TUTORIAL - Wasted Years: How to play Adrian's Guitar Solo

[@willman100]

Great tutorial and playing. The Signature USA Adrian Smith Jackson sounds incredible.

[@ryananthony4840]

It does!! What amp does Niko use? I bet that guitar would sound amazing through my classic Gallien Krueger 250 ML

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I actually don't use an amp for my videos... Everything is done with the Bias FX II plugin. Makes my life a lot easier. 😃

[@GuitarInstinct]

@@LicksOfTheBeast great video and bucket list for myself. Any chance of getting amp settings for bass, mids, treble and gain for this solo?

[@SomewhereInTheMaidenverse]

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a non-player that I find these types of videos especially fascinating, but everything about Adrian’s playing is just so interesting. He was amazing back then, and he’s still giving us gorgeous solos in his mid 60s. Great video!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It really makes me happy to hear that you do because I always try to add tidbits in these tutorials that might also appeal to those who just enjoy their music and like to know a little bit more about how and why things are played and written in a certain way. I enjoy that stuff myself even about songs I don't necessarily want to learn how to play! And I absolutely agree Adrian's playing is incredibly interesting and I really think it's because he approaches everything form a songwriter's POV and not as a "guitar player". 😊

[@Jonathan_Brose]

"Thereby making solos songs within a song". That's the main reason why my two favorites guitarists are Adrian and Tony Iommi. Great lesson, thanks!

[@straati]

Thanks for this great insight on this awesome solo. Somewhere in Time is a very special album that holds a very special place in my heart with it's futuristic theme and very melodic songs. Stranger in a strange Land is my favourite track on this album and it's a shame that the band never plays it live. Looking forward to more content from you. Your channel really deserves more attention!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much man! SIT remains my favourite Maiden album 🙂

[@nikolasthethief]

Best Adrian's solo and the best breakdown of the solo.

[@andycollins4936]

I've been learning this from the isolated track on KZbin and you're the only video I've found that does the solo 100% right. Even the rhythm people get wrong, it might be worth doing a similar video but honouring all the intricacies in Adrian's rhythm playing. Thanks for sharing!

[@mathias6423]

I mean this solo and how it ends, ringing out at the same time Bruce is coming in singing is so awesome there is not many solos like this one.

[@wahwahgaboor]

Never heard him play that part live though even on the origional tour.. it annoys me that he doesnt

[@mathias6423]

@@wahwahgaboor I have to agree! I think it is ok and even many times better when they switch stuff up and improvise a bit on songs live to keep it more fresh. Adrian often does this and most times for the better. However since I think the ending to this solo in Wasted Years is one of the best endings to a solo that I have heard and the song means a lot to me, I am like you saddened by the fact that he does not play it like it was recorded which is in my mind the most beautiful and hair-rising way 😥 That climax when the solo ends after a few beers with good friends on a Maiden live show, I always think It is a shame that it is missing =(

[@wahwahgaboor]

@@mathias6423 haha maybe no one has told him lol...

[@mathias6423]

@@wahwahgaboor I shouted to him live a few times but he could not hear me ;P He is hard to get a hold of hehe.

[@DBZ666Dante]

This solo was the reason i decided to pick up the guitar 16 years ago after watching the official video once at my best friends house who had bought a guitar a couple of months prior to that. Best decision i ever made.

[@1dannn]

This is the most perfect lesson I have watched so far, thank you very much for sharing and explainig all these details. Hugs from Brazil!

[@gmingus6515]

Somewhere in time is my favourite too, you have to talk about Alexander the Great that to me is one of the best metal song ever.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's definitely in the plans 😁

[@DeckardRJ]

Adrian is awesome!! Great soloist and song writer!!

[@alessandrobottelli7980]

Licks, you are the Master !!!! Perfect perfect solo !!!!! I love this song and this solo !!!!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I think I'm still far from being a master of anything 😂 but I'm really glad you enjoyed this video!! It really is a great song and solo 🤘🤘

[@alessandrobottelli7980]

@@LicksOfTheBeast great! Great !

