adrian are guys you can tell listened to lots of players from the 60s and 70s, they have a lot of "feel" for lack of a better term. Really unique and fully developed styles, and you make great points about some of the details that lots of players miss when playing these songs. They also both have a pretty unique sense of timing and melody, it's not as simple as the difference between straight and swing and the Iron Maiden "gallop" lol. It's harder to play their stuff and make it sound "right" than it is to play stuff from certain metal bands that came along in the mid to late 80s. Similar to how it's hard for most people to make Van Halen stuff swing properly, vs playing some of the more straight stuff that came from the 2nd generation mid to late 80s melodic rock.
As an awesomely bad bedroom player of guitar I would say that youhave pretty much hit the nail on the head here. Maiden songs (not all) are generally pretty easy to play the parts and have them sound good. I am really poor on guitar but can play the main parts to say Ghost of the Navigator, anyone that knows the song would instantly recognise what I am playing. I will not be playing it correctly but the notes are in the right order - most of the time! To play the song as they do however is a different matter, I can't get near it and don't have the time to attempt to even try to attain that level. But I don't need to. I'm not in a band, I just play for the fun of playing. It is like the old saying, "Guitar is easy to play but hard to master". I think this is also true of Maiden songs or any other band for that matter...
And the thing is you don't have to play them exactly as they do to enjoy playing them. They're fun songs to play along with even just for the fact that it makes you feel good 🙂
Nice job pointing out those different levels one can address when playing. It's something like difference between tabs, classic notation and reading between the lines and getting the bits that aren't there but are expected of you. Although must say the Rime Of The Ancient Mariner felt not enough triplety - at least for my taste ;)
Cool video. I had the exact same experience. When I started playing Guitar, the songs didn't look all to complicated to play, but when I practiced them I always had the feeling that something wasnst quite right, with how I played them
as a guitar player for over 15+ years I strive to be the best I can play. Whether working on my own originals. or learning Iron Maiden songs I want to learn that song as perfectly as I can. I want to keep improving as long as I can and I'm very thankful in finding Nico's channel so I can learn these songs and play them as they're meant to be played.
I really appreciate your support and encouragement so much!! It's so nice of you to leave thoughtful comments on these videos. I'm glad what I publish here can be in any measure helpful to your playing 🙏🤘
@@LicksOfTheBeast I've been trying to play Iron Maiden for longer than I want to admit. Like you said, playing along with the tapes/cd's, getting really close. Friends saying "man, you got that down" when I knew I was close, but not quite there. I agree with you on your assessment of Iron Maiden's songs, when you grow as a player, you learn the little things about them that help you get it right. I'm still learning at 54 and you are a great help in that process. Thank you for Licks of the Beast, a great channel.
I love the way their rhythm parts are usually super-loose, unlike something ridiculous like Megadeth. I remember playing Phantom of The Opera when I was starting out and being like…did I just do that?? Like, once you can do power chords and you have a bit of feel, you can play 90% of their stuff. I still can’t play f**king Master of Puppets. Like, nowhere near.
@@the_releaser fella - Hetfield can barely play it live since ‘96. Getting the stamina to do accurate downstrokes that fast for an entire song takes a ton of work. If you can do it you’re a badass - don’t downplay your achievement!
@@nicojones4436 I never learned to play it past the first couple of riffs, up to the little noodly bit when the riff changes and papa Het starts singing so it's not like I'm playing the whole song. One day I'll sit down and learn more of it. Lefty I can do the down picking up to that point but right handed I have to cheat and do alternate picking.
@@the_releaser I guess if you want to commit to playing that stuff properly, you’ve got to basically devote a colossal amount of practice time to building up downstroke speed and consistency. I could never be bothered. Maiden have their moments but nothing like that Puppets album. Incredible playing.
@@nicojones4436 That's pretty much why I never learned much farther than the first couple of riffs. I just learn the main riffs of songs and get bored already and move on to the next. I don't have the patience to learn the entire song. Maybe the only song I know from beginning to end is the rhythm part of AC/DCs T.N.T
Well, it was kid of dificult to play their songs back then in 1980-1982. Eventually people chatched up. But thier songs and solos are so memorable for sure.
Great video Nicko. Just fabulous! And yes....I enjoyed it. I enjoy them all! This channel is my favorite. Out of all the channels I am subbed to....this one is my absolute favorite. And it's because Nico's guitar and music skills are top-notch. And also, his great knowledge of Iron Maiden compositions and music pieces. But most of all....it's because I love Maiden! I've been a major fan since 1981 when I was 14. Thankyou Nico! Keep doing it bro. And I'll keep clicking on! Peace.
It depends when you started to play Iron Maiden. I started with Metallica, and it took me 3 months to play One, and then I tried to learn the whole And Justice For All. Till now, Dyers Eve is the only song I can't perform decent enough in the whole album, but yeah, I learned a lot. Now I'm with Iron Maiden, and I'm trying to do the same with Piece Of Mind. (Revelations and Still Life solos left me to learn) but, yes, Iron Maiden is easier for me. There are some songs that are more complex to play tho (Genghis Khan, Sea of Madness, Back In The Village and any Janick Gers solo haha)
It's the same as with most artists i guess. The notes come easy, the details is where the work starts. Best example for that is blues: Most beginner guitar players could play the opening to "thrill is gone" by B.B. King pretty quickly. To nail the details and tone is a truly another story. And one can really tell you put some serious hours into the details of the Maiden guys.
Hey Niko, I glanced over what you say about you being “close enough”, you are bang on man with your playing, I speak from the standpoint of a person listening to Iron Maiden since ‘82. I can’t tell the difference between you or Dave or Adrian. So, I feel you are in false modesty, I say it with complete jest if you get my drift. You are unnaturally gifted in guitar.
Hahaha thank you, thank you! In that particular bit in the video, I was referring to the fact that it wasn't a note-for-note reproduction of Dave's lick but a close enough version of it that still worked. I should have added that in that case, getting the feel right is more important than the notes on a lick like that. Because playing it note-for-note but without a good grasp of Dave's style would actually sound less accurate than what I played. And I appreciate your very kind compliments a whole lot. Thank you!
