Everything You Need To Know About Iron Maiden's Guitar Harmonies

In this video, I explain the three most common methods Iron Maiden use to harmonize their guitar lines.
Guitars:
Gibson Standard '50s Gold Top Les Paul
Fender Dave Murray Signature Stratocaster
Fender Janick Gers Inspired Stratocaster
Plugin: BIAS FX II
DAW: Reaper Audio
Audio Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
Strings: 10-46 (Gibson and Black Strat) 9-42 (Dave Murray Strat)
Picks: InTune GP Jumbo Jazz Custom

[@torahwarrior2442]

Best iron maiden guitar channel on you tube. Maybe one day I'll be able to play as well...

[@ghastlynavigator]

Nico and Charlie's Maiden Covers are my top 2 maiden channels. Charlie's channel is him covering every song in order on Guitar. Great Video Nico!! UP THE IRONS 🤘

[@stephanfuchs7891]

Practice, practice, practice...😊

[@alexandrefalardeau9976]

Very best your right !! ❤

[@Rodrigo-bv7uv]

I really liked that after Adrian's return he started playing some of his parts in fourths, as thirds were essentially been playing by Janick. It gave even more layers to the songs.

[@revylokesh1783]

Or a 6th or octave below

[@SurprisedPikachu247]

It would be cool for him to do a video on how the classic songs are harmonized with 3 guitars during live shows. He could look at rock and rio 2001 (fear of the dark) or rock am ring 2014 (seventh son of a seventh son).

[@alexjohnston8889]

One of my favourite parts to any Maiden song is the riff after Dave's blistering solo on Rainmaker, all three playing that part is awesome, the main riff is good but there's something so satisfying about the riff/harmony part after the solo.

[@metalmauce]

IM's guitar harmonies is one of the main reasons this band got me hooked up in my teenage years (I'm from '71) . a HUGE influence to my own playing. Timeless!!

[@MetalGildarts]

This just made me realize that Iron Maiden are the kings of guitar harmonies.

[@michaeljohn8905]

I have been listening to iron maiden since I was 13 years old I’m 51 now and all the parts that you explain are my favorite parts in all of my favorite songs. I always thought that they were playing them exactly together and I wondered how they did it it always amazes me how good Dave was, and it always amazes me how they played Together in their songs, and like they never ever got it wrong it seemed like they never ever slipped up your truly master of their craft, and to me some of the most underrated guitarist of their time. The way you put this video together was just amazing and to finally understand a little more about my favorite songs was just open I played or tried playing guitar for many years. I’m left-handed and I was given right handed guitars all my life, so I learned or started learning right handed, and now I am playing left-handed so I just do it for enjoyment but I have always in the back of my head and just curiosity for iron maiden so long and how they kept those parts or harmonizing parts together. Thank you for this amazing video.

[@Gorbyrev]

That was brilliant. Of all the things that make Maiden distinctive guitar harmonising is one of my favourites.

[@PolarisCastillo]

Melodic Maiden is my favorite Maiden. Every time they unleash harmonious melodies I feel we are blessed. It's a bit of a shame they don't prioritize them as much anymore.

[@italiano5150]

I cannot wait for upcoming IM shows in Western Canada!!! 🤟🤟🤟

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

They'll have had time to rest and regroup too... I have a feeling those shows are going to be incredible!

[@italiano5150]

@@LicksOfTheBeast hey man! That 's what I am hoping for . So excited to take my kid to his very first show which happened to be my first show back in the day. 1987 Montreal Forum!!! Still remember some band named Wasted ( or something like that) opened for IM and that show absolutely blew me away!!!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Oh yeah Waysted...Pete Way's band! That dude was a huge influence on Harris so it must have been crazy to have them open for Maiden on such a huge tour. Definitely looking forward to these shows!!

[@italiano5150]

@@LicksOfTheBeast thanks so much for confirming about that because for a long time I could not find any info about it and was trying to remember who the opening act was and was pretty sure the name of the band was Waysted! I saw IM many times over the years and another legendary show was seeing IM on their Seventh Son of a Seventh son tour (1988) with Guns n Roses opening!!! 🤟 we need to have a beer at some point one of these days . Cheers 🤟

[@Ninjabadger76]

Interesting I've been playing 32 years and know 90% of maidens catalogue by heart so I probably subconsciously knew this stuff as I know enough theory to get by but never took the time to sit and analyse it so was quite revealing to hear it laid out great job. Especially revealing to me was up a third an octave lower is a sixth makes sense just never thought of it.