[@darrenc8776]

Brilliant thanks for this. I've played like 3 like this for years but I always thought I played it wrong

[@humanbeing2420]

I learned the solo from a different video (it's older and has more views), but listening to the solo slowed down to half speed I was confident that the Lick 3 section wasn't quite right. I think you have it correct here. Bravo and thanks.

[@markgraham9038]

Why do i feel like its Christmas every time you release a tutorial??. Simply the Best. thank you!! love the new Guitar.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I am very grateful that you feel that way about my videos. Thank you!! 😊

[@omanuelsa]

Hey man, i play bass and i just want to say that your channel offers a precious and unique perspective and depth to this bigger than life band. I listen to maiden since 1995 and your videos gives so many things to see and think about! Thank you so much!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey, thank you for the very generous words.🙏🙏 Much much appreciated!!

[@peterk4626]

Great to see an obvious fan taking apart Maidens guitar work and giving it the attention it deserves on both technique and musicality. Only just stumbled across your channel but I'll definitely be watching all the videos and going back over the tracks, adding in all the bits I'd missed or was doing slightly wrong. Cheers, great channel.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks a whole bunch man! I am glad you stumbled upon my channel and even more that you chose to hang out for a while 🙂 Cheers! 🤘

[@CC-qb9sm]

Exquisite lesson! Really like your explanations and the backstory was quite interesting as well. The new guitar is looking and sounding great!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thanks so much!! 🙏 I always wonder if my explanations make sense when I'm making these videos so I really appreciate the feedback 😊

[@paulwells6131]

Brilliant stuff! Thanks for the tutorial, been struggling to get this right for years!!!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It's a tricky one... Deceptively simple. Glad this video could help!

[@lducati]

Amazing! You made a cirurgic analisys. I always have been struggled with the last one "pull off and hammer on" lick. Thanks for the tip! Best!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I think we all struggled with that lick! 😆 Happy to hear you enjoyed the tutorial! Cheers 🤘🤘

[@stanleysound5767]

You opened my ears for bits of the solo that I always had a hard time hearing. Thank you !!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's amazing to hear! Thank you 🙏🤘

[@Dougs-Ear-Hole-Entertainment]

I usually focus on Dave but bleeding over to Adrian's style a bit more as of late. Thank you for the great content here.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you for watching and for your kind support! 🤜🤛

[@stevejohnston8543]

Well, thanks a lot for the great breakdown especially for explaining the third lick. Those that are saying it was wrong, Id sure like to know how they think it should be played. That sounded pretty good to me. I think I’ve said this before, but no one pays better homage to Iron Maiden and their music than you do. Your grasp of their music and ability to explain its nuances, which I’m sure you can do with any other music, is unparalleled. Another player that should have way more subscribers. The only thing that might help would be tabs, not so much for myself, but I think a lot of other people might benefit from them and are used to them. Keep up the great work. Again, if Iron Maiden are not aware of your channel, they should be and I’m sure they’d be proud . Up the Irons 🇨🇦🎸

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the very kind and encouraging words!! 😊 The thing with tabs is really just time... I have thought about making them available through a Patreon kinda thing but even with that, I just don't have additional time right now to sit down and tab that stuff out properly. Maybe in the future it could be something I'll consider doing because I do get that request a fair bit 🙂 Cheers!

[@OsLapsosBandaRock]

The song that changed my life, 34 years ago! I still remember that day! Up the Irons!🤘🤩🤘

[@alexandermanzanares3879]

Love the back story you gave on the song

[@CoffeeMatt10]

Adrian revealed that recently when he was promoting his book. I was shocked, my favourite Maiden song almost never was.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Glad to hear it!!