@@LicksOfTheBeast I completely agree, I do that too, going about its feel, but I'm nowhere near your calibre in playing Maiden tunes, so I'm even more feel. Best I can replicate is Phantom of The Opera beginning riff and some of the Number of The Beast solos.
Simple and excellent video explanation, dude. Those subtile skills of Maiden, as their well pondered palm mutting or their semi inaudible details on riffs and solos, are the cause that makes you never ending learn with them as you progress on guitar, even in easy songs that you was considering you was playing right. It is very grateful to learn with them, as it can sound ok yet in a beginner level, but you will always progress more and more when you return to them, even to the same songs once and another time, as you improve your playing (and discover how good musicians, but without pretensions of virtuosity admiration, they were at a very young age). Best regards!
I found that the thing about maiden is and always was that they translate flavour and feeling throughout whatever songs they make. be it live or on a fresh studio recording they have always managed to keep that depth. It doesnt matter if one thinks their riffs are hard or easy to play, techinically, it is however rare to find someone that plays their riffs like they should be played. Some of the other contemporary huge bands are good examples of what i mean. Skilled musicians no doubt that has made many kick ass songs but when you listen to their studio albums and see them live there is a loss. There is a loss in feeling a loss in depth. If that is because they overdid their studio stuff or because they simply cant perform it as well live depends on the band. There is also that synergy within the actual band that is just one of a kind and that is not something that can be copied.
You must play for several years before your brain, hand and arm naturally work together to add all the little nuances that make a song sound as naturally played as the recording you are comparing it to - without you having to consciously think about it as you're playing. The correct notes and timing are only about 80% of it. The rest is "feel" and playing experience. Sort of like communication is verbal and non-verbal. It takes both to get it right. I didn't start playing guitar until is was almost 25 years old. It's taken a very long time for me to develop that feel but I'm finally there - after 25 years of hack playing - lol.
Hi Niko!! I answer for those question; Iron Maiden songs was really difficult, from very easy like ''Iron Maiden'' The Trooper or 2minutes to Midnight, from medium like Brave New World (except Dave Muray intro part) Dream of Mirrors to hard and ultra hard like (hmm i dont know what songs write here). Heaven Can Wait-this is great intro for practicing ;) Greetings my friend, as always you made great work.
I have been playing for over 15 years. That said I find Iron Maiden songs to be either harder than anything or either somewhat easy. Never saying they are easy to play I just seen to find them that way. Nico, this a great video and I watched it to the end to see if you might have some keys to getting the harder Maiden songs down.
Nice video like always, can we have more details about your sound on bias fx like your first preset video your back in the village sound is awesome and your sound in general is amazing
Thank you! I'm using the exact same settings as I show in that video. I think the gain on the amp and the drive on the screamer pedal are up just a little bit on the wasted years lick.... otherwise it's my usual preset.
We all can agree that the Adrian is the first guitar or whatever,i have nothing against it,man really is a master but since the first time i've heard them i have noticed Dave's tone and style. Far more elegant,majestic,precise and virtuoso. Jannick is a good lad and excellent player but i just cannot measure him with Dave again. So,Murray forever. 🤘
well originally murray played a very legato style (smooth flowing) while Adrian played very staccato (choppy ). and the two styles complimented each other greatly. When they go Jannick , he is also a legato player, so IM lost that dynamic in their sound. until adrian came back that is. i think with all three of tehm they strike a good balance with who plays what solos.
Nico, THANKS. KILLER VIDEO. I have been trying to play MAIDEN songs since the first album. Takes perfect practice to achieve perfection. Must have the correct information to achieve. Like years & years of planning for gold, one riff at a time. Sometimes the difficulty is in the notes that are barely audible from ambience, like delay & reverb or even modulation.
That's always a big challenge in rock and metal and sometimes hitting every single small note is less important than getting the feel, articulation and phrasing right. The overall sound of the thing basically 🙂
This channel is very helpful. I'm a beginner and I'm learning Wasted Years hopefully I nail it like Adrian Smith keep up the good work and you earned a new subscriber.
Glad you found the channel and thank you for subscribing! Here are some beginner-friendly tutorials I made (tabs are included in the video description for all three). Cheers! th-cam.com/video/cmQAG-bLqKs/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/TSvmz58Xg2c/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/C_AEbGrM99M/w-d-xo.html
Every singel musicians have their own signature sound, so it’s difficult to make it sound alike the original player, even if you play it correct note by note. So for all us who are not nearby as good as Nicko, I think we must be satisfied with playing the Maiden songs in our own way😉 Maiden also records their songs in studio by playing them live with no metronom, thats why the Maiden songs are so dynamic versus for instance Dream theatre IMHO.
Well yes, that’s the exact answer I’ll say if somebody would ask me, I’m not a pro player, not that technical and so, I just play guitar for fun, and the years (as anything in life) improved something in the way I play, and a lot of maiden songs I could say were “easy” to learn (specially cause maiden uses the same scale in a lot of songs) but if you want to play it Exact as the song is, it gets pretty technical and tricky, the beast is in the details
I was in a cover band in the mid 80s. We played Trooper and Run to the Hills but I was the only lead player. Maiden is a marathon. Usually pooped out at the end missing notes and bends.🤣
I would say its those finer details that make the difference between success and failure. There are lots of bands in the same Genre's of music but only a few stay at the top. 🤔
The followup should be "well, who's guitar part are we talking about?" I mean, there's three guitarists (fine, two for the early stuff) .. but it's not like those are going to get compressed into one.
I have no idea what the hell you are talking about but I have mad respect (and jealousy) for your skill. I LOVE the guitar and would LOVE to be able to play it but realize that at 56 years old that ship has most likely sailed lol. I can't even imagine the hours upon hours guys and gals like you have put in to get this good! I feel like you have to be born with at least a "feel" for music or a talent for it at some level...maybe I am wrong. I don't feel like I have a shred of it haha. So I guess I will just keep watching and listening and dreaming ! Thanks for what you do!
