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Iron Maiden - Alexander the Great - Guitar Cover

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BPM
Key E minor
Iron Maiden - Alexander the Great guitar cover video
Licks Of The Beast
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Somewhere in Time (2015 Remaster) album cover
Somewhere in Time (2015 Remaster)
1986 8:37
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Music
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 1986 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Alexander the Great

Few heavy metal tracks demand as much stamina and focus from a guitarist as "Alexander the Great" by Iron Maiden. Clocking in at over eight minutes, the song cycles through multiple distinct sections, each with its own riff character and feel, so knowing the structure is half the battle before you even worry about the notes. The key of E minor anchors the whole piece, and the twin-guitar interplay between the lead parts is where the real challenge lies: the harmonised lines require both accuracy and a matched picking attack to sound cohesive. Rhythm playing here rewards a firm, consistent right-hand technique, since the riffs shift between galloping eighth-note patterns and slower, heavier passages that need clear articulation at every tempo change. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop each section individually slowed down, especially the harmonic lead passages, before trying to chain the whole song together. Building it section by section is far more effective than running it from the top repeatedly.

  • The song's twin-guitar harmonic lines are among the more demanding to replicate accurately, requiring close attention to fingering and synchronised picking between both parts.
  • At over eight minutes long, the track covers multiple riff sections, so focused section-by-section practice with looping slowed down is strongly recommended.
  • The rhythm guitar work alternates between galloping patterns and heavier, mid-paced riffs in E minor, making right-hand consistency a key focus throughout.

How to Play Alexander the Great

Key: E minor · Tempo: 120 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Iron Maiden's signature choice for heavy metal, the Strat's bright single-coils in neck and middle positions deliver the glassy, articulate tone that defines their melodic passages. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith pair bridge humbuckers with this platform to preserve pick dynamics and note definition rather than drowning in compressed gain.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The backbone of Maiden's iconic sound, the JCM800's moderate gain structure lets the power tubes sing without preamp saturation, preserving the punch and harmonic clarity that makes their riffs cut through a mix. Murray and Smith set gain moderately to maintain definition while pushing the amp into natural tube breakup.

Seymour Duncan JB
Pickup

Seymour Duncan JB

Adrian Smith's weapon of choice, the JB's balanced output drives Marshall amps into singing sustain without over-compressing dynamics, allowing his lead lines to breathe with clarity and snap. This moderate-output humbucker maintains the attack and articulation essential to Maiden's punchy, defined metal tone.

DiMarzio Super Distortion
Pickup

DiMarzio Super Distortion

Dave Murray's bridge pickup at 13k output strikes the perfect balance, hitting the Marshall hard enough for thick sustain yet retaining enough dynamics for expressive bending and harmonic control. It's hot enough to sing but not so overwound that it flattens the natural Strat character underneath.

Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
Pedal

Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

Murray and Smith use this clean boost to push their Marshalls harder during solos, adding aggression without relying on pedal distortion, keeping the tube amp saturation as the true tone source. The SD-1 preserves their natural playing dynamics while giving leads extra presence and cut.

ISP Decimator Noise Gate
Pedal

ISP Decimator Noise Gate

Smith occasionally employs this noise gate to manage feedback and hum from his high-output rig without sacrificing sustain, staying true to Maiden's philosophy of minimal pedal intervention. It's a practical tool for live performance that doesn't color the natural tube amp tone.

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