There’re many songs out there from Black Sabbath that are relatively easy to play on the guitar.
Black Sabbath is one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, and they continue to inspire generations of guitarists.
With an impressive discography full of iconic and complex songs, it can be intimidating to know where to start.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of easy Black Sabbath tunes that any aspiring guitarist should try out and learn.
Anything from classic tracks like ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Iron Man’ to more obscure hits such as ‘Selling My Soul’ and ‘No Stranger To Love’.
Here are 10 essential Black Sabbath songs for any beginner guitarist to get their teeth into and play something fun.
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10. “Into The Void”
The iconic heavy metal band Black Sabbath released their song “Into the Void” in 1971, as part of the album Master of Reality.
It features a fairly slow riff, heavy enough, and some very simple drum pattern in the beginning.
Written by lead guitarist Tony Iommi and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, the song is a reflection on the struggles of life and the feelings of alienation and despair that can come with it.
There’s not too many changes happening, altough it does have different a few from the verse to the chorus, and of course the bridge.
But even then, the majority of the time, is the same riff played repeatedly througout the song.
As a bad, they have been a major influence on the metal genre since their formation in 1968, and “Into the Void” is a prime example of their influence.
It is a song that is still beloved by metal fans today, and its influence on the genre cannot be overstated, so I’d say it’s worth learning at some point.
9. “Children Of The Grave”
“Children Of The Grave” by Black Sabbath is another classic rock song that has stood the test of time and must be on the list.
First of all, the track starts with this weird guitar riff that almost sounds out of tune, but then it turns into this gallop-like bass line that’s backed up with an amazing overdriven guitar.
The track was released in 1971, it was the fifth single from the band’s fourth studio album, Master of Reality.
As for the lyrics, they speak to the struggles of the oppressed and the need for social justice, which matches with the driven and heavy guitar riff and Tony Iommi’s signature sound.
The song was a hit, and it has been covered by numerous bands over the years.
For anybody looking for a good track that’s heavy and fast-paced, but also not that hard to play, this is definitely one of them.
8. “Changes”
“Changes” by Black Sabbath is another song that I think deserve a spot here.
It was released in 1972, and was written by bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, plus it was the first single from the album, “Vol. 4.”
Just as its name suggest, it speaks to the idea of life’s constant changes, and how difficult it can be to accept them.
It’s one of those melancholic song, but one that is also filled with hope and a lot of open emotions.
Musically, it features a beautiful piano melody from keyboardist Rick Wakeman, along with what seems to be some layers of synthesizers.
For many years, it seemed to be a staple in the band’s live set, and in my opinion, it’s a classic example of the band’s ability to write emotionally resonant songs.
Even though you’ll mainly hear the piano on this song, still, you can play it with your guitar by only using chords and arpeggiating throughout the whole song.
7. “Snowblind”
“Snowblind” by Black Sabbath is a metal song from their 1972 album of the same name.
The song epitomizes the heavy metal sound that Black Sabbath is known for, with its driving guitar riffs, pounding drums, and Ozzy Osbourne’s signature vocals.
Now, as for the lyrics of the song though…
I would say they reflect the band’s fascination with the occult, and the title itself is a reference to the effects of cocaine.
It is among one of the most recognizable songs in the band’s catalogue, and is often cited as an influence on later metal bands that formed the following years.
The song’s popularity has endured for decades, and even though, of course, it’s not mainstream at all, it is still a fan favorite today.
6. “Fairies Wear Boots”
“Fairies Wear Boots” is a yet another example of a classic rock song by the iconic British heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
Written by the band’s lead guitarist Tony Iommi and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, the song was released in 1970 as part of their third studio album, Paranoid.
The song is characterized by its hard-driving, distorted guitars and a heavy, pounding rhythm, like you’ll hear in most songs on this album.
What I love about most songs on this album is when the drums and the guitar start to talk to each other in a way, creating this build up for the main riff to come it.
Its popularity has been credited to its heavy, driving riffs and its catchy chorus.
But I would say this song got a bit of help from the album’s overall popularity, and hence people played it and knew about it.
5. “Sweet Leaf”
“Sweet Leaf” by Black Sabbath is a rock song that has been one of my top tracks since I first heard it.
The song is off the album Master of Reality and was written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.
It seems to be about the band’s appreciation for marijuana and its effects, or anything pretty much regarding the “Sweet Lead.”
The lyrics are full of references to the drug, such as “My life was empty, forever on a down, until you took me, showed me around, my life is free now, my life is clear, I love you sweet leaf, though you can’t hear”.
The song is also known for its iconic opening riff, which is once again, very usual of the band’s sound.
4. “NIB”
“NIB” by Black Sabbath is an interesting one on this list I would say.
Released in 1970, it was the first single off their debut album, Black Sabbath, and is one of the most iconic songs of the heavy metal genre.
Written by the band’s lead vocalist and bassist, Geezer Butler, the song tells the story of a man who makes a deal with the devil somehow.
The lyrics are dark and mysterious, and the music is a perfect blend of heavy riffs and medium-paced melodic grooves.
For those of you looking for a fairly easy but cool riff to learn, this is one of those that will do just that for people.
3. “Iron Man”
The iconic heavy metal song “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath is one of the most recognizable and played tracks in the genre.
Written by the band’s lead guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler, it was released in 1970 on their second album Paranoid.
The song is a unque blend of hard rock and blues, featuring a heavy and driving rhythm section, a memorable and melodic guitar riff, and Ozzy Osbourne’s unmistakable vocals.
The lyrics tell the story of a man who is transformed into a powerful metal creature after a nuclear explosion, and his subsequent journey of revenge.
Nowadays, even tough new generations know it as a workout song thanks to The Rock, this is a huge hit that deserves to be mentioned as much as possible.
If you need to learn and play a riff that will impress anybody that hears you play, add this one to your to-learn list.
2. “War Pigs”
“War Pigs” by Black Sabbath is a song that was first released in 1970.
The lyrics were written by bassist Geezer Butler, and the song was produced by Rodger Bain.
It was the opening track on the band’s third album, Paranoid, and it was one of the first heavy metal songs to gain mainstream attention.
The song is driven by Tony Iommi’s heavy guitar riffs and Ozzy Osbourne’s intense vocals, and it is often cited as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.
Fun Fact: It was also featured in the video game Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
The song has been covered by many artists and it continues to resonate with fans of all ages.
1. “Paranoid”
The heavy metal classic “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath is an iconic song from the band’s second studio album of the same name.
It is one of the most recognizable and influential songs that the band ever created, and has been covered by numerous artists.
The song was written by the band’s lead guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, and was released in 1970.
It is a hard-driving, blues-influenced rock song, with a memorable riff and a powerful vocal performance from Osbourne.
The lyrics are about a person’s fear of being persecuted, and the song’s dark, brooding atmosphere has made it an enduring classic.
For many reasons, the song has been described as “the first true heavy metal song” and is widely regarded as one of the most influential songs in the genre.
More than 10 years of experience playing and writing about guitars! When not writing, I can be found strumming away some Johnny Cash tunes. Favorite all time guitar is the Gibson Les Paul. #TeamGibson
