Practice Studio

Iron Maiden - Senjutsu Adrian Smith's & Dave Murray's - Guitar Solo Tab

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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.

About Senjutsu Adrian Smith's & Dave Murray's


Adrian Smith and Dave Murray share guitar duties on "Senjutsu," the sprawling title track from Iron Maiden's 2021 album of the same name, and the twin-guitar interplay between them is the central challenge worth studying here. Running at 95 BPM in E Standard tuning, the track moves through shifting time signatures and long, winding melodic passages that demand patience and a feel for dynamics rather than sheer speed. Both guitarists weave clean, expressive lead lines across a broad arrangement, so your picking hand control and ability to phrase over slow-building sections matter more than technical fireworks. The hardest sections are the extended melodic runs where timing and note choice have to feel deliberate. Use the Practice Toolbar to isolate and slow down those passages until the phrasing sits comfortably under your fingers before bringing them back up to tempo. If you enjoy this style of heavy metal composition, this track rewards careful, section-by-section learning.

  • At 95 BPM in E Standard tuning, the track sits at a moderate tempo but its length and shifting sections make stamina and focus a real challenge.
  • The twin-guitar arrangement between Adrian Smith and Dave Murray calls for clean melodic phrasing and dynamic control rather than high-speed technique.
  • Isolating the longer melodic lead runs with the Practice Toolbar at reduced speed is the most effective way to lock in the phrasing accurately.

How to Play Senjutsu Adrian Smith's & Dave Murray's

Tuning: E Standard · Tempo: 95 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 95 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.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)