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Iron Maiden - Powerslave - Guitar Solo Tab

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Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key C# minor
Iron Maiden - Powerslave guitar tab video
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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.
Powerslave (2015 Remaster) album cover
Powerslave (2015 Remaster)
1984 7:12
Listen on Spotify
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 1984 C# minor
Capo Advisor 0 C# minor · Original key

About Powerslave

Few songs in Heavy Metal demand as much endurance from a guitarist as "Powerslave." Running well past eight minutes, the track asks you to stay locked in through galloping rhythm work, melodic lead passages, and a extended solo section that calls on both Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. At 110 BPM in C# minor on standard E tuning, the feel is heavy but controlled, and precise right-hand picking discipline is everything. The signature gallop pattern underpins most of the song, so get that motion clean before worrying about anything else. When you reach the dual-guitar solo section, treat each phrase separately rather than trying to run the whole thing at once. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop those lead passages slowed down, because the phrasing and string skipping can be deceptive at full speed. Iron Maiden built this song around dynamic contrast, so pay attention to where the arrangement breathes and match your picking intensity accordingly.

  • The song sits at 110 BPM in C# minor, making tight right-hand gallop picking the core technical challenge throughout.
  • Two lead guitars trade and harmonize across an extended solo section, so learning both parts separately will sharpen your phrasing and position work.
  • Standard E tuning is used, meaning no retuning is needed, but the low-end weight comes entirely from picking attack and amp gain.

How to Play Powerslave

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C# minor · Tempo: 136 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 136 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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