War Pigs – Black Sabbath

Take a deep dive into the heavy, doom-laden tones of one of metal’s most iconic tracks with our note-for-note guitar lesson for “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath. This in-depth tutorial from LickLibrary breaks down every riff, lick, and solo with precision, giving guitarists of all levels a chance to master the techniques that helped shape the heavy metal genre. From slow, sinister chord progressions to explosive lead lines, this lesson captures the essence of Tony Iommi’s unique playing style and provides the perfect platform for building your technique and musical understanding. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and Guitarist

“War Pigs,” released on Black Sabbath’s landmark 1970 album Paranoid, is a masterclass in dark, expressive guitar work. The track is built on monumental riffs and a slow-burning groove that unfolds into powerful solos and dynamic shifts.

At the heart of the song is Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath’s legendary guitarist. Widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of heavy metal guitar, Iommi's innovative approach—shaped by his use of altered tunings and distinctive riffing style—set the standard for generations of metal guitarists. Despite losing the tips of two fingers on his fretting hand in an industrial accident, Iommi developed a unique, fluid style full of sustain, bends, and inventive use of power chords. His influence is seen everywhere in modern metal and hard rock guitar playing.

Lesson Breakdown

Our guitar lesson for “War Pigs” explores a wide range of techniques, all of which are essential for building a solid foundation in rock and metal guitar. Let’s take a look at the key areas of focus in this lesson:

Power Chords and Riff Development

The backbone of “War Pigs” lies in its powerful, doom-laden riffs, built around power chords. These are simple yet incredibly effective, giving the song its heavy, aggressive tone. Mastering power chords helps players develop rhythm precision and is foundational to nearly all rock and metal genres.

String Bending and Vibrato

Iommi’s solos showcase expressive use of string bending and vibrato. These techniques bring phrasing to life, adding emotion and character to each note. Developing control over bends and vibrato enhances your ability to “sing” through the guitar, making your solos more vocal and expressive.

Slides and Hammer-Ons/Pull-Offs

Many of the transitions in the riffs and solos use slides to connect notes smoothly. Combined with hammer-ons and pull-offs, these techniques allow for fluid, legato phrasing that is key to Iommi’s melodic style. These are essential skills for developing speed, fluency, and finesse on the fretboard.

Palm Muting and Dynamic Control

The verse sections and breaks feature subtle use of palm-muting to add rhythmic tightness and control. This technique gives the player the ability to switch between aggressive and restrained textures, essential for creating contrast and drama in your playing.

Syncopated Rhythms

The timing and feel of “War Pigs” are just as important as the notes themselves. Learning the syncopated rhythms in the main riff and verses helps build a better internal sense of groove and timing, improving overall rhythm guitar skills and tightness in ensemble playing.

Open String Riffs

Some of the riffs make effective use of open-string riffs, using the low E to great effect in building tension and heaviness. This technique is a staple of heavy metal guitar and teaches players how to maximise tonal impact with minimal movement.

Why Learn This Song?

“War Pigs” is more than just a metal classic—it’s a comprehensive lesson in building tension, using dynamics, and combining rhythm and lead techniques effectively. Learning this song provides guitarists with:

• Improved finger strength and dexterity through frequent bending, sliding, and hammer-on/pull-off patterns.
• Better rhythmic awareness thanks to its shifting time feels and syncopated groove.
• Increased tonal control via dynamics, muting, and expressive vibrato.
• Confidence in lead playing, as you’ll learn to navigate solos that are melodic and powerful without being overly technical.

This is a must-learn for any aspiring rock or metal guitarist who wants to build a foundation on the riffs that started it all.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Palm-Muting
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Open-String Riffs

Would you like a similar breakdown for another Black Sabbath track or a different artist entirely?