Iron Maiden - Back In The Village: The Main Riff Explained

[@cr1s1s0ff41th]

this is HANDS DOWN my favourite maiden riff. i say hands down because i never attempted to play it haha! everything about this song is amazing to me

[@metalinsights9664]

Agreed. The guitar work on that song is stunning.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

🤣🤣🤣🤘🤘🤘

[@karl1808]

Its up there with Aces High, Moonchild,Murders in rue morgue

[@Shazeen82]

My favourite underrated song from Maiden. The riff, the legato interlude, the bridge all pure Powerslave riffing and fun as hell!

[@r.v.g.1679]

This is one of Iron Maiden greatest songs. Loved it since 1984 when i purchased the record.

[@GarryParker]

One of my favourite Maiden songs. That riff has always fascinated me.

[@HabAnagarek]

A great Smith/Dickinson deep cut. Anything by Adrian is worth a look.

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

And Murray. He came up with amazing tracks like Charlotte the Harlot

[@HabAnagarek]

@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy yep, also Still Life, Deja Vu, and The Prophecy! Some real gems.

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

@@HabAnagarek yea, all of them are tremendous songwriters. Janick has brought upon some of the newer greats. The Prophecy is also my favorite track from 7th Son!

[@HabAnagarek]

@@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy For sure, I am definitely not on the badmouth-Janick bandwagon, I liked Tattooed Millionaire, No Prayer and Fear of the Dark back in the day

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

@@HabAnagarek a lot of the ones hating genuinely have no idea about songwriting or why he’s so beloved by hardcore fans and the band.

[@Leppinen]

Also Steve was on fire recording this song. The bass line is crazy!

[@chuche249]

One of my favorite maiden songs

[@stilts121]

Not only is this one of my favorite IM riffs, as well, it's also one of my favorite songs of their entire career. The way that bridge comes out of NOWHERE still gives me goosebumps. I also play it the "alternate" way you showed around the 2:00 mark, as that's how I learned it years ago, but I'm really digging the position you showed here.

[@Locknar77]

Great job Nico! Catching those subtleties is the difference between sounding close to the original or sounding like pub rock.

[@sylwester7]

finally, the best Maiden riff :)

[@christschinwon]

Still some people out there who view this song as a filler (well, a certain Maiden based Podcast). You must be joking. No filler on Powerslave, fact!

[@DelendirProd]

Which podcast pls ? I love podcasts !

[@cr1s1s0ff41th]

fact! it's almost perfect front to back

[@christschinwon]

@@DelendirProd I don't remember but listening to a newly discovered one now called Maiden A-Z

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

This is genuinely my favorite song from Powerslave

[@Zam1Fear]

This is also my favorite song on Powerslave.

[@motox947]

Great song choice!!! That was always one of my favorites since I was a kid and first bought this album. One thing you didn't talk about was your tone. It was spot on! Perfect amount of reverb and distortion. Do a video on that perfect metal tone, if you haven't already

[@borgonianevolution]

I really love how you work thru these parts and explain how it is played properly. It makes me understand more why what I hear is similar but very different. I like how you said that is how people develop their own style and sound

[@woodreauxwoodreaux6298]

Excellent choice, Nico. This riff hooked me immediately the first time I heard it. I remember that experience vividly. Your rendition and break down of it gives me and even greater appreciation. Keep up the great work!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Same here, man! 😃 And thanks 🙏🏻

[@rachaeltownend6872]

The bass part is a hour to play too! Love the takeaway closing section, really rounds out the presentation and hands it back to your viewers, great addition! 🙌

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It shows you're a experienced musician with a high EI, cause you always get exactly "why" and pick up on the nuances... 🙂 And yeah that bass part is craziness!

[@rapharibeirobp]

The best song of powerslave! So fun to play… you rock, dude!

[@McDeathSausage]

Thanks for breaking it down. I've always had trouble with the 2nd riff, you explained it well and now it sounds right when I play it.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That makes me very happy to hear (read... whatever 😁) cheers!!

