Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith discussed his playing style and approach to guitar solos in a recent interview with Loudwire.
“I’m not a shredder by any means. I’m not really technical, but I think I’ve got a fair musical sense,” Smith said. “I try to make my solos musical because I think melody is kind of timeless, isn’t it?”
“When I first joined Maiden, I’d never really done much recording before, but I tended to work out my solos in advance,” he continued. “I don’t do that so much these days, although I still have a few preconceived ideas going into it.”
“If I could play like Yngwie Malmsteen, I probably wouldn’t shut up,” Smith added. “It’s like athletes — some guys can run all day up and down a pitch, and some guys just stay in one position. Everyone has their specialty.”
Smith’s humble approach to guitar playing masks his significant influence on heavy metal guitar work. Research from JamPlay revealed his distinctive style combines blues-influenced licks with modal playing and arpeggios. This combination created Iron Maiden’s signature dual-guitar sound alongside Dave Murray.
His guitar tones have shown remarkable evolution throughout his Iron Maiden career. He initially preferred a mid-humped tone in the band’s early days. Later albums like ‘Brave New World’ showcase his transition to a brighter, more mid-rangey sound that became his sonic signature.
The guitarist now promotes ‘Black Light/White Noise,’ his latest collaboration with Richie Kotzen. This project allows Smith to explore new aspects of his playing while retaining his melodic sensibilities.
His approach to improvisation has transformed over time. He previously planned his solos meticulously. Now he embraces spontaneity while maintaining his characteristic melodic focus.
This careful balance between technical skill and melodic expression has inspired many metal guitarists. His work demonstrates that creating memorable guitar solos often requires restraint rather than excessive complexity.
