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Iron Maiden - The Trooper Pt.2 - Chords/Riffs - Guitar Lesson

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Iron Maiden - The Trooper Pt.2 - Chords/Riffs guitar lesson video
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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.
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Iron Maiden Heavy Metal

About The Trooper Pt.2 - Chords/Riffs

Few tracks in heavy metal ask as much of a rhythm guitarist's picking arm as "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden. The song runs at a relentless gallop tempo, built almost entirely on fast downpicking and the characteristic Maiden gallop pattern, where a dotted-eighth and sixteenth combination drives each bar forward with aggressive momentum. Getting that tight, percussive attack right is the real challenge here: your fretting hand needs to mute cleanly between chord stabs while your picking hand stays locked and even. Part 2 of the tab focuses on the chord and riff work specifically, so pay close attention to the transitions between open-position power chords and the higher-neck passages where the riffs push into faster territory. If the gallop patterns are slipping, isolate a single bar in the Practice Toolbar, slow it down to around half speed, and build your accuracy before bringing the tempo back up. Stamina matters as much as technique in this one.

  • The song's signature gallop rhythm pattern, alternating a dotted-eighth note with a sixteenth note, is the core technique to master before attempting full-speed runs.
  • Consistent downpicking through the gallop riffs is the traditional approach here, and building right-hand stamina is essential for keeping the attack even.
  • Power chord transitions happen quickly and often involve string skipping, so slow practice with the Practice Toolbar is the most effective way to clean them up.

How to Play The Trooper Pt.2 - Chords/Riffs

Tempo: 160 BPM

Loop the hardest passage and creep the speed up from around 70 percent until it holds at 160 BPM.

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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