Iron Maiden - The Duellists Bass cover

Somewhat of a hidden gem from the Powerslave album, I have always had a soft spot for The Duellists. It has never been played live for some reason, but has a great bass line - especially in the instrumental section.
Stamina is definitely an issue on this one (if you are plucking with 2 fingers, as I always do). Just when you are getting tired (the tempo is deceptively fast), the instrumental section kicks in, with some pretty tricky bass work around the 1:50 mark. Then a slight raise in tempo before the tough cross string work around 3:40.
Mr Harris. I take my hat off to you for writing and playing this ;)
This version has been on my pc for some time (I recorded the whole album in one sitting) but I planned on re doing the album from The Duellists onwards, as there are a few little off time sections (slight, but they bug me!).
Shortly after recording I started having back pain, so I have not been able to pick my bass up for a couple of months (quite literally). Long story short, I have been diagnosed with a slipped disc and had a spinal nerve injection last week (which was as pleasant as it sounds!) and I now finally feel on the road to recovery. It will probably be a while until I can play properly again though, so thought I would put this version up to fill the gap.
I may put Back in the Village up (if I can get passed the couple of times I was slightly off the beat!), but will have to redo Powerslave and Rime, due to a couple of Les Dawson style clunkers!
So in the meantime, I hope you enjoy my cover and please feel free to comment, sub, like etc
UP THE IRONS !! \m/

[@Julian-AJCP]

One of the greatest songs of Maiden's golden era and you nailed every note. Wish I could play like that. I hate that they don't play gems like this live.

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you mate! Yeah, I would have loved to have heard this live...shame... a great song :)

[@jeanrunkle1059]

I love how much the bass shines on this song. You can here it so clearly

[@alessiotorretta5903]

one of the most underrated Maiden's song..an amazing bass line

[@ConstantineBassCovers]

That instrumental section was amazing. The entire song is kick ass and you nailed every second on the song. Thanks for sharing your talent with us. \m/

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks very much Constantine :) Yeah that mid section is a challenge to play for sure. I wasn't 100% happy with it so thanks so much for the comment ;) \m/

[@garystokes9979]

You just showed me how to play a fantastic song. I've almost got it down all the way. I'm 57, self taught and having fun. My other favourite band is Thin Lizzy. Thanks!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks for watching mate and glad it helped. Yeah I am a big Lizzy and Lynott fan also! \m/

[@diogodca]

This is a hard one and you did it great! Steve is one of my biggest influence and I freaking love his bass lines. Good play, man!

[@VusfernoMusic]

Agree! One of their best underrated song, you nailed it man, great!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks very much mate :)

[@wickedsickfunkyfreshroller2037]

This is so much harder than phantom of the opera. Idk how people say that’s the hardest maiden song

[@welshphantom8964]

Phantom is def not the hardest Maiden song Duellists is pretty tough in places for sure. I would probably struggle now not having played it for a while.

[@levileme8062]

Nice playing, nice choice for inspiration and nice choice of a "B side" Maiden song. Bless you.

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks mate :)

[@flavy1000]

I have just come into your videos while playing some Maiden, and this is one of my faulty ones so wanted to learn it properly.. And then just read about your spine..Hope you have recovered..!! I 've been diagnosed hernias both lumbar and after a while, also, cervicals ,and fighting with pain and so but ...to say truth..the only moment I don' t feel the pain is while playing my bass...And my pain is not to play , I guess =) Just that it's an always frightening stuff not to be able to play some day..But I manage well, the fact is, I see our old heroes like Harris or Dickinson, to name some, playing and jumping as kids, or people like you, Didier Gerome, or Jericho, Jeff Monaco, and many more, uploading great covers here, and I only want to go on and on,and play better...Thanks for all, hope you are better this days...!

[@welshphantom8964]

Sorry for the late reply. I hope your health issues are improving :) I could not play for a year due to my back, but I am playing again now (at last!) and hope to upload again soon. Thanks for watching mate ;)

[@MrGollywock]

Hey man, it's been a while. Sorry to hear about the health problems, but glad you're recovering. I've always felt that this song was underrated. Everybody's talking about the amazing songs on the album, and that Back In The Village isn't quite up to par, but The Duellists is often left out. I love the instrumental middle section, it's very melodic and I can feel emotion in it (if that makes sense). As always perfect cover, though it's a given at this point.

