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Iron Maiden - Speed Of Light Dave Murray's - Guitar Solo Tab

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Key E minor
Iron Maiden - Speed Of Light Dave Murray's guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
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Gain6
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Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Iron Maiden Heavy Metal E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Speed Of Light Dave Murray's

Dave Murray's guitar work on "Speed of Light" sits at the heart of what makes Iron Maiden such a rewarding band to study on guitar. The song is built around fast, melodic lead lines in E minor, and Murray's phrasing leans heavily on the minor pentatonic and natural minor scales, so getting comfortable in that key across the whole neck is your first priority. The picking hand gets a serious workout here: the lead passages demand consistent alternate picking at a brisk tempo, and any hesitation in the pick attack will blur the melody. The rhythm parts underneath are equally important, driving the song forward with tight, palm-muted heavy metal chugging that you need to lock in before worrying about the solo. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop Murray's lead runs slowed down until every note speaks cleanly, then gradually bring the speed back up. Pay special attention to string transitions, since those are where most players lose accuracy at higher tempos.

  • The lead lines are rooted in E minor, so knowing the natural minor and minor pentatonic scales across multiple positions is essential before tackling the solo.
  • Consistent alternate picking is the core technique demanded by the faster melodic runs, and sloppy pick strokes will immediately expose themselves at tempo.
  • The rhythm guitar parts rely on tight palm-muted riffing, making right-hand muting control just as important to practise as the lead work.

How to Play Speed Of Light Dave Murray's

Key: E minor

Use the section loop to isolate a passage and drop the speed to build each section 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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