Black Sabbath - N.I.B. - Guitar Tab

The Ultimate Collection

1970 6:04

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About N.I.B.

Few early heavy metal tracks announce themselves quite like "N.I.B.", with Geezer Butler's wah-drenched bass intro handing the spotlight straight to Tony Iommi before the main riff even kicks in. That central riff, built around E minor, is deceptively simple in shape but demands a firm, controlled picking hand to lock in with the drums and get that thick, heavy feel. The chord work leans on power chords and open-string resonance, so your left-hand muting is just as important as hitting the right notes. Pay close attention to the rhythmic phrasing: Iommi plays slightly behind the beat in places, and rushing it will flatten the whole groove. Black Sabbath recorded this in 1970, and the raw, low-tuned heaviness they were chasing is a big part of what makes the riff land so hard. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the main riff slowed down until the pick attack and timing feel locked in before bringing it up to speed.

• The main riff centres on E minor and relies heavily on power chords with open-string resonance, making left-hand muting critical to keeping the tone clean.
• Tony Iommi's guitar part sits slightly behind the beat, so practising with a metronome slowly is key to nailing the correct feel.
• The song opens with a bass solo, but when the guitar enters, the riff is a great study in minimal movement and maximum heaviness through right-hand control.