[@user-ql1pc7pi9x]

Nico you're a man after my own heart 😅 I've posted quite a few times about my love for this song on your channel. This intro just grabs your attention immediately. I'm sitting here with my '68 LP Custom Reissue jamming with you 🤘 Up The Irons ⚒️

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey that's awesome!! Thanks for the jam 😃 I agree about that intro being an immediate attention-grabber! I freaked out the first time I heard it 😆

[@frwy1]

Wooow another very VERY nice explanation (and perfect cover) - congrats Nico

[@darrenc8776]

I always wondered why it never sounded right when you played along to the album. Never thought to check the tuning 😂😂 brilliant Niko

[@jeff_mossy]

Fantastic! This song deserves as much attention and analysis as it can get. NEXT - please pick apart the harmony break before and after the first solo. It's been killing me for years, trying to decipher EXACTLY what's going on. There are a couple of attempts on KZbin but none are perfect - but I trust you, man!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Check out the link I just added in the description or the end screen. I had made a tutorial for that part a few years back and forgot to mention it in this video. The links are there now...enjoy!! 😃

[@gvyrock]

Muchas Gracias Nicko. Me encantan tus análisis de los temas de Maiden. Das una perspectiva única de sus riffs. Enhorabuena por tu canal y larga vida al Heavy Metal. Up the Irons!!!🤟🏽👏🏼⚡🎸🔥🤟🏽

[@paulgrant7221]

Mate, this is an amazing breakdown of a great riff. Thanks!

[@bboydobriy]

Thank you! I'm looking forward to more Maiden lessons! I'm a beginner-intermediate guitar player and I really find these videos very helpful. I love Maiden and learning their songs is a great foundation for learning more extreme / complex stuff later.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I am so very glad to hear this! Thank you and there will definitely be more like this! Maiden and otherwise 😊

[@ghastlynavigator]

Absolutely fantastic breakdown Nico! Love this song and after your explanation it actually seems playable to me for the first time...lol. UP THE IRONS 🤘

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I'm really glad to read this! 😃 I hope you have fun jamming along to it!!

[@truegooner2002]

Excellent work Nico. Please, please, please do a detailed video for the next riff, before the solo starts 🙏🏻

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! I did a tutorial for the interlude a few years ago. I forgot to mention it in the video 🤦🏻 but I just added a link to it on the end screen and in the description. It's a really cool part to play so I hope you have fun with that one!

[@truegooner2002]

@@LicksOfTheBeast yes I found it not long after I commented 🙈. Will be studying with that one thanks

[@FrederickStonge]

Very helpful!!Thank you. Cheers from Montreal!

[@nikeforo2612]

Brilliant as always! One of my preferred tunes from my preferred album. Saluti.

[@matthewclayton6587]

Great analysis. Over the years i thought I'd got it nailed. Now i can play it the correct way. Thank you. 🙂

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's awesome! Cheers 🤜🤛

[@TonyMajo]

One of my all time favorite riffs. awesome!

[@emilyinoregon6967]

Great video! I love that riff and the song is actually one of my favorites from Powerslave. I really like your version at the beginning of the video, after you talked about guitarists finding their own style. I love the way they use pinch harmonics too. By the way, we have several more anniversaries coming up. Guess you'll get a break in 2027 lol.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey I'm happy to know you enjoyed this one! 😃 We do have whole boatload of anniversaries, don't we? This year alone is bonkers! Seriously, I don't know what was in the water in 1984 but there was a ridiculous amount of slammin' music that came out that year. 2026 is going to be insane too! Good thing 1987 was a less productive year 😅😅😅

[@constpegasus]

This is actually one of my favorite songs.

[@TerryTinsel]

Was waiting for this, thank you!

[@juanrogelrodriguez8285]

Magnifico video amigo!!,me gusta tu estilo en todo men,en tu forma de tocar,en la manera de explicar y en como comprendes la profundidad ,esencia y composicion de la musica de Maiden que tanto nos maravilla sobre todo a los que nos gusta tocar sus tema mientras los estamos escuchando,tocar los temas del disco Powerslave mientras esta sonando acompañando a Dave y a Adrian,es una de las cosas mas divertidas a nivel musical de las que puedo hacer cuando realmente quiero divertirme y pasar un rato magico tocando la guitarra.Este riff me tenia confundido y me lo has terminado de aclarar.Gracias por tu genial y detallada explicacion.Chapeau!