Hey first of all thank you very much for the encouragement. That is hugely appreciated! Second, no ship has sailed for you, my friend! I am going to use the most cliché of expressions only because in this case it is all too true: Music is a journey, not a destination! You start learning now, you practice 30 minutes a day, every day (sometimes more when you feel like it or time allows) and I guarantee you that you will be playing many of your favourite riffs before long and in 3-4 years, you're gonna already be quite good. How about that for a 60th birthday present to yourself?! 😃 Some people are naturals and they learn faster, more intuitively, build up speed faster because they have better tendons and better muscle coordination or whatever... That's not most of us. I certainly was not a natural in any way and I struggled quite a bit at first. I just practiced all the time because I loved guitar and music. Pardon the long winded response but basically, just start playing and then...just keep playing!! Cheers 🤘🤘
@@LicksOfTheBeast Thanks man for taking the time to respond! I am going to give it a go. To be honest I think I would be satisfied just to be able to play a few of my favorite riffs lol. I guess I let myself feel like I am out of my depth when I watch guys like yourself and Rick Beato and others on youtube playing. It honestly is amazing to me but I realize you guys didn't just wake up able to play. Thanks very much for the encouragement! Keep shredding!
I have found that Iron Maiden sounds more difficult to most because they have not come to an understanding of they're style, iron maiden is very much 2nd part harmonies, and with Gerr's, 3 part harmonies and I think a lot of musicians are not big on harmony, you must have at least an elementary understanding of scales and music theory to understand harmony (coupled with at least a little talent) in the early years Steve said: " he was the best guitarist I ever saw " speaking of David when he had that first audition in the mobile out in the cow pasture; David had a good understanding of music theory and Steve liked that command of the music theory that David had; from; Scranton, Pennsylvania
Maybe I can add an interesting perspective to this story and question: I am left handed and I've learned guitar in a "normal" way. As a left handed person I always had an edge in fast soloing sections (legato, one or two strings shredding licks especially, more "natural" strength in my left hand fingers for bending) over right-handers, so I could learn most melodic licks including soloing quite easily. However what kills me is right hand technique. It took much more time to learn the galloping for me as a left hander than regular right handers do and Iron Maiden - 80s songs especially - are all about galloping... unfortunately.
As good as a person can imitate the sound of a guitarist or band its an entirely different skill from possessing the creativity of that person or group. This is something that keyboard warriors sometimes overlook when they criticise certain musicians online. Anyway as ever another great video demonstrating the skill of Maiden.
Great point!
you're right that it's the small details that make the difference and give Maiden songs their singular charm, but:
1. the band themselves ignore (or, to be generous, reinterpret) many of them live
2. when Janick joined he butchered Adrian's feel - you could say he made the songs his own and I've grown to appreciate his playing a lot, but he really stepped all over not just the classic Maiden sound, but the idea that such a thing is that "sacred" anyway
and I think we hear echoes of this attitude in their post-2000 records. Of course the songs are played like nobody but them would, but gone is the attention to detail of the Martin Birch days.
For sure but of course it's different when you're in front of a large crowd and trying to also be entertaining, sometimes there are sound issues, sometimes someone in the band (or the entire band) is having an off night, the tour gets tiring, you get a bit careless or distracted because you go on autopilot...
The Janick thing, for better or worse, I think he just decided he would give it his own flair from day one.
@@LicksOfTheBeast
Janick Gers brought into maiden even more showmanship. That guy is hyper on stage. Janick gave Iron Maiden an edge because he can surely move around on stage and he stands out. So hyper.
Actually when I listen to live recordings of Maiden, especially on isolated channels, one can say the boys are sometimes somewhat sloppy, especially and surprisingly Adrian (who I am a huge fan of, my reason to pickup the Guitar). However, combination of everything creates that amazing Maiden sound and I get so much joy to listen to those live recordings. İt's not like you can do countless takes at the studio to achieve perfection. İt's live, Real and happening at that very moment as it is. That's what Real musicianship to me. By the way, thanks Nico for yet another masterclass.🤘🎸🤴🏼
Yes! You definitely understand the concept of what "live" means. I commend you for that. Because it seems that many kids these days dont care if they're watching a concert that is lip-synch & tracks as opposed to a true & live setting. As you stated.....real musicians play turley live. Period! No excuses.
@@freddyferrillo9704 😀🤘
@@freddyferrillo9704 I'm guessing you must be at least 40+ Years old, just like me (48). I definitely agree with your comments too, my friend. Cheers!
Yikes, you wanna talk "sloppy" hear some isolated Steve Harris tracks, I mean it works fine in the mix but man oh man, it's not clean or precise at all
Excuse me, did you just call me sloppy? :D
Riffs are ok for an intermediate guitar player but some of Dave Murray's solos are so fucking fast.
The Hallowed be thy Name riff is my favorite riff to play on guitar, and how I’ve played it has changed over the years as I’ve developed my ear and technique. You demonstrated a great example of the finesse! Love your channel
Thanks a ton, man!! 🤜🤛
This was a very good video. One thing I like very much about their music is that it manages to hit a very fine balance. It is complicated enough to sound elaborate an impressive, but at the same time it is just straight forward enough so that it sounds achieveable. That makes it very inviting and uplifiting, and when I hear it I immediately want to play it myself. It can't be easy to write music like that.
I totally agree! It depends how deep you want to dive in. Looking forward to watch more videos like this one! Best!
I like how you explained the difference between just knowing the chords/riffs etc but then getting it to sound right as well.
For me, the conclusion is true for many of the greatest metal bands - be it Iron Maiden or Judas Priest and Accept. There's an underlying simplicity that is augmented by the subtle yet often rather sophisticated skill of the players (and singers).
That's one of the biggest reason I love 70's and 80's heavy metal!
(Oh, he said more or less the same thing at the end)
you've described it perfectly.
This guys videos are so good. So much info, so inspiring
There's beauty in simplicity and in executing simple things organically and with feel.
And of course, the genius of the band in composing "simple" riffs and reducing things to a point where all instruments have a space in time, frequencies and panning to create these "simple", yet exquisite songs!
One thing I love of Adrian's playing from the eighties whenever he did the classic blues lick and he started a little behind the beat, accelerate and finish ahead like in numbed of the beast. And doing it live with all the adrenaline pumping is quite a task.
Thanks Nico. That was quite insightful. Way too often, the little things are overlooked; yet, they make a lot of difference.
