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Guitar Songs, Tabs & Lessons

Saxon

5 guitar songs · Tabs, Lessons & Tone Guide Heavy Metal

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Band Overview

Saxon emerged from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) in the late 1970s, hitting their stride in the early 1980s with a sound that bridged classic heavy metal aggression and punk-influenced directness. The band, fronted by vocalist Biff Byford and anchored by guitarist Paul Quinn, built their reputation on straightforward, riff-driven heavy metal that emphasized rhythmic precision and memorable songwriting over technical gymnastics. What makes Saxon essential for guitarists is their masterclass in economical riffing: every note serves the song, downpicking is crisp and authoritative, and lead lines complement rather than overshadow the groove. Paul Quinn's approach to heavy metal guitar is all about pocket playing, strong harmonic sense, and the ability to craft solos that sit perfectly in the mix rather than dominating it. The band's difficulty rating sits in the intermediate range for most of their material, making Saxon ideal for guitarists who've mastered basic power chords and alternate picking but want to develop stronger rhythm phrasing and tone control. Their two-guitar lineup (Quinn and Graham Oliver in early years, later Quinn with other partners) creates textural interplay that rewards study for anyone interested in how multiple guitars can enhance a song without fighting for space.

What Makes Saxon Essential for Guitar Players

  • Power chord mastery with attitude: Saxon's riffs are built on tight, percussive power chord work using downpicking. The key is letting each chord breathe slightly and hitting the attack cleanly without muddying the mix, evident in tracks like 'Strong Arm of the Law.' This teaches dynamics within aggression.
  • Clean, articulate lead tone without excessive effects: Paul Quinn's solos cut through because they use precise vibrato, controlled bending, and legato passages rather than effects saturation. His vibrato is narrow and fast, sitting perfectly on the root of the harmonic movement, making leads memorable and singable.
  • Harmonic riffing and melodic sensibility: Unlike purely speed-based metal, Saxon solos often outline chord tones and follow the song's harmonic progression. 'Princess of the Night' demonstrates this approach, where the lead line follows the emotional arc of the verse and chorus rather than random pentatonic runs.
  • Two-guitar interplay without clutter: Watching how multiple guitars weave together in 'Crusader' teaches separation through register and role definition. One guitar anchors the riff while the other adds texture or harmonies, a technique essential for band writing and understanding how to arrange multiple parts.
  • Hybrid picking and palm-muting control: Saxon uses controlled palm-muting on rhythm riffs to create definition and attack without sacrificing sustain. The muted portions are used rhythmically to create movement, particularly evident in the introduction and verse structures of their catalog.

Did You Know?

Paul Quinn recorded many of Saxon's most iconic songs with a Les Paul Standard through a Marshall amp, keeping his signal chain remarkably simple: guitar straight into a tube amp with minimal pedal board. This 'no filler' approach forced him to develop strong hands and tone control, making Saxon a goldmine for understanding how great tone comes from playing dynamics rather than effects.

The band's 1980 debut album 'Saxon' was recorded on a modest budget with minimal overdubs, meaning what you hear is largely live performance. This rawness makes it an excellent reference for guitarists learning to play tight in a live setting without studio trickery.

Saxon's early material was heavily influenced by the bluesy phrasing of classic rock but applied at heavy metal tempos and intensity. This hybrid approach teaches guitarists how to bring blues vocabulary (bend-and-release, double-stops, phrasing rhythm) into metal contexts.

The band deliberately chose memorable, singable melodies in their riffs and solos at a time when many metal bands were pursuing pure speed. Paul Quinn's philosophy was that a riff should be able to be hummed, which is why Saxon songs are so catchy and why they're excellent for understanding the relationship between melody and aggression.

Saxon recorded their best material before digital recording became standard, meaning their tone is entirely analog tube saturation. The slight compression and warmth of tape and tube electronics creates a cohesive, thick tone that's harder to achieve with modern solid-state gear, offering valuable lessons in amp tone shaping.

The band's live reputation is built on precision and power, not showmanship. Watching Paul Quinn perform reveals how consistent vibrato, clean attack, and solid rhythm work create impact without excessive string bending or theatrical elements. This approach translates directly to session work and professional playing.

Saxon's 'Dallas 1 PM' showcases mid-paced groove metal before the genre existed, using dropped tunings and emphasis on the kick drum interaction. For guitarists, this teaches how to lock in with the drummer's kick pattern rather than just the snare for tighter, heavier grooves.

