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Iron Maiden - 2 A.M. Janick Gers's - Guitar Solo Tab

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Iron Maiden - 2 A.M. Janick Gers's guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

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.
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal

About 2 A.M. Janick Gers's

Janick Gers joined Iron Maiden in 1990, and "2 A.M." is a fine early example of his guitar work within the band's trademark twin-guitar framework. At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the song sits at a moderate heavy metal pace that is approachable, yet it still demands clean, controlled picking and tight rhythm playing throughout. The challenge here is staying locked in with the bass and drums while keeping your palm mutes crisp and your chord transitions smooth. Pay close attention to the transitions between the verse riff and the chorus, since that is where timing tends to slip for most players. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop those transition bars slowed down until the movement feels automatic. Getting the dynamics right, knowing when to dig in hard and when to let the note ring, is what separates a mechanical run-through from a convincing performance of this track.

  • Playing in E Standard tuning at 120 BPM, this song is a solid entry point for guitarists building comfort with Iron Maiden's rhythm-focused, gallop-adjacent style.
  • Clean palm muting and precise pick attack are the core technique demands, so practising with a metronome at half speed before pushing to full tempo pays off.
  • The song fits within Iron Maiden's twin-guitar approach, so learning both rhythm and lead layers gives you the full picture of how the parts interlock.

How to Play 2 A.M. Janick Gers's

Tuning: E Standard · Tempo: 120 BPM

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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