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Iron Maiden - The Writing On The Wall Adrian Smith - Guitar Solo Tab

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Key D minor
Iron Maiden - The Writing On The Wall Adrian Smith guitar tab video
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Iron Maiden Heavy Metal D minor
Capo Advisor 0 D minor · Original key

About The Writing On The Wall Adrian Smith

Writing On The Wall opens with one of the most talked-about moments on Iron Maiden's "Senjutsu" album: a clean, fingerpicked intro that immediately sets it apart from the band's harder catalogue. That opening passage asks for careful control of dynamics and a light right-hand touch, which can catch players used to the band's more aggressive material off guard. Once the song builds, the guitar work shifts into mid-tempo Heavy Metal territory at 95 BPM, with melodic lead lines sitting in D minor that reward players who know the natural minor and blues-minor scales well. The twin-guitar harmonies that emerge later in the track are the real prize here, and getting the two voices to lock in cleanly takes patience. Use the Practice Toolbar to isolate those harmony sections and slow them down until each note speaks clearly before bringing them back up to tempo. The overall feel is more measured and atmospheric than classic Maiden gallop, so focus on phrasing and note choice rather than speed.

  • The clean fingerpicked intro is a rare texture for Iron Maiden and requires a controlled, dynamic right-hand technique rather than a pick-heavy approach.
  • At 95 BPM in D minor, the melodic lead lines sit comfortably for intermediate players working on natural minor phrasing and expressive bends.
  • The twin-guitar harmony sections are the most challenging part to replicate accurately, making them ideal candidates for looping slowed down with the Practice Toolbar.

How to Play The Writing On The Wall Adrian Smith

Tuning: E Standard · Key: D minor · 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.

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