As good as a person can imitate the sound of a guitarist or band its an entirely different skill from possessing the creativity of that person or group. This is something that keyboard warriors sometimes overlook when they criticise certain musicians online. Anyway as ever another great video demonstrating the skill of Maiden.
This was a very good video. One thing I like very much about their music is that it manages to hit a very fine balance. It is complicated enough to sound elaborate an impressive, but at the same time it is just straight forward enough so that it sounds achieveable. That makes it very inviting and uplifiting, and when I hear it I immediately want to play it myself. It can't be easy to write music like that.
There's beauty in simplicity and in executing simple things organically and with feel. And of course, the genius of the band in composing "simple" riffs and reducing things to a point where all instruments have a space in time, frequencies and panning to create these "simple", yet exquisite songs!
Thanks Nico. That was quite insightful. Way too often, the little things are overlooked; yet, they make a lot of difference. Keep it up, man. The ones of us who love music appreciate your work, and your input about Maiden is stunning.
4:03 this hited my heart. Back in 2005 when I received my first guitar, I installed guitar pro 4 and download Hallowed be thy name tab with the help of a friend. I was so addicted in listen to this music that I played it on UA-cam several times at lan house. So I started to play trying to learn my first riff ever and it was exactly this Hallowef be Thy Name riff. I started at 10 or 11 pm and when I looked to the window of my room,.it was morning already. I will never forget this day. Thank you for this. I liked a lot your approach in details exemplifying everything you say. Subscribed, can't wait to watch more.
hey, i'd like to say that these videos are absolutely insightful and very interesting. I'm only a beginner and know 2 songs and a handful of riffs but these videos are always a joy to watch because it's always inspiring to learn about my most favorite band and that goes for guitar in general, sure I may not be that proficient in the instrument but its always so alluring and enjoyable to the fullest extent to learn about the topic. I love this channel because it teaches lots of general guitar knowledge while being themed around Maiden (My absolute favorite band :D). In short, youre videos are very fun and interesting as well as informative and I give you my most heartfelt thanks for the content you make. Perhaps you might see this comment and I just wanted to express how much i appreciate this channel. Either way, Thank You :D
That really means a lot - especially because when I make these videos,.I always try to think of what I would have wanted to have had available back when I was starting to learn this stuff (way before the internet). So thank you very much for your encouraging comment and keep practicing!! 😃
Somebody else who gets it! Music is about connecting with the music.The best guitarists are those that create memorable riffs and melodies, that move you emotionally.Therefore Adrian Dave and Jannick are amongst the best guitarists ever, and a lot of those rated ahead of them are nowhere near as good
Nice job pointing out those different levels one can address when playing. It's something like difference between tabs, classic notation and reading between the lines and getting the bits that aren't there but are expected of you. Although must say the Rime Of The Ancient Mariner felt not enough triplety - at least for my taste ;)
Great video Nicko. Just fabulous! And yes....I enjoyed it. I enjoy them all! This channel is my favorite. Out of all the channels I am subbed to....this one is my absolute favorite. And it's because Nico's guitar and music skills are top-notch. And also, his great knowledge of Iron Maiden compositions and music pieces. But most of all....it's because I love Maiden! I've been a major fan since 1981 when I was 14. Thankyou Nico! Keep doing it bro. And I'll keep clicking on! Peace.
Yeah I missed the first f# in the first part of the riff. I must have gone on autopilot there and played it the incorrect way I originally learned it decades ago... Oh well... It doesn't change the parts I was highlighting so I suppose it's all good 😄
@@LicksOfTheBeast That's part of the charm though isn't it? For me, as long as the "feel" is the same, an odd note here and there doesn't bother me at all. Also, it's sometimes hard to get it 100% correct, since you're not there with them, playing it, since their music is so organic. I find that playing along to songs that have been recorded to a click track is easier than songs that were recorded live, since the groove is more consistent with a click track (the downside being that it feels somewhat more sterile sometimes). Great video as always.
I found that the thing about maiden is and always was that they translate flavour and feeling throughout whatever songs they make. be it live or on a fresh studio recording they have always managed to keep that depth. It doesnt matter if one thinks their riffs are hard or easy to play, techinically, it is however rare to find someone that plays their riffs like they should be played. Some of the other contemporary huge bands are good examples of what i mean. Skilled musicians no doubt that has made many kick ass songs but when you listen to their studio albums and see them live there is a loss. There is a loss in feeling a loss in depth. If that is because they overdid their studio stuff or because they simply cant perform it as well live depends on the band. There is also that synergy within the actual band that is just one of a kind and that is not something that can be copied.
Well yes, that’s the exact answer I’ll say if somebody would ask me, I’m not a pro player, not that technical and so, I just play guitar for fun, and the years (as anything in life) improved something in the way I play, and a lot of maiden songs I could say were “easy” to learn (specially cause maiden uses the same scale in a lot of songs) but if you want to play it Exact as the song is, it gets pretty technical and tricky, the beast is in the details
It's the same as with most artists i guess. The notes come easy, the details is where the work starts. Best example for that is blues: Most beginner guitar players could play the opening to "thrill is gone" by B.B. King pretty quickly. To nail the details and tone is a truly another story. And one can really tell you put some serious hours into the details of the Maiden guys.
I have found that Iron Maiden sounds more difficult to most because they have not come to an understanding of they're style, iron maiden is very much 2nd part harmonies, and with Gerr's, 3 part harmonies and I think a lot of musicians are not big on harmony, you must have at least an elementary understanding of scales and music theory to understand harmony (coupled with at least a little talent) in the early years Steve said: " he was the best guitarist I ever saw " speaking of David when he had that first audition in the mobile out in the cow pasture; David had a good understanding of music theory and Steve liked that command of the music theory that David had; from; Scranton, Pennsylvania
6:58 about dynamics we could open a great topic (and i mean, it' s important in a song!) but i consider touch and feel fondamentals, i almost can consider them a part of technique, especially in a band like Iron Maiden. About solos, i think Iron Maiden solos are difficult... maybe not the most difficult in metal like Malmsteen , Dream Theater, ok, but are not easy at all i think.
Oh for sure! I think touch and feel make a massive difference but I don't consider them fundamentals only because it's something that usually comes with a fair amount of time and experience, and it's a bit of an abstract concept as it's hard to qualify and quantify in practical terms.
Hey, thank you so much! I use the Bias FX II plugin for pretty much everything. I made a video about my settings here: ua-cam.com/video/ieaEC5pChrU/v-deo.html
Probably not for a while, realistically. It was a cool project and the album had some great songs on it but I don't see much interested for it on here.
