EasyHard Rock
Iron Man
Black Sabbath
- Starts on
- A string, 2nd fret
- This excerpt
- Main riff
- Strings used
- A
- Written in
- B (easy reach)
The tab
Tab is short for tablature: a picture of the strings. Numbers are frets. 0 means play the string open.
Computer notes — not the original recording.
The stomp
A
2nd thickest
2
The hammers
A
2nd thickest
5
5
5
wait
The walk down
A
2nd thickest
7
5
3
2
Rhythm in words
Duuuuuh. Da da da (wait). Da da da da.
How to play this
- 1Hold fret 2 on A for a whole bar. That long B is the heavy footstep.
- 2Then three 5s and a rest.
- 3Walk 7, 5, 3, 2. Slow and mean — do not rush the last note.
Practice slowly
Original key is the same riff up at fret 7 on Low E. Same shape, bigger sound. Start with Hear the notes at full speed or slower, then copy on the guitar. If a note buzzes, press a little closer to the fret wire — not in the middle of the space.
This arrangement is a simplified educational excerpt for learning. Playback is a computer playing the tab notes, not the original recording. It is not a full transcription and is not affiliated with Black Sabbath.