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Iron Maiden - Purgatory - Guitar Cover

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Key D minor
Iron Maiden - Purgatory guitar cover video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Killers (2015 Remaster) album cover
Killers (2015 Remaster)
1981 3:21
Listen on Spotify
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 1981 D minor
Capo Advisor 0 D minor · Original key

About Purgatory

Few tracks from 1981 pack as much into under three minutes as "Purgatory." Iron Maiden built the song around a driving, galloping rhythm guitar feel and a sharp, angular lead melody that sits comfortably in D minor. The riff work is tightly interlocked between the two guitar parts, so getting the picking hand to stay locked in with the bass is the first real hurdle. The lead lines move fast and demand clean alternate picking, especially through the transitions into and out of the main theme. Getting the fingering right before adding speed is the sensible approach, and the Practice Toolbar is exactly the right place to loop those phrases slowed down until the shifts are automatic. The rhythm part may look straightforward on paper, but controlling the attack and keeping the energy consistent across all the chord stabs takes more practice than most players expect.

  • The twin-guitar arrangement means even the rhythm part has melodic detail, so learning both parts gives you a much cleaner picture of how the riff fits together.
  • The main theme sits in D minor, which keeps the lead lines in a familiar position on the neck but demands precise picking to stay articulate at performance tempo.
  • Isolate the fast lead transitions using the Practice Toolbar, looping them slowed down, before attempting to run them at full speed.

How to Play Purgatory

Key: D minor · Tempo: 170 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

Loop the hardest passage and creep the speed up from around 70 percent until it holds at 170 BPM.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Iron Maiden's signature choice for heavy metal, the Strat's bright single-coils in neck and middle positions deliver the glassy, articulate tone that defines their melodic passages. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith pair bridge humbuckers with this platform to preserve pick dynamics and note definition rather than drowning in compressed gain.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The backbone of Maiden's iconic sound, the JCM800's moderate gain structure lets the power tubes sing without preamp saturation, preserving the punch and harmonic clarity that makes their riffs cut through a mix. Murray and Smith set gain moderately to maintain definition while pushing the amp into natural tube breakup.

Seymour Duncan JB
Pickup

Seymour Duncan JB

Adrian Smith's weapon of choice, the JB's balanced output drives Marshall amps into singing sustain without over-compressing dynamics, allowing his lead lines to breathe with clarity and snap. This moderate-output humbucker maintains the attack and articulation essential to Maiden's punchy, defined metal tone.

DiMarzio Super Distortion
Pickup

DiMarzio Super Distortion

Dave Murray's bridge pickup at 13k output strikes the perfect balance, hitting the Marshall hard enough for thick sustain yet retaining enough dynamics for expressive bending and harmonic control. It's hot enough to sing but not so overwound that it flattens the natural Strat character underneath.

Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive
Pedal

Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive

Murray and Smith use this clean boost to push their Marshalls harder during solos, adding aggression without relying on pedal distortion, keeping the tube amp saturation as the true tone source. The SD-1 preserves their natural playing dynamics while giving leads extra presence and cut.

ISP Decimator Noise Gate
Pedal

ISP Decimator Noise Gate

Smith occasionally employs this noise gate to manage feedback and hum from his high-output rig without sacrificing sustain, staying true to Maiden's philosophy of minimal pedal intervention. It's a practical tool for live performance that doesn't color the natural tube amp tone.

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