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Iron Maiden - The Man Of Sorrows Dave Murray - Guitar Solo Tab

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Iron Maiden - The Man Of Sorrows Dave Murray guitar tab video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Iron Maiden Heavy Metal

About The Man Of Sorrows Dave Murray

At 92 BPM in E Standard, "The Man of Sorrows" sits at a measured, mid-tempo pace that rewards clean execution over speed. The track is credited to Dave Murray, one of the twin-guitar architects of Iron Maiden, and it carries the melodic, slightly mournful character you often find in his writing. That tempo is deceptive: holding a steady, even pick attack through the main riff without rushing or dragging is genuinely tricky, and the transitions into lead sections need careful attention to phrasing. Because this is Heavy Metal, the rhythm playing demands tight palm muting with consistent downstroke pressure to keep the low end focused. If a particular riff change or lead phrase keeps slipping, set up the Practice Toolbar to loop it slowed down until the muscle memory locks in before bringing it back up to 92 BPM. Pay close attention to where the melody sits in relation to the chord movement, since that interplay is really what gives the song its feel.

  • At 92 BPM in E Standard tuning, the song rewards focused work on consistent palm muting and controlled downstrokes before attempting full-speed runs.
  • Dave Murray's melodic phrasing shapes the lead work, so practise matching his note choices and vibrato rather than just hitting the right pitches.
  • The mid-tempo feel can cause rushing on the riff transitions, making slow looped repetition a more useful practice method than full-speed run-throughs.

How to Play The Man Of Sorrows Dave Murray

Tuning: E Standard · Tempo: 92 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 92 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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