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Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

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Key E minor
Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Famous Riffs guitar lesson video
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Paranoid album cover
Paranoid
1970 2:48
Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Music
Black Sabbath Heavy Metal 1970 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Paranoid - Famous Riffs

"Paranoid" by Black Sabbath is a landmark heavy metal track released in 1970 on the band's second studio album of the same name. It reached number 4 on the UK singles chart and is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal songs ever recorded. For electric guitar players, it is an essential study in stripped-down, high-impact riffing, Tony Iommi's main riff is deceptively simple yet foundational to the entire genre of heavy metal.

  • "Paranoid" was Black Sabbath's first song to chart in both the UK and the US simultaneously.
  • The track was originally released as a single with "The Wizard" as the B-side in 1970.
  • Tony Iommi's main riff uses a minimal note count, making it highly accessible for beginner and intermediate electric guitarists.

How to Play Paranoid - Famous Riffs

Key: E minor · Tempo: 163 BPM

Loop the hardest passage and creep the speed up from around 70 percent until it holds at 163 BPM.

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