Aces high is a personal favorite of mine to play. I haven't tackled the solos yet as I'm just now trying to tackle solos, and generally simpler solos as the long ones I always lose track of what part to play, but I can nail the rhythm guitar on that song.
It's an awesome song to play! I still enjoy playing it after more than 30 years 😊 Perhaps this tutorial might be helpful to you: ua-cam.com/video/H4ZhOgHmuD4/v-deo.html
If you pick your favorite Maiden song and just start practising, you will eventually be really good at it (well, if you have a decent sense of rhythm and enough strength in your fingers). But it does require hours and hours of passion, practising every little detail at a time. I am not a great player myself, but I can just about play some Maiden songs’ rhythm guitars ok. All in all, Maiden is not the toughest guitar work in the world to do, as the speeds are rarely as extreme as in death metal or thrash, and is largely based on these epic sing-along-like guitar harmonies (basically, the same melody is played but at two/three different octaves by each guitar.) So, while not easy, Maiden is not that impossible either. Actually, a lot of great, memorable songs are not terribly difficult to play. Simpler stuff can grab you emotionally.
I always find with Iron Maiden’s guitar parts they were definitely more progressive than bands like Metallica Metallica were more inspired by punk rock bands like the misfits and rock ‘n’ roll and Iron Maiden were definitely inspired more by progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd and wishbone Ash.
Nico, can you please play Dave's solo from The Parchment. I know it would take a lot of time to play if perfectly, but it's really worth it. I mean, it might be his best solo ever. It's so beautiful, every single note, the feel, all of it. In fact, all solos on that track are mind blowing. I also especially love the first small one from Janick.
Your timing is incredible... I literally just uploaded it 😃 I covered Janick's little one too on my instagram page a while back: instagram.com/tv/CV5cQuvg2_C/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
On some of their songs they use very unusual chords. In Revelations for example there is one chord I could never play the way they do. I'm a bass player but I do play some guitar and even though I can still play most Maiden songs on bass I am really struggling on guitar.
actually if you listen to the bass only tracks of harris there's a lot of little nuances to his bassline that many bassist miss. it's made me realize there were quite a few things I was doing not quite right when jamming this or that IM tune.
If you practice the right things at least a little every day, I think you can accomplish quite a bit in your first year. Playing Maiden songs acceptably... It can take a few years before you can get the subtleties and intricacies of some of the parts down. But you can definitely start to play songs like Flight of Icarus and Wrathchild. I have beginner friendly tutorials for both those songs here on the channel. Good luck and most of all have fun!
@@madmike4622 i dont have acoustic guitars sadly. got 2 signature electric models xD they are at a luthier shop for setup and then starting my journey.
Some songs from the x factor and virtual xi are a good place to start, 2am is a good one to play its fairly easy, as is lightning strikes twice, apart from the solo of course, the main rhythm and chords are pretty simple and a whole lot of fun to play.
It is like AC/DC: it is easy, but thats also the reason the small details are important and mistakes will show like you are a bad singer who just got a mic.
Actually when I listen to live recordings of Maiden, especially on isolated channels, one can say the boys are sometimes somewhat sloppy, especially and surprisingly Adrian (who I am a huge fan of, my reason to pickup the Guitar). However, combination of everything creates that amazing Maiden sound and I get so much joy to listen to those live recordings. İt's not like you can do countless takes at the studio to achieve perfection. İt's live, Real and happening at that very moment as it is. That's what Real musicianship to me. By the way, thanks Nico for yet another masterclass.🤘🎸🤴🏼
Yes! You definitely understand the concept of what "live" means. I commend you for that. Because it seems that many kids these days dont care if they're watching a concert that is lip-synch & tracks as opposed to a true & live setting. As you stated.....real musicians play turley live. Period! No excuses.
Yikes, you wanna talk "sloppy" hear some isolated Steve Harris tracks, I mean it works fine in the mix but man oh man, it's not clean or precise at all
you're right that it's the small details that make the difference and give Maiden songs their singular charm, but: 1. the band themselves ignore (or, to be generous, reinterpret) many of them live 2. when Janick joined he butchered Adrian's feel - you could say he made the songs his own and I've grown to appreciate his playing a lot, but he really stepped all over not just the classic Maiden sound, but the idea that such a thing is that "sacred" anyway and I think we hear echoes of this attitude in their post-2000 records. Of course the songs are played like nobody but them would, but gone is the attention to detail of the Martin Birch days.
For sure but of course it's different when you're in front of a large crowd and trying to also be entertaining, sometimes there are sound issues, sometimes someone in the band (or the entire band) is having an off night, the tour gets tiring, you get a bit careless or distracted because you go on autopilot... The Janick thing, for better or worse, I think he just decided he would give it his own flair from day one.
@@LicksOfTheBeast Janick Gers brought into maiden even more showmanship. That guy is hyper on stage. Janick gave Iron Maiden an edge because he can surely move around on stage and he stands out. So hyper.
A bit of a nitpick, but check the notes in Hallowed Be Thy Name riff. It should be: E F# G F# G A G F# B G F# G F# E, E F# E F# G F# G B G F# G F# E. And it should also start on the downbeat (and the 2nd phrase starts on a 16th after the downbeat). The way you played it in the video either skipped a note or started it a 16th note after the downbeat, and the notes are not exactly correct. Actually, it seems like you are skipping the 2nd note of the riff (F#), and are going straight from E to G. But there needs to be an F# between those notes - otherwise the rhythm doesn't work properly. (Other than that, it seems like the notes are the same, although it does also seem like you are not playing the E in the beginning of the 2nd phrase after the long E note.) Sorry, it just bothered me too much and no one else was pointing it out.
For me, the conclusion is true for many of the greatest metal bands - be it Iron Maiden or Judas Priest and Accept. There's an underlying simplicity that is augmented by the subtle yet often rather sophisticated skill of the players (and singers). That's one of the biggest reason I love 70's and 80's heavy metal! (Oh, he said more or less the same thing at the end)
The Hallowed be thy Name riff is my favorite riff to play on guitar, and how I’ve played it has changed over the years as I’ve developed my ear and technique. You demonstrated a great example of the finesse! Love your channel
Hey, Nico - Really helpful video as usual. My question is, what makes Dave's solos Dave's and what makes Adrian's solos Adrian's? What are their similarities and what are their differences?
