Tournament of Iron Maiden Solos: 2nd poll (qualification stage)

Which solo do you like the most? (pick your favourite)

  • 01. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1st solo (see 1st link)

    Votes: 3 60.0%

  • 02. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 2nd solo (see 2nd link)

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • 03. Mother Russia (see 3rd link)

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • 04. The Educated Fool (see 4th link)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    5
  • Poll closed .
I like what you ranked #1, Foro.

I am currently in progress (really in progress, not just an excuse) of making an all Maiden songs top (except most b-sides, just the ones I like), listening to all the albums and ranking them. I rank all songs by: lyrics, melody, solo and originality. The maximum a song can get is 30 points. Once I've finished the top, I'll pick the songs which have let's say 8+ points for solo (10 max) and compose a top solos list.
 
That's very nice Saap. As you know it took me ages as well, also due to other activities, but at times it's also good to take a distance.
And I think it's good to pay attention to some solos that you haven't heard in a while. Looking forward to it!
 
Me too!

Cried, I am far from done with Dave. Still in listening phase, currently taking a long break from this activity, being busy with other stuff.
 
ADRIAN SMITH

10) Alexander the Great (5:49-)
AtG is a true Maiden epic with solos that really define and bring out the quality of this masterpiece. This time, it is Adrian who starts to lead. It's a mid-tempo solo - the pace really gives time to play emotionally and accent certain parts - begun using some bends, artificial harmonics and playing over the high strings after which Adrian plays a low, more rhythmic part. There is a small pause, leaving one wonder what will come next. He proceeds up the guitar neck again, entertaining us with some fast well-timed notes, and then goes down again with a nice Smithy pattern, again leaving us interested. This time he cuts to the highlight of this solo - the tapping part. This needs fast fingers to pull off. He then concludes the lead by, for a moment, returning to a part in the beginning and then stylishly makes way for what Dave is about to enter with.
The solo had a really close call in reaching this list but I thought and thought, and couldn't find anything to replace it with. The downside for this lead is that it's not as well-bound and tight as some of his material but still involves great technical aspects and solutions.

Honourable mention (I will include these from time to time):
Aces High - Excellent beginning, the first two patterns are perfect but the solo is too short to be able to go into it enough.
 
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Nice write up, Saap. Though I think the fact that Adrian's lead in Alexander the Great isn't all that tight contributes to its quality, rather than being a downside. Instrumental part is very free flowing and all over the place and Smith's lead is the main component in regards to it. Dave's solo that comes afterwards mixes up the free flowing attitude and tightness which makes it extra special. Therefore I believe Adrian's solo is a key element in making Dave's solo shine brighter.
 
Yeh, nice analysis. I'll disagree with one point, though. You don't need fast fingers to tap; it's about timing, not speed. Guitarists tap to create note density that they wouldn't be able to create otherwise (all of which I'm sure you're aware); or at least not without even faster left (or right) hand technique. It's an easy learn for any budding guitarist, in order to sound like a total shredder. Adrian, of course, uses it fairly sparingly, generally; & it works very well for him.
 
I'm aware, and yes, tapping is generally a good method to create melodies that sound very fast but the speed of tapping was about this solo specifically. It is usually easy but when learning this solo, I find it hard to tap as fast as Adrian did. It's way easier to do with legato.
 
Saapanael said:
[...] I find it hard to tap as fast as Adrian did. It's way easier to do with legato.
Click to expand...
How can you possibly play H's tapping sequence using legato?
[2nd string: 13-12-13-12... 13-10-13-10... 12-8-12-8... 12-6-12-6...]
The final left-hand hammer/pull-off (if you were using legato) is from the 12th to 6th fret --this is why he uses tapping.
Serious question: how can you play that using legato technique?
 
Was wondering the same thing. Even if you could play that legato, it wouldn't sound right, it's supposed to be staccato.
 
Indeed, it would sound too smooth if played properly with legato; aside from the fact that you'd need to be fast as fuck to get anywhere near the speed it's played at without using tapping.
 
Might depend on what finger you use. I can't do that passage with my index finger but I can easily do it with my middle finger.
 
H uses his plectrum; he doesn't tap with his (right-hand) finger(s). Try it. I used to always tap with fingers, but you can get a far cleaner &, I find, faster tap using the plectrum. Look at H live (more) recently, with his little added tapping sections in 2 Minutes & Rime --he's clearly using the side of his plectrum.
 
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