[@JonDanMart]

Nico, Awesome Video. Thanks for Sharing.

[@willman100]

Finally I can learn to play it the proper way. Thanks so much.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

You're very welcome and thank you for watching! 😊

[@paulorobertogeres2523]

Wonderful tips Nicko. God bless you

[@mathias6423]

Hey Nicko! I also love that Danzig riff you were referring too. You were pretty close, it is from that third Danzig album "III" but it is not the song "Left Hand Black", that riff is from the song "Do You Wear The Mark". But to your point in the video and to be fair, EVERY SONG from that Danzig III album has a riff with recurring harmonics so you could have chosen any song haha :D I have also been listening to a band called "Killswitch Engage" since I was about 15 years old in 2000. That guitarist "Adam Dutkiewicz" is pretty heavy on the pinch harmonics as well, just try their "Holy Diver" cover if you are not already familiar with them, but I would have been shocked if you never heard them.

[@CC-qb9sm]

Another tremendous offering!! I love this song and it was actually in the running for my top pick from Powerslave, but oh so many great choices on that album. 😉 Thanks for the lesson and for your perspective. I always love the details you explore. I’m a big Michael Shenker fan, so of course there’s going to be some love here from me. Also, I think I’ve really become a fan of some of the underdog tracks over the years. For example, I really dig rocking out to Invaders and Gangland off of Number. I enjoyed the addition of the notes on Billy Gibbons and John Christ. On a totally different note, I saw Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway for the second time last night, so much fun! I saw them a couple years ago and their audience here in my area has really grown since then. The opening act was Allison De Groot (originally from Canada and now living in Nashville) and Tatiana Hargreaves, a banjo and fiddle combo. They were awesome. I love all kinds of music 🤠 that’s probably one of my downfalls as a guitar player is that I go down so many different rabbit holes instead of just staying focused. 😂 but… You like to do what you like to do. Jeff Beck could get away with that but not many can! Well, that was a long enough comment for several videos so maybe just the thumbs up or the metal horns the next time or two 😂

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I absolutely get where you're coming from about all the rabbit holes. I've only recently come to understand that no matter how many things I may enjoy, I learned to play as a heavy metal guitar player and that's what I'm rooted in. The other elements like classical, blues, folk, punk, and rockabilly help broaden my color palette and they undoubtedly play a role in molding and shaping my personal style, but i no longer dabble. This has helped me improve considerably more in the last 2 years than I had in the 10 years prior! Still, it's a matter of priorities. For some, it's more fun, more stimulating, and more rewarding to dabble a little more. And ultimately, the correct path is whichever one keeps you picking and strumming for the long haul! 😃

[@CC-qb9sm]

@@LicksOfTheBeast - Sage words as always, Nico. Definitely some food for thought that stat about the last two years versus the 10 years prior. I think I’m going to have to do some soul-searching and decide what my path forward will be. Have a great weekend, my friend! I’ll get one of the new shirts ordered here in the next few days now that I’m at my new place 🤠

[@richardmelville1920]

Nico, thank you for this explanation. I would love if you can do one on the opening section of Revalations. I can't quite get the chord after the G notes and A5 chord.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I might do that as a short or something. 🤔 In the mean time, maybe this can help: it's basically an open C chord 😊

[@richardmelville1920]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Thank you! I would love it.

[@DrowningInDejaVu]

I appreciate your channel. I learn a ton when I'm in the mood to play some Maiden. You confirmed I've been playing BITV the "right" way, even if sloppy. Cheers!

[@kntzounis]

You nailed it...

[@TailgunnerATC]

Adrain played this in a video somewhat recently and it was far sloppier than yours lol. Granted its been 40 years but it was nice. seeing him jam that song again. The second riff is what i always wanted to learn and then got it all. Its tricky as hell

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Sloppier or not, his take will out-Adrian mine every time! 😁 To be fair, I'm sure Adrian didn't do multiple takes for that video 🤪 You're right, it can be very tricky to get just right... I didn't want this tutorial to be overwhelming with detail, but there are of course so many little things like muting and hand position to look out for.

