TUTORIAL - Wasted Years: How to play Adrian's Guitar Solo

A lick-by-lick tutorial and analysis for Adrian Smith's solo from Wasted Years as it was originally played on Iron Maiden's 1986 album, Somewhere In Time.

Gear used in this video:

Guitar: Jackson USA Signature Adrian Smith San Dimas
Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 10-46
Picks: Dunlop Jazz III XL Ultex
Plugin: Bias FX 2
DAW: Reaper Audio
Soundcard: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

[SomewhereInTheMaidenverse]

I don’t know if it’s because I’m a non-player that I find these types of videos especially fascinating, but everything about Adrian’s playing is just so interesting. He was amazing back then, and he’s still giving us gorgeous solos in his mid 60s.
Great video!

[willman]

Great tutorial and playing. The Signature USA Adrian Smith Jackson sounds incredible.

[Jonathan_Brose]

"Thereby making solos songs within a song". That's the main reason why my two favorites guitarists are Adrian and Tony Iommi. Great lesson, thanks!

[straati]

Thanks for this great insight on this awesome solo. Somewhere in Time is a very special album that holds a very special place in my heart with it's futuristic theme and very melodic songs. Stranger in a strange Land is my favourite track on this album and it's a shame that the band never plays it live.

Looking forward to more content from you. Your channel really deserves more attention!

[nikolasthethief]

Best Adrian's solo and the best breakdown of the solo.

[andycollins]

I've been learning this from the isolated track on YouTube and you're the only video I've found that does the solo 100% right. Even the rhythm people get wrong, it might be worth doing a similar video but honouring all the intricacies in Adrian's rhythm playing. Thanks for sharing!

[dannn]

This is the most perfect lesson I have watched so far, thank you very much for sharing and explainig all these details. Hugs from Brazil!

[DBZDante]

This solo was the reason i decided to pick up the guitar 16 years ago after watching the official video once at my best friends house who had bought a guitar a couple of months prior to that. Best decision i ever made.

[DeckardRJ]

Adrian is awesome!! Great soloist and song writer!!

[mathias]

I mean this solo and how it ends, ringing out at the same time Bruce is coming in singing is so awesome there is not many solos like this one.

[humanbeing]

I learned the solo from a different video (it's older and has more views), but listening to the solo slowed down to half speed I was confident that the Lick 3 section wasn't quite right. I think you have it correct here. Bravo and thanks.

[darrenc]

Brilliant thanks for this. I've played like 3 like this for years but I always thought I played it wrong

[gmingus]

Somewhere in time is my favourite too, you have to talk about Alexander the Great that to me is one of the best metal song ever.

[omanuelsa]

Hey man, i play bass and i just want to say that your channel offers a precious and unique perspective and depth to this bigger than life band. I listen to maiden since 1995 and your videos gives so many things to see and think about! Thank you so much!

[markgraham]

Why do i feel like its Christmas every time you release a tutorial??. Simply the Best. thank you!! love the new Guitar.

[OsLapsosBandaRock]

The song that changed my life, 34 years ago! I still remember that day! Up the Irons!🤘🤩🤘

[peterk]

Great to see an obvious fan taking apart Maidens guitar work and giving it the attention it deserves on both technique and musicality. Only just stumbled across your channel but I'll definitely be watching all the videos and going back over the tracks, adding in all the bits I'd missed or was doing slightly wrong. Cheers, great channel.

[stevejohnston]

Well, thanks a lot for the great breakdown especially for explaining the third lick. Those that are saying it was wrong, Id sure like to know how they think it should be played. That sounded pretty good to me. I think I’ve said this before, but no one pays better homage to Iron Maiden and their music than you do. Your grasp of their music and ability to explain its nuances, which I’m sure you can do with any other music, is unparalleled. Another player that should have way more subscribers. The only thing that might help would be tabs, not so much for myself, but I think a lot of other people might benefit from them and are used to them. Keep up the great work. Again, if Iron Maiden are not aware of your channel, they should be and I’m sure they’d be proud . Up the Irons 🇨🇦🎸

[stanleysound]

You opened my ears for bits of the solo that I always had a hard time hearing. Thank you !!

[tillyvick]

You’ve outdone yourself yet again! Brilliant tutorial and you’ve captured the SIT guitar sound perfectly. Even though I don’t play well enough to even attempt these solos I really love your explanation of what is happening musically and from a music theory perspective. I hope you’ll do many more (CSIT and Different World pretty please!). Congratulations on the growing subscriber base!