Gangland by Iron Maiden – Guitar Lesson
Unleash the full force of classic British heavy metal with our note-for-note guitar lesson of “Gangland” by Iron Maiden. Featured on the iconic The Number of the Beast album, “Gangland” is a high-energy, riff-driven track that captures the raw, aggressive spirit of Maiden’s early 80s sound. With its blistering rhythms, intricate guitar interplay, and melodic solos, this song is a goldmine for guitarists looking to improve their metal playing.
In this detailed LickLibrary lesson, you’ll learn every part of the song with precision, focusing on key techniques such as power chords, palm muting, string bending, and vibrato. Whether you're strengthening your rhythm chops or refining your expressive lead work, this lesson gives you the skills to nail one of Iron Maiden’s most underrated and technically exciting tracks. This lesson is taught by Danny Gill.
Technique Focus
Power Chords
“Gangland” makes extensive use of power chords throughout its rhythm parts. These chords provide the weight and punch that define the track’s aggressive tone and tight arrangement, especially during the intro and verse riffs.
Learning benefit: Practicing power chords builds your strength and stamina in rhythm playing. They’re essential for delivering punchy, high-gain parts with accuracy and aggression, forming the backbone of rock and metal guitar.
Palm Muting
Tight, controlled palm muting is key to nailing the percussive chug of the verses and breakdowns. This technique adds clarity and rhythmic precision to fast-paced riffs, especially when combined with galloping rhythms and syncopated accents.
Learning benefit: Developing palm muting sharpens your ability to control dynamics and articulation in rhythm playing. It’s a must-have skill for locking in with drums and bass in any tight, high-energy metal song.
String Bending
While the rhythm work in Gangland is fierce, the solos offer a chance to explore expressive string bending. Both Murray and Smith use this technique to hit emotionally charged notes and give the solo lines a vocal, singing quality.
Learning benefit: Working on string bending enhances pitch accuracy, finger strength, and phrasing control—allowing you to bring more life and personality to your lead guitar playing.
Vibrato
Vibrato is a crucial part of Dave Murray’s lead guitar vocabulary, and you’ll hear it in the bends and sustained notes in the solo sections of Gangland. His smooth, controlled vibrato adds expression and keeps long notes feeling alive.
Learning benefit: Mastering vibrato adds depth and emotion to your playing. It’s one of the key elements that separates robotic soloing from soulful, expressive phrasing.
Why Learn This Song?
Gangland is a fast-paced, riff-driven track that offers guitarists a valuable workout in rhythm precision, timing, and expressive lead playing. From the relentless palm-muted riffs to soaring bends and melodic phrasing, every section of this track gives you a new opportunity to refine your skills.
Learning this song note-for-note is not only a great technical challenge—it’s also an immersive way to study Iron Maiden’s distinct twin-guitar style. Whether you’re building your live set or just want to sharpen your metal chops, this lesson gives you the tools to perform with accuracy, energy, and attitude.
About the Song and the Guitarists
“Gangland” features the twin-guitar attack of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, two of the most influential players in the history of metal. Known for their tight rhythm work, harmonized lead lines, and melodic sensibility, their contributions to Iron Maiden’s sound helped define the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
Dave Murray’s fluid, legato-heavy soloing style contrasts perfectly with Adrian Smith’s more blues-influenced, riff-oriented approach. Together, they created a dynamic and versatile guitar section that has influenced generations of players. Learning Gangland not only builds technical skill but gives deep insight into one of the most iconic guitar duos in metal history.
What You’ll Learn in This Lesson
Our note-for-note breakdown of Gangland walks you through the track’s relentless rhythm parts, syncopated transitions, and expressive lead moments. You’ll master the fast-paced intro riff, tight verse rhythms, and the melodic solo section—learning to balance precision with feel throughout.
This lesson is ideal for intermediate to advanced players who want to improve timing, articulation, and control, while also developing a solid foundation in classic heavy metal guitar style.
Techniques Used in This Lesson
Master the power and finesse of Iron Maiden’s guitar style with our Gangland lesson and bring your metal playing to the next level with LickLibrary.
Other Iron Maiden Guitar Lessons
View All
Related Guitar Lessons