[@ridepol]

Wonderful tutorial from a out of this world solo by Adrian. Congratulations! One little request: you could play the entire solo at the end at normal speed just to enjoy the blending of all these licks in the whole.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks! Glad you liked it 😊 There is a link to the cover of the full solo in the description and at the end of this video. Cheers 🤜🤛

[@ridefreely5379]

Yesss, that was amazing! Enjoyed it 😍

[@musashimiamoto9792]

man that guitar sounds awesome! it just sings

[@tillyvick14]

You’ve outdone yourself yet again! Brilliant tutorial and you’ve captured the SIT guitar sound perfectly. Even though I don’t play well enough to even attempt these solos I really love your explanation of what is happening musically and from a music theory perspective. I hope you’ll do many more (CSIT and Different World pretty please!). Congratulations on the growing subscriber base!

[@gustavofernandes7816]

Hey man! Huge fan from Brazil. It would be nice to see the lesson from Adrian's live solos, and how they've changed over the years! Keep the awesome work!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you so much! I actually have two videos like that on the channel. 🙂 Here are the links if you'd like to check them out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4K1kJx6lpmXj7csi=7fHhIhL7x4O1pN5g kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGSVeYR6bpWLeM0si=wGrxbwif7iSeYvlR

[@lucasguimaraes5771]

Amazing dude!! Thank you for this material!!

[@davidchelazzi8773]

Great tutorial for a masterpiece solo of a masterpiece song..of a masterpiece album! The jackson is sick

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! And yes it really is a masterpiece 🤘

[@suetruett3812]

I just love this song. Been working on the solo and Thanks Nico for talking/showing the nuance's of Adrian's solo. It sounds right on and now I'll get it all put together. That was after knocking out that opening riff. Whew....

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It's a very challenging solo to really play correctly and it's a great study in how to truly solo for the song... Definitely one that keeps on giving 🙂

[@all4fitness789]

Very good teaching! Sometimes tutorials are not precission and when someone wants to learn professional, he's teaching bad and not correctly.

[@tonymontana3467]

Great instructions on an amazingly epic song. UP THE IRONS!!!

[@CharliesMaidenCovers]

i was actually waiting for this

[@chipsunday5563]

Man how I wait for those solos on the Parchment

[@Harry_van]

Esse solo me leva de volta aos meus 15 anos. Sem compromissos e cheio de sonhos

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Eu também, amigo!

[@tomdurkin5149]

Gotta be his most iconic solo hasn't it? It was the first thing I wanted to learn when I got the SDX to be as Adrian as possible 😂 I got it down fairly decent but with some discrepancies. I'm fairly confident that, going back and revisiting it now with your advice and breakdown here I can finally get this one down correctly. Great content again man and your SIT tone is superb!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

His work on that whole album is out of this world! This one is all about the small details like how you pick it and how you move from one lick to the next to make it flow. Once you've got those things in place it'll flow nicely 🙂 Cheers!

[@tomdurkin5149]

@@LicksOfTheBeast I think SIT is where Adrian really stepped up and cemented his presence in the band as a key member. Being that all the ideas Bruce had at the time were rejected Adrian really stepped up didn't he? Every song he has a credit for is top class. I loved his input both as a player and a songwriting contributor from both SIT and SSOASS probably more so than at any other point in Maiden's career. Those repeating licks, the one at the beginning and the one that's very similar but higher up the neck toward the end, how you explained how they begin with up then down picking will really help me I think. I was playing the right notes but didn't have that fluidity and I think that's because I was beginning with a down pick. I believe I begin all my solos and phrases with a down pick just out of habit. I need to change that for sure to add more variety to my playing. Keep doing what you're doing man, it's even making me reevaluate the way I approach playing in general and wanting to make necessary improvements to improve as a player. Whether it's intentional or not, you're teaching some really useful information to help players improve just as players in general even outside of learning Maiden material. Thanks for the time you take to put all of this together for us all 👍

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

@@tomdurkin5149 it's definitely intentional as I wanted this channel to have the kind of helpful info I would have liked to have access to back in the day. I'm always really really glad to hear that something in one of my videos unlocked something or helped overcome a hurdle. Cheers! 🤘

[@tomdurkin5149]

@@LicksOfTheBeast just keep up the awesome work 👍

[@johnosullivan7467]

This album truly is “Adrian’s album”. I think the song writing for this album help set up the sound and vibe of Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Yeah that's fair to say. 😊 I think it's the album that established Adrian as an important songwriter and introduced some real diversity throughout the album.