[@TailgunnerATC]

@LicksOfTheBeast I've gotten to the point I use this song as a warm up because it makes me cramp in about 1 minute lol

[@CC-qb9sm]

If anything deserves a super thanks, this surely does 🤠

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

THANK YOU! 🙏 It's especially rewarding to know that these videos are appreciated. ☺️

[@thedude-jb7wx]

best maiden guitar riffs ever on this People dismiss what they dont understand . This weas the song nobody knew how to play forever. Me i want to know jazz and all styles so i have the most understanding to create the best stuff!

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

How the hell did Nicko get this good? I thought I was decent but I look like a complete beginner😂 Seriously, thank you so much for this breakdown, I struggle with it a lot!

[@jayspears7245]

Beautiful gold top bro.

[@zzxmookysxzz4103]

Your explanation on how a player plays a song based on how they hear it is spot on💯💯💯💯

[@alexandremonfroy9014]

🤘licks of the beast 🤘

[@carzz185]

just the way i play it (notes), but for main riff i use index, ring and pinky... what is really hard for me is keep a steady palm muting for the second part of the riff, the tiniest mistake and it becomes BIG NOISE, and even more with a single coil strato lol... overall amazing riff, written by who? the same guy who wrote sea of madness (another amazing riff) cheers, and thanks for the lesson nico!

[@bill_simpkins]

Yeah love the tunings on older records. Sometimes the mastering engineer speeds it up to squeeze it on a record or a tape machine in the process ran fast. Sometimes they would slightly run it fast to give it a little energy. Sometimes a piano used to tune was out of tune. Sometimes it's just tuning by ear or the tuner was actually off. Good times! You nailed it: not doing alternate picking on that first riff makes it way harder.

[@ciao535]

Come sempre, ottimo lavoro Nicko! Quell'armonico mi fa saltare sulla sedia ogni volta 💥 ! Ora, se vuoi renderci davvero felici, aspettiamo la lezione su QUEL riff da 22 Acacia Avenue 😁

[@emirepresa9500]

Recently, I found a VERY short snippet of this amazing song played live in 84. Now this! What a time to be alive!

[@Gary-5642]

Pretty sure Iron Maiden themselves only played thisone once!

[@emirepresa9500]

@@Gary-5642 there’s proof that it was played in Warsaw, and rumor has it it was also played in Łódź, both in 84.

[@Gary-5642]

@@emirepresa9500 I wish there was a recording, it's definitely a tougher song to do live, and I don't know how into it the crowd would be tbh as it's always been a sleeper hit. Adrian also played it in the 90s with one of his solo bands, again no recording 🤣🤣

[@MatteoAn93]

Amazing, Will work on It!

[@UltraPvnk]

One of Maiden's best riffs indeed.

[@lordsofrocknroll]

Great lessons! Thanks ya! 🤘🤘🤘

[@jaimeransanz]

Hi Nico, I love your channel and the way you play Maiden. Have you ever thought about opening a paid subscription or similar in which you include lessons like this one? I play guitar at a médium level and I would love to have more Maiden songs in this way

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you so much! Actually, I am in the planning stages of something along those lines. And I also offer private virtual lessons (albeit with a rather limited schedule). You can check www.licksofthebeast.com for details 😊

[@sabrepax9012]

I adore that riff 🤘 Adrian was inspired surely by Michael Schenker for this one...😉

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Oh 1000%! 🙂

[@maiden4greece572]

Awesooomeeee...

[@alexandremonfroy9014]

Real good teacher. Thanks 🤘🤠

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you!!

[@chacurdan]

Amazing 👏👏👏

[@williamnegron4154]

Just like everything they made at that time. If it was Maiden didn't matter the song. I haven't been able feel the same after Seventh

[@essio1970]

Love this song!!!!

[@evankeal]

Chorus is pretty wild too.

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Most underrated Maiden song.

[@bghammock]

"... it loses some of it's impact, Zakk .. "

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

😂😂😂 With Zakk, I would say it's more of a stylistic signature...but that was too funny 🤣

[@cindarella1100]

This piece is very interesting 👸

[@soulreaper8163]

Could you please do flesh of the blade next or the prowler ?

