Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Practice Studio

Iron Maiden - The Longest Day Dave Murray - 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 - The Longest Day Dave Murray guitar tab video
Steph Le Gratteux
Steph Le Gratteux Top Contributor
YouTube: 63Ksubs 4.4Kviews
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 The Longest Day Dave Murray

Few guitarists in Iron Maiden have shaped the band's twin-guitar attack more consistently than Dave Murray, and "The Longest Day" gives you a direct look at his approach within Heavy Metal. Running at 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the track sits at a tempo that feels manageable until you factor in the sustained picking intensity and the melodic phrasing Murray weaves through the heavier riffing. The signature challenge here is keeping your pick attack even and your fretting hand relaxed under pressure, especially through any galloping rhythm passages that Maiden made their calling card. Murray's lead work rewards close attention: his vibrato and note choices lean melodic rather than purely aggressive, so spend time listening before you start playing. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the trickiest transition points slowed down so your hands can learn the shapes cleanly before you bring the tempo back up. Getting the rhythm parts locked in first will make the lead sections feel far more natural when you reach them.

  • At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the track demands consistent pick-hand stamina, particularly through any galloping rhythm figures.
  • Murray's lead phrasing is notably melodic, so focus on smooth vibrato and clean bends rather than pure speed.
  • Isolating the rhythm riffs before tackling the lead sections is a practical way to build the muscle memory this song requires.

How to Play The Longest Day Dave Murray

Tuning: E Standard · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 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)