Classic Albums – Heaven And Hell (Black Sabbath)

The Guitarist’s Guide to “Heaven and Hell” by Black Sabbath
The 1980 release of “Heaven and Hell” by Black Sabbath marked a significant turning point in the band’s history. With Ozzy Osbourne replaced by Ronnie James Dio, the iconic band opened a new chapter in heavy metal, boasting a fresh and captivating style. The undeniable star of the show is none other than Tony Iommi, the lead guitarist. His contribution, featuring his unique riffs, distinctive chord progressions, and soulful solos, is what this deep-dive analysis intends to explore.
Inspired by the virtuosity of Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi delivered, what many consider to be, the greatest guitar work of his career. His masterful riffs meet moments of technical brilliance; with memorable, emotive lead work and melodic guitar parts. In this guitar course, Danny Gill guides you through Tony Iommi’s jaw dropping guitar parts with guitar lessons that put you in the shoes of the godfather of metal himself.

Guitar Lessons in This Course
• Neon Knights
• Children Of The Sea
• Lady Evil
• Heaven And Hell
• Wishing Well
• Die Young
• Walk Away
• Lonely Is The World

Guitar Lesson 1: “Neon Knights”
The album’s opening track is a fast-paced, driving number that showcases Iommi’s impeccable riffs and solos. The scale of choice here is largely the A minor scale. The opening riff is built on a rapid succession of power chords, punctuated with short lead parts that transition between sections. Iommi’s solos in this song make extensive use of alternate picking and legato techniques, offering smooth yet punchy melodic phrases.

Guitar Lesson 2: “Children of the Sea”
This piece starts with an arpeggiated chord progression using primarily barre chords. The song is in D minor and the guitar riff beautifully exploits this minor tonality. The pre-chorus is a descending chord progression that builds tension, leading to the powerful chorus. The solo section features a fantastic showcase of vibrato and string bending techniques.

Guitar Lesson 3: “Lady Evil”
“Lady Evil” offers a vibrant mix of open-string riffs and power chords that embellish the E minor scale. The solo of this song is a masterclass in bluesy bends and trills, which add to the song’s dark, mystic atmosphere.

Guitar Lesson 4: “Heaven and Hell”
The title track stands out with its unique chord progressions and catchy riff. The song is structured around a simple yet effective power chord riff in A minor. It features a number of guitar techniques, including palm muting and slides. The lead solo in this track showcases the creative use of alternate picking along with cleverly applied harmonics.

Guitar Lesson 5: “Wishing Well”
This song features a heavy use of power chords, primarily in the key of G minor. The rhythm guitar parts are interspersed with lead fills that make effective use of slides and double-stops, highlighting Iommi’s blues influences.

Guitar Lesson 6: “Die Young”
“Die Young” is an intense, hard-hitting track that begins with arpeggiated chord progressions with lots of sustain, followed by a rapid switch to high-energy power chords in A minor. The solos incorporate several techniques such as sweep picking and dive bombs, demonstrating Iommi’s skill and diversity.

Guitar Lesson 7: “Walk Away”
A song that leans more into rock, “Walk Away” operates primarily in the D major scale. The rhythm guitar features an open-string riff that builds to a chorus filled with barre chords. The soloing in this song makes excellent use of the double-stop bends technique, contributing to its rock ‘n’ roll vibe.

Guitar Lesson 8: “Lonely is the Word”
This slow, bluesy track is based in the B minor scale and starts with a clean, arpeggiated chord progression. It then smoothly transitions to powerful, distorted chords. The solo incorporates expressive string bending and vibrato techniques, demonstrating Iommi’s fluency in the blues language.

Tony Iommi’s contribution to “Heaven and Hell” is immense
His guitar playing adds a depth and intensity to the music that few could match. Iommi’s style, his use of various scales and modes, and his remarkable proficiency in a wide range of guitar techniques contribute greatly to the overall mood and tone of the album.

Guitar Techniques in “Heaven and Hell”
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Vibrato
• String Bending
• Trills
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Barre Chords
• Slides
• Open-String Riffs
• Double-Stop Bends
• Arpeggiated
• Chord Progressions
• Sustain
• Bluesy Bends
• Chord Progressions