[@jamesboydriver]

100000%

[@dermotrickerby2588]

Excellent breakdown, thank you!

[@massis1sp]

Great stuff man, thanks much for sharing, encouraged me to give It a try, I'll work on that with persistence. Up the Irons 🤘🏻🎸

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That is absolutely awesome!!! Studying a solo like this can only make you better. Good luck and have fun! 🤜🤛

[@tactical_ninjas_8748]

Awesome lesson, I love this format where you play individual licks slowly. I really hate it when other people just play the solo at full speed, slap some poorly timed tabs on the screen and call it a lesson

[@Shazeen82]

That G when im first tried the solo im added that note becouse it wasn't in the tab. Thank you what a relief! Im not deaf! 😀

[@israeljimenez5816]

Great video, long time he has been in the special category of metal guitarist for a reason my ears could only notice. U managed to explain his style very well great job

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@jrg770]

It is interesting, or not, that the intro to somewhere in time is essentially part of his lead bit on losfer words, on the previous album.

[@everlymurdoc2327]

AND Janick's intro for Shadows Of The Valley 🤣🤣🤣

[@jrg770]

@@everlymurdoc2327 Yes it is similar. Also Bruce does a shout out to Sea Of Madness in that tune lol

[@_CodmGameplay_]

thank you so much. your analysis of the solo was superb!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thanks! Glad to know you enjoyed it 😃

[@sinisapetrovic4707]

Brilliant solo indeed.

[@irishRocker1]

Only one I have seen actually get it right so far. Have not seen anybody, even those who get close, have not got the g on the 15th twice per repeat. Only time I saw someone play it that way and when i played the isolated track at half speed, its spot on, i can hear that high g twice.

[@LeventeBagoly]

Thank you so much for your detailed comments

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you for watching!

[@Kreatika66]

I'm keeping struggling with this solo... Excellent job man!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I struggled with it for quite some time too... Keep working on it lick by lick and it'll just keep getting better 😃🤘

[@suetruett3812]

I've noticed in learning some of Maiden's songs/solo's that Adrian is a master at open string usage. There are several spots that Janick will use open strings too. I love this solo from Waster Years. The whole ain't bad either. lol.

[@TMilan97]

Hi Nico! Your videos are awesome! Could you share a video about Alexander the Great too? In the middle of the song there is a short lick after the longer interlude in major keys and before the shorter eastern bridge. I think that lick is in whole tone scale but I'm not sure and I didn't find a good tab for that part. It would be great if You could explain that lick. Thanks!

[@elguitarristadelsemaforo7353]

Que hermoso suena esa jackson

[@maximilianodelrio]

Great tutorial, your tone is incredible!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much 🙏 I'm really glad you liked it!

[@joecasserole9077]

Awesome lesson!

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

outstanding content Licks Of The Beast. I broke the thumbs up on your video. Keep up the first-rate work.

[@jeffersononetwo]

Excellent study of this masterpiece!

[@priyoprotim15]

You make some of the best MAIDEN videos on KZbin, Thanks a bunch for that! Up the Irons \m/

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks to you for the encouragement and support!!

[@giovanidacosta6364]

Another great lesson!!!!!

[@jazzyhalf]

Great lesson! If you had tabs on the bottom, this lesson would be a perfect 10 in my opinion

[@z4p0tek]

Amazing insight and great tutorial. Subbed!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you so much 🙏 Glad you found the channel and that it was helpful!