Essential Albums for Guitarists

Saxon album cover
Saxon 1980

The debut is Saxon's masterclass in economical, riff-driven heavy metal. 'Strong Arm of the Law' and 'Frozen Rainbow' showcase Paul Quinn's approach to power chord mastery and blues-inflected soloing. Every song is a study in how to make simple ideas powerful through execution, tone, and feel. This album teaches the fundamentals of heavy metal guitar more effectively than many instructional methods.

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Wheels of Steel album cover
Wheels of Steel 1980

Released the same year but representing the band's peak moment of confidence, this album features some of the tightest two-guitar work in NWOBHM. Songs like 'Wheels of Steel' and 'We're Gonna Rock You' demonstrate how multiple guitars can enhance a riff without creating confusion. The dual lead harmonies are clean, melodic, and perfectly executed, teaching principles of arrangement and interplay.

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Princess of the Night album cover
Princess of the Night 1985

This later-period Saxon showcases how the band had refined their approach into leaner, more focused compositions. The title track is an excellent study in how vibrato, controlled bending, and phrasing create memorable solos that rival the riff in importance. The production is cleaner than the '80 releases, making it easier to hear exactly what Quinn is doing technically.

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Tone & Gear

Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard (1959-present, various years) paired with Fender Stratocaster models. The Les Paul became Paul Quinn's primary choice for its thick, warm fundamental and natural sustain, ideal for the power chord-driven riffs that define Saxon's sound. No modifications needed; stock Les Paul pickups and hardware were used, keeping the tone natural and avoiding the brittle edge of over-modified instruments.

Amp

Marshall JCM800 (early years) and Marshall 1959 Plexi heads, run at full volume for natural power-tube saturation and breakup. The amp's output transformer pushed hard creates the thick, slightly compressed tone Saxon is known for, with midrange emphasis that cuts through the band's dense rhythm section. Channel switching was minimal; one input, one voicing, letting the amp's natural response shape the tone.

Pickups

Gibson stock humbuckers (8.5-9.5k output range) in Les Paul instruments, offering warmth and natural compression that works beautifully with cranked tube amps. The moderate output keeps the tone articulate and prevents excessive saturation, allowing clean picking dynamics to shine through. This pickup choice prevents the muddy, compressed tone that can result from pairing ultra-hot pickups with tube saturation.

Effects & Chain

Minimal effects setup: occasional Cry Baby wah for specific solos, but primarily guitar straight into the amp. No distortion pedals, no compression boxes, no layered effects chains. This simplicity forced Quinn to develop excellent hand dynamics and understand how tubes themselves create tone. Modern players trying to emulate Saxon should resist the urge to add overdrive or fuzz pedals; instead, focus on amp breakup and playing dynamics.

Recommended Gear

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Saxon paired Stratocasters with Les Pauls to access brighter, snappier tones for specific rhythm passages, though the Les Paul remained their primary choice. The Strat's lighter voice provided textural contrast without sacrificing the power and sustain needed for their heavy riff-based approach.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Paul Quinn's primary weapon, the Les Paul Standard delivers the thick, warm fundamental and natural sustain that defines Saxon's power chord-driven riffs. Stock Gibson humbuckers paired with cranked Marshall tubes created their signature compressed, articulate tone without need for modification.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul Custom offered similar tonal characteristics to Quinn's Standard model, with slightly enhanced sustain and output for added punch in live settings. Its premium construction maintained the warm, natural compression essential to Saxon's tube-amp-driven heavy metal sound.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800 pushed at full volume created Saxon's thick, slightly compressed tone with midrange emphasis that cuts through dense rhythm sections. Running single-channel with no switching forced Quinn to control breakup purely through playing dynamics and natural power-tube saturation.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Quinn deployed the Cry Baby wah sparingly for specific solos, maintaining Saxon's minimalist approach to effects and avoiding pedal-dependent tones. The wah's natural sweep complemented his hand-dynamics playing style without compromising the raw, amp-driven character of their sound.

How to Practice Saxon on GuitarZone

Every Saxon song page on GuitarZone includes a built-in Practice Toolbar. No app to download, no account needed. Open any song, then use the toolbar to slow the video to 0.5× speed, set an A/B loop around the exact riff you're working on, and jump between song sections instantly.

The toolbar appears automatically on every guitar tab, lesson, and cover page. Pick a song below, hit play, and start practicing at your own pace.

Practice Strong Arm Of the Law - Guitar TabPractice Crusader - Guitar TabPractice Dallas 1 PM - Guitar Tab