Seventh Son of a Seventh Son – Iron Maiden

Master the Epic Guitar Work of Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden’s Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is an iconic track from the band’s 1988 concept album of the same name. This progressive metal masterpiece is a perfect study for guitarists looking to elevate their technical and expressive playing. With its intricate harmonised guitar parts, galloping rhythms, and melodic leads, this song showcases some of the most advanced and exciting guitar techniques in metal.

At LickLibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson for Seventh Son of a Seventh Son meticulously breaks down the song’s key riffs, solos, and harmonies. Whether you’re looking to improve your picking speed, dynamic control, or phrasing, this lesson will guide you through each essential technique used by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers. Andy James breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitarists Behind the Song

The triple guitar attack of Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers is what makes Iron Maiden’s sound so distinct and powerful. Murray’s fluid, legato-based lead lines, Smith’s melodic phrasing, and Gers' energetic playing all contribute to the song’s unique character. The band's signature dual-guitar harmonies and galloping rhythms have been a defining feature of their music, influencing generations of metal guitarists.

Key Techniques Covered in This Lesson

Galloping Rhythms

A staple of Iron Maiden’s sound, galloping rhythms provide the driving force behind many of their songs. These fast, rhythmic triplet patterns give Seventh Son of a Seventh Son its energetic and propulsive feel. Learning this technique will enhance your right-hand endurance and picking accuracy, making it easier to play other metal and thrash riffs.

Dual Guitar Harmonies

One of the hallmarks of Iron Maiden’s music is their dual-guitar harmonies, where two guitars play complementary lead lines. This lesson teaches you how to execute these harmonised passages, helping you develop a better understanding of melodic phrasing and interval-based playing.

Legato Playing

Dave Murray’s solos often feature smooth legato runs using hammer-ons and pull-offs. Mastering this technique will allow you to play fast, fluid lead lines with less picking effort, improving your overall speed and control.

Arpeggios and Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

The song’s clean sections feature arpeggiated chord progressions, adding a haunting, atmospheric quality to the music. Learning these passages will strengthen your left-hand coordination and finger independence, essential for playing complex chord-based melodies.

String Bending and Vibrato

Iron Maiden’s solos are known for their expressive bends and controlled vibrato. This lesson covers string bending, pre-bends, and bluesy bends, showing you how to achieve that singing lead guitar tone. Improving your vibrato will give your playing more emotion and sustain.

Tremolo Picking

Some of the fast lead sections in Seventh Son of a Seventh Son utilise tremolo picking, where a single note is rapidly picked to create a continuous stream of sound. This technique is crucial for building speed and precision in your picking hand.

Two-Handed Tapping

The song features two-handed tapping to create rapid-fire melodic sequences that would be difficult to achieve with standard picking. Learning this technique will help you expand your soloing vocabulary and play fast, smooth passages with ease.

Palm Muting and Power Chords

The song’s heavier rhythm sections rely on palm muting to create a tight, percussive sound. Mastering this technique will improve your ability to control dynamics and articulation in rock and metal riffs. Additionally, learning power chords is essential for achieving that classic Iron Maiden rhythm tone.

Slides and Trills

Slides are used in both the rhythm and lead sections to transition smoothly between notes, adding a fluid and connected feel to phrases. Trills, which involve rapid alternation between two notes, are a great way to add excitement and tension to your solos.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Galloping Rhythms
• Dual Guitar Harmonies
• Legato
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• String Bending
• Pre-Bends
• Bluesy Bends
• Vibrato
• Tremolo Picking
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Slides
• Trills

By mastering these techniques through our Seventh Son of a Seventh Son lesson, you'll gain deeper insight into Iron Maiden’s progressive song structures, intricate harmonies, and expressive lead work. Whether you’re a fan of the band or looking to enhance your overall guitar skills, this lesson provides the perfect challenge for any aspiring rock and metal guitarist!