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks mate. Yes this song is the definition of underrated. I find it bizarre that it has not been played live! The same goes for Judas Be My Guide. And as always, thanks for watching! :)

[@MrGollywock]

Yes! Judas Be My Guide is another favorite of mine. Incredible song, so little recognition.

[@home37]

I always liked Back In The Village better than Powerslave. Shellshock in the kitchen!

[@ozymandias1759]

Du hast eine tolle Interpretation gemacht... Gut gemacht!

[@jupiter7x7]

Great cover. You nailed it. Can't wait for Back In The Village, it is one of my favorite songs.

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you mate. I will probably upload Back in the Village next week. Have not decided 100% if it is good enough yet though, but it will be a while before I can redo it otherwise ;)

[@jupiter7x7]

Looking forward to it! As a bass player myself, it's one of my favs to play. Would love to see your take.

[@mario1997281]

Awesome cover as always mate! Sad to hear about your back problems. Wish you all the best and keep on rocking! UP THE IRONS \m/

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you very much Mario ;) I am sure I will bounce back at some time (hopefully not literally!)

[@daraboy1973]

Brilliant stuff m8 got the Bomber Harris vibe off to a tee . Played lead all my life. You and Ceasar Ferrari both make me want to take up the bass. I think I will need some more space first lol . Keep up the good work

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks for watching mate ;)

[@IgorKovacs]

Hey man another perfect cover as usual! Sad to hear about the back problems but hopefully you will recover quickly! Thanks for sharing!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you very much mate ;)

[@Demonsinger]

I freakin' love this song and you nailed it again! I guess I gotta play it now :D Up the Irons mate!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you mate ;)

[@jaysmith5771]

Glad to see you back...great job

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks Jay :) Not fully back yet though .... still can't play! :(

[@lordharry423]

I saw the tab in some Powerslave/Somewhere in time book for this and it was insane as I remember that tab

[@welshphantom8964]

The hardest part for me wasn't working out the notes or playing them .... it's the plucking speed ... bloody hurts lol

[@lordharry423]

@@welshphantom8964 My right hand is fine its the left that gets caught with dead notes at time. Also some of the patterns takes me a long time to get down. Like the fast bit in Prowler before the solo where you use your ring and pinky. As far as the gallop I can do the normal triplets however I have also a sweeping method which allows me to play it a lot faster and relaxed. you just sweep the index and middle across the string.

[@lordharry423]

Also wondering if the basses I use are not as good for this stuff due to the action not being as adjustable as perhaps a fender.

[@tiagomelo8071]

Wow. That was simply amazing. Congrats!!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you mate :)

[@Vigi]

Nice bass playing! :-)

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks! :)

[@АЛЕКСАНДРАЙРИНГ]

You play the best songs in the best way!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you very much :)

[@BassAri]

Solid job man, a hellish bassline to play :P Get better mate!

[@BassAri]

Lol, as in, "heal your back mate" not "u suck at playing get better" :D

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks Ari - I know what you meant LOL :)

[@fredrickflintstone5364]

Awesome 👍

[@pedroravelo2458]

That bass!!

[@welshphantom8964]

It's the Steve Harris Signature Bass before it was changed to the white version. Thanks for watching :)

[@pedroravelo2458]

@@welshphantom8964 I can't speak english very well, but I'll try. You are an excelente bass player, i like very much your vídeos. Saludos desde México

[@welshphantom8964]

@@pedroravelo2458 Thank you very much Pedro :)

[@vasconcellosdecastro]

Great!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you :)

[@tiagomelo8071]

Hey, what about Sea of Madness? :-)

[@welshphantom8964]

Once I can get playing again that is the next one for me to learn actually. I am doing the albums and songs in order and have learnt up to Wasted Years so far. I will finish recording the Powerslave covers first though - once I can play again! ;)

[@tiagomelo8071]

Wow, that's really nice. The great challenge about "Caught Somewhere In Time" song is about resistence. I can't imagine how Steve does not get tired doing that insane gallop pattern for 6 minutes...

