Practice Studio

Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name Dave Murray's - Guitar Solo Tab

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Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key B minor
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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.

Capo Advisor 0 B minor · Original key

About Hallowed Be Thy Name Dave Murray's


Few songs in Heavy Metal put a lead guitarist through their paces quite like Dave Murray's solo in "Hallowed Be Thy Name" by Iron Maiden. Written in B minor, the track sits in a key that suits the dark, galloping feel of the rhythm work, and Murray's lead lines demand smooth legato technique alongside precise picked runs. The main challenge is staying clean and controlled at full speed: the phrasing moves quickly and any tension in your picking hand will collapse the tone. Start by isolating the trickiest runs in the Practice Toolbar, loop them slowed down until each note speaks evenly, then gradually work the tempo back up. Pay close attention to the vibrato at the end of held notes, which is where Murray's phrasing really comes through. Getting the rhythm foundation right matters too, since the galloping eighth-note pattern underneath the solo defines the pulse the lead lines sit on top of.

  • Dave Murray's solo relies heavily on legato phrasing and fast picked runs in B minor, so clean left-hand technique is the core challenge to address.
  • The galloping rhythm pattern underneath the solo section is a great exercise for right-hand picking consistency and maintaining a steady pulse.
  • Looping Murray's fastest runs slowed down in the Practice Toolbar is the most effective way to lock in the fingering before adding speed.

How to Play Hallowed Be Thy Name Dave Murray's

Key: B minor · Tempo: 136 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 136 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.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)