[@cbr9914]

back in the village and moonchild are hands down my fav maiden songs by a landslide

[@winter-survivor]

I'm wonder how do you manage to get such details from those solos. Do you have any "inside info"? Are you actually close friends of Iron Maiden guitarists and learn directly from them? 😂 Amazing content Sir! Thanks for share! 👍

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hahahaha yeah I wish! I just spend a lot of time with these details... And I sometimes still get things a little wrong 😅 Thanks so much for the kind words and support!

[@Gary-5642]

This has got to be the hardest maiden riff to play, it sounds so ridiculous 🤣🤣

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

🤣🤣 It can definitely be a bit tricky to play it cleanly and tightly throughout the whole song because of the pace and speed...

[@Ced-Gauche]

During the first gigs of the World Slavery Tour they played it live and Adrian's speed in the intro was quite unplayable fast (kzbin.info/www/bejne/boPCaninjNCHrJI)

[@EddyHabits]

First, we get Flash in the Blade, and now we get Back in the village! Nico, you are the best! Back in the village is one of my favorite songs off the album. I never really understood why it was considered one of the minor songs on the album. To me, it's a classic Adrian Smith song, with the peddle notes going through the opening and bridge sections. I also just noticed that it finishes exactly on 5 min, with the final three "Back in the village" repeats exactly timed to the 4:57, 4:58, and 4:59 second counts. Here's a link to Nico's tutorial for the interlude section (from 2 years ago): kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoHJe2d8gd2CeM0 And here he is playing through the whole song (again (from 2 years ago): kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXiVYolnZtaoepIsi=K1tnGorHo8vultIC

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Much much appreciated and that is pretty cool about the timing at the end! I hadn't ever noticed 😃

[@EddyHabits]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Just added a link to your play through of the whole song. Have you thought about putting the links in the Description? People will probably not see my comment, but I'm sure they'd see your links and visit the related tutorial and play through. Here, joining a tribute Maiden band has been so great for my playing. The twin guitars are so much fun.

[@marcomazotti]

One the best Maiden songs ever! :) 666

[@skrasche]

Do we think they purposely tuned up a tiny bit or did they just speed up the tape a tiny bit?

[@benburnett8109]

The band would've tuned to A=440 for sure. Then they would have sped up the instruments to match Bruce's voice.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

My guess is the tape was sped up a bit, and there could be different reasons for that. Not being an engineer and not having ever spoken to anyone who was present during the recording, I can't offer any insight as to why other than deliberately mastering it that way to make the songs feel faster/more high energy, or perhaps something more to do with tape speed variation during the recording... 🤷🏻

[@MR-rm8do]

Amazing job as usual!!! This is my favourite Maiden’s riff, although the song isn’t that good too… my 2 cents…

[@dreamblack1124]

I always thought this riff was unrepeatable or unplayable.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Nothing is unplayable... Except maybe some of that Polyphia stuff 😅

[@rskow89]

Never heard this one

[@AaronJones-uz1fd]

Close but not the same

[@martymartin2894]

Megadeth definitely borrowed that riff for the song back in the day from system has failed. Coincidentally both titles start with back in.

[@VNeto94]

6:14 - you gonna hurt Zakk Wylde's feelings.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

😂 😂 I think with Zakk it's just part of his playing style. A personal signature, kinda like Adrian's vibrato...

[@paulocharpenter2943]

Thanks from France. The tabs are bads sometimes. 😊

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Merci à toi! Et oui, disons que les tabs sont souvent pas tout-à-fait fiables 😅

[@tonystathopoulos322]

Impossible riff for me.

[@winter-survivor]

Start slow 0.25 speed. A few weeks later there you have it.

[@ghastlynavigator]

I felt the same way but this video really makes me feel differently. You can do it my friend...just keep playing and never say never! 🤘

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It can certainly be challenging, but unless there is a physical impediment, it's definitely not impossible! Just work out the details slowly, don't be in a rush, and you'll see that accuracy and speed will come gradually. It's a process for all of us... Some people might have more dexterity and coordination so they just progress faster than the rest of us, but I'm not one of those people so if I can become a halfway decent guitarist just from persistence, most people can too! 😃 Cheers!

[@sajjadulislam571]

😂😂no

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

😂😂yes