Keep it up, man. The ones of us who love music appreciate your work, and your input about Maiden is stunning.
Thank you very much for these kind and encouraging words!! It really means a lot😊🙏
HUGE shout out to you. I totally respect your comments regarding your explanation about the little details, hammer ons, palm muting on "Back to the Village" . Your break down of the skill level is spot. Please keep this up.
Thanks so much! I don't intend to stop 😃
It's all in the phrasing. When I started learning as a kid I thought I had certain riffs off to perfection, then I'd go and jam with a mate and he'd always play them so much better. You can teach yourself to be good technically but to be a musician you have to really listen and soak up the feel of the music.
Last week I played Phantom Of The Opera live on stage for the first time. It's a bit of a special song for me, because it was the first Iron Maiden song I ever heard (courtesy of Lucozade), and I was given a short passage from it on my first guitar lesson to help me alternate pick.
There were a few wobbles, but overall it went pretty well. It really does highlight how much stamina is a requirement of their playing.
Phantom is very special to me as well. Like you, it was the first thing I ever heard from Maiden 😊 It's not an easy song to pull off live so big CONGRATS! 🤜🤛
Nice summation, Nicko! Great Maiden guitar playing as usual too!
Difficulty is irrelevant - the creativity is what it's all about
Somebody else who gets it! Music is about connecting with the music.The best guitarists are those that create memorable riffs and melodies, that move you emotionally.Therefore Adrian Dave and Jannick are amongst the best guitarists ever, and a lot of those rated ahead of them are nowhere near as good
hey, i'd like to say that these videos are absolutely insightful and very interesting. I'm only a beginner and know 2 songs and a handful of riffs but these videos are always a joy to watch because it's always inspiring to learn about my most favorite band and that goes for guitar in general, sure I may not be that proficient in the instrument but its always so alluring and enjoyable to the fullest extent to learn about the topic. I love this channel because it teaches lots of general guitar knowledge while being themed around Maiden (My absolute favorite band :D).
In short, youre videos are very fun and interesting as well as informative and I give you my most heartfelt thanks for the content you make. Perhaps you might see this comment and I just wanted to express how much i appreciate this channel. Either way, Thank You :D
That really means a lot - especially because when I make these videos,.I always try to think of what I would have wanted to have had available back when I was starting to learn this stuff (way before the internet). So thank you very much for your encouraging comment and keep practicing!! 😃
@@LicksOfTheBeast well I'm glad I could throw some positivity your way :D
Dave Murray is the most smooth player in IRON MAIDEN.
And, when Adrian Smith plays, I swear... it looks like he's having a religious experience when he's playing! He's that into it!
Bottom line: Easy to Play, Difficult to Master.
Hey, Nico - Really helpful video as usual. My question is, what makes Dave's solos Dave's and what makes Adrian's solos Adrian's? What are their similarities and what are their differences?
That is a good question and a big discussion. I made a video about some of their stylistic differences a while back but I might do a part 2 later in the year or perhaps a live chat could be cool 😊
@@LicksOfTheBeast looking forward to it!!
That's a tough one. I'd say that listening to their influences might give you a good indication on what sets them apart. Dave was inspired heavily by Hendrix, whilst Adrian was inspired a lot by Michael Schenker for example.
I guess Adrian has more phrasing while Dave is on the legato side more. Also their pick-up choices are different on solos. Dave is a neck guy which gives hım a smoother, fluid tone Adrian is definitely a bridge guy with lots of edge and sharpness. And Adrian is a master of bending imo. Dave's bends are short and mix with the notes. Adrian is more like Gilmour, long bends with more emphasis. My two cents.
Very, very good question by the way.
I usually don't have a lot of trouble learning Iron Maiden songs, BUT to learn them correctly is the challenge. Nico has been such a big help in that respect. I want to learn them correctly and do justice to the song and Iron Maiden. All the nuances.. Great lesson here Nico. Could be one of my fav. vrdeos you've done..
That's amazing to read and it encourages me to keep making these kinds of videos. Thank you very much! 😊
@@LicksOfTheBeast you're very welcome..so keep making these awesome videos...
4:03 this hited my heart.
Back in 2005 when I received my first guitar, I installed guitar pro 4 and download Hallowed be thy name tab with the help of a friend.
I was so addicted in listen to this music that I played it on TH-cam several times at lan house.
So I started to play trying to learn my first riff ever and it was exactly this Hallowef be Thy Name riff. I started at 10 or 11 pm and when I looked to the window of my room,.it was morning already. I will never forget this day.
Thank you for this. I liked a lot your approach in details exemplifying everything you say. Subscribed, can't wait to watch more.
You always make your videos easy for non-players, like me, interesting and easy to understand. 👏🤘
That is the best compliment. Thank you!!!
Du bist einfach ein guter Typ und ich mag Deinen Content. Ich habe was dabei gelernt und bewundere Dein Gitarrenspiel!
very well explained, Adrian Smith adds so much nuance to Maidens sound, when he left, the band felt lacking in this department
So much of Maidens mojo is feel, and like you said so much of what they do is super subtle.
The notes and riffs aren’t terribly difficult but there’s a TON of touch
A bit of a nitpick, but check the notes in Hallowed Be Thy Name riff. It should be:
E F# G F# G A G F# B G F# G F# E, E F# E F# G F# G B G F# G F# E.
And it should also start on the downbeat (and the 2nd phrase starts on a 16th after the downbeat). The way you played it in the video either skipped a note or started it a 16th note after the downbeat, and the notes are not exactly correct.
Actually, it seems like you are skipping the 2nd note of the riff (F#), and are going straight from E to G. But there needs to be an F# between those notes - otherwise the rhythm doesn't work properly. (Other than that, it seems like the notes are the same, although it does also seem like you are not playing the E in the beginning of the 2nd phrase after the long E note.)
Sorry, it just bothered me too much and no one else was pointing it out.
Exactly!!!
Good job. Looking for this.
I was about to post the same! But not as well explained as you did.
