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Iron Maiden - The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner - Guitar Solo Tab

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Key E minor
Iron Maiden - The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner guitar tab video
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Gain6
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Somewhere in Time (2015 Remaster) album cover
Somewhere in Time (2015 Remaster)
1986 6:33
Listen on Spotify
Iron Maiden Heavy Metal 1986 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner

From the 1986 album "Somewhere in Time," this Heavy Metal track from Iron Maiden is a rewarding challenge for any guitarist willing to put in the work. Running at 130 BPM in E minor and standard tuning, the song sits in comfortable territory technically, but the twin-guitar arrangements demand real precision if you want the parts to sit cleanly together. The main riff is driven by a galloping, palm-muted low-E feel that is central to Maiden's style, and locking that rhythm pattern tightly against the pulse is where most players struggle first. On top of that, the lead guitar passages require smooth position shifts up the neck and consistent picking control to keep the melodic lines singing. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop any of the lead sections slowed down, especially the transitions between rhythm and lead playing, so your hands can learn the movements before you add speed. Getting the dynamics right, knowing when to dig in and when to lighten up, is what separates a convincing run-through from a mechanical one.

  • The song is built on palm-muted galloping riffs rooted on low E, a core Maiden technique that rewards slow, deliberate practice before full-speed runs.
  • Twin-guitar harmony lines appear throughout, so learning both parts separately will give you a much deeper understanding of how the arrangement works.
  • At 130 BPM in E Standard, the tempo is demanding enough that using the Practice Toolbar to slow down the busier picking passages is strongly recommended.

How to Play The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E minor · Tempo: 180 BPM

Loop the hardest passage and creep the speed up from around 70 percent until it holds at 180 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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