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 favorite solos to teach. Why? Because it’s brilliantly constructed using primarily two accessible E minor pentatonic scale patterns. This makes it an ideal study piece for intermediate guitar students looking to understand solo construction without getting bogged down in overly 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 dissecting its phrases and gradually building up speed. Even practicing it at a slower pace offers immense value in understanding Iommi’s phrasing and pentatonic vocabulary.
To aid my students in mastering this iconic solo, I’ve created a tempo-graduated jam track. This practice tool starts at a comfortable 135 BPM and incrementally increases with each repetition, gently pushing you towards the original speed. For those who prefer visual learning, a complete video lesson is also available, walking you through each lick and technique. You can find both resources linked below. And of course, the complete Black Sabbath Guitar Tabs for “Paranoid” are available for download at the end of this lesson, allowing you to follow along note-for-note.
Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Focus on accuracy and feel at a slower tempo before attempting to play along with the jam track, as even 135 BPM can be challenging initially.
Decoding the Pentatonic Shapes in “Paranoid”
As mentioned, Tony Iommi masterfully crafts the “Paranoid” solo using just two E minor pentatonic shapes. The solo commences in the 7th position of the E minor pentatonic scale. It opens with a powerful bend on the root note, E, and then gracefully navigates within this shape before smoothly sliding down two frets to the shape just below it. This creates a dynamic movement across the fretboard while staying grounded in familiar pentatonic territory. Around bar five, the solo strategically returns to the initial 7th position shape, providing a sense of melodic contour and familiarity.
Approaching bar eight, Iommi executes a slide upwards into what many guitarists consider the “standard” E minor pentatonic shape, located in the 12th position. This is often the first pentatonic shape that aspiring rock guitarists learn, making it instantly recognizable and accessible. The solo does contain some rapid passages, so the key is to break it down into manageable sections. Begin by learning the notes accurately, then focus on internalizing the rhythm. Try to hear the rhythm of each lick in your mind – don’t rely on guesswork. Once you can clearly hear the phrasing internally, playing along becomes a matter of translating that internal rhythm to your fingers.
You can access the complete guitar tab for Paranoid by Black Sabbath in PDF format via the download link provided below, or view a simplified tab directly on this page. For an effective practice strategy, utilize the tempo-graduated video lesson on YouTube to gradually increase your speed and precision. And for a complete breakdown of the solo, check out the full video lesson which offers detailed instruction and insights.
