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Iron Maiden - Still Life - Guitar Cover

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Key A minor
Iron Maiden - Still Life 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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AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
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Iron Maiden Heavy Metal A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

About Still Life

"Still Life" is one of the more atmospheric tracks in the Iron Maiden catalog, and it rewards careful attention from a guitarist looking to go beyond pure speed. The song sits in A minor and leans heavily on melodic phrasing and tension-building rather than relentless galloping, which makes it a useful study in restraint for players who usually chase the fastest Maiden material. The twin-guitar interplay between the lead and rhythm parts is where most of the work lies: keeping the rhythm locked and tight while the lead breathes above it takes real coordination. The main riff has a slightly brooding, progressive feel, so your picking hand needs to stay controlled and even rather than aggressive. If the transitions between sections are catching you out, use the Practice Toolbar to loop those spots slowed down until the movement between chords and riffs feels automatic. Pay close attention to the dynamics too, since the quieter verses need a noticeably lighter touch than the heavier chorus passages.

  • The song is in A minor and favors melodic, tension-based riffing over straight galloping, making clean left-hand fretting essential throughout.
  • Twin-guitar harmony lines appear in the arrangement, so learning both parts separately before combining them is a practical way to approach the song.
  • The contrast between the restrained verse picking and the heavier chorus sections means your right-hand dynamics need deliberate control from the start.

How to Play Still Life

Key: A minor · Tempo: 124 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 124 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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