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Iron Maiden - Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Guitar Tab

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Iron Maiden - Rime of the Ancient Mariner - Guitar Tab

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Key E minor
Iron Maiden - Rime of the Ancient Mariner guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
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Powerslave (2015 Remaster) album cover
Powerslave (2015 Remaster)
1984 13:39
Listen on Spotify
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 1984 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

Rime of the Ancient Mariner

"Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a track by Iron Maiden, featured on their fifth studio album Powerslave, released in September 1984. Inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's epic poem, the song is one of the longest and most ambitious in the band's catalog, featuring dynamic shifts between clean arpeggios and driving heavy metal riffs. For electric guitarists, it offers an excellent study in contrasting textures, twin-guitar harmonies, and the interplay between melody and aggression that defines the classic Iron Maiden sound.

  • The song features extended clean guitar passages that contrast sharply with its heavy riff sections, making it a study in dynamic range.
  • Powerslave was released through EMI Records in Europe on 3 September 1984 and through Capitol Records in the US shortly after.
  • Twin-guitar harmonies are a central element of the track, reflecting the classic Dave Murray and Adrian Smith partnership in Iron Maiden.
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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