[@corsaro0071]

Thanks for putting this into words and tutorials. Until now I only know I have goose bumps every single time I listen to those harmonies in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", "Alexander the Great" and many others.

[@Rudyasroma]

I’m a really casual guitar player myself but absolutely love these kind of video’s. Makes me realize there’s so much more going on in terms of scales, notes etc when I look up some tabs for a Maiden song. Keep up the good work!

[@oststadtseuche]

I really appreciate that you're not afraid to dig deeper. I really enjoyed it.

[@thyagofurtado]

Nico, now I got hooked and need more of these harmony breakdowns, please! 🙏🙏🙏😁 Maybe a 12-part series called "Harmonies of the Beast" 😉 Great stuff!

[@luciodaveri5481]

Awesome video!! After 30 years of listening to the Irons, with this video you brought to surface and explained something I never realised... The reason why I fell in love for Iron Maiden were Dave Murray and the dual guiars Harmony!

[@27pugsly]

They were a huge influence on bands like Queensryche and Fates warning!

[@alessandrofaoro1644]

To me this is THE reason of Maiden success..the melodies

[@doctorevil5752]

Outstanding, Technical but so well explained, even someone who has never played harmonies can understand the theory. This is the way guitar should be taught. A++++++

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

This comment made me very happy! 😃 I am always so weary of trying to be thorough without being pedantic, and I don't know that I always hit that mark. So thank you very much! 🤜🤛

[@tcollier5460]

Phantom of the opera has such beautiful harmonies as well. Such a great song

[@keanumunteanu]

Really interesting episode. Maybe you can make an episode about the Harmonies in “ the flash of the blade” and “ commo estas amigo”. It sounds to me like an aranged chaos. LOVE them

[@IronDemon89]

Clairvoyant might be my favorite Maiden harmony. Beautiful, yet somewhat ominous when the key goes lower. Also, I love how on Seventh son, the distortion sounds sonewhat pulled back and softer than a lot of the other albums. Great video, Nico!❤🤘🔥🍻

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Oh that move from D to C is just great storytelling in music! Glad you enjoyed this one 🤜🤛

[@suetruett3812]

Maiden's guitar harmonies is what got me into them also. Absolutely love them to listen to and also to play. Great stuff Nico.

[@robertdemeter5793]