That is a good question and a big discussion. I made a video about some of their stylistic differences a while back but I might do a part 2 later in the year or perhaps a live chat could be cool 😊
That's a tough one. I'd say that listening to their influences might give you a good indication on what sets them apart. Dave was inspired heavily by Hendrix, whilst Adrian was inspired a lot by Michael Schenker for example.
I guess Adrian has more phrasing while Dave is on the legato side more. Also their pick-up choices are different on solos. Dave is a neck guy which gives hım a smoother, fluid tone Adrian is definitely a bridge guy with lots of edge and sharpness. And Adrian is a master of bending imo. Dave's bends are short and mix with the notes. Adrian is more like Gilmour, long bends with more emphasis. My two cents.
Well, as a basic to intermediate player, Iron Maiden songs are quite difficult to me because there's too much soloing. As a self learner, I have a quite good rythym part, but I really suck at soloing, I just can play pretty basic things like Heading Out to the Highway one. And those gallops kill me too. I tried to learn The Wicker Man, the rythym part is quite easy, but that Adrian solo gets me every time I try to play it
I see that you like Priest as well as Maiden, I grew up playing both all the time. The solos require a little theory and practice. Keep watching Nico and any tutorials you can find on Priest and some music theory and you will be soloing like Glenn, KK, Adrian, and Dave. Try some David Gilmour too, that will help put feeling in your playing.
Last week I played Phantom Of The Opera live on stage for the first time. It's a bit of a special song for me, because it was the first Iron Maiden song I ever heard (courtesy of Lucozade), and I was given a short passage from it on my first guitar lesson to help me alternate pick. There were a few wobbles, but overall it went pretty well. It really does highlight how much stamina is a requirement of their playing.
Phantom is very special to me as well. Like you, it was the first thing I ever heard from Maiden 😊 It's not an easy song to pull off live so big CONGRATS! 🤜🤛
I like to think of Maiden as being "challengingly simple." There's not a lot of weird chord voicings, not much for crazy technical riffs, and not much shreddy stuff, so you can focus more on the nuances. Obviously, there's some difficult songs (it's been 25 years and I still can't play Back In The Village or Purgatory well), but Maiden is a lot easier to play than 80s Metallica, to the point where I could definitely jump in with a Maiden cover/tribute band for just about any song (pre-COVID, I tried to put together a Maiden deep cuts tribute band for a venue's Halloween show [local bands do tribute sets], and the group I put together literally played our 60 minute as a first rehearsal...too bad COVID killed that plan, someone's gotta play Judas Be My Guide and Deja Vu live!).
I play guitar for 6 years and the only maiden song i play quite good( not exactly like the recording of cours)is wasted years i tryed to play 2 minutes to midnight and trooper but i can play them for 2 -3 minutes after that my hands are burning especially with 2 minutes to midnight with these downstrokes 😅😅😅😅😅😅
One thing I love of Adrian's playing from the eighties whenever he did the classic blues lick and he started a little behind the beat, accelerate and finish ahead like in numbed of the beast. And doing it live with all the adrenaline pumping is quite a task.
Watching the video confirms they are hard. I've been playing for 40 years and can semi-mimic many of the songs..... but every time I watch a "how to video" I realize that my mimic is completely wrong. As he mentions in the video, there's usually more going on in the Iron Maiden song than my ear and hand can handle simultaneously. And that's why Iron Maiden can make a fine living playing their songs, while I go to work at a normal job and take my pay.
It's all in the phrasing. When I started learning as a kid I thought I had certain riffs off to perfection, then I'd go and jam with a mate and he'd always play them so much better. You can teach yourself to be good technically but to be a musician you have to really listen and soak up the feel of the music.
Satriani and Dream theater are my fav musicians ! Iron maiden is my First love though, i still listeni to them and as i grew older i appreciate them more musically. Satriani has a TON of nuance in his playing, vibratos slides the area where he picks.. Like you mention for in iron maiden in your video
So much of Maidens mojo is feel, and like you said so much of what they do is super subtle. The notes and riffs aren’t terribly difficult but there’s a TON of touch
You must play for several years before your brain, hand and arm naturally work together to add all the little nuances that make a song sound as naturally played as the recording you are comparing it to - without you having to consciously think about it as you're playing. The correct notes and timing are only about 80% of it. The rest is "feel" and playing experience. Sort of like communication is verbal and non-verbal. It takes both to get it right. I didn't start playing guitar until is was almost 25 years old. It's taken a very long time for me to develop that feel but I'm finally there - after 25 years of hack playing - lol.
It depends when you started to play Iron Maiden. I started with Metallica, and it took me 3 months to play One, and then I tried to learn the whole And Justice For All. Till now, Dyers Eve is the only song I can't perform decent enough in the whole album, but yeah, I learned a lot. Now I'm with Iron Maiden, and I'm trying to do the same with Piece Of Mind. (Revelations and Still Life solos left me to learn) but, yes, Iron Maiden is easier for me. There are some songs that are more complex to play tho (Genghis Khan, Sea of Madness, Back In The Village and any Janick Gers solo haha)
I love the way their rhythm parts are usually super-loose, unlike something ridiculous like Megadeth. I remember playing Phantom of The Opera when I was starting out and being like…did I just do that?? Like, once you can do power chords and you have a bit of feel, you can play 90% of their stuff. I still can’t play f**king Master of Puppets. Like, nowhere near.
@@the_releaser fella - Hetfield can barely play it live since ‘96. Getting the stamina to do accurate downstrokes that fast for an entire song takes a ton of work. If you can do it you’re a badass - don’t downplay your achievement!
@@nicojones4436 I never learned to play it past the first couple of riffs, up to the little noodly bit when the riff changes and papa Het starts singing so it's not like I'm playing the whole song. One day I'll sit down and learn more of it. Lefty I can do the down picking up to that point but right handed I have to cheat and do alternate picking.
@@the_releaser I guess if you want to commit to playing that stuff properly, you’ve got to basically devote a colossal amount of practice time to building up downstroke speed and consistency. I could never be bothered. Maiden have their moments but nothing like that Puppets album. Incredible playing.
