Black Sabbath - War Pigs - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

Paranoid

1970 2:48

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About War Pigs - Famous Riffs

Few riffs in rock history carry as much weight, literally, as the opening of "War Pigs." Tony Iommi's down-tuned, slow-grinding guitar figure sets the tone immediately, built on a tritone-heavy E minor feel that gives the whole track its menacing quality. The main riff is deceptively approachable for intermediate players, but getting it to sound right demands tight palm muting, deliberate pick attack, and a willingness to let each note breathe at the slow tempo. The transitions between riff sections are where most players stumble, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop those changeovers slowed down until the movement feels automatic. Black Sabbath also shifts into a faster, more driving section mid-song, which means your right hand needs to stay relaxed enough to switch feel on the fly. Pay close attention to Iommi's vibrato on the held notes, that slow, wide wobble is as much a part of the riff as the notes themselves.

• The main riff relies heavily on tritone intervals and sustained palm-muted notes, so a solid palm-muting technique is essential before tackling it.
• Tony Iommi played with the tips of his fingers removed, which pushed him toward lighter strings and a slightly lower tuning to ease tension.
• The song shifts between a slow, stomping riff and a faster driving section, so practise both feels separately before connecting them at full tempo.