You will NEVER find 2 musicians that compliment each other on the same instrument so seamlessly/perfectly in TRUE ART/Love as Adrian Smith and Dave Murray on guitar for Iron Maiden. Adrian is 100% about FEEL, Be-coming ONE with the guitar, a total master of emotional intelligence becoming ONE with the divinity of music, as guitar strings Vibrate to attune to the higher dimensions of Spirit/Love/Light and Adrian totally understands the high dimensions of Vibrational energy. His creativity is unmatched. And Dave is the technical genius of the magical guitar instrument, of mastering an instrument. Ask him any song you've heard in your life, and 100% of the people who ask he will play it on guitar on demand for you immediately, right on the spot, and without needing to think. Adrian may not be able to recollect a song immediately to play on guitar for the 20% of people who demand it. But you know what, if you have a great song written and you're missing guitar parts for it, just give Adrian 2 weeks, and he will write guitar parts so beautiful and powerful it will make you weep balls of tears. Pink Floyd's David Gilmour could never be mistaken for a "technical" guitar player, he wasn't the fastest, however we all know he can write guitar parts and songs that can EASILY and effortlessly make you melt and weep. The divine instrument of the guitar simply became the expressions/love/truth of his HEART, that are infinitely beyond mere words.., Simply search for the song "Echoes Live in Gdansk David Gilmour" right here on the Y-TUBE, it's a 25-minute song.....to completely experience and immerse yourself to David Gilmour's guitar break you down to bits and pieces in mesmerizing amazement. Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden is of the same cloth. My goodness all you have to do is listen to the studio album version of Iron Maiden's 1986 song titled "Stranger in a Strange Land"...Listen deeply to that song and ALL guitar parts (the message is fantastic as well - how most humans feel like a stranger on this planet as if they are in a Prison-cell as government and man-made religion brainwashed you to feel that way since birth).. Adrian Smith wrote all guitar parts and melodies of that FANTASTIC song (including Dave Murray's parts)... Simply listen to Adrian's guitar solo in Stranger in a Strange Land, absolutely breathtaking, gorgeous !! As the depths of ART always reveals the truth, as Nature/Spirit/Truth/Love IS 100% Art.. Truth doesn't come from words and the endless lies of beliefs of the thinking ego-mind (the thoughts/beliefs of the mind are what the Prisons/Darkness IS !!....as that song explicitly states).. And Adrian understands this on deeper levels you can't imagine. .. It's all absolute MAGIC !! When you listen to Iron Maiden's song "Stranger in a Strange Land"...Do not think, do not allow thoughts to get in the way of the beauty and magic,, Shut OFF your mind COMPLETELY, and ALLOW yourself to FEEL the magic of guitar trying to speak deep WITHIN you !! Become ONE with the music. To Free you !! Listen LOUDLY in your headphones, the Louder the Better !! Your Ego-mind wants to run away to merely be an "observer" of the music, do not let that happen, as it's just FEAR (illusion).. ALLOW all of yourself to go deep INSIDE the music, allow it to completely OVERWHELM you, as if YOU are the music, hence be-coming ONE with the music. Completely allow yourself to FEEL it's True POWER and LOVE.... :- ) As of course, EVERYTHING in your Ego-Mind of thoughts/beliefs is a total lie, as Iron Maiden's song titled - "Dream of Mirrors" explicitly states.. As the mind can only see in Serpent-view of Black/White (Duality), not the Truth of Oneness (Unity) of Spirit (via total Self-realization) as the lyrics of Dream of Mirrors explicitly states in the lyrics.. Notice the tail end of the song how Bruce Talks about parallel existence, as time is slowing down as he is going deep within him completely facing himself by taking entheogen plants. Neurosis has a fantastic song about this titled "Locust Star" (in fact 80% of Neurosis' songs are all about completely facing the darkness of your Ego-mind within you, showing you through their fantastic discography of songs undeniably all the ways you've completely humiliated yourself all your life by your silly thoughts. Neurosis is only for the bravest of the brave) , and listen to the lyrics of that Neurosis song regarding the "Serpent-view" of the blind ego-mind and how christians seek a fake savior christ that never existed that blinds them from the Light of the REAL Truth of World/Earth/Nature/Universe/Light/Spirit ..The stupidity of christians seeking their Ego to be "saved" when their Ego doesn't exist in the first place, is absolutely hysterical !!! .. The final 80 seconds of Locust Star from Neurosis is one of the most Beautiful/Powerful heavy guitar riff instrumentals of All-Time !!! ..Designed and written to completely Eviscerate your silly blind-mind of beliefs. Magical !!! . And of course, Iron Maiden has loads of songs that state the same thing how your mind is your number one enemy, and all the way back to their 1983 album titled "Piece of Mind", and notice Eddy chained and locked in a Prison on that 1983 album cover......And literally thousands of Rock songs from loads of Rock bands told you EXPLICITLY that your mind (devil) is what your prisons and hells are. As enemies do not exist in true spiritual reality, you are always and forever your own worst enemy... You could never hear the deeper meanings of Rock and Heavy Metal music as you were under the Veil of the darkness of your thinking blind ego-mind. It is all very simple.. Devil is the mind, which is your thoughts (ego), who you "think" you are and all the nonsense you believe (as ALL beliefs of the mind are lies). And God is Soul/Spirit (all that is, Everything). Hence why 98% of humans are completely separated from Soul, they have no clue what it is, they are terrified of direct spiritual experiences. Hence why they seek for a god via the stupidity of religion/churches, which only separates them from Soul even more. Hence why the word Satan comes from Saturn which was the outermost planet in ancient cosmology (separation) and always represented the thinking mind. And the word Devil comes from Diablo in Latin which means to separate...Which of course means the thinking Mind itself (the endless lies of the EGO). 90% of humans have no clue how to process their emotions (just clueless Robots operating in their blind ego-mind), they are nothing more than a bunch of "walking reactions" reacting to this or that by silly media government propaganda..They are enslaved by emotions (since they have no clue how to process them in the first place) and the lack of ability of processing emotions is what tells their Ego what to think/believe BLINDLY....leading them into a sewer of endless despair and self-hatred... However the Divine Light of Rock music will teach you how to process ALL emotions deeply within you in ways you had no clue existed, as only when you've completely mastered emotions can you ever have the chance of Spiritual Ascension. Your useless schools/churches/bibles/universities teach you absolutely nothing about True psychology and the true meanings of depth/emotions..... The evidence is, tell me all you've learned of true value in your 12 years of schooling via ridiculous school textbooks written by government...Exactly, you learned absolutely nothing...You never have and you never will following gov't books of nonsense.. However, Rock N Roll (true Art) can teach you endlessly The evidence is, the Divine Light of Rock music told you through a plethora of fantastic songs (including Iron Maiden) that time is total illusion in ultimate reality, as time cannot exist in the higher 5th and 7th dimension heavenly realms and infinite truths of Spirit. At the speed of Light (divine love/truth) time cannot exist, as eternity is the infinite NOW in reality. Show me one school or church in your life that told you that simple truth ? Again, you can never find it, as all schools/churches are 100% useless/meaningless...As Rock music always told the truth in infinite ways of love and Magic/Light. Again, it's not a coincidence Iron Maiden's Book of Souls album began with the word "Shaman" in the opening track- "If Eternity Should Fail", right in the introduction of the song. As Shamanism is the Truth by activating all that is WITHIN you. Hence why every rel-igion on the p-lanet states the kingdom of Nature/Universe/Heavens is all Within you.. On that same album, Iron Maiden's song titled "The Red and the Black" is one of thousands of Rock songs that reveals the cowardice of Narcissists beautifully. Listen to the lyrics deeply. Narcs are Fear-based and completely Egocentric (as fear is the opposite of love/truth/spirit). Red symbolizes emotions and Black is the ego mind of thoughts that are blind to everything (as all thoughts/beliefs are at surface level in either past/future in duality in the illusion of time, not unity/oneness - love of the infinite NOW of eternity of SOUL). The only way of light/truth/spirit is to not think and not give into fear (emotions) and go deep within to activate all that is Within you (White = Light) by taking Entheogen plants (Shamanism) that do just that. Dave Murray of Iron Maiden is the mastermind of guitar, and Adrian Smith is the Heart of guitar...together it's UNITY !!! Hence why Iron Maiden is the Magical band of Spirit/Light/Consciousness/Truth it is !! The perfect compliment. As all is ONE !! Endless Magic and beauty !! :- )