Hi Nico. Really interesting video. When I was young I did not have the ear to pick up music and I would rely on tab books. I gave up learning maiden because many of the tabs were almost impossible to play because they were so bad. I learnt classical and developed my ear and realised the importance of correct finger positions. Even nowadays, I often notice amazing guitarists on you tube playing the right notes, but in very difficult positions. It is great you take the time to demonstrate the correct way - which is often the easiest - because they were not written to be hard. Excellent examples are the beginning of Adrian's Solo in Aces High and the positions he uses in the Sea of Madness solo.
You make a very good point! I think with some tab books the transcriber might not have been a metal guitarist or perhaps guitar wasn't their main instrument. That's the only way I could ever explain some of those odd choices 😂
For sure. Probably the worst tab ever was for Megadeth Rust in Peace. The tab for Marty’s solo in tornado must have been transcribed by a pianist. Lol.
Oh! Wow, that back in the village tune. I have always wanted to play that. That little clip you did I am going to work on. Thank you.
I've never had much problem learning Maiden tunes...But I'll tell you that " Back in the Village" is a challenge...😊
The thing about old maiden music that makes me love it is it's just like a Cosworth: it picks up and goes like a supercar, steers and handles like a sportscar, but without being too flimsy or over articulated
I think they can be easily considered part of the cool Britannia era although preceding it by a decade.
Thanks, Niko. I love learning Maiden riffs and licks because, well, I love Maiden. Up the Irons!!
Watching the video confirms they are hard. I've been playing for 40 years and can semi-mimic many of the songs..... but every time I watch a "how to video" I realize that my mimic is completely wrong. As he mentions in the video, there's usually more going on in the Iron Maiden song than my ear and hand can handle simultaneously. And that's why Iron Maiden can make a fine living playing their songs, while I go to work at a normal job and take my pay.
Same here I hear ya.
Satriani and Dream theater are my fav musicians ! Iron maiden is my First love though, i still listeni to them and as i grew older i appreciate them more musically. Satriani has a TON of nuance in his playing, vibratos slides the area where he picks.. Like you mention for in iron maiden in your video
I like to think of Maiden as being "challengingly simple." There's not a lot of weird chord voicings, not much for crazy technical riffs, and not much shreddy stuff, so you can focus more on the nuances. Obviously, there's some difficult songs (it's been 25 years and I still can't play Back In The Village or Purgatory well), but Maiden is a lot easier to play than 80s Metallica, to the point where I could definitely jump in with a Maiden cover/tribute band for just about any song (pre-COVID, I tried to put together a Maiden deep cuts tribute band for a venue's Halloween show [local bands do tribute sets], and the group I put together literally played our 60 minute as a first rehearsal...too bad COVID killed that plan, someone's gotta play Judas Be My Guide and Deja Vu live!).
I seen a maiden tribute band a few months ago and they done Judas be my guide, it was fucking brilliant!
Very interesting, especially for those of us that are detail obsessed fans! Thank you Nico!
How DIFFICULT is it to play Iron Maiden songs on Guitar?
A lot easier than playing them on a tuba.
I personally think the little nuance details make the biggest difference in regards to making something sound “right”. As you said its those small things that give the riff/lick/rhythm its vibe/feel which is ultimately what makes it sound like the person you are emulating. Its not what you play - its how you play it.
Very good point!
When I was a teenager I thought that Iron Maiden was very difficult to play because they used a lot of chords and back then I played note for note on just one string, hehe.
Then, with a lot of listening and a lot of practice, I quite enjoy it. I need the equalization to enjoy it even regardless of not having reached the domain that you have reached.
You make it look so easy!
The first detail I ever noticed in Iron Maiden songs was that finger roll/mute you mentioned in HBTN. Once you hear something like that, you can't unhear it and it opens a whole new world.
Cool video, love your SRV pic in the background!
Well, as a basic to intermediate player, Iron Maiden songs are quite difficult to me because there's too much soloing. As a self learner, I have a quite good rythym part, but I really suck at soloing, I just can play pretty basic things like Heading Out to the Highway one. And those gallops kill me too. I tried to learn The Wicker Man, the rythym part is quite easy, but that Adrian solo gets me every time I try to play it
I see that you like Priest as well as Maiden, I grew up playing both all the time. The solos require a little theory and practice. Keep watching Nico and any tutorials you can find on Priest and some music theory and you will be soloing like Glenn, KK, Adrian, and Dave. Try some David Gilmour too, that will help put feeling in your playing.
As always thank you for sharing with us. You sound amazing! Can you please tell me what kind of amplifier set up you use?
Thank you!
I don't use real amps on any of my videos. It's all Bias FX II and Neural DSP Petrucci plugins 😊
Because of you i start to play IM once again. I m big fan of them played them 10 years (in my jam style - so i play my solos - take it like my styled moded). I must thank you! I rediscovered the love with old and new albums once again :) BIG THANK YOU :)
Oh wow! Reading this really made me happy!! Thank you and I'm truly glad you reconnected with this wonderful band and their music 😃
Cheers!
Im a metalhead from the 80s, and while I liked Iron Maiden, I have come to realise how important they are in their influence, and the evolution of metal.
Obviously one of the most important metal bands of all time
Ciao Nico, complimenti bel video. Anche per chi non suona la chitarra è chiaro che nelle canzoni dei Maiden non ci sono grandi virtuosismi ma sono comunque abbastanza complicate da richiedere una grande esperienza sullo strumento.
Grazie tante! 😊
Back when i was in high school i was studying music - I was total garbage at it, I sucked at music reading but the only thing i could do was play guitar - 20years+ later im still 100% certain that the only reason I didnt get an F was because I played 'The Trooper' for a music recital.
Musically Iron Maiden couldnt be further from my comfort zone in terms of the kind of music i listened to. I was big on electronic music, Trance/Dance/House etc etc but part of my course meant that i had to learn an instrument and i didnt fancy piano much and i was already having some guitar lessons through a family friend so it only made sense that i went deeper into the guitar route.
True F'in story.
I think this video hit the nail on the head. I am a pretty garbage player overall, but I have always managed play something in the ballpark and have fun playing Maiden songs, even if I have never been able to get the little nuances.
No such thing as garbage players... there are skill levels and most of the time it's a combination of time spent practicing and (to a lesser extent) natural aptitudes but if you play just for fun because it helps you unwind at the end of the day or because it gives you a good endorphin rush that feels good, you're kicking ass! If you find 10-15 mins a day to throw in a little actual practice, in a year you'll be doing so even harder (and you might even get a few of those elusive nuances in there) 😀 Cheers!
