Tournament of Iron Maiden Solos: 2nd poll (qualification stage)
- Thread starter Forostar
- Start date
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
I don't think it's that unusual to use the side of your plectrum, to be honest. Doesn't sound as good you say? Hmm, I beg to differ; or least give it more consideration. If you record yourself with finger, then plectrum --I bet you find the plectrum is the cleaner sounding. Maybe not, but I'd think so. But, it's not as easy (with a plectrum) if the tapping hand has to move about a fair bit e.g. Dave's Sign Of The Cross lead (See RiR). In H's AtG lead he's only tapping on the 13th & 12th fret; so little movement. Anything else & I'd use fingers too.
Saapanael
Ancient Mariner
9) Different World (2:40-)
The solo is led in by a simple but nice little harmony. Once again, Adrian shows his taste for beautiful compositions, set in the evergreen E minor, varying between different techniques, at one part again tapping. The solo isn't a very long sophisticated one but one that fits a "short rocker". I would say this is a rather fast and short song for Maiden. The notes are clear and certain. I like the ending where Adrian plays a couple of palm muted bass-y notes and then rises to the top string to end with a bend.
Honourable mention:
The Trooper - A very memorable solo, classic bends and a nice flow (darn fast in some live versions), giving over to Dave after a harmonic descend.
The solo is led in by a simple but nice little harmony. Once again, Adrian shows his taste for beautiful compositions, set in the evergreen E minor, varying between different techniques, at one part again tapping. The solo isn't a very long sophisticated one but one that fits a "short rocker". I would say this is a rather fast and short song for Maiden. The notes are clear and certain. I like the ending where Adrian plays a couple of palm muted bass-y notes and then rises to the top string to end with a bend.
Honourable mention:
The Trooper - A very memorable solo, classic bends and a nice flow (darn fast in some live versions), giving over to Dave after a harmonic descend.
Well there's more factors involved when using a pick. Like the size, weight, shape, and what side you use. It might sound good when you use a pick, but someone else using a different approach is going to get a different result.
Saapanael
Ancient Mariner
8) Heaven Can Wait (4:26-)
One of the less praised songs off of the most praised album in the forum. Most of us can probably agree that the "ooo-o-oo" chanting in the middle is the peak of Heaven Can Wait. As the solo hits right after that part, the power and majesty of it strongly remain. Adrian does a great job at delivering a different feel here, maybe more progressive one than his usually polished leads, but that's what makes HCW special, imo. The experience I get from listening the solo is as if I'm flying through space, a nocturnal kind of warmness, if you understand. The combinations seem to be really deep and meaningful. I love the way he plays with the tremolo bar and lets loose a cluster of bends and tremolo picked notes. Adrian's lead tells a melancholic story in an otherwise happier song.
Honourable mention:
Stranger in a Strange Land - very thorough and artful, featuring both classic techniques and astonishing moments, richened by Steve's smooth bass. However, it doesn't leave me listening with utter excitement and, for me, is in the shadow of the maestro's best bits.
One of the less praised songs off of the most praised album in the forum. Most of us can probably agree that the "ooo-o-oo" chanting in the middle is the peak of Heaven Can Wait. As the solo hits right after that part, the power and majesty of it strongly remain. Adrian does a great job at delivering a different feel here, maybe more progressive one than his usually polished leads, but that's what makes HCW special, imo. The experience I get from listening the solo is as if I'm flying through space, a nocturnal kind of warmness, if you understand. The combinations seem to be really deep and meaningful. I love the way he plays with the tremolo bar and lets loose a cluster of bends and tremolo picked notes. Adrian's lead tells a melancholic story in an otherwise happier song.
Honourable mention:
Stranger in a Strange Land - very thorough and artful, featuring both classic techniques and astonishing moments, richened by Steve's smooth bass. However, it doesn't leave me listening with utter excitement and, for me, is in the shadow of the maestro's best bits.
I can't even remember that solo offhand, I'm going to have to go and listen to it.
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
I had it at #2 for Adrian! Great lead.
CriedWhenBrucieLeft's thoughts...
Top 10 Adrian Smith Lead Guitar Parts:
1. Stranger In A Strange Land
I can't get enough of this lead -- the combination of the synth (background), Steve's (lovely) bass improvisation & Adrian's sparkling guitar part, are just so beautiful. The second section has all of Adrian's SiT trademarks: smooth high bends (something he doesn't seem to replicate live very well), a little tremolo bar dive, & that quick repetitive bend section. Lovely sustain & delay throughout. It just sounds fantastic.
2. Heaven Can Wait
I know in more recent times this part has been characterised by fans on stage singing along & Janick taking Adrian's part --but I think Adrian's original is really, really good & prefer it to his (more?) popular CSiT lead. Lovely little chord play around (during the "Whoa __ oh") before the lead proper; loads of squeeks (harmonics), great tremolo bar stuff (04:45), & nice tempo.
3. Caught Somewhere In Time
The rhythm part under Dave's lead (quite high tempo) gives way to a slightly different rhythm part (played by Dave) under Adrian's lead --& Adrian takes this & just makes it feel totally different. It just sounds superb, like most of the lead work on SiT.
4. Alexander The Great
This a great study piece for those wanting to play stuff from SiT: distinct sections & improvised over quite a slow, deliberate passage of music (--probably quite difficult for Adrian to inject any pace here.) Very melodic, & slow sounding, but actually has some pretty quick little sections. Nice contrast to Dave's lead that follows.