[@welshphantom8964]

Yeah CSIT takes some stamina also. If I don't play it for a while I find I lose the speed. Bare in mind, Harris plays Maiden all the time, so he probably finds it relatively easy. Once you get it you need to keep at it or you quickly lose the ability (well I do anyway!). I hope I get the speed back fairly quickly when I start playing again ;)

[@tombassbeast]

third finger... ;)

[@welshphantom8964]

Yeah I never learned to use 3. As Harris can do this stuff with 2 I see it as a personal challenge to do the same. Nothing wrong with using 3 though ;)

[@CharliesMaidenCovers]

sick skills

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you Charlie :) \m/

[@welshphantom8964]

Btw, I just subbed your channel. Nice guitar work :)

[@claudiosasaki8986]

Amazing tune!! PB SH kick ass!!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you for watching ;)

[@ultslipknot]

thanks for sharing!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you for watching :)

[@tobivogler]

Wow!!!! Wtf!!!! Awesome!!!🤘👍💪

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you very much :)

[@lucastaonline]

I'm pretty sure that the one that disliked this video did this by mistake, trying to like.,.

[@welshphantom8964]

Ha ha! Thanks for watching mate ;)

[@gabrielnilsson7955]

Turn up the bass volume please 🙂 Otherwise great 👍

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah it was difficult as this was the old school way of recording, just a camera in the room with my amp and a cd playing, no interface etc so if I turned the bass up louder I could not hear the track. Thanks for watching mate :)

[@marceloastudillo2614]

Impresionante

[@lucasgotz]

Aí sim meu irmão parabéns toca demais tamo junto sempre forte abraço fica com Deus.😀😍😎👏😁👊

[@MetalIcarus89]

Great man! What kind of is bass is that?

[@welshphantom8964]

This is the Steve Harris Signature model Fender Precision bass. It is in the colour he used in the 1980s. You cannot buy it anymore as they only sell the white West Ham version now, which has also been slightly downgraded from this model in terms of spec. Thanks for watching mate :)

[@leandroalveschannel]

at 3.41'... it's so difficult to me because my hands taps in wrong string every time... :(

[@kinhoslap244]

Muito bom amigo parabéns, você toca muito!!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you for watching :)

[@duskulleunknown8664]

I like the way how you play

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you very much ;)

[@duskulleunknown8664]

@@welshphantom8964 its harris style?

[@welshphantom8964]

Yes, as in I use 2 fingers to pluck the strings, but Harris does not rest his thumb on the string.

[@duskulleunknown8664]

@@welshphantom8964 i see..well i hope to play the same way you did

[@franz7076]

Best cover :) 1:50 how you play this?

[@welshphantom8964]

Thanks mate. The part you mean is the same pattern repeated in different starting positions. The first one is E A B E-octave B A. Then repeat in the various starting positions (E, then D, then B, then C, but the same fingering pattern on each). I hope that makes sense ;) It's pretty tough by the way! Some people like to 'bar' the first 2 notes with one finger, as they are on the same fret but different strings, but I find the notes sound clearer played separately.

[@primalconcretesledge3137]

2:14 is sooooooo awesome!

[@finalempiremetal]

Bravo! Especially 2:16 - 2:26!

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you very much :)

[@gonzaloyueng7415]

Hello, what strings do you use and how do you calibrate them? I put my fender on those strings that Steve Harris uses, but they were very tense, almost could not touch. What is set to find the harris tone?

[@joaoventurian8513]

Perfeito ! Seu sobrenome é Harris Jr?

[@welshphantom8964]

Ha ha! Thank you mate :)

[@Arnold_Guitar]

nice cover! Up the Irons! \m/

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you mate ;)

[@Вєяииу]

Super strong

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you mate :)

[@grigorisntamaras6709]

Hello!!! what song key is this song?

[@leandroalveschannel]

the hardest part is in 4:00. Omg... I can't doing this at all

[@maidenrulz73]

🤘💀🤘

[@welshphantom8964]

Thank you for watching :)

[@rubencamarena3751]

buen cocer podrías hacer el cocer de traín consecuen de megadeth

[@diegohenrique2871]

Nice man, lets go playning show