@@nicojones4436 That's pretty much why I never learned much farther than the first couple of riffs. I just learn the main riffs of songs and get bored already and move on to the next. I don't have the patience to learn the entire song. Maybe the only song I know from beginning to end is the rhythm part of AC/DCs T.N.T
Well no, but actually yes. I'm doing a Seventh Son tribute/cover set this Halloween (my favorite album of all-time) and playing Adrian's parts. I have a very similar style to H, so faking his solos (just working on the key licks, but doing Can I Play With Madness and The Evil That Men Do note-for-note because those are iconic solos) comes really easy, and the riffing is also pretty simple outside of a few parts in Seventh Son and The Prophecy. So yeah, Maiden is a pretty easy band to learn because most of their songs don't require a high level of technical precision, but mastering them requires a lot of study (just like any great band). Drumming on the other hand...
I personally think the little nuance details make the biggest difference in regards to making something sound “right”. As you said its those small things that give the riff/lick/rhythm its vibe/feel which is ultimately what makes it sound like the person you are emulating. Its not what you play - its how you play it.
Improvising is actually a higher level... If you're doing it right 🙂 Technique is not necessary easy but it is very SIMPLE to achieve: just practice (actual careful and targeted practice, not noodling) consistently every day even just 20-30 minutes. Your playing will improve dramatically! That's all it is. Everything else is quite a bit more complex 😅
Hi Nico. Really interesting video. When I was young I did not have the ear to pick up music and I would rely on tab books. I gave up learning maiden because many of the tabs were almost impossible to play because they were so bad. I learnt classical and developed my ear and realised the importance of correct finger positions. Even nowadays, I often notice amazing guitarists on you tube playing the right notes, but in very difficult positions. It is great you take the time to demonstrate the correct way - which is often the easiest - because they were not written to be hard. Excellent examples are the beginning of Adrian's Solo in Aces High and the positions he uses in the Sea of Madness solo.
You make a very good point! I think with some tab books the transcriber might not have been a metal guitarist or perhaps guitar wasn't their main instrument. That's the only way I could ever explain some of those odd choices 😂
For sure. Probably the worst tab ever was for Megadeth Rust in Peace. The tab for Marty’s solo in tornado must have been transcribed by a pianist. Lol.
When I was a teenager I thought that Iron Maiden was very difficult to play because they used a lot of chords and back then I played note for note on just one string, hehe. Then, with a lot of listening and a lot of practice, I quite enjoy it. I need the equalization to enjoy it even regardless of not having reached the domain that you have reached.
Hey Niko, I glanced over what you say about you being “close enough”, you are bang on man with your playing, I speak from the standpoint of a person listening to Iron Maiden since ‘82. I can’t tell the difference between you or Dave or Adrian. So, I feel you are in false modesty, I say it with complete jest if you get my drift. You are unnaturally gifted in guitar.
Hahaha thank you, thank you! In that particular bit in the video, I was referring to the fact that it wasn't a note-for-note reproduction of Dave's lick but a close enough version of it that still worked. I should have added that in that case, getting the feel right is more important than the notes on a lick like that. Because playing it note-for-note but without a good grasp of Dave's style would actually sound less accurate than what I played. And I appreciate your very kind compliments a whole lot. Thank you!
@@LicksOfTheBeast I completely agree, I do that too, going about its feel, but I'm nowhere near your calibre in playing Maiden tunes, so I'm even more feel. Best I can replicate is Phantom of The Opera beginning riff and some of the Number of The Beast solos.
As good as a person can imitate the sound of a guitarist or band its an entirely different skill from possessing the creativity of that person or group. This is something that keyboard warriors sometimes overlook when they criticise certain musicians online. Anyway as ever another great video demonstrating the skill of Maiden.
Great point!
This was a very good video. One thing I like very much about their music is that it manages to hit a very fine balance. It is complicated enough to sound elaborate an impressive, but at the same time it is just straight forward enough so that it sounds achieveable. That makes it very inviting and uplifiting, and when I hear it I immediately want to play it myself. It can't be easy to write music like that.
I totally agree! It depends how deep you want to dive in. Looking forward to watch more videos like this one! Best!
There's beauty in simplicity and in executing simple things organically and with feel.
And of course, the genius of the band in composing "simple" riffs and reducing things to a point where all instruments have a space in time, frequencies and panning to create these "simple", yet exquisite songs!
Thanks Nico. That was quite insightful. Way too often, the little things are overlooked; yet, they make a lot of difference.
Keep it up, man. The ones of us who love music appreciate your work, and your input about Maiden is stunning.
Thank you very much for these kind and encouraging words!! It really means a lot😊🙏
4:03 this hited my heart.
Back in 2005 when I received my first guitar, I installed guitar pro 4 and download Hallowed be thy name tab with the help of a friend.
I was so addicted in listen to this music that I played it on UA-cam several times at lan house.
So I started to play trying to learn my first riff ever and it was exactly this Hallowef be Thy Name riff. I started at 10 or 11 pm and when I looked to the window of my room,.it was morning already. I will never forget this day.
Thank you for this. I liked a lot your approach in details exemplifying everything you say. Subscribed, can't wait to watch more.
hey, i'd like to say that these videos are absolutely insightful and very interesting. I'm only a beginner and know 2 songs and a handful of riffs but these videos are always a joy to watch because it's always inspiring to learn about my most favorite band and that goes for guitar in general, sure I may not be that proficient in the instrument but its always so alluring and enjoyable to the fullest extent to learn about the topic. I love this channel because it teaches lots of general guitar knowledge while being themed around Maiden (My absolute favorite band :D).
In short, youre videos are very fun and interesting as well as informative and I give you my most heartfelt thanks for the content you make. Perhaps you might see this comment and I just wanted to express how much i appreciate this channel. Either way, Thank You :D
That really means a lot - especially because when I make these videos,.I always try to think of what I would have wanted to have had available back when I was starting to learn this stuff (way before the internet). So thank you very much for your encouraging comment and keep practicing!! 😃
@@LicksOfTheBeast well I'm glad I could throw some positivity your way :D
Oh! Wow, that back in the village tune. I have always wanted to play that. That little clip you did I am going to work on. Thank you.
Nice summation, Nicko! Great Maiden guitar playing as usual too!
Du bist einfach ein guter Typ und ich mag Deinen Content. Ich habe was dabei gelernt und bewundere Dein Gitarrenspiel!
You always make your videos easy for non-players, like me, interesting and easy to understand. 👏🤘
That is the best compliment. Thank you!!!
Very interesting, especially for those of us that are detail obsessed fans! Thank you Nico!
Difficulty is irrelevant - the creativity is what it's all about
Somebody else who gets it! Music is about connecting with the music.The best guitarists are those that create memorable riffs and melodies, that move you emotionally.Therefore Adrian Dave and Jannick are amongst the best guitarists ever, and a lot of those rated ahead of them are nowhere near as good
Nice job pointing out those different levels one can address when playing. It's something like difference between tabs, classic notation and reading between the lines and getting the bits that aren't there but are expected of you.