[@laurentfemenias9410]

A very clear and instructive analysis which, once again, allows us to better understand and appreciate our favorite band. Thanks so much for that, Nico! 🙂

[@alfwalker5698]

Fantastic. I'm a closet guitarist with a rudimentary understanding of music... but I really appreciate how you break this down. Very cool.

[@NunesPensador]

the dance of death harmony 15:17 in octaves then the lower pitch changes, to me, is the most beautiful one, great video

[@ricardo_leoni]

This is a real MASTERCLASS. Thank you very much Nico

[@danield1262]

The guitar harmonies is what got me into maiden and playing guitar. Its a shame they barely do any harmonies these days especially since they are three guitarists post reunion

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I miss them too, but harmonies would sound a bit forced on the compositions of their last few albums. Would be cool to have some nice three-part harmonies on the next one!

[@ALL_OUT_OF_BUBBLEGUM]

Omg there is SO MUCH I don't know about music!!!! I honestly didn't know Iron Maiden put so much elaborate composition and methodic construction into their music. (I always thought they went with simple, enjoyable riffs that pull you in in an almost trance like manner, and are joyous to air guitar and sing along to; sort of like a more complex version of how Black Sabbath makes songs. I have loved Maiden since I was a kid, but only as an adult can you appreciate how unique and special they really are. Your channel is a big part of that REVELATION. 😏 UP THE IRONS FROM SOMEWHERE IN TIME

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

A lot of it is a perfect blend of intuition, experience, trial and error, and not being satisfied with the first thing you do that sounds good enough.

