Iron Maiden Wasted Years Solo Guitar Tutorial / Lesson On Jackson Adrian Smith San Dimas SDX

A short guitar tutorial showing how to play the guitar solo to Iron Maiden's 'Wasted Years'. This was recorded using the Jackson Adrian Smith San Dimas SDX, Digitech RP500, and a Yamaha Stagepas 500 PA.

[@SLAMBANGO]

I really appreciate that you don't cater to beginner guitar players. It's great for those of us who have been playing a long time, and don't need every note spoonfed, but don't want to trudge through tabs, or be forced to listen to the song 500 times to pick out the notes. This is the perfect tutorial for the advanced player who has to learn this song for a cover band. Thank you for doing that work for us! We really appreciate it more than you know.

[@ALDOPINEDAPINO]

You're the only person I've found here so far (Asides from me :)... that can play that "pull off" pattern right.... A guitarist should always develop his own ear and learn to trust it. In my younger years I realized that all those transcriptions out there were wrong about that section.... so I slowed it down a bit and got it down on my own..... I also came across Adrian's videos here on KZbin and confirmed that I was right. Somewhere in time has an amazing sound that was ahead of it's time... even for some Maiden fans in that era....... but I see young guitarists now days, even looking for the Roland Synth to try to mimic that amazing Adrian's signature sound.... makes me happy! :) Keep on rocking, Up the Irons..... and, Sheers mate!!

[@eamonmaiden]

Thanks Aldo. Yeah, it took quite a while for me to get that right - there are so many wrong versions out there, even in the official tab book which is completely wrong. I use my ear to learn all the parts in the videos I produce, but I also got that pull-off part from watching Adrian's right in live video. Cheers for your comment!

[@111GuitarPlayer111]

Eamon O'Neill Hey, tks indeed for the great explanation (figures 2 and 4) there was no good tab out there! cheers!

[@jcamp2112]

yeah man, you really have this down. your tutorial is spot on. the parts SOUND right, great job!

[@prisonjoe5799]

when you said "what I consider to be the easiest part of the solo" to the only bit I'm struggling with, broke my heart.

[@johnsmyth3281]

I love your tutorial!!!

[@dhruvvprakash]

I see a lot of people obsessing over the pulloffs but for me those are fairly easy....its the run I'm finding hard :(

[@666madmetalhead]

Couldn't agree more!

[@TheSavagederek]

My favourite Maiden song . Brilliant

[@lsu1992]

Thank you! someone has finally solved that pull-off mystery! I was so tired of watching these guys flub those 2 parts...there was just no way AS was playing it the way they were. Awesome job.

[@eamonmaiden]

+Charles De Long Thanks Charles!

[@damianmmx]

those pull offs with the open B string are very hard to get really really right.. .the timing is very tricky... seems easy but is really hard to get the RIGHT FEEL to it... thank you man

[@nango32]

Top Video Eamon, looking at covering this epic maiden tune myself, Love that SDX, great tone

[@eamonmaiden]

Hi, Thanks for your kind comments. The sound is something I've worked out from playing with my Digitech RP 500 pedal. I have a video on here explaining how I get the sound. I don't go into too much detail re; exact effect settings as I just mess with it until it sounds good and don't go into the technicalities. I just beef up the sound and add chorus. Watch the video and I'll attempt at some point to upload the settings I'm using. Hope this helps.

[@beastwishes]

This was class.

[@Squazzoo68]

That's my favorite Maiden song as well! I do an acoustic version of it for my acoustic solo act, but of course I don't play the solo. Well done! Also love the Smith Jackson. Want one for my collection. Rock on fellow Iron!

[@airbornedusty]

I really enjoyed your lesson here mate, great work

[@eamonmaiden]

airbornedusty Thanks dude!

[@tiredoflife12]

Thanks man, you simply making my day, thanks!!

[@creepyaxe]

Great lesson. Thanks a bunch

[@Howdy699]

Awesome playing as always!!!

[@eamonmaiden]

Thanks!

[@jingtroc23]

Yeah you're spot on with the solo, it is just that one section, it's cool though as i have not seen any vid on youtube or in person where someone nails it. this solo and sea of madness are my favorite solo's ever, both off the same album, both back to back (coincidence is all). example, no one hits the harmonic in the sea of madness solo?, it's there but people miss it?. Good solo by the way!.

[@ALDOPINEDAPINO]

By the way... for those who have doubts... here's a section where Adrian is just warming up along the fretboard... but happens to give insight on how to play that Wasted Years part, "pull off" part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn2QiZqMephorNU (Look for 2:30 on the play/time-bar)

[@502Imcomingthrough]

This vid has helped me with the bits I couldn't get quite right, cheers.The SDX is a great axe too. And yes, Somewhere In Time is the greatest album ever made \m/

[@eamonmaiden]

502Imcomingthrough Glad it helped. Thanks for your comment :)

[@moonmadness1]

Thanks for posting, great job. Regards from Holland.

[@eamonmaiden]

Cheers!