Once again a high-level educational video. Thank you !
great video as always. but im kinda confused to hear you play hallowed riff a little wrong
Yeah I missed the first f# in the first part of the riff. I must have gone on autopilot there and played it the incorrect way I originally learned it decades ago... Oh well... It doesn't change the parts I was highlighting so I suppose it's all good 😄
@@LicksOfTheBeast That's part of the charm though isn't it? For me, as long as the "feel" is the same, an odd note here and there doesn't bother me at all. Also, it's sometimes hard to get it 100% correct, since you're not there with them, playing it, since their music is so organic. I find that playing along to songs that have been recorded to a click track is easier than songs that were recorded live, since the groove is more consistent with a click track (the downside being that it feels somewhat more sterile sometimes).
Great video as always.
The main problem is that it never sounds right when playing/practicing with just one guitar
true you need a ood harmonizer oedak usualy in thirds fifths and sixes somex the pedal harmonisrs sound crap trhough
interesting take on this one bro! great video as always!
Thanks broskiiiii!!
Great video once again man!
I feel like this is something I am going through at the minute (which is why I commented about practice routines a few weeks ago). I think I am a good player, I have played for almost 17 years now, but I haven't taken the time to sit down and practice properly. I recently booked lessons to get a sort of review on how I am doing as I would like to learn how to play things properly and not try to cut corners. I have hit walls whilst practicing myself, and need to know how to break through those walls with patience instead of just trying to speed up the metronome aimlessly.
Guitar is one of those instruments that it's fun to just jam so it does take a bit of willpower to make actual targeted and focused practice a priority. I think most of us struggle with that to some degree... Booking lessons is a great step as it will force you to work on specific things in between lessons.
Dave and Adrian are guys you can tell listened to lots of players from the 60s and 70s, they have a lot of "feel" for lack of a better term. Really unique and fully developed styles, and you make great points about some of the details that lots of players miss when playing these songs. They also both have a pretty unique sense of timing and melody, it's not as simple as the difference between straight and swing and the Iron Maiden "gallop" lol.
It's harder to play their stuff and make it sound "right" than it is to play stuff from certain metal bands that came along in the mid to late 80s. Similar to how it's hard for most people to make Van Halen stuff swing properly, vs playing some of the more straight stuff that came from the 2nd generation mid to late 80s melodic rock.
Great point about the VH swing!
As an awesomely bad bedroom player of guitar I would say that youhave pretty much hit the nail on the head here. Maiden songs (not all) are generally pretty easy to play the parts and have them sound good. I am really poor on guitar but can play the main parts to say Ghost of the Navigator, anyone that knows the song would instantly recognise what I am playing. I will not be playing it correctly but the notes are in the right order - most of the time!
To play the song as they do however is a different matter, I can't get near it and don't have the time to attempt to even try to attain that level. But I don't need to. I'm not in a band, I just play for the fun of playing.
It is like the old saying, "Guitar is easy to play but hard to master". I think this is also true of Maiden songs or any other band for that matter...
And the thing is you don't have to play them exactly as they do to enjoy playing them. They're fun songs to play along with even just for the fact that it makes you feel good 🙂
Nice job pointing out those different levels one can address when playing. It's something like difference between tabs, classic notation and reading between the lines and getting the bits that aren't there but are expected of you.
Although must say the Rime Of The Ancient Mariner felt not enough triplety - at least for my taste ;)
The main riff to "The Trooper" made me want to play guitar.
Same here :D
Thanks a lot Nico and horns up!!!!
Cool video. I had the exact same experience. When I started playing Guitar, the songs didn't look all to complicated to play, but when I practiced them I always had the feeling that something wasnst quite right, with how I played them
that tone is sooooo good
as a guitar player for over 15+ years I strive to be the best I can play. Whether working on my own originals. or learning Iron Maiden songs I want to learn that song as perfectly as I can. I want to keep improving as long as I can and I'm very thankful in finding Nico's channel so I can learn these songs and play them as they're meant to be played.
I really appreciate your support and encouragement so much!! It's so nice of you to leave thoughtful comments on these videos. I'm glad what I publish here can be in any measure helpful to your playing 🙏🤘
@@LicksOfTheBeast I've been trying to play Iron Maiden for longer than I want to admit. Like you said, playing along with the tapes/cd's, getting really close. Friends saying "man, you got that down" when I knew I was close, but not quite there. I agree with you on your assessment of Iron Maiden's songs, when you grow as a player, you learn the little things about them that help you get it right. I'm still learning at 54 and you are a great help in that process. Thank you for Licks of the Beast, a great channel.
Thank you! I'm glad I to know I have been helpful in your ongoing musical journey 😊 Cheers brother 🤜🤛
I love the way their rhythm parts are usually super-loose, unlike something ridiculous like Megadeth. I remember playing Phantom of The Opera when I was starting out and being like…did I just do that?? Like, once you can do power chords and you have a bit of feel, you can play 90% of their stuff. I still can’t play f**king Master of Puppets. Like, nowhere near.
Master of puppets is easy. So easy that I can play it left handed, and right handed. I'm left handed.
@@the_releaser fella - Hetfield can barely play it live since ‘96. Getting the stamina to do accurate downstrokes that fast for an entire song takes a ton of work. If you can do it you’re a badass - don’t downplay your achievement!
@@nicojones4436
I never learned to play it past the first couple of riffs, up to the little noodly bit when the riff changes and papa Het starts singing so it's not like I'm playing the whole song.
One day I'll sit down and learn more of it. Lefty I can do the down picking up to that point but right handed I have to cheat and do alternate picking.
@@the_releaser I guess if you want to commit to playing that stuff properly, you’ve got to basically devote a colossal amount of practice time to building up downstroke speed and consistency. I could never be bothered. Maiden have their moments but nothing like that Puppets album. Incredible playing.
@@nicojones4436
That's pretty much why I never learned much farther than the first couple of riffs. I just learn the main riffs of songs and get bored already and move on to the next. I don't have the patience to learn the entire song.