Although must say the Rime Of The Ancient Mariner felt not enough triplety - at least for my taste ;)
You make it look so easy!
Thanks a lot Nico and horns up!!!!
Great video Nicko. Just fabulous! And yes....I enjoyed it. I enjoy them all!
This channel is my favorite. Out of all the channels I am subbed to....this one is my absolute favorite. And it's because Nico's guitar and music skills are top-notch. And also, his great knowledge of Iron Maiden compositions and music pieces. But most of all....it's because I love Maiden! I've been a major fan since 1981 when I was 14.
Thankyou Nico! Keep doing it bro. And I'll keep clicking on!
Peace.
Thanks a ton, brother!! Much appreciated 🤘
great video as always. but im kinda confused to hear you play hallowed riff a little wrong
Yeah I missed the first f# in the first part of the riff. I must have gone on autopilot there and played it the incorrect way I originally learned it decades ago... Oh well... It doesn't change the parts I was highlighting so I suppose it's all good 😄
@@LicksOfTheBeast That's part of the charm though isn't it? For me, as long as the "feel" is the same, an odd note here and there doesn't bother me at all. Also, it's sometimes hard to get it 100% correct, since you're not there with them, playing it, since their music is so organic. I find that playing along to songs that have been recorded to a click track is easier than songs that were recorded live, since the groove is more consistent with a click track (the downside being that it feels somewhat more sterile sometimes).
Great video as always.
I found that the thing about maiden is and always was that they translate flavour and feeling throughout whatever songs they make. be it live or on a fresh studio recording they have always managed to keep that depth. It doesnt matter if one thinks their riffs are hard or easy to play, techinically, it is however rare to find someone that plays their riffs like they should be played.
Some of the other contemporary huge bands are good examples of what i mean. Skilled musicians no doubt that has made many kick ass songs but when you listen to their studio albums and see them live there is a loss. There is a loss in feeling a loss in depth. If that is because they overdid their studio stuff or because they simply cant perform it as well live depends on the band. There is also that synergy within the actual band that is just one of a kind and that is not something that can be copied.
You make some very good points! 😊
Well yes, that’s the exact answer I’ll say if somebody would ask me, I’m not a pro player, not that technical and so, I just play guitar for fun, and the years (as anything in life) improved something in the way I play, and a lot of maiden songs I could say were “easy” to learn (specially cause maiden uses the same scale in a lot of songs) but if you want to play it Exact as the song is, it gets pretty technical and tricky, the beast is in the details
It's the same as with most artists i guess. The notes come easy, the details is where the work starts. Best example for that is blues: Most beginner guitar players could play the opening to "thrill is gone" by B.B. King pretty quickly. To nail the details and tone is a truly another story.
And one can really tell you put some serious hours into the details of the Maiden guys.
Maiden music gave me all dexterity I needed on the fretboard. That was many years ago.
Thank you for sharing, Nico! Quite interesting and insightful!
Even as a drummer, I found this quite informative. Many thanks.
That's amazing to hear! Thank you!
As always thank you for sharing with us. You sound amazing! Can you please tell me what kind of amplifier set up you use?
Thank you!
I don't use real amps on any of my videos. It's all Bias FX II and Neural DSP Petrucci plugins 😊
nice thoughts 🎸🤘🏻
Love this guy🤘
Right back atcha!! 🤘
Dance Of Death intro with the clean sounds soothing.
I have found that Iron Maiden sounds more difficult to most because they have not come to an understanding of they're style, iron maiden is very much 2nd part harmonies, and with Gerr's, 3 part harmonies and I think a lot of musicians are not big on harmony, you must have at least an elementary understanding of scales and music theory to understand harmony (coupled with at least a little talent) in the early years Steve said: " he was the best guitarist I ever saw " speaking of David when he had that first audition in the mobile out in the cow pasture; David had a good understanding of music theory and Steve liked that command of the music theory that David had; from; Scranton, Pennsylvania
Dude apart from your playing I like your guitar tone. Could you share with us your signal chain please?
Thanks so much! 😊
I am using the Bias FX II plugin at the moment. I made a video explaining my settings here: ua-cam.com/video/ieaEC5pChrU/v-deo.html
6:58 about dynamics we could open a great topic (and i mean, it' s important in a song!) but i consider touch and feel fondamentals, i almost can consider them a part of technique, especially in a band like Iron Maiden.
About solos, i think Iron Maiden solos are difficult... maybe not the most difficult in metal like Malmsteen , Dream Theater, ok, but are not easy at all i think.
@@DjinnGSXR i didn' t say that they are the most difficult solos in metal history, i just said that they are difficult, more than we can think...
Oh for sure! I think touch and feel make a massive difference but I don't consider them fundamentals only because it's something that usually comes with a fair amount of time and experience, and it's a bit of an abstract concept as it's hard to qualify and quantify in practical terms.
Nico, I suggest you make videos teaching the Iron Maiden songs and sell them Lick Library style! it would be great! Greetings from Argentina.
That's not a bad idea! 😃
Cheers man! 🤜🤛
Great video! What amp settings do you use? Guitar tone is amazing!
Hey, thank you so much!
I use the Bias FX II plugin for pretty much everything. I made a video about my settings here: ua-cam.com/video/ieaEC5pChrU/v-deo.html
@@LicksOfTheBeast thanks
I've been playing 20 years and the high tempo gallop thing still gives me troubles.
Oh yeah rime of the ancient mariner one of my favorite
First to comment....now u have to accept my request song😂😂
I don't think that's the rule but if you do have a request let me know! Suggestions are always welcome 😊
My man, when are you going to do some Primal Rock Reballion?
Probably not for a while, realistically. It was a cool project and the album had some great songs on it but I don't see much interested for it on here.
Aces high is a personal favorite of mine to play. I haven't tackled the solos yet as I'm just now trying to tackle solos, and generally simpler solos as the long ones I always lose track of what part to play, but I can nail the rhythm guitar on that song.
It's an awesome song to play! I still enjoy playing it after more than 30 years 😊
Perhaps this tutorial might be helpful to you: ua-cam.com/video/H4ZhOgHmuD4/v-deo.html
It's better usually to go for feel. Not that trying to get it spot on for practice.
Hi! Great video! What pedals are you using when you played Smith’s part of Wasted Years??? Absolutely amazing tone!
Thank you!