[@MrMalq]

Your a pleasure to listen to man :-)

[@stratznhatz]

Great stuff, thanks for that. Been trying to learn this and really struggling with it, especially the timing. Your vid has really helped.:-)

[@eamonmaiden]

Thanks a lot - glad to have helped! These comments mean a lot to me. Cheers!

[@eamonmaiden]

Thanks buddy. Keep subscribed. I'll get off my lazy ass one of these days and upload a new lesson.

[@ThiagoMaggio]

Hi Eamon! Excelent vídeo, great sounding and good method. Thanks to YOU I am almost doing it, best regards man. Thumbs Up and Up the irons

[@eamonmaiden]

Thiago Maggio Thanks for your comment Thiago! Glad to be able to help :) Really pleased that I can help out :)

[@nicolasmaugy4253]

Best album !

[@jingtroc23]

Hey man, i too pride myself on getting these things as close as possible. Constantine is right about getting too lost in detail and missing the essence of the phase, also effects can mask or add extra sounds (like delay), but sometimes to become a better guitar player we need to push the boundaries of our own skills and hit those intricate notes. More often a phase like that is rarely ever played exactly the same twice, but as an exercise perfecting that phase would add to your playing arsenal

[@jingtroc23]

If you listen to the actual solo (part figure 5 in your vid) adrian actually plays it a lot more complex then the simple version you play, the way you play it is the way everybody plays it on youtube (figure 5) as no can play it the correct way. in that part there are 2 bends which no ones does, and the opening to that part for the first 2 bars is an alternating pattern, it's not just 15-19p-17p-17p.

[@666madmetalhead]

Cybergenic I know it because I play it that way (with the bends), but is not something everybody is gonna notice on a live situation. You can play the solo the way you want as long as it sounds good. Adrian himself plays it differently from the studio version.

[@jingtroc23]

Musically you are correct and i agree with you, but about the section in this solo you are mistaken, there are 2 bends, one is slight and may be accidental, i doubt it though, the other is right near the end of this section and is a clear bend, also the patter does alternate at the beginning for two bars, then repeats the basic style that everyone plays, then there is a bend, about two more pull offs and then two picked notes which end it. I'm am only saying this so people can up there game.

[@luisrodz7511]

Great job

[@grawman67]

Hey, man. Really nice job! I was pleasantly surprised to find someone who's playing that solo so well! I play also and I was really impressed by how spot on you are. If you don't mind, I was wondering how you're getting your sound. Somewhere in Time is probably my favorite Iron Maiden record also, but I want to get a good replication of their synth sound on the record. I have an old Digitech pedal and was wondering what you're settings are to get the sound. Anyways, keep playing, man! Great job!

[@eamonmaiden]

Yes, with normal us it stay's in tune. I don't use it that often, only to accent certain parts. Not sure what a dive bomb session would do to it though, haha.

[@Draspora]

Very useful, the pull-off part is tricky ;)

[@johnsmyth3281]

And your are clearly also a fan of Boston, More than a feeling, Deep Purple Smoke on the water, tho my preference is Perfect Strangers.... and finally Black Sabbath , Paranoid!!!!

[@eamonmaiden]

Some great sounds Rob, but can be real temperamental. I use it a lot for my acoustic gigs, and I find that if it's not set exactly right it can be a nightmare.

[@MU6AFA]

what is it ?

[@26bond]

Love your playing Eamon:). What's your thoughts on the digitech matey ?

[@boeingcf6582]

Great tone , been trying to get that 'somewhere in time' synth tone, what are your effects/settings ?

[@johnsmyth3281]

All well and good, but, what's your guitar and amp setup/ and pedals, I have a/an Line 6 ,,50 w, with a POD 2.0 , it should be able to replicate anything, I also have several old Peaveys, which i particularly love, , immaterial, various other bits and bobs, notably a 200w 4 speaker, no, 4 driver cab Bugera cab, bought on a whim, rarely used by the last owner and only used by me once, via one of the Peaveys, It's pristine!!! Tremendous sound as I recall, sitting in my front bedroom now for many years unused, as I said, bought on a whim..

[@johnsmyth3281]

Ps I offer these to you cos I like your STYLE!!!!

[@andrewfernandez268]

Is it the neck or bridge position I'm so confused on which pickup position adrian is using in this song

[@tiredoflife12]

Sorry, I got a question, I am planning to buy that guitar, does it stay in tune when you use tremolo bar? Thanks.

[@MrMalq]

Doh sorry dude I should have east cost of Ireland :-) :-) :-) :-). I love the tone you get. I going mad to get this guitar. Thinking of getting it with the rosewood board. I have an ibanez that has the body made from basewood and I have to say I love it. Deffo think I want it now. I was going to get a Charvel so cal but I think think this guitar will be more of all rounder :-)

[@eamonmaiden]

malcolm quiney Haha, I'm familiar with that East coast too :p Yeah, it's a great guitar for the price. It's not my main one, but for the Maiden Smith sound it's ard to beat.

[@chopstickpizza]

Awesome! Are those the stock pickups? Great video!

[@eamonmaiden]

Thanks Jeff. Yes, those are the stock pickups.

[@MU6AFA]

is this a USA jackson adrian smith signature guitar ?