[@miguelanxomuradolo2638]

Thank you again a lot for your complete analysis, reaching always not only technical and compositional aspects, but interpretational too :-D Btw, you play and sound amazingly! 8-0

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! I try to explain how a solo is structured so that when someone learns it they're also learning some compositional techniques they can use in their own solos. Glad to see it's interesting 😊 Thanks again 🤜🤛

[@miguelanxomuradolo2638]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Yes, I really like how you explain the solos in their harmonical and compositional structures, remembering they are not only nice melody lines or successions of parts of scales or licks without nothing else. I specially appreciate the way you explain music on the classic terms of listener psychology, concerning the mix of what he can expect in relation with he had listened yet, and how to surprise his expectations (without lose the harmonic sense...). Thanks a lot! it's a pleasure to attend at you (hum... and sorry for my poor English). Best greetings.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

@@miguelanxomuradolo2638 Brother, if my Spanish were half as good as your English I would be VERY happy! 😆

[@miguelanxomuradolo2638]

@@LicksOfTheBeast 🤭 BTW, I understand VERY well your English (and much better activating subtitles, I recognise 😜).

[@moonmadness1]

Thanks for posting

[@Nestor57k]

Very good explanation, it helps me. And good introduction.

[@davlo20]

Adrian approve this lesson

[@nelsonencina3994]

In the end part of the last repeat -on second solo- I'm there Is a fast AND short double legatto before de descending scale movement, I guess.

[@souhailbenameur2404]

I wanted to thank you because your guitar lesson Helped me a lot to finished the learning Of this difficult solo especially the lick who start at 3:34 minutes before the end of the solo and I just put video on KZbin🤘🍺

[@acitvaras]

Awesome! Thanks!!

[@ChemicalManUSA]

H's solo on this song has been my #1 of his since 1986! And now, after hearing his work on "Darkest Hour," it might be #2. I dunno; two different styles and 35 years of living (for me and H) might have them tied for first place.

[@davel7791]

I think Adrian's solo on The Writing on the Wall is his best ever, or least in the top 2 or 3 with Wasted Years and maybe Stranger in a Strange Land.

[@stihlsavvy666]

This was a wicked breakdon!

[@AP-gc5ss]

On lick 5, the final note is picked twice, you can hear that on the isolated adrian guitar

[@deusestnonest]

Love your lesson videos!!

[@miguelanxomuradolo2638]

For me, SIT album makes a pair with Seventh Son... in both of them Iron Maiden was looking for a new more complex sound, adapted to 80's electronics possibilities, after the culmination of their previous sound and composing way with Powerslave and it's great tour (as also did over that years other HM bands, like JP in Turbo album or Scorpions, for example). If I have to choose, my favourite is Seventh Son... but, from my point of view, «Can I play with madness?» as commercial hit and first single doesn't correspond the atmosphere of this conceptual album because it sounds very poppy -exception for the heavy solo-, while «Wasted years» is a good commercial single hit, but a masterpiece perfectly adjusted inside SIT project too.

[@paulnavarro-yl1bq]

I will NAIL this🔥🔥

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

YES!! 🤜🤛

[@al6377]

Awesome lesson, I subscribed!!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much!

[@RJW14]

I notice some of his style in my own lead playing now that you analyze it, a quick flurry of notes, sometimes an entire bar, followed by just one or 2 notes that take up the next bar, I use that to remember my ear what tonality I'm playing, either by playing the 5 or the 3rd before returning to the root.

[@jonlegacie]

I was one of those that was playing it the lazy way 😂 well not anymore! Thanks Nico !

[@Soapofdead]

Fire!!! Thx ! ! !

[@1976oswald]

Awesome !!!