I used the same setup in Bias FX II for the entire video. 😊
It's basically What I explained here:
ua-cam.com/video/ieaEC5pChrU/v-deo.html
@@LicksOfTheBeast that’s awesome, do you have any HX Stomp patch by any chance? Thank you!
If you pick your favorite Maiden song and just start practising, you will eventually be really good at it (well, if you have a decent sense of rhythm and enough strength in your fingers). But it does require hours and hours of passion, practising every little detail at a time. I am not a great player myself, but I can just about play some Maiden songs’ rhythm guitars ok. All in all, Maiden is not the toughest guitar work in the world to do, as the speeds are rarely as extreme as in death metal or thrash, and is largely based on these epic sing-along-like guitar harmonies (basically, the same melody is played but at two/three different octaves by each guitar.) So, while not easy, Maiden is not that impossible either. Actually, a lot of great, memorable songs are not terribly difficult to play. Simpler stuff can grab you emotionally.
Shit, try playing bass lines from Maiden! Caught Somewhere in Time is a bass line is one that burns my arm!
Oh I believe you... I started playing bass a bit more often and I still have a long way to go in building up right hand stamina!
@@LicksOfTheBeast I've almost got that bass line down... but, my right forearm still hasn't quite gotten there yet! Takes time!
the answer to the question is "DIFFICULT" but I like to add the words WORTH IT
And how skilful are you…. VERY!
Keep on rocking who cares what people think
It’s all about patterns 🎸🎸🎸🎸
I always find with Iron Maiden’s guitar parts they were definitely more progressive than bands like Metallica Metallica were more inspired by punk rock bands like the misfits and rock ‘n’ roll and Iron Maiden were definitely inspired more by progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd and wishbone Ash.
15yo me struggled with Sea of Madness.
I think we all did! 😄
Nico, can you please play Dave's solo from The Parchment. I know it would take a lot of time to play if perfectly, but it's really worth it. I mean, it might be his best solo ever. It's so beautiful, every single note, the feel, all of it. In fact, all solos on that track are mind blowing. I also especially love the first small one from Janick.
Your timing is incredible... I literally just uploaded it 😃 I covered Janick's little one too on my instagram page a while back:
instagram.com/tv/CV5cQuvg2_C/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
On some of their songs they use very unusual chords. In Revelations for example there is one chord I could never play the way they do. I'm a bass player but I do play some guitar and even though I can still play most Maiden songs on bass I am really struggling on guitar.
I feel the same way when I try to play them properly on bass. 😄
actually if you listen to the bass only tracks of harris there's a lot of little nuances to his bassline that many bassist miss. it's made me realize there were quite a few things I was doing not quite right when jamming this or that IM tune.
I can't do those circular riffs LOL
I consider myself an advance player and i cant play some riffs. For instance, prowler...
for a total beginner, how long do you think it will take for the person to play Maiden songs acceptably without the solos? im 30 btw.
If you practice the right things at least a little every day, I think you can accomplish quite a bit in your first year. Playing Maiden songs acceptably... It can take a few years before you can get the subtleties and intricacies of some of the parts down. But you can definitely start to play songs like Flight of Icarus and Wrathchild. I have beginner friendly tutorials for both those songs here on the channel. Good luck and most of all have fun!
@@LicksOfTheBeast thx alot.
Wasted year’s acoustic version is pretty basic and a good start
@@madmike4622 i dont have acoustic guitars sadly. got 2 signature electric models xD they are at a luthier shop for setup and then starting my journey.
Some songs from the x factor and virtual xi are a good place to start, 2am is a good one to play its fairly easy, as is lightning strikes twice, apart from the solo of course, the main rhythm and chords are pretty simple and a whole lot of fun to play.
I like how you explain things and I'm not a huge Iron Maiden fan.
Play it is one thing..Make it ..Only Maiden..
It is like AC/DC: it is easy, but thats also the reason the small details are important and mistakes will show like you are a bad singer who just got a mic.
Please Can you play of other band like white lion little fighter tell me wait
Maiden songs on guitar are difficult because you can barely hear the the guitar in the mix
Once you can play one you can play them all. They all sound the same,a few good songs though
Noone cares what you think
Riffs are ok for an intermediate guitar player but some of Dave Murray's solos are so fucking fast.
Actually when I listen to live recordings of Maiden, especially on isolated channels, one can say the boys are sometimes somewhat sloppy, especially and surprisingly Adrian (who I am a huge fan of, my reason to pickup the Guitar). However, combination of everything creates that amazing Maiden sound and I get so much joy to listen to those live recordings. İt's not like you can do countless takes at the studio to achieve perfection. İt's live, Real and happening at that very moment as it is. That's what Real musicianship to me. By the way, thanks Nico for yet another masterclass.🤘🎸🤴🏼
Yes! You definitely understand the concept of what "live" means. I commend you for that. Because it seems that many kids these days dont care if they're watching a concert that is lip-synch & tracks as opposed to a true & live setting. As you stated.....real musicians play turley live. Period! No excuses.
@@freddyferrillo9704 😀🤘
@@freddyferrillo9704 I'm guessing you must be at least 40+ Years old, just like me (48). I definitely agree with your comments too, my friend. Cheers!
Yikes, you wanna talk "sloppy" hear some isolated Steve Harris tracks, I mean it works fine in the mix but man oh man, it's not clean or precise at all
Excuse me, did you just call me sloppy? :D
The main problem is that it never sounds right when playing/practicing with just one guitar
Bottom line: Easy to Play, Difficult to Master.
you're right that it's the small details that make the difference and give Maiden songs their singular charm, but:
1. the band themselves ignore (or, to be generous, reinterpret) many of them live
2. when Janick joined he butchered Adrian's feel - you could say he made the songs his own and I've grown to appreciate his playing a lot, but he really stepped all over not just the classic Maiden sound, but the idea that such a thing is that "sacred" anyway
and I think we hear echoes of this attitude in their post-2000 records. Of course the songs are played like nobody but them would, but gone is the attention to detail of the Martin Birch days.
For sure but of course it's different when you're in front of a large crowd and trying to also be entertaining, sometimes there are sound issues, sometimes someone in the band (or the entire band) is having an off night, the tour gets tiring, you get a bit careless or distracted because you go on autopilot...
The Janick thing, for better or worse, I think he just decided he would give it his own flair from day one.
@@LicksOfTheBeast
Janick Gers brought into maiden even more showmanship. That guy is hyper on stage. Janick gave Iron Maiden an edge because he can surely move around on stage and he stands out. So hyper.
