2 Minutes To Midnight - Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden’s “2 Minutes to Midnight” is one of the most iconic tracks from their 1984 album Powerslave. This song showcases the dual-guitar brilliance of Adrian Smith and Dave Murray, featuring powerful riffs, harmonised leads, and masterful solos. In this note-for-note guitar lesson, you’ll learn the essential techniques used throughout the song, helping you to develop your speed, accuracy, and expressive playing. Andy James breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Guitarists Behind the Song

Adrian Smith and Dave Murray are renowned for their melodic yet aggressive playing styles. Their signature dual guitar harmonies and fast-paced solos have influenced generations of metal and rock guitarists. Smith’s technical precision and blues-infused approach complement Murray’s fluid, legato-heavy phrasing. Together, they create an intricate and dynamic guitar sound that defines Iron Maiden’s classic era.

Breakdown of Techniques Covered in the Lesson

Galloping Rhythms

One of the key elements of Iron Maiden’s sound is the galloping rhythm—a triplet-based picking technique that adds drive and energy to the riffs. Learning this technique improves picking accuracy and helps develop the right-hand endurance needed for fast metal playing.

Power Chords

The song’s main riff relies heavily on power chords, a staple of hard rock and metal. Mastering power chords strengthens your fretboard hand dexterity and enhances your ability to play rhythm guitar with precision.

Alternate Picking

Speed and consistency are crucial in alternate picking, especially in the rapid-fire riffs and solos found in this track. Developing this skill leads to cleaner and faster picking, making complex passages much easier to play.

Palm Muting

Adding palm muting to riffs creates a tight, percussive sound, adding dynamic contrast to the song’s rhythm parts. Practicing this technique enhances control and articulation, making your playing sound more professional.

Dual Guitar Harmonies

The song features Maiden’s signature dual guitar harmonies, where both guitars play lead lines that complement each other. This technique improves ear training and helps guitarists understand how melodies interact within a harmony.

String Bending

Expressive and precise string bending is a key component of the solos in this song. Learning to control bends will improve pitch accuracy and add emotion to your lead playing.

Vibrato

Adding vibrato to sustained notes enhances expression and sustain. A well-controlled vibrato technique gives your playing a more professional and dynamic feel.

Hammer-Ons & Pull-Offs

These legato techniques appear in fast runs throughout the solos. Mastering them enables you to play smooth and fluid passages without excessive picking, making your lead work sound more natural and effortless.

Unison Bends

Iron Maiden often incorporates unison bends, creating a powerful and harmonised lead sound. Practicing this technique enhances intonation and bending accuracy.

Arpeggios

The lead sections feature arpeggio-based runs, which help in understanding chord structures across the fretboard and improve finger coordination.

Pick Slides

For added aggression, the song features pick slides, creating a gritty and dramatic effect that enhances the overall attack of the guitar tone.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Galloping Rhythms
• Power Chords
• Alternate Picking
• Palm Muting
• Dual Guitar Harmonies
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Unison Bends
• Arpeggios
• Pick Slides

This Licklibrary guitar lesson will help you master the techniques that define Iron Maiden’s sound while improving your speed, control, and musicality. Whether you're a beginner looking to refine your metal chops or an experienced player aiming to perfect this classic track, this lesson provides everything you need to play “2 Minutes to Midnight” with confidence and precision.