[@brianrust6139]

Wow! Yup! I was defintely playing it wrong. However, now I know how to play it correctly! Thanks. Im new to your channel but Ive already chrcked out thr Die with Your Boots on lesson anf it was great. Subscribing now friend!👍

[@gergelyzanyi7752]

Very Very cool lesson master like Always, If you can, get a Gallien Krueger 250ML or 250RL, the 2000CPL also played a big role in writing the album, they did it with the tour and they worked on it on the Sevent'h son of the Sevent'h son album. Big Hug God bless you Friend.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂 I have been looking for a 250 but haven't yet found one in good condition at the right price.

[@kili1985]

@@LicksOfTheBeast they are poppig up quite often on eBay. I already have 2 250MLs but still lack the skill to bring them to their full potential. But luckily there is your channel. Learned quite a lot from you, thank you Nico!

[@amandaflynn5835]

PLAY THAT SONG 🎵 😌 👌 🎶 ON OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES

[@nitishpadhye4529]

Amazing as always 🤘 Can you do a similar video on his El Dorado, Sea of Madness & Writing on the wall solos?

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Tutorial for Sea of Madness is already there. It was my very first video 😃

[@parkesy82]

So good Nico, thanks for such an in-depth breakdown. I’ve just been revisiting the tracks intro riff cos I think I’ve been playing it wrong all this time, are the open e’s palm muted?

[@jeflebarbare3392]

Thanks! up the irons

[@LMC3-p9t]

I know you’ve done at least flying high again from Randy Rhoads , I would love to see the passion, skill and attention to detail in some more songs like O I don’t a live suicide solution from tribute or Mr Crowley from after hours . I know those are big asks but those are big solos , and I can play them but probably half incorrectly

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Oh there will definitely be more Randy stuff on my other channel! youtube.com/@nicosguitarworld?si=QoE3attjzyoXFeIw

[@slemmens]

Awesome job! I might be mistaken but I think there is a sneaky bend Adrian plays towards the end of Lick 3?

[@waynecaissie9846]

Keep up the good work!

[@ilredeldeserto]

Era da tantissimo tempo che aspettavo questo video! Mi rendo conto che praticamente lo suonavo completamente sbagliato ahahah ...ma esiste una tablatura corretta di questo solo?! ahaha Sarebbe stato bello fare anche la melodia - quella dove viene variato di poco il tema del brano - che poi introduce la parte in legato del lick1

[@finrodgc3650]

learning this solo will be a great challenge for me And a question, how would I play the last lick if my guitar only has 21 frets? I saw you play the 22

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Despite it's relative simplicity, it's not an easy solo to play but it's a fun one and it's very rewarding when you can finally do it all the way through. On a 21 fret guitar, just play a 1 1/2 step bend on the 21st fret, then play the 20th fret and then a half step bend on the 21st. 🙂

[@guyelgat5893]

Don't you think it is common in their solos to repeat the same theme later in the solo but on a higher scale? I notice that a lot.

[@theophany1770]

Great lesson! Really appreciate this, new sub!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much! Cheers 🤜🤛

[@elguitarristadelsemaforo7353]

Muy bueno

[@kotdrauf]

Awesome as always. Nico, i hear some small variations between 03:32 and 03:33 (Original video). A small bend and another note. Its not a 100% repetetive lick in the end.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

You mean like I mention at 6:28 ? 😆😆 Glad you liked the tutorial. Cheers!

[@kotdrauf]

@@LicksOfTheBeast lol xD ok. Did not hear that due to the kids playing in front of me xD

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

@@kotdrauf 😆😆😆 🤘🤘🤘

[@MatteoAn93]

🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@DeckardRJ]

Thanks and congrats for the good video!!

[@jackdragster7474]

Thank you!

[@stellong4963]

This is difficult solo if you try to play it exactly like adrian in recording

[@malawigw]

idea for content: react to iron maiden covers. Like you think they nailed the feel of the song, did they do another interpretation, did they play according to the album version or did they play the riffs and licks differently