Maybe the only song I know from beginning to end is the rhythm part of AC/DCs T.N.T
And this is why you have my respect, you understand the devil is in the details…nice breakdown, and beautiful playing as always.
Hugely appreciated. Thanks brother!
Well, it was kid of dificult to play their songs back then in 1980-1982. Eventually people chatched up. But thier songs and solos are so memorable for sure.
Thank you for sharing, Nico! Quite interesting and insightful!
Great video Nicko. Just fabulous! And yes....I enjoyed it. I enjoy them all!
This channel is my favorite. Out of all the channels I am subbed to....this one is my absolute favorite. And it's because Nico's guitar and music skills are top-notch. And also, his great knowledge of Iron Maiden compositions and music pieces. But most of all....it's because I love Maiden! I've been a major fan since 1981 when I was 14.
Thankyou Nico! Keep doing it bro. And I'll keep clicking on!
Peace.
Thanks a ton, brother!! Much appreciated 🤘
It depends when you started to play Iron Maiden. I started with Metallica, and it took me 3 months to play One, and then I tried to learn the whole And Justice For All. Till now, Dyers Eve is the only song I can't perform decent enough in the whole album, but yeah, I learned a lot.
Now I'm with Iron Maiden, and I'm trying to do the same with Piece Of Mind. (Revelations and Still Life solos left me to learn) but, yes, Iron Maiden is easier for me. There are some songs that are more complex to play tho (Genghis Khan, Sea of Madness, Back In The Village and any Janick Gers solo haha)
Yes! Definitely interesting and insightful!
It's the same as with most artists i guess. The notes come easy, the details is where the work starts. Best example for that is blues: Most beginner guitar players could play the opening to "thrill is gone" by B.B. King pretty quickly. To nail the details and tone is a truly another story.
And one can really tell you put some serious hours into the details of the Maiden guys.
Hey Niko, I glanced over what you say about you being “close enough”, you are bang on man with your playing, I speak from the standpoint of a person listening to Iron Maiden since ‘82. I can’t tell the difference between you or Dave or Adrian. So, I feel you are in false modesty, I say it with complete jest if you get my drift. You are unnaturally gifted in guitar.
Hahaha thank you, thank you!
In that particular bit in the video, I was referring to the fact that it wasn't a note-for-note reproduction of Dave's lick but a close enough version of it that still worked. I should have added that in that case, getting the feel right is more important than the notes on a lick like that. Because playing it note-for-note but without a good grasp of Dave's style would actually sound less accurate than what I played.
And I appreciate your very kind compliments a whole lot. Thank you!
@@LicksOfTheBeast I completely agree, I do that too, going about its feel, but I'm nowhere near your calibre in playing Maiden tunes, so I'm even more feel. Best I can replicate is Phantom of The Opera beginning riff and some of the Number of The Beast solos.
I am not gonna lie your pro maiden content feels like visiting the oracle at Delphi. Powerful stuff.
That's such a huge (and very kind) compliment. Thank you!!! 🙏
Simple and excellent video explanation, dude. Those subtile skills of Maiden, as their well pondered palm mutting or their semi inaudible details on riffs and solos, are the cause that makes you never ending learn with them as you progress on guitar, even in easy songs that you was considering you was playing right. It is very grateful to learn with them, as it can sound ok yet in a beginner level, but you will always progress more and more when you return to them, even to the same songs once and another time, as you improve your playing (and discover how good musicians, but without pretensions of virtuosity admiration, they were at a very young age). Best regards!
I found that the thing about maiden is and always was that they translate flavour and feeling throughout whatever songs they make. be it live or on a fresh studio recording they have always managed to keep that depth. It doesnt matter if one thinks their riffs are hard or easy to play, techinically, it is however rare to find someone that plays their riffs like they should be played.
Some of the other contemporary huge bands are good examples of what i mean. Skilled musicians no doubt that has made many kick ass songs but when you listen to their studio albums and see them live there is a loss. There is a loss in feeling a loss in depth. If that is because they overdid their studio stuff or because they simply cant perform it as well live depends on the band. There is also that synergy within the actual band that is just one of a kind and that is not something that can be copied.
You make some very good points! 😊
Is that the 549 dollar Adrian Smith or the USA model that's over 3000$ ?
Maiden music gave me all dexterity I needed on the fretboard. That was many years ago.
You must play for several years before your brain, hand and arm naturally work together to add all the little nuances that make a song sound as naturally played as the recording you are comparing it to - without you having to consciously think about it as you're playing. The correct notes and timing are only about 80% of it. The rest is "feel" and playing experience. Sort of like communication is verbal and non-verbal. It takes both to get it right. I didn't start playing guitar until is was almost 25 years old. It's taken a very long time for me to develop that feel but I'm finally there - after 25 years of hack playing - lol.
Hi Niko!! I answer for those question; Iron Maiden songs was really difficult, from very easy like ''Iron Maiden'' The Trooper or 2minutes to Midnight, from medium like Brave New World (except Dave Muray intro part) Dream of Mirrors to hard and ultra hard like (hmm i dont know what songs write here). Heaven Can Wait-this is great intro for practicing ;) Greetings my friend, as always you made great work.
I have been playing for over 15 years. That said I find Iron Maiden songs to be either harder than anything or either somewhat easy. Never saying they are easy to play I just seen to find them that way. Nico, this a great video and I watched it to the end to see if you might have some keys to getting the harder Maiden songs down.
Nice video like always, can we have more details about your sound on bias fx like your first preset video your back in the village sound is awesome and your sound in general is amazing
Thank you!
I'm using the exact same settings as I show in that video. I think the gain on the amp and the drive on the screamer pedal are up just a little bit on the wasted years lick.... otherwise it's my usual preset.
We all can agree that the Adrian is the first guitar or whatever,i have nothing against it,man really is a master but since the first time i've heard them i have noticed Dave's tone and style.
Far more elegant,majestic,precise and virtuoso.
Jannick is a good lad and excellent player but i just cannot measure him with Dave again.
So,Murray forever. 🤘
well originally murray played a very legato style (smooth flowing) while Adrian played very staccato (choppy ). and the two styles complimented each other greatly. When they go Jannick , he is also a legato player, so IM lost that dynamic in their sound. until adrian came back that is. i think with all three of tehm they strike a good balance with who plays what solos.
