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Iron Maiden - Charlotte The Harlot - Guitar Solo Tab

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Key E minor
Iron Maiden - Charlotte The Harlot guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
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Iron Maiden (2015 Remaster) album cover
Iron Maiden (2015 Remaster)
1980 4:13
Listen on Spotify
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 1980 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Charlotte The Harlot

From the 1980 debut album by Iron Maiden, "Charlotte The Harlot" is a straight-ahead Heavy Metal track that rewards guitarists who want a clean introduction to the band's early twin-guitar style. Sitting in E minor and clocking in at 120 BPM in standard E tuning, the song is approachable in terms of tempo, but it asks for consistent alternate picking and tight rhythm-hand control throughout. The main riff is built on driving power chords with single-note runs woven in, so you will want your left-hand muting sorted before the transitions feel smooth. The lead work features melodic phrasing rooted in the E minor pentatonic and natural minor scales, with bends and vibrato that need to sound deliberate rather than rushed. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop any riff-to-lead transition slowed down until the pick attack feels even at full speed. Getting the hard-picking rhythm of the verse riff locked in is the real core of learning this one well.

  • The song sits in E minor with standard E tuning, making it a practical entry point for players already comfortable with open-position minor scale shapes.
  • The verse riff relies on driving power chords combined with single-note runs, so clean left-hand muting between the two is the main technical hurdle.
  • Lead phrasing draws from the E minor pentatonic and natural minor scales, with controlled bends and vibrato being the key technique to develop for an accurate tone.

How to Play Charlotte The Harlot

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 132 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 132 BPM to build it up to tempo.

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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