[@ALL_OUT_OF_BUBBLEGUM]

@@LicksOfTheBeast That part I can relate to! 😄😂😁😆😂 It's all the complex music theory aspects I never bothered to learn. KEEP TEACHING US!

[@MadassAlex]

Great video, got my sub. Harmonised lines are such an important aspect of metal and a great technique in any style of music, with Iron Maiden being one of the all-time great examples of how it's done.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thanks so much for checking it out and for subscribing to the channel!! Much much appreciated and I hope you'll enjoy what's to come. Cheers! 🤜🤛

[@sjbelias]

Awesome channel…you are truly a Maiden music expert!!!…next best thing other than Adrian/Dave giving the tutorial themselves

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's very nice of you to say! Thank you!!

[@straati]

More videos on Iron Maiden's excellent harmonies please. This was extremely informative and entertaining.

[@time24go]

Right on! Fun and great break down!👍🏻

[@mountainousterrain1704]

Top content - as always!

[@StuHolland]

Yet another banging video, legend ❤

[@gregorykalla2565]

This was fantastic!!! Very well done!!!

[@crystalplanet023]

The biggest metal band ever , UP THE IRON

[@stefanoribas]

AWSOME!!!! Thank you so much

[@slthlrdz]

Amazing video. Love hearing this in their music.

[@CC-qb9sm]

This was just outstanding! It was definitely worth watching to the end 🤘

[@davidredmond292]

Thank you for another educational video Nico!

[@playset1233]

Keep up the good work I love your videos

[@Jester_Kang]

Great video and presentation, as always. Simple, concise, and very educational. Always makes me want to pick up my guitar and play along to some Maiden! Your videos on the harmonies are some of my favorites.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's amazing to know! Thank you!!

[@massis1sp]

Great stuff Nico! The "divided" screen was so cool to see/hear..very professional 🤘🏻🎸 Cheers

[@darthmuki2674]

Congrats for the video (and the T-Shirt)

[@NunoGuitarsSilva]

Awesome video, thank you!!! In the same day, G66 released a video with Leon explained how to do this in Fractal!! Really awesome!! Cheers from Portugal!

[@MarcoMastra]

Fantastic video Nico! Up the Iron 🔥👏🏻

[@gilbertobarrera7821]

Great video. Your explanation of the theory was spot on and very insightful and not dull at all. I don't think I've seen anyone make theory so entertaining. Great work.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's so great (and very encouraging) to read!! Thanks man 🤜🤛

[@juang.salazar1248]

Bravo Maestro, Excelente

[@eszterszabo5103]

Thank you Very insightful as usual. Always learning a great deal from you. Keep on rocking! 👌🤘👏🎶

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

So glad to read this!! Thank you 😊

[@nirst1059]

I would like to add that in the live versions of Aces High in 2008, Adrian Smith plays a 3rd layer of harmony to the intro riff at the end. I cannot remember if he started playing it before 2008 nor do I recall him playing it after 2008. Adrian Smith also plays a third layer of harmony the second time they play the intro riff in The Trooper (live, of course). Fun details!

[@richardjones5967]

Great video!

[@christschinwon]

Damn, you've got such a good sound! Very well explained especially as there is a lot to Maiden's harmonies. I always used to think they did 3rds and that was it. Even on top of the intricacies you highlighted, there's the Steve factor. He sticks them is too, in particular on the Powerslave album.

