Tony Iommi’s guitar solo in Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” is a rite of passage for many guitarists. As a guitar instructor in Vancouver, it’s one of my go-to solos for teaching intermediate students. Why? Because it’s brilliantly constructed around two accessible E minor pentatonic scale shapes. This makes it fantastic for understanding solo construction without getting bogged down in complex theory.
While the original tempo clocks in at a brisk 163 BPM, don’t let that intimidate you. The beauty of learning this solo lies in the journey, not just the destination. Even at slower speeds, “Paranoid” offers invaluable lessons in phrasing, bending, and pentatonic scale mastery.
To help my students tackle this iconic solo, I’ve created a tempo-graduated jam track, available on YouTube. This track progressively increases in speed, starting at a comfortable 135 BPM and gradually reaching the original 163 BPM, allowing for incremental practice. For those who prefer visual learning, a complete video lesson is also available online, walking you through each lick. And of course, the full guitar tab for the “Paranoid” solo is downloadable at the end of this lesson.
Remember, mastering a solo is a marathon, not a sprint. Before attempting to play along with the jam track, ensure you’re comfortable with the solo at a slower tempo. Even 135 BPM can feel quick when you’re first learning.
Unpacking the Pentatonic Shapes in “Paranoid”
As mentioned earlier, the “Paranoid” solo predominantly utilizes two minor pentatonic shapes, making it surprisingly approachable. The solo begins in what is often referred to as the 7th position of the E minor pentatonic scale. It kicks off with a powerful bend on the root note, E, and then navigates within this shape before smoothly sliding down two frets to the shape immediately below. This descending movement adds a dynamic shift in the solo’s melodic contour.
Around bar five, the solo begins its ascent, returning to the initial 7th position shape. This back-and-forth movement between the two pentatonic shapes is a key characteristic of Iommi’s playing in “Paranoid,” creating a sense of both familiarity and exploration within the minor pentatonic framework.
By bar 8, Iommi executes a slide up into the “standard” E minor pentatonic shape, commonly learned in the 12th position. This is the pentatonic box shape that many guitarists learn first, making this section of the solo feel instantly recognizable and comfortable under the fingers. This shift to the 12th position shape provides a change in tonal color and allows for further exploration of the fretboard.
The “Paranoid” solo does contain some rapid passages, demanding careful practice. The most effective approach is to break it down into smaller sections. First, focus on learning the notes accurately, and then concentrate on mastering the rhythm of each phrase. A crucial practice technique is to internalize the rhythm – be able to hear the lick in your head before attempting to play it. Once the sound of the lick is firmly imprinted in your mind, playing along becomes a matter of translating that internal rhythm to your instrument.
To aid your learning process, you can download the complete guitar tab for the “Paranoid” solo in PDF format using the link provided below. Alternatively, you can view a snippet of the tab directly below to get a feel for the notation. Remember to utilize the accompanying video lesson on YouTube, which includes the tempo-graduated jam track, to gradually increase your speed and ultimately nail this iconic solo.