A bit of a nitpick, but check the notes in Hallowed Be Thy Name riff. It should be:
E F# G F# G A G F# B G F# G F# E, E F# E F# G F# G B G F# G F# E.
And it should also start on the downbeat (and the 2nd phrase starts on a 16th after the downbeat). The way you played it in the video either skipped a note or started it a 16th note after the downbeat, and the notes are not exactly correct.
Actually, it seems like you are skipping the 2nd note of the riff (F#), and are going straight from E to G. But there needs to be an F# between those notes - otherwise the rhythm doesn't work properly. (Other than that, it seems like the notes are the same, although it does also seem like you are not playing the E in the beginning of the 2nd phrase after the long E note.)
Sorry, it just bothered me too much and no one else was pointing it out.
Exactly!!!
Good job. Looking for this.
I was about to post the same! But not as well explained as you did.
There harder on bass that’s for sure
How DIFFICULT is it to play Iron Maiden songs on Guitar?
A lot easier than playing them on a tuba.
For me, the conclusion is true for many of the greatest metal bands - be it Iron Maiden or Judas Priest and Accept. There's an underlying simplicity that is augmented by the subtle yet often rather sophisticated skill of the players (and singers).
That's one of the biggest reason I love 70's and 80's heavy metal!
(Oh, he said more or less the same thing at the end)
you've described it perfectly.
Dave Murray is the most smooth player in IRON MAIDEN.
And, when Adrian Smith plays, I swear... it looks like he's having a religious experience when he's playing! He's that into it!
The Hallowed be thy Name riff is my favorite riff to play on guitar, and how I’ve played it has changed over the years as I’ve developed my ear and technique. You demonstrated a great example of the finesse! Love your channel
Thanks a ton, man!! 🤜🤛
Hey, Nico - Really helpful video as usual. My question is, what makes Dave's solos Dave's and what makes Adrian's solos Adrian's? What are their similarities and what are their differences?
That is a good question and a big discussion. I made a video about some of their stylistic differences a while back but I might do a part 2 later in the year or perhaps a live chat could be cool 😊
@@LicksOfTheBeast looking forward to it!!
That's a tough one. I'd say that listening to their influences might give you a good indication on what sets them apart. Dave was inspired heavily by Hendrix, whilst Adrian was inspired a lot by Michael Schenker for example.
I guess Adrian has more phrasing while Dave is on the legato side more. Also their pick-up choices are different on solos. Dave is a neck guy which gives hım a smoother, fluid tone Adrian is definitely a bridge guy with lots of edge and sharpness. And Adrian is a master of bending imo. Dave's bends are short and mix with the notes. Adrian is more like Gilmour, long bends with more emphasis. My two cents.
Very, very good question by the way.
Well, as a basic to intermediate player, Iron Maiden songs are quite difficult to me because there's too much soloing. As a self learner, I have a quite good rythym part, but I really suck at soloing, I just can play pretty basic things like Heading Out to the Highway one. And those gallops kill me too. I tried to learn The Wicker Man, the rythym part is quite easy, but that Adrian solo gets me every time I try to play it
I see that you like Priest as well as Maiden, I grew up playing both all the time. The solos require a little theory and practice. Keep watching Nico and any tutorials you can find on Priest and some music theory and you will be soloing like Glenn, KK, Adrian, and Dave. Try some David Gilmour too, that will help put feeling in your playing.
Last week I played Phantom Of The Opera live on stage for the first time. It's a bit of a special song for me, because it was the first Iron Maiden song I ever heard (courtesy of Lucozade), and I was given a short passage from it on my first guitar lesson to help me alternate pick.
There were a few wobbles, but overall it went pretty well. It really does highlight how much stamina is a requirement of their playing.
Phantom is very special to me as well. Like you, it was the first thing I ever heard from Maiden 😊 It's not an easy song to pull off live so big CONGRATS! 🤜🤛
I like to think of Maiden as being "challengingly simple." There's not a lot of weird chord voicings, not much for crazy technical riffs, and not much shreddy stuff, so you can focus more on the nuances. Obviously, there's some difficult songs (it's been 25 years and I still can't play Back In The Village or Purgatory well), but Maiden is a lot easier to play than 80s Metallica, to the point where I could definitely jump in with a Maiden cover/tribute band for just about any song (pre-COVID, I tried to put together a Maiden deep cuts tribute band for a venue's Halloween show [local bands do tribute sets], and the group I put together literally played our 60 minute as a first rehearsal...too bad COVID killed that plan, someone's gotta play Judas Be My Guide and Deja Vu live!).
I seen a maiden tribute band a few months ago and they done Judas be my guide, it was fucking brilliant!
I play guitar for 6 years and the only maiden song i play quite good( not exactly like the recording of cours)is wasted years i tryed to play 2 minutes to midnight and trooper but i can play them for 2 -3 minutes after that my hands are burning especially with 2 minutes to midnight with these downstrokes 😅😅😅😅😅😅
One thing I love of Adrian's playing from the eighties whenever he did the classic blues lick and he started a little behind the beat, accelerate and finish ahead like in numbed of the beast. And doing it live with all the adrenaline pumping is quite a task.
This guys videos are so good. So much info, so inspiring
Watching the video confirms they are hard. I've been playing for 40 years and can semi-mimic many of the songs..... but every time I watch a "how to video" I realize that my mimic is completely wrong. As he mentions in the video, there's usually more going on in the Iron Maiden song than my ear and hand can handle simultaneously. And that's why Iron Maiden can make a fine living playing their songs, while I go to work at a normal job and take my pay.
Same here I hear ya.
The main riff to "The Trooper" made me want to play guitar.
Same here :D
I've never had much problem learning Maiden tunes...But I'll tell you that " Back in the Village" is a challenge...😊
very well explained, Adrian Smith adds so much nuance to Maidens sound, when he left, the band felt lacking in this department
It's all in the phrasing. When I started learning as a kid I thought I had certain riffs off to perfection, then I'd go and jam with a mate and he'd always play them so much better. You can teach yourself to be good technically but to be a musician you have to really listen and soak up the feel of the music.
There's palm muting in the riff of Hallowed Be Thy Name??
Satriani and Dream theater are my fav musicians ! Iron maiden is my First love though, i still listeni to them and as i grew older i appreciate them more musically. Satriani has a TON of nuance in his playing, vibratos slides the area where he picks.. Like you mention for in iron maiden in your video
So much of Maidens mojo is feel, and like you said so much of what they do is super subtle.
