“Paranoid” by Black Sabbath is the first single off the band’s 1970 album, Paranoid. The band recorded it just four months after their self-named debut album was released. Containing some of Black Sabbath’s most iconic songs, including “Iron Man” and “War Pigs,” Paranoid went on to be a key influence within the heavy metal genre, taking the top spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.”
About the Song
The title track was originally written as a last-minute album filler. It became Black Sabbath’s breakthrough single, charting on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart. And Tony Iommi’s guitar has become one of the most recognizable riffs in rock history.
Bassist Geezer Butler told Guitar World magazine, “A lot of the Paranoid album was written around the time of our first album, Black Sabbath. We recorded the whole thing in about two or three days, live in the studio. The song ‘Paranoid’ was written as an afterthought. We basically needed a 3-minute filler for the album, and Tony came up with the riff. I quickly did the lyrics, and Ozzy [Osbourne] was reading them as he was singing.”
It has been hailed by outlets such as Rolling Stone and Spin Magazine as one of the greatest songs of all time.
"Iommi launches an immediate assault with his instantly recognizable guitar riff, composed entirely of power chords, which continues throughout the tune."
Breaking It Down
“Paranoid” needs no introduction. In fact, the song’s intro is just eight seconds long. Iommi launches an immediate assault with his instantly recognizable guitar riff, composed entirely of power chords, which continues throughout the tune. The relatively clean tone contrasts with Black Sabbath’s typical heavily distorted sound. Meanwhile, Bill Ward’s driving rhythm locks closely with the late Ozzy’s detached, punctuated vocal delivery, adding to the feeling of unrest mirrored in the lyrics.
Learn the Licks
The core guitar riff is built on the E minor pentatonic scale, often used in rock, blues, and metal to create a moody soundscape. Marty Schwartz of Marty Music breaks down the main guitar part on his YouTube channel. Pedaling aggressively on the E chord before hitting the iconic riff during each cycle, Iommi’s guitar pattern acts almost like a loop with a slight swing. Watch as Schwartz breaks down the fingerings, starting with the 12th-fret E power chord. Choose between picking every note or hammer-ons for the riff before launching back into the chugging power chords.
BOSS Katana amps give you the freedom to tweak your tone and add effects to emulate your favorite guitarists. Marty Schwartz has created a custom patch on BOSS Tone Exchange that you can download for free and replicate this iconic Black Sabbath sound.
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"Paranoid Sunday" Patch for BOSS Katana MkII
- In the style of “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
