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Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast - Guitar Tab

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Key E minor
Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast guitar tab video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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The Number of the Beast (2015 Remaster) album cover
The Number of the Beast (2015 Remaster)
1982 4:51
Listen on Spotify
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 1982 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Number of the Beast

Few Heavy Metal tracks demand as much from a guitarist right out of the gate as this one. The song opens with a spoken-word intro before detonating into a galloping riff that sits in E minor and runs at a brisk 130 BPM, and keeping that gallop tight and even is the first real challenge. Iron Maiden built the arrangement around interlocking guitar parts, so you need to get comfortable with both the rhythm work and the melodic lead lines that weave through the verses and chorus. The picking hand takes the most punishment here: alternate picking with strict economy of motion is what keeps the riff from falling apart at tempo. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff slowed down until the pick strokes feel automatic, then gradually bring it back up to 130 BPM. The twin-guitar harmony runs in the latter half of the song are worth isolating the same way, since the phrasing has to lock together precisely for them to land.

  • The main riff relies on a relentless galloping alternate-picking pattern in E minor, which quickly exposes any inconsistency in right-hand technique.
  • Playing in E Standard tuning, the song's twin-guitar harmony lines require careful attention to intonation and phrasing for both parts to blend cleanly.
  • At 130 BPM the rhythm parts sit at a tempo where stamina and pick control matter as much as knowing the correct notes.

How to Play Number of the Beast

The song moves through: Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Solo 1, Break, Solo 2, Outro.

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 130 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

The arrangement runs through 8 distinct sections, and the solo is the steepest jump, so isolate it on its own.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 130 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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