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Iron Maiden - The Mercenary - Guitar Solo Tab

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Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key E minor
Iron Maiden - The Mercenary guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
Steph Le Gratteux Top Contributor
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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.
Brave New World (2015 Remaster) album cover
Brave New World (2015 Remaster)
2000 4:43
Listen on Spotify
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 2000 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About The Mercenary

Few tracks from the "Brave New World" era show off the twin-guitar interplay of Iron Maiden quite as clearly as "The Mercenary." The riff engine here sits in E minor at 120 BPM, which is a comfortable gallop tempo, but do not let that fool you: locking in tightly with a second guitarist while keeping the palm-muted chug absolutely even is where most players slip up. The opening riff is the thing to nail first, and it rewards time spent with the Practice Toolbar slowed down so you can hear exactly where each pick stroke lands relative to the kick drum. Both rhythm and lead parts demand consistent alternate picking and clean string separation, especially when the harmony guitar lines enter. In heavy metal contexts, E Standard tuning keeps the low E tight and punchy, which is exactly what the driving mid-section of this song needs. Focus your early runs on the muted gallop pattern before adding any lead layering on top.

  • The song is in E minor at 120 BPM, making the gallop riff feel urgent but still learnable at pace once your alternate picking is solid.
  • Twin-guitar harmony lines are central to the arrangement, so practicing each voice separately before combining them will save a lot of frustration.
  • Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff at a reduced speed and check that your palm muting stays consistent across every string change.

How to Play The Mercenary

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 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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