Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Practice Studio

Iron Maiden - Still Life Dave Murray's - Guitar Solo Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Iron Maiden - Still Life Dave Murray's guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
Steph Le Gratteux Top Contributor
YouTube: 63Ksubs 17Kviews
Creator Page →
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

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.
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal

About Still Life Dave Murray's

Dave Murray's guitar work on "Still Life" is a clinic in melodic heavy metal lead playing, built around smooth, singing lead lines that weave through a mid-paced, atmospheric arrangement. The song sits in a hypnotic groove that rewards a guitarist who can control their vibrato and sustain, keeping notes alive without over-bending. Murray's phrasing leans on legato runs and pentatonic-based lines delivered with a clean, fluid touch rather than pure aggression, so getting that smoothness under your fingers is the real challenge here. If the lead passages feel quick in context, use the Practice Toolbar to loop them slowed down and focus on matching the relaxed, singing quality of each note before bringing the tempo back up. Iron Maiden built this track around a recurring guitar figure that doubles as both atmosphere and hook, so learning that motif carefully pays off throughout the whole song. For the rhythm parts, keep your picking tight and even to lock in with the bass and drums. "Still Life" sits squarely in the Heavy Metal tradition of guitar-led dynamics, where restraint is just as important as power.

  • The signature guitar figure is melodic and mid-paced, making controlled vibrato and sustain more important than speed or aggression.
  • Murray's lead lines rely heavily on legato phrasing and pentatonic runs, so smooth hammer-ons and pull-offs are worth isolating in practice.
  • Rhythm guitar parts require consistent alternate picking to lock tightly with the bass, keeping the hypnotic groove stable throughout.

How to Play Still Life Dave Murray's

Tempo: 124 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 124 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.

Recommended for You

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)