[@yordip8246]

Subscribed. Thank you for these explanation videos...it adds more value to the songs

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! I appreciate that a whole lot! 🤜🤛

[@juanneman]

Wow thanks for the great detailed analysis Nico. To me the harmonies and the gallop are the reason Maiden is my all-time fave band, I have really learnt a lot from your anaylisis, you have put into theoretical words (I didn´t know how to express it) what my self-taught ear has learned up to this point. Warmest regards and horns up 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@acceptpapara]

As always, I love the way you explain everything. I also love that you are even creating this kind of content. Thanks for your work . Nick, from Greece

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Efharisto poli!! Glad to know this kind of video is appreciated, cause I do enjoy making them but I don't always know if they'll resonate with the community overall. Thanks again 🤜🤛

[@AndyTheRoo]

I know fuck all about music terminology, but I still love watching your videos Nico!! You're very insightful and it really makes me appreciate Maiden's music a lot more (and the other music you've done on Nico's Guitar World so far)

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's awesome! I try to not go overboard with the jargon and overly heavy terminology as I am not a fan of word salad. 😁

[@Tony_Kam]

Great video Nico, as always!! You can easily tell a lot of work was put behind this one! 'Arry himself has said that, if one wants to know what Maiden's early work and especially the guitar harmonies are all about, one has but to listen to 'Argus' by Wishbone Ash. Such an influential band to hard rock music.

[@lloydtownsend5306]

Thanks man! I've been a fan of the beast for 38 of my 44 years playing bass and I was just about to pick apart the guitar harmonies but you already did it. Thank you very much. Very good presentation and demonstration. Thank you!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much! So glad to know you enjoyed this and found it useful! 😊

[@MatteoAn93]

Amazing!

[@peterbaker3878]

I had to give you your 1000th like 👍 Excellent content man👊👊

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thanks so much man! 🤜🤛

[@ghastlynavigator]

Absolutely phenomenal video and definitely made it to the end...it seemed to be over so fast...lol. I could listen to you talk about Maiden guitar parts all day Nico. Great playing as always! UP THE IRONS 🤘

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Means a lot to me to read a xomme t like this. Cheers bro!! 🤜🤛

[@michaeljohn8905]

Last thing I would love to know is, how did they manage to play these long songs, live and so clean I don’t think I have ever heard them mess it up and no offense to you but Dave and Adrian sounds so clean playing live is it just the fact that they are that good? You are obviously a professional player and you sound just like they do amazing the way you break down they’re playing I really like your videos

[@marcobanti788]

You're great... The t-shirt of 'feudalesimo e libertà' is the top! I'm Italian and I know them very well... So great!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Fighissima sia davanti che dietro coi titoli delle canzoni - Lo Ballo Della Dipartita... Grande! 😅🤘

[@freakazoid314]

Something tells me you're going to do a video about "non-canonical" Iron Maiden harmonies. And I'll be here waiting for it. :P Un abbraccio Nico, splendida maglietta di Feudalesimo e Libertà ;)

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

È davvero una maglietta troppo fresca!

[@l.4594]

Thanks! Could you do a video on "The Ides of March" and its harmonies?

[@fbomb7184]

@2:25 - Niko “Now that we got you up to speed...” - Me “😳”. It’s that old feeling I had in organic chemistry

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

🤣🤣 ooops? 🤷🏻😅

[@timp.9582]

The motif...I like that

[@timp.9582]

Way back i remember, when I first got the Live After Death album, then realized I could listen to L&R mixes separately to hear Daves and Adrians parts, is when I first noticed the "motifs" in the guitar harmony of the Trooper. Could never figure out why they did it like that, but your explanation makes great sense. Much appreciated

[@putimail]

Cool!

[@olivierpierre968]

Very good analysis ! Your insights are truly commendable. I've noticed that there's a consistent curiosity among people about whether Harris & Co possess a background in musical theory or are even capable of reading music. If they don't, it would be a reason for a deeper appreciation for their musical prowess. Their music goes beyond guitar harmonies; it delves into intricate structures. For instance, their adept use of the "Aeolian pendulum," a repetitive chord progression exclusively comprised of Aeolian scale degrees, is of particular significance. This technique is evident in tracks like "Aces High" ... there's still so much more to explore in their music. It's regrettable that published scores for their compositions often contain (a lot of) errors.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I doubt they even know what the word Aeolian means, to be honest. But that doesn't mean they don't *know* the aeolian mode, and how to use it - especially with what you referred to with the highly evocative bVI! I will say, however, that the use of that particular chord progression is more of a trope in rock music than anything else. I don't mean that in the pejorative sense, but in the fact that I don't think there is any particularly deep compositional thought that is given to the VI-VII-I progression in those choruses. It just works very well as a general canvas upon which to build melodies 😊

[@olivierpierre968]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Indeed, it's a challenge to determine whether these techniques are consciously chosen for theoretical reasons or if they occur instinctively. You're probably right - they might not even recognize the term "Aeolian" and its significance :-) . Nonetheless, having watched interviews with Adrian Smith, I've the impression that he likely possesses a solid theoretical foundation. Ultimately, it's the end result that matters, and the music is excellent. Personally, I will continue to be amazed by their consistent modulation across different tonal centers, which is undeniably a demanding skill to master, whether consciously or unconsciously.