[@eamonmaiden]

No problem buddy.

[@LongDrivesAtNight5150]

Awesome, great job. Now get yourself to Newfoundland, the other Ireland...lol. Cheers.

[@eamonmaiden]

I got as far as Boston last week. Does that count? haha!

[@LongDrivesAtNight5150]

I guess Boston sort of counts...lol Lots of historical and family connections between Newfoundland and Boston. But really, get yourself to St.John's Newfoundland d'ere me son and get yourself screeched in like a real Newfie b'ye and have a swally or 2 in the George Street pubs....lol. Or you could just go for a drive around the Irish Loop. Cheers again, I love looking up people playing guitar on youtube and you're certainly one of the best.

[@MrMalq]

Good on ya Eamon from mal in on the east coast. Can you tell me is that the non US model of the guitar. I'm going mad to get one.

[@eamonmaiden]

malcolm quiney Hi Mal, and hello from Ireland! This is the European model - the cheaper one. It's great and a fraction of the cost. I've been to the East Coast btw - Boston, Philly, NYC and Washington. You based anywhere close?

[@eamonmaiden]

Thanks for your input guys. I've listened carefully to the isolated Wasted Years guitar track (which I heard after I made this video), and I think I'm pretty close. Jingtroc23, I do see your point and pride myself in getting these things as spot on as possible.

[@danawakes2001]

Thank you so much, but I have a question. at min 3:25, my pull off on F# (19th fret) on the B string sounds like shit, any ideas as to why? I know it's not my playing cause it sounds fine on any other fret. You think it has something to do with the neck on my guitar? Just to give you an idea it sounds like there's robotic voice LOL.

[@eamonmaiden]

+Daniel Suquitana Sounds like you need to lift the action on that string. This should be pretty easily done, depending on the type of bridge you have. Is it just the B, or does it affect the E as well? If so I'd life the whole bridge just slightly by inserting an allen key into and unscrewing slightly. You'll need to adjust your tuning once doing this, but it will fix the problem!

[@danawakes2001]

Eamon O'Neill Hey man, I appreciate it, that definitely fixed it! thank you so much!

[@eamonmaiden]

No problem! Glad that helped!!! :)

[@johnsmyth3281]

Do you not play Hallowed be thy name????

[@eamonmaiden]

I can play it, yes.

[@johnsmyth3281]

I'm in Belfast and have some great gear to sell, if you are interested, several Peavey amps, all over 100 watts, TWO 130's, one full blown, the other only has a fifty watt driver, (i got caught on that one, in my years before..) easily replaced cheaply, price negotiable, Iv'e a foot pedal, possibly two, tho don't count on it, I'll have to check, switching gear for one at least, A peavey part trans part valve, Deuce, twin drivers and original, high and low input, and two effects inputs, Part valve output, part Trans input, with an FB4 pedal for switching...a Bugerra 200 w speaker cab that is capable of 4, 8 and 16 ohm connections, I bought it on a whim and Bugera no longer produce it, yours for £500/ 600euro, I'll keep the Line 6 50watt amp and the POD effects for myself. if i ever take up the guitar again!!!!

[@holyspirithelper182]

FUCK YEAH!!!! The MAIDEN ENGLAND GUITAR!

[@eamonmaiden]

Hell Yeah, that's why I got it!

[@johnsmyth3281]

You remind me of Horslips for some reason....

[@muuminkaataja6966]

Put in 1,25

[@johnsmyth3281]

oops 9 years ago...

[@luccamassa3160]

Where i can buy this guitar?

[@eamonmaiden]

You can't, it's mine.

[@luccamassa3160]

Eamon O'Neill no yours,the same model

[@auggierobledo941]

tabs?

[@eamonmaiden]

Sorry Agustin, I don't so tabs.

[@aimfuldrifter]

Some licks aren't exact as Adrian plays them.

[@paulproductions9213]

WRONG ! THE ANTHOLOGY BOOK ON PDF I JUST DOWNLOADED HAS DIFFERENT CORDS.

[@eamonmaiden]

+Paul Arias This lesson is on the solo, not the chords. Incidentally, an anthology book is no more an authority on the correct way to play the song than I am.

[@paulproductions9213]

Well, have compared your solo with the original version that comes on the Official Iron Maiden Anthology Book, (what more authority than the head composers) and is different, sounds goods, but does not hits the notes composed in 1986.

[@eamonmaiden]

+Paul Arias Those books aren't written by the band, they're just someone's interpretation. I have the official Somewhere In Time tab book published in 1987 for example, and it is full of jaw-dropping mistakes. Only the composer writing the tab is guaranteed to get it 100% correct, and unfortunately this rarely takes place.

[@xonathan5019]

well i tried lol

[@dibucad1231]

Imposible to play in les paul!

[@javiervalenzuela5223]

You have serious problems with vibrato. Poor techique.. is not similar to the Adrian. Adrian Vibrato is more prolonged

[@eamonmaiden]

I hate do disagree with you friend, but almost 15,000 viewers have had no problems with either my technique or vibrato. I have recently been studying his vibrato and it's (brilliantly) unique - his own personal style.