Powerslave (Dave Murray)

Iron Maiden

Quick Reference

This handy chart tells you what every dot in the ActionTab system means. If you don't understand some of them don't worry - we have video lessons that explain them in the members section.

Fretboard & Capo

The fretboard is the area of your guitar where you play

Some songs require a capo. A capo is just a clamp which you can place on any fret. This effectively moves

the 'nut' of the guitar, allowing you to play 'open' chords higher up the fretboard. In ActionTab the capo is represented by the black bar on the left.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Space, K	Pause/Play
Home	Rewind
End	Go to End
	Step Forward
	Step Backward
M	Mute/Unmute
F	Fullscreen
H	Toggle Help
S	Save Settings
R	Restore Defaults
O	Toggle Loop
D	Toggle Delay Start
X	Toggle Light Strings
W	Flip Fretboard
C	Fretboard Color
T	Tablature
N	Normal Speed Window
B	Bookmark Position
,	Set Loop Section Start
.	Set Loop Section End
/	Clear Loop Section

Strumming Hand Dots

Fingerpick

Fingertap

Downstroke

Upstroke (Palm muted)

Pinch Harmonic

Color Codes

Applies to both hands

Thumb

1st (index) Finger

2nd Finger

3rd (ring) Finger

4th (little) Finger

Fretboard Hand Dots

Hold finger here

Bend note down

Bend note up

Hammer On

Pull Off

Slide dot this way

Prepare note

Mute note/string

Harmonic

Vibrato

Open string note (no finger)

Song Notes

This Iron Maiden song is the title track from the Powerslave album. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith are the two guitarists, and here we see David Murray's guitar part (which is slightly easier for the main song riffs). The main song riffs are played the same way by both guitarists, except that Adrian Smith uses octave chords to make little melodies while Dave does the backing chords. Also, both guitarists do their own solos. The solos in this song are some of the best of classic Maiden. To see Adrian Smith's guitar - Verse Riff - Awesome riff, and uses typical Maiden rhythm picking (their trademark galloping sound by using triplets). It always repeats after this little Egyptian style lick.

You need to alternate between open chord stabs and tight palm muting on the A string. Go slowly and get the picking right, only then work at building speed. It's not as hard as it seems, but you need to work at developing the speed.

Pre-Chorus Riff - Very easy, just cycle through these powerchords. Meanwhile Adrian Smith uses octave chords to provide a little melody.

Chorus Riff - Starts with 3 powerchords, then play this riff. Repeat. Again, it's tricky, so you need to go slowly at first and then build speed last.

Dave Solo 1 - While Adrian Smith plays a clean B minor chord in the background Dave does this treasure of a solo. It's a personal favourite. He uses the B natural minor scale throughout.

Solo Backing - Adrian takes over on lead guitar to play his solo, meanwhile Dave switches to this simple backing riff.

Harmony - In this interlude Dave and Adrian play this harmony. Typical Iron Maiden stuff here i.e. twin lead.

Dave Solo 2 - Dave does this second solo (last solo in the song). Again using the B natural minor scale (most classic Maiden songs use the natural minor scale for lead / riffs). End the solo and join in with Adrian again with these descending powerchords. Then back to the main verse riffs.

Outro - The song ends by playing this shortened version of the Chorus (so Bruce has time to repeat his lines about being a slave to the power of death). Then end on the powerchords shown here. Meanwhile Adrian does more octave chord melodies on his guitar.

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