[@LordNerevar1]

I am requesting changing branding Iron Maiden as heavy metal band into epic metal band as with those harmonies sounding huge and like movie scores it's the only word that comes to my mind - epic

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I find their latest albums particularly cinematic...in a very good way 😊

[@richardrondon8843]

There's also the part of Adrian these days, playing lower, very good video thanx!!

[@albertoboccali7437]

Oh Nicko, great t-shirt

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It really is!

[@wahwahgaboor]

Very nice. You deserve

[@deimos_doc]

Bel video davvero! Semplice, chiaro e molto utile… te lo scrivo in italiano, visto la maglietta 😉🤘

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Fai bene! 😁 Comunque grazie mille per l'incoraggiamento! 🤜🤛

[@deimos_doc]

@@LicksOfTheBeast sarebbe bello un video su come armonizzano oggi con 3 chitarre, e come suonano dal vivo i vecchi brani. Grazie per lo splendido lavoro che fai, il migliore per i Maiden fans!

[@Bean-hm4ob]

Hey awesome video as always, can you suggest any apps so I can mix two guitar parts? You know like layer them on top of each other

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

The DAW I use is Reaper Audio. It does everything I need it to do and it's not at all expensive to purchase a full license!

[@alessandrofaoro1644]

La maglia di Feudalesimo e Libertà😂🔝❤️

[@michaelmarcuola1684]

It would be interesting to compare with Brian May, who did multi-layers harmonies way before Maiden. Cool video 😎🤟👍

[@StefanoJP6]

I’ve got the same T-Shirt that I use as stage shirt when playing with my Maiden Tribute!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Sicuramente in Italia c'azzecca un po' di più 😁

[@StefanoJP6]

@@LicksOfTheBeastaspetta ma sei italiano? 🤣

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Eh sì.... Trapiantato in Canada. 🙂

[@sanfranman4919]

It took me all of 7 seconds till I was lost. All I know is Maiden are the best at what they do.

[@fethimubin]

Thanks!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey that's super kind of you!! I appreciate it very, very much. Thanks! 🙏

[@fethimubin]

thanks for all the hard work, this is nothing compared to your excellent output@@LicksOfTheBeast

[@Sebastian_Mroczek]

In Rime of the Ancient Mariner, they have predicted the future and created a part to play for Janick. That's because playing The Clairvoyant made them Clairvoyant 😆🤪

[@eszterszabo5103]

😄👍🤘

[@benstephenson8993]

Another wonderful video from Licks of the Beast! Question: and not sure how to technically categorize it, but what do you call that riff part that starts around 3:35 on Phantom of the Opera? When that part starts, it seems like both Dave and Adrian are in harmony, with Steve hitting the background note on bass before they begin to repeat. But then around 3:54, it clearly sounds like one of the guitars breaks off from harmony and joins Steve to harmonize with the bass, although it sounds like nothing departed from the original guitar harmonies. I could be wrong, but is it possible that at that 3:35 starting point, it’s only one guitar that whole time? Thanks in advance! \m/

[@mountainousterrain1704]

Not like I needed a reason but you had me listen to Phantom again... There is indeed a third guitar track there, like other places in the song (ex 4:52). Probably the boys were creating work for Janick unconsciously.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's basically a polyphonic melody, where you have two or more independent voices doing their own thing in a way that works together.

[@GabrielPiazentin]

awesome video, thanks! It makes me think about 3 guitar harmonies on the oldest songs when there was only 2 of them. how does it works?

[@Aware1978]

On the studio versions they simply record 3 tracks and play them together after recording. For the live versions there are only two guitars (until 1999) so these 3 guitar harmonies sound different because one is missing.