The notes and riffs aren’t terribly difficult but there’s a TON of touch
You must play for several years before your brain, hand and arm naturally work together to add all the little nuances that make a song sound as naturally played as the recording you are comparing it to - without you having to consciously think about it as you're playing. The correct notes and timing are only about 80% of it. The rest is "feel" and playing experience. Sort of like communication is verbal and non-verbal. It takes both to get it right. I didn't start playing guitar until is was almost 25 years old. It's taken a very long time for me to develop that feel but I'm finally there - after 25 years of hack playing - lol.
Watched entire video and I dont play guitar.
You don’t have to, you can just watch UA-cam videos your whole life… Ha ha… 😈 jk
It depends when you started to play Iron Maiden. I started with Metallica, and it took me 3 months to play One, and then I tried to learn the whole And Justice For All. Till now, Dyers Eve is the only song I can't perform decent enough in the whole album, but yeah, I learned a lot.
Now I'm with Iron Maiden, and I'm trying to do the same with Piece Of Mind. (Revelations and Still Life solos left me to learn) but, yes, Iron Maiden is easier for me. There are some songs that are more complex to play tho (Genghis Khan, Sea of Madness, Back In The Village and any Janick Gers solo haha)
I love the way their rhythm parts are usually super-loose, unlike something ridiculous like Megadeth. I remember playing Phantom of The Opera when I was starting out and being like…did I just do that?? Like, once you can do power chords and you have a bit of feel, you can play 90% of their stuff. I still can’t play f**king Master of Puppets. Like, nowhere near.
Master of puppets is easy. So easy that I can play it left handed, and right handed. I'm left handed.
@@the_releaser fella - Hetfield can barely play it live since ‘96. Getting the stamina to do accurate downstrokes that fast for an entire song takes a ton of work. If you can do it you’re a badass - don’t downplay your achievement!
@@nicojones4436
I never learned to play it past the first couple of riffs, up to the little noodly bit when the riff changes and papa Het starts singing so it's not like I'm playing the whole song.
One day I'll sit down and learn more of it. Lefty I can do the down picking up to that point but right handed I have to cheat and do alternate picking.
@@the_releaser I guess if you want to commit to playing that stuff properly, you’ve got to basically devote a colossal amount of practice time to building up downstroke speed and consistency. I could never be bothered. Maiden have their moments but nothing like that Puppets album. Incredible playing.
@@nicojones4436
That's pretty much why I never learned much farther than the first couple of riffs. I just learn the main riffs of songs and get bored already and move on to the next. I don't have the patience to learn the entire song.
Maybe the only song I know from beginning to end is the rhythm part of AC/DCs T.N.T
I THINK Seventh son of a Seventh son solos are their hardest
Absolutely right! The devil is in the details ☝🏻
Well no, but actually yes.
I'm doing a Seventh Son tribute/cover set this Halloween (my favorite album of all-time) and playing Adrian's parts. I have a very similar style to H, so faking his solos (just working on the key licks, but doing Can I Play With Madness and The Evil That Men Do note-for-note because those are iconic solos) comes really easy, and the riffing is also pretty simple outside of a few parts in Seventh Son and The Prophecy. So yeah, Maiden is a pretty easy band to learn because most of their songs don't require a high level of technical precision, but mastering them requires a lot of study (just like any great band).
Drumming on the other hand...
I personally think the little nuance details make the biggest difference in regards to making something sound “right”. As you said its those small things that give the riff/lick/rhythm its vibe/feel which is ultimately what makes it sound like the person you are emulating. Its not what you play - its how you play it.
Very good point!
Excelent, thanx, the devil is in the details jaja
I like how you explained the difference between just knowing the chords/riffs etc but then getting it to sound right as well.
I'm at a level of improvise 🤣
... Those little details make ALL the difference... I struggle with technique
Improvising is actually a higher level... If you're doing it right 🙂
Technique is not necessary easy but it is very SIMPLE to achieve: just practice (actual careful and targeted practice, not noodling) consistently every day even just 20-30 minutes. Your playing will improve dramatically! That's all it is. Everything else is quite a bit more complex 😅
@@LicksOfTheBeast
Makes sense... I Pretty much reley on it ... 🤣
Thanks again 🤘🏼😎
Hi Nico. Really interesting video. When I was young I did not have the ear to pick up music and I would rely on tab books. I gave up learning maiden because many of the tabs were almost impossible to play because they were so bad. I learnt classical and developed my ear and realised the importance of correct finger positions. Even nowadays, I often notice amazing guitarists on you tube playing the right notes, but in very difficult positions. It is great you take the time to demonstrate the correct way - which is often the easiest - because they were not written to be hard. Excellent examples are the beginning of Adrian's Solo in Aces High and the positions he uses in the Sea of Madness solo.
You make a very good point! I think with some tab books the transcriber might not have been a metal guitarist or perhaps guitar wasn't their main instrument. That's the only way I could ever explain some of those odd choices 😂
For sure. Probably the worst tab ever was for Megadeth Rust in Peace. The tab for Marty’s solo in tornado must have been transcribed by a pianist. Lol.
When I was a teenager I thought that Iron Maiden was very difficult to play because they used a lot of chords and back then I played note for note on just one string, hehe.
Then, with a lot of listening and a lot of practice, I quite enjoy it. I need the equalization to enjoy it even regardless of not having reached the domain that you have reached.
Hey Niko, I glanced over what you say about you being “close enough”, you are bang on man with your playing, I speak from the standpoint of a person listening to Iron Maiden since ‘82. I can’t tell the difference between you or Dave or Adrian. So, I feel you are in false modesty, I say it with complete jest if you get my drift. You are unnaturally gifted in guitar.
Hahaha thank you, thank you!
In that particular bit in the video, I was referring to the fact that it wasn't a note-for-note reproduction of Dave's lick but a close enough version of it that still worked. I should have added that in that case, getting the feel right is more important than the notes on a lick like that. Because playing it note-for-note but without a good grasp of Dave's style would actually sound less accurate than what I played.
And I appreciate your very kind compliments a whole lot. Thank you!
@@LicksOfTheBeast I completely agree, I do that too, going about its feel, but I'm nowhere near your calibre in playing Maiden tunes, so I'm even more feel. Best I can replicate is Phantom of The Opera beginning riff and some of the Number of The Beast solos.
Thanks, Niko. I love learning Maiden riffs and licks because, well, I love Maiden. Up the Irons!!