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Iron Maiden - Rainmaker - Guitar Solo Tab

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Iron Maiden - Rainmaker guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
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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.
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal

About Rainmaker

Rainmaker is a mid-paced Heavy Metal track from Iron Maiden that rewards guitarists who pay close attention to the interplay between rhythm and lead work. At 128 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo sits in a comfortable range, but the song demands tight palm muting and precise pick attack to keep the rhythmic drive feeling punchy rather than loose. The melodic lead passages are where this song really earns its place in a practice routine: phrases are lyrical and phrased with vibrato and bends that need to sit in tune and breathe at the right moment. Getting those bends to land cleanly at tempo is trickier than it looks, so use the Practice Toolbar to isolate and slow down any lead run that feels rushed. The rhythm guitar work underneath calls for consistent right-hand discipline, keeping the chugging sections even and controlled throughout the whole track.

  • At 128 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is approachable but still demands consistent palm muting and pick-hand control throughout the rhythm parts.
  • The melodic lead lines rely heavily on vibrato and string bends, so isolating them with the Practice Toolbar slowed down will help you nail intonation before playing at full speed.
  • The twin-guitar arrangement typical of Iron Maiden is present here, so learning both the rhythm and lead parts will give you a complete picture of how the song is built.

How to Play Rainmaker

Tuning: E Standard · Tempo: 128 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 128 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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