Subbed, stumbled across this channel and its amazing, love to see people with a passion for music, your a great player dude, great content.
Thanks so much for the encouraging words and for subscribing! Glad you found the channel 😃🤘
Nico, THANKS. KILLER VIDEO. I have been trying to play MAIDEN songs since the first album. Takes perfect practice to achieve perfection. Must have the correct information to achieve. Like years & years of planning for gold, one riff at a time. Sometimes the difficulty is in the notes that are barely audible from ambience, like delay & reverb or even modulation.
That's always a big challenge in rock and metal and sometimes hitting every single small note is less important than getting the feel, articulation and phrasing right. The overall sound of the thing basically 🙂
This channel is very helpful. I'm a beginner and I'm learning Wasted Years hopefully I nail it like Adrian Smith keep up the good work and you earned a new subscriber.
Glad you found the channel and thank you for subscribing!
Here are some beginner-friendly tutorials I made (tabs are included in the video description for all three). Cheers!
th-cam.com/video/cmQAG-bLqKs/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/TSvmz58Xg2c/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/C_AEbGrM99M/w-d-xo.html
Every singel musicians have their own signature sound, so it’s difficult to make it sound alike the original player, even if you play it correct note by note. So for all us who are not nearby as good as Nicko, I think we must be satisfied with playing the Maiden songs in our own way😉 Maiden also records their songs in studio by playing them live with no metronom, thats why the Maiden songs are so dynamic versus for instance Dream theatre IMHO.
Dude.. where do you get so your Maiden T-shirts?
Well yes, that’s the exact answer I’ll say if somebody would ask me, I’m not a pro player, not that technical and so, I just play guitar for fun, and the years (as anything in life) improved something in the way I play, and a lot of maiden songs I could say were “easy” to learn (specially cause maiden uses the same scale in a lot of songs) but if you want to play it Exact as the song is, it gets pretty technical and tricky, the beast is in the details
You channel is awesome. Thanks!
There harder on bass that’s for sure
I was in a cover band in the mid 80s. We played Trooper and Run to the Hills but I was the only lead player. Maiden is a marathon. Usually pooped out at the end missing notes and bends.🤣
I would say its those finer details that make the difference between success and failure. There are lots of bands in the same Genre's of music but only a few stay at the top. 🤔
The followup should be "well, who's guitar part are we talking about?"
I mean, there's three guitarists (fine, two for the early stuff) .. but it's not like those are going to get compressed into one.
I have no idea what the hell you are talking about but I have mad respect (and jealousy) for your skill. I LOVE the guitar and would LOVE to be able to play it but realize that at 56 years old that ship has most likely sailed lol. I can't even imagine the hours upon hours guys and gals like you have put in to get this good! I feel like you have to be born with at least a "feel" for music or a talent for it at some level...maybe I am wrong. I don't feel like I have a shred of it haha. So I guess I will just keep watching and listening and dreaming ! Thanks for what you do!
Never too late, try it! It doesn't take long to feel good playing riffs you know
Hey first of all thank you very much for the encouragement. That is hugely appreciated!
Second, no ship has sailed for you, my friend! I am going to use the most cliché of expressions only because in this case it is all too true: Music is a journey, not a destination! You start learning now, you practice 30 minutes a day, every day (sometimes more when you feel like it or time allows) and I guarantee you that you will be playing many of your favourite riffs before long and in 3-4 years, you're gonna already be quite good. How about that for a 60th birthday present to yourself?! 😃
Some people are naturals and they learn faster, more intuitively, build up speed faster because they have better tendons and better muscle coordination or whatever... That's not most of us. I certainly was not a natural in any way and I struggled quite a bit at first. I just practiced all the time because I loved guitar and music.
Pardon the long winded response but basically, just start playing and then...just keep playing!! Cheers 🤘🤘
@@markkeeler584 thanks gonna try!
@@LicksOfTheBeast Thanks man for taking the time to respond! I am going to give it a go. To be honest I think I would be satisfied just to be able to play a few of my favorite riffs lol. I guess I let myself feel like I am out of my depth when I watch guys like yourself and Rick Beato and others on youtube playing. It honestly is amazing to me but I realize you guys didn't just wake up able to play. Thanks very much for the encouragement! Keep shredding!
@@LicksOfTheBeast What nice words! and more, coming from a great guitar player 🙂👍
I have found that Iron Maiden sounds more difficult to most because they have not come to an understanding of they're style, iron maiden is very much 2nd part harmonies, and with Gerr's, 3 part harmonies and I think a lot of musicians are not big on harmony, you must have at least an elementary understanding of scales and music theory to understand harmony (coupled with at least a little talent) in the early years Steve said: " he was the best guitarist I ever saw " speaking of David when he had that first audition in the mobile out in the cow pasture; David had a good understanding of music theory and Steve liked that command of the music theory that David had; from; Scranton, Pennsylvania
Maybe I can add an interesting perspective to this story and question:
I am left handed and I've learned guitar in a "normal" way. As a left handed person I always had an edge in fast soloing sections (legato, one or two strings shredding licks especially, more "natural" strength in my left hand fingers for bending) over right-handers, so I could learn most melodic licks including soloing quite easily.
However what kills me is right hand technique. It took much more time to learn the galloping for me as a left hander than regular right handers do and Iron Maiden - 80s songs especially - are all about galloping... unfortunately.
Hi! Great video! What pedals are you using when you played Smith’s part of Wasted Years??? Absolutely amazing tone!
Thank you!
I used the same setup in Bias FX II for the entire video. 😊
It's basically What I explained here:
th-cam.com/video/ieaEC5pChrU/w-d-xo.html
@@LicksOfTheBeast that’s awesome, do you have any HX Stomp patch by any chance? Thank you!
I luv the riff before the solo on aces high and the beginning of be quick or be dead. Those riffs are fn great.
Dude apart from your playing I like your guitar tone. Could you share with us your signal chain please?
Thanks so much! 😊
I am using the Bias FX II plugin at the moment. I made a video explaining my settings here: th-cam.com/video/ieaEC5pChrU/w-d-xo.html