Here are the toughest Maiden songs to play on bass (in my opinion). Many of Harris's trademarks (high-tempo galloping, power chords, clanky tone) are common throughout his repertoire, so once you've mastered those skills a large section of his catalogue is playable.
Here are some of the toughest songs (album tracks only, chronological):
1. Phantom of the Opera. Thirty-five years later, Harris`s first epic remains one of the most difficult to play. It`s fairly long, fast, and has a number of complex, subtle riffs. I usually struggle with the lead riff at 3:22.
2. Genghis Khan. It`s a short song, and the last third is pretty simple, but the first two minutes will kill your fingers. Brutally fast and fairly complex.
3. Purgatory. Another exceptionally fast song with some tricky fills. This is probably their fastest song that isn't based around a gallop.
4. Invaders. I never liked listening to this song but I have a new-found appreciation for it after trying to play it on bass. There are a few tricky riffs but what really gets me is the unrelenting speed.
5. To Tame a Land. The single most difficult song in their catalogue. It's pretty straightforward for the first third of the song, but then you face a challenging trio of riffs. First the "play the melody and rhythm simultaneously" riff (2:49), then mirroring the guitar melodies to kick off the lengthy instrumental (4:04), then the riff under the guitar solos with frequent chord changes (4:38). The first one isn't too bad but the last two are probably the most challenging combination of speed and technical complexity in their entire catalogue.
6. The Duellists. Maybe a surprise pick, as I think most people focus on the superb guitar playing in this song, but Harris`s part is a challenge. The main riffs are fast and heavy, and the bass is playing some surprisingly complex riffs during the lengthy instrumental passage.
7. Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Sceptics might point out that a big chunk of the song is a generic, mid-tempo gallop, and that you can cool down during the slow, spacey interlude. Those points are true, but there are so many other things going on in this song. The bass solo is very difficult and the large number of faster riffs and fills makes this behemoth a true challenge. There`s another tricky "melody and rhythm simultaneously" part, similar to To Tame a Land. Rime is more than just about endurance (though that`s part of the challenge).
8. Caught Somewhere in Time. Maiden has a lot of "fast galloping" songs, and I don't want to list them all. This one in particular is a challenge due to its length. Once it kicks into full speed, you're keeping up the insane pace for over six minutes. A few other "fast galloping" songs are slightly faster but none require this much stamina. Other "fast gallop" songs that are particularly challenging are Killers and Only the Good Die Young.
Here are some of the easiest:
1. Running Free. This was the first Maiden song I learned to play on bass. I still like the main riff, but there`s nothing challenging anywhere in the composition.
2. The Ides of March. It`s really the same rhythm repeated five times (first, second and fifth as ringing notes, the third and fourth as a leisurely gallop), with no fills or variations at all.
3. 2AM. There are a few fills here, but Harris (and the rest of the band) take a step back and put the emphasis on the vocals/lyrics in this slow tune.
4. Como Estais Amigos. A beautiful song, but Harris's contributions are seemingly minimal. Aside from a brief but nice riff (3:14) this song is an absolute breeze to play.
Yes, I'm aware the band has released albums over the past fifteen years - just that none of the bass performances have struck me as exceptionally easy or difficult.
Because Ace had been doing it when KISS started too. But with a pick. I also read somewhere that EVH was the first to do it without a pick.