5. Wasted Years
Lovely build up with the opening riff repetition & the rest of the band kicking in. Really simple stuff, with Adrian's usual subtle tremolo bar work. Moves beginning of lead further up fret & repeats, & builds nicely to a soaring high finish, with loads of nice bend work.
6. Die With Your Boots On
I really love this songs guitar work. After Dave's lead we have this lovely harmony part & Bruce's vocals coming in, followed by Adrian's lead. You kind of know where it's going (up!), but listening to it getting there is still pretty exciting. Climaxes in that piercing high section, before taking us down a little in preparation for Bruce's return.
7. The Duellist
The sound/tone is nowhere near as sweet as the guitar work on SiT, but I still think this lead stands out. Embedded in a lovely long instrumental section, it's very melodic; the sort of lead you could whistle along to. I just like the whole thing, especially the second half & finish.
8. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (LIVE: Flight 666 '08)
After the band bursts back in your just waiting for a lead to start --& Adrian doesn't disappoint. The album version is good, but live is just epic. In the Flight 666 version he adds this excellent little tapping section; a departure from the original that works really well, possibly all the more so because it's live, & Adrian doesn't depart from his own (older) originals that much. The lead volume is also nice & prominent (in this mix) & you can really hear Adrian; something that can't be said for quite a lot of other (often older) live recordings.
9. 2 Minutes To Midnight (LIVE: En Vivo! '11)
The tempo underneath is really quite slow & Adrian makes quite a low key section memorable with some nice note choices in this lead. I (again) like the added tapping section in the En Vivo! live version, & the little trailing off addition. Great tone too.
10. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (Part 1)
The improvisation & note choice are just really good here. A lot of Adrian's lead work on Seventh Son has this kind of feel to it, & I think this is a nice example of it.
Top 10 Adrian Smith Lead Guitar Parts:
1. Stranger In A Strange Land
I can't get enough of this lead -- the combination of the synth (background), Steve's (lovely) bass improvisation & Adrian's sparkling guitar part, are just so beautiful. The second section has all of Adrian's SiT trademarks: smooth high bends (something he doesn't seem to replicate live very well), a little tremolo bar dive, & that quick repetitive bend section. Lovely sustain & delay throughout. It just sounds fantastic.
2. Heaven Can Wait
I know in more recent times this part has been characterised by fans on stage singing along & Janick taking Adrian's part --but I think Adrian's original is really, really good & prefer it to his (more?) popular CSiT lead. Lovely little chord play around (during the "Whoa __ oh") before the lead proper; loads of squeeks (harmonics), great tremolo bar stuff (04:45), & nice tempo.
3. Caught Somewhere In Time
The rhythm part under Dave's lead (quite high tempo) gives way to a slightly different rhythm part (played by Dave) under Adrian's lead --& Adrian takes this & just makes it feel totally different. It just sounds superb, like most of the lead work on SiT.
4. Alexander The Great
This a great study piece for those wanting to play stuff from SiT: distinct sections & improvised over quite a slow, deliberate passage of music (--probably quite difficult for Adrian to inject any pace here.) Very melodic, & slow sounding, but actually has some pretty quick little sections. Nice contrast to Dave's lead that follows.
5. Wasted Years
Lovely build up with the opening riff repetition & the rest of the band kicking in. Really simple stuff, with Adrian's usual subtle tremolo bar work. Moves beginning of lead further up fret & repeats, & builds nicely to a soaring high finish, with loads of nice bend work.
6. Die With Your Boots On
I really love this songs guitar work. After Dave's lead we have this lovely harmony part & Bruce's vocals coming in, followed by Adrian's lead. You kind of know where it's going (up!), but listening to it getting there is still pretty exciting. Climaxes in that piercing high section, before taking us down a little in preparation for Bruce's return.
7. The Duellist
The sound/tone is nowhere near as sweet as the guitar work on SiT, but I still think this lead stands out. Embedded in a lovely long instrumental section, it's very melodic; the sort of lead you could whistle along to. I just like the whole thing, especially the second half & finish.
8. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (LIVE: Flight 666 '08)
After the band bursts back in your just waiting for a lead to start --& Adrian doesn't disappoint. The album version is good, but live is just epic. In the Flight 666 version he adds this excellent little tapping section; a departure from the original that works really well, possibly all the more so because it's live, & Adrian doesn't depart from his own (older) originals that much. The lead volume is also nice & prominent (in this mix) & you can really hear Adrian; something that can't be said for quite a lot of other (often older) live recordings.
9. 2 Minutes To Midnight (LIVE: En Vivo! '11)
The tempo underneath is really quite slow & Adrian makes quite a low key section memorable with some nice note choices in this lead. I (again) like the added tapping section in the En Vivo! live version, & the little trailing off addition. Great tone too.
10. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (Part 1)
The improvisation & note choice are just really good here. A lot of Adrian's lead work on Seventh Son has this kind of feel to it, & I think this is a nice example of it.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
A sudden honorable mention, does this mean that it just fell outside the top 10?
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
Less of "the maestro" talk too! 
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
It not allowed. Banned, I think.
Don't listen to him, Saap, I think Cried just objects to the amount of Adrian worship that goes on around here.
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
No, I ain't kidding --you aren't allowed to call Dave "the maestro" either.
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
Who's up next Saap, once you've finished with H? Janick?
must be some weirdo.