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Bruce Dickinson - Tears Of The Dragon - Guitar Solo Tab

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100%

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BPM
Key E minor
Bruce Dickinson - Tears Of The Dragon guitar tab video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Balls to Picasso (2001 Remaster) album cover
Balls to Picasso (2001 Remaster)
1994 6:24
Listen on Spotify
Bruce Dickinson Hard Rock 1994 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Tears Of The Dragon

At 92 BPM in E minor, "Tears Of The Dragon" sits in that deliberate, brooding tempo range where every note needs weight behind it. The song builds from a clean, fingerpicked-style intro into a full-band swell, so the opening passage is the first real test: keeping the dynamics soft and controlled before the gain kicks in. E Standard tuning means nothing unusual to set up, but the key of E minor lets the open low E string ring as a natural anchor, and using it well is part of getting the feel right. The chord work in the heavier sections rewards a firm pick attack and attention to muting, since a muddy low end will undercut the drama the song depends on. Bruce Dickinson wrote this as one of the more reflective pieces in his solo output, and that mood has to come through in how you play it, not just how loud. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the intro transition slowed down until the shift from clean to driven feels natural rather than lurched. This is a rewarding piece to work through in Hard Rock style, with its mix of restraint and power giving you a lot to think about dynamically.

  • The song opens with a clean, arpeggiated guitar passage, so controlling your pick or fingerstyle attack quietly is essential before the heavier sections arrive.
  • E Standard tuning and E minor key let you lean on open-string resonance, particularly the low E, to reinforce the song's brooding, sustained feel.
  • The contrast between the delicate intro and the driven chorus sections means your volume knob or picking dynamics will get as much of a workout as your fretting hand.

How to Play Tears Of The Dragon

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 92 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 92 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Roy Z's primary choice for Bruce's solo work, the Stratocaster's bright single-coils cut through dense arrangements while maintaining clarity even under heavy amp saturation. This guitar became synonymous with Bruce's solo identity, allowing articulate lead lines and defined rhythm parts that contrast sharply with Iron Maiden's heavier Gibson tradition.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

Bruce used Telecasters alongside Stratocasters during his solo career for their punchy, articulate single-coil tone that thrived when pushed through vintage Marshall heads. The Tele's bright character complemented cleaner passages and lead work where note definition was paramount.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Adrian Smith's contribution to Bruce's earlier solo recordings, the Les Paul Standard added warmth and body to heavier, rhythm-focused material. Its humbucker pickups provided the thicker tone needed to balance the Strat's brightness in layered studio arrangements.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul Custom's enhanced sustain and warm humbucker character appeared on later Bruce recordings where heavier tones were required. This guitar provided harmonic richness when blended with Strat tracks in the studio, creating depth without sacrificing clarity.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The JCM800's natural power tube saturation at moderate-to-high volumes became Bruce's foundation for maintaining note clarity through thick, compressed tones. Run through Celestion-loaded cabinets, this amp delivered the warm British character essential to his solo sound while allowing finger technique and dynamics to remain audible.

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