[@emanuelpfoh5580]

Ferrea Virgo... Cool.

[@BanjoSick]

"Let's say we are in the key of E minor", he said with an innocence that suggests ignorance, hahahahahah. What a trickster.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That wasn't tongue in cheek... Like most rock guitarists, I also think E minor above everything else 🤷😅

[@tbmirt]

I’ve always wondered how they did those wailing flutey, ghostly, theremin like harmonies common in NWOBHM, found in the two minutes to midnight solo

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

An good intuition about where to add a carefully placed overdub 😊

[@cindarella1100]

@ 1:26 Diatonic Harmony; Non Diatonic Harmony & Tonal Harmony; Even though the work is being done within a scale, and not every note within a key; its still called a; Diatonic Harmony? Never heard that terminology before,; I've always just called it 2nd part harmony 🤔 @ 6:11 that sounds nice 😊 this theory in which you are speaking of, people pay tens of thousands of dollars at Universities to learn and here you are explaining it free on utube; 😂😀😂🤣😆 Unbelievable; this is really good theory 👍 every guitar player should have an understanding of this theory; David knew this theory when he went for his first audition with Steve in the trailer home out in thr pasture; David said in an interview: " he had to walk around the piles of Cow dung to get the trailer " end of quote 😉 @ 9:46 that's a 6th below? Oh 🤔 I didn't know that; I always thought that Adrian would play a 3rd above the melody but in an octave below 🤔 very good theory 👍

[@peablasfemo]

Nice shirt man, feudalesimo?

[@jedrusnowak3317]

Fates warning harmonics are something else

[@edwardgreat]

👍

[@olivergarner1746]

To all those who think Steve Harris just repeats things 8 times with no thought, please watch and then hang your heads in shame 😁

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hahaha well....I think the repetition is actually very important to Steve. He likes to let things build and develop over as many bars as it takes for it to get the point (as he intends it) across. 😊

[@cbr9914]

it's weird....when they're playing parallel thirds, i always hear the top harmony as the melody, and the lower main line as the harmony....example being aces high. smith's part always felt like the top line, where murray's always sounded like the complimentary harmony.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I think it depends on the melody and maybe also on how each of us hears things. Aces High I actually hear it more as a blend instead of two separate lines, as is the case with others like Still Life or the interlude of Déjà Vu. Phantom, the lower melody feels like the main one, while something like infinite dreams or trooper I hear the top melody as the main. 😊

[@Wreakmayhem]

What is this shirt youre wearing?

[@RJMitchard1509]

8:04 Do Doo Do Doo Do Do Do Do

[@svT647]

Who's Janick?

[@kntzounis]

You used the phrase "polyphonic melody" which is the secret here. I come from a place in Greece, Epirus, where the traditional music contains folk songs that are mostly pentatonic and polyphonic. We are next to Albania who is also well none for their polyphonic vocal styles. If you listen individually each one guitar player of Maiden does n't sound that special. But when you put all together, it's a kind of Magic, it's like an orchestra not a mere band. No Virgin birth, I love Thin Lizzy, but harmonies became their trademark and looks like they brought their own height to it. I was quite happy to hear The Halo Effect using harmonies so nicely, too.

[@revylokesh1783]

Well, the Halo Effect has Jesper Strömblad on guitars, and he's always been a big Maiden fanboy. You can hear it in the early In Flames records, and also in the first Hammerfall album (which he co-wrote)

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I'll have to check out the halo effect, in that case!

[@kntzounis]

It melodic Death Metal but it's good!@@LicksOfTheBeast

[@JacksonAxe]

Another student of the youtube school of 'Move your hands when you move your lips'.

[@user-xq7mh5kg6bvvf3]

Ciao Grande Niko! E tu dici che la musica degli Iron è semplice?.... Mah...

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Relativamente semplice... Queste sono armonie piuttosto basilari. La loro creatività, inventiva, originalità etc però sono senza pari!

[@simonepetrelly1835]

And fifth harmo?

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

They don't do that very often.

[@simonepetrelly1835]

@@LicksOfTheBeast thank you for your answer