Black Sabbath – Iron Man Riff

Step into the heavy, thunderous world of early metal with Licklibrary’s note-for-note guitar lesson on "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath. This classic riff is one of the most iconic in rock and metal history. With its monstrous tone, slow, deliberate rhythm, and dark mood, “Iron Man” captures everything that defines the early metal genre — and our lesson breaks it down so you can play it just like the original.

This lesson offers more than just learning a famous riff — it focuses on developing essential guitar techniques that form the backbone of heavy rock and metal playing. Whether you're a beginner looking to build foundational skills or an intermediate player wanting to tighten your rhythm chops, this riff is a goldmine of musical and technical value. Danny Gill breaks down this classic riff in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Riff

Released on Black Sabbath’s Paranoid album in 1970, “Iron Man” features one of Tony Iommi’s most memorable guitar riffs. The power and simplicity of this riff are what make it such an enduring favourite. Built around crushing power chords, syncopated rhythms, and expressive vibrato, this riff is not only a blast to play but is an essential piece of the rock guitar vocabulary.

Our Licklibrary guitar lesson covers every detail — from finger placement and tone shaping to rhythmic feel and articulation. By mastering this riff, students will gain both technical precision and stylistic authenticity.

Techniques Covered in the Lesson

Power Chords

At the core of “Iron Man” are driving power chords, also known as fifth chords. These chords are the bread and butter of rock and metal guitar, offering a thick, aggressive tone perfect for distorted settings. Learning power chords helps guitarists build left-hand strength, control over muting, and awareness of root notes across the fretboard.

Palm Muting

This riff incorporates controlled palm muting to enhance its rhythmic feel and dynamics. Palm muting allows players to articulate percussive, chunky textures essential for metal rhythm playing. It’s a crucial technique for keeping heavy riffs tight and defined.

Vibrato

One of Tony Iommi’s trademarks is his use of wide, expressive vibrato. In “Iron Man,” vibrato adds emotion and sustain to sustained notes, helping each phrase come alive. Vibrato technique develops finger strength and enhances musical phrasing.

Slides

This lesson also includes slides, which connect different positions smoothly and add a vocal-like quality to lead and rhythm parts alike. Slides help guitarists navigate the fretboard with fluidity and build better hand coordination.

String Bending

While “Iron Man” isn’t filled with flashy lead work, it does use subtle string bending to give its phrases more character. Bending is vital for expressive rock and blues playing and helps with finger control and pitch accuracy.

Why These Techniques Matter

Mastering the techniques in this lesson gives players the ability to approach many other rock and metal songs with confidence. From stadium riffs to complex solos, these foundational tools are used across countless styles and genres. They strengthen rhythm playing, improve tone control, and foster a more expressive approach to guitar.

More importantly, these techniques are taught in a musical context — not just as isolated exercises. This ensures that students not only understand the mechanics but also the musical application of each technique.

About the Guitarist – Tony Iommi

Tony Iommi, the legendary guitarist behind Black Sabbath, is widely considered the godfather of heavy metal guitar. Despite losing the tips of two fingers in an industrial accident, Iommi developed a unique playing style that emphasised heavy riffs, minor keys, and haunting melodies. His innovation laid the groundwork for generations of metal and hard rock musicians.

His influence can be heard in bands ranging from Metallica to Soundgarden, and his riffs — especially “Iron Man” — are some of the most recognisable in rock history. Learning a Tony Iommi riff is not just learning a song — it's studying the roots of an entire genre.

What You’ll Gain from This Lesson

• Mastering one of the most iconic riffs in metal history
• Building rock-solid rhythm guitar fundamentals
• Learning expressive phrasing techniques like vibrato and bending
• Developing dynamic control through muting and chord accents
• Gaining insight into the style of a foundational metal guitarist

Our expert instructors at Licklibrary break down every phrase, technique, and nuance to ensure you don’t just play the notes — you play them with the right feel and energy.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Vibrato
• Slides
• String Bending