Tony Iommi is proof that you don't need to play ultra technical noodling to be considered a great and influential guitarist. His riff creating and abilities to create these almost cinematic landscapes of sound with them is far more impressive than a lot of virtuoso players. I'll say it again Led Zep and Sabbath’s discographies are what I'd pick as my desert island choices!
For as great as Tony is, imagine how creative Bill Ward had to be to follow him through a thousand different rifs over his time with the band. Bill is a genius and is unlike any other drummer out there! Great job nailing the Sabbath tone man!
I agree. Bill has a unique style that's quite jazzy at times. He seems to play lyrically quite often. Rather than play a beat, he kind of talks with the drums complimenting Ozzy's phrasing. Especially in the verses of the song Black Sabbath.
Tony Iommi was the riff master. Few can compare. Imagine a world without Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Hard rock and heavy metal would not be the same. Great picks BTW. I would have picked "Into the Void" off "Master of Reality", but that is my favorite Sabbath tune.
I second that emotion. The opening riff on "Void" is Black Sabbath in musical notes. Nobody else could have written that riff. And if you had never heard the song, you would know without a doubt who it was. And its my favorite riff to play. No other guitar riff makes you feel that bad ass when you play it.
Love the video. At 63 I’m a huge Sabbath fan. They were the second band I ever saw live it was I believe 72 or 73 sabbath bloody sabbath tour here in Buffalo. Cozy Powell’s Bedlam & James Gang opened the show. Matter of fact Tommy Bolin was the guitarist in James Gang. My first concert was Jethro Tull thick as a brick tour. Love all the Sabbath albums least favorite believe it or not is paranoid probably because I’ve played every song on that album a million times in the bands I was in. Great job.
Sabbath, Zeppelin and Deep Purple, the BIG 3 of the hard rock world. Where would music have been if Iron Man hadn't gone Space Truckin' on the Stairway To Heaven........
Yea it most definitely is interesting to imagine how it would've been. He felt Jethro Tull was not his kind of a band and returned back to Sabbath. And that was the start of an amazing musical career of Sabbath. The ultimate riff master and Godfather of heavy metal.
@@sandeepsreehari9188 Well, I'm glad he went back. I "cut" my teeth on Rock music in the 70s listening to Master of Reality and Animals by Pink Floyd. I think things worked out pretty well for Toni.
Yup, cool seeing him play with Tull on "The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus". Although it's a little hard to recognize him under that big floppy hat he's wearing. 🤣
@@jjackomin To me the early Sabbath albums were more addictive than alcohol. I just love the various riffs and guitar solos on those tracks. In addition, Butler's bass and Ward's hard drumming blends in perfectly. I guess these four folks formed one of the best lineup in rock.
Sabbath never grow old, it’s like drinking water from the heavy metal spring. Pure riffs and powerful bass lines and drumming, to top it off with Ozzy vocals! Cheers from Macedonia, Europe!
In 1975 rush came out with the fly by night album. Also tush by zz top. It’s actually insane the amount of amazing music came out back than. I’m 20 so I can only imagine what it was like at that time.
I was a kid around 1984 and still collecting Star Wars toys, and my uncle threw a set of headphones on me and said”listen to this”. It was Kasimir by Led Zeppelin. Ill never forget that moment,because that was the moment i put all my toys away,and became obsessed with Led Zeppelin. A few years later I became aware of AC/DC ,and then shortly after Black Sabbath. I know every minute detail of all those albums. Black Sabbath were so ahead of their time in music and in tone,it’s mind blowing. My favorite albums are their first record”Black Sabbath and of course,Masters of Reality. But really,all their albums are killer from start to finish.
Almost the same story I was 11. Was loving ACDC then Other bands, But when I heard Black Sabbath I was blown away. Tony Iommi's detuned guitar had an incredible dark sound and his guitar riffs were beyond anything I've ever heard. To this day not a single band is mire creative than Sabbath. The only one album I take to heaven is Randy Rhoads Tribute/Peranoid/Van Halen Debut. That's it. 🎸
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Well said. So many bands I have not gotten into. Not because I did not like them, I just knew that it is a lot of material, and it would probably consume me. Unfortunatly because of that attitude I have JUST recently gotten into Tool, Rage Against, Crimson, Ween, Fela Kuti. DONT PUT OFF LISTENING. I could have seen some of those groups Live!
@@benhinds2971 I'd never listened to Ween before and a few months ago a friend sent me a link to one of their songs (The Fruit Man). I thought cool, a psychedelic reggae band, I'm gonna check out more of their stuff. Soon found out you can't categorize their music but I now love them and listen to them regularly. Anyways, it's always great to keep discovering new music.
Dude, "Wicked World" was definitely included on the original U.S. release in June 1970, which I had in my vinyl collection. It was criminally omitted from the initial UK release in Feb 1970. Great choice for your highlight of this album!
Tony is truly a genius. I remember them being interviewed saying they were having major writer's block on the Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album. So much so they were getting nervous that they wouldn't have an album. Then one day, out of the blue, Tony starts playing the beginning riff to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Then suddenly the ideas all started flowing.
And what a killer riff!!! Slash says it's the heaviest riff ever. I disagree. Symptom of the Universe and Children of the Grave and the ending for Black Sabbath. Killer 🎸
The way you explained these songs helped understand, why i always loved the “flow” of Black Sabbath. I am a fan for life, can’t wait to watch some other videos!
As great as Tony Iommi is, I feel he is not as revered as some of my other favorite guitar players for his style, feel and ingenuity. Next to Led Zeppelin, early Black Sabbath may very well be my favorite band. What a lineup and I am so glad you have finally given them a listen! Better late than never ;)
I discovered Black Sabbath when I went into a record store in 1972 to buy a different album and Volume IV was playing on the store turntable. I was blown away. I’m so glad you’ve discovered them and are enjoying their music. I still love it to this day.
Same here, in a way. In 1972, I had been into Cream, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, Jimi Hendrix, Mountain, Pink Floyd, Ten Years After and others. Being eclectic, however, I went with friend Mike Miller to the record store across from Marist High, in Chicago, to buy "I'm Still in Love With You" (Al Green). This was prior to our Christmas vacation. Miller suggested I also buy Black Sabbath's new record, "Vol 4", challenging me, " If you don't like it, Steve, I'll buy it back from you for three times what it cost!" I bought it, and played Snowblind three times before going on to the next track! Great stuff! So was Al Green, lol.
Carl- I never heard more the one song. Me- Remembers every bonfire, cruise, jam outside, parking lot at every concert and jam session with friends and at age 55, can still remember every lyric and hum note for note every song. Good times!
"KIng if the riffs" Sabath once never left my tape deck for 4 years(1979-1983),,,,never got tired of and still listen to for months at a time now. ...first 6 albums...I constantly go to when playing in my bedroom style studio....nothing like before or since....
Great selections Carl. One thing I’m hearing that’s different though is that Tony seemed to slide up the neck twice in the 2nd riff of Supernaut instead of just chugging. Makes it a bit more bouncy and groovy. Great channel-keep it up 😎
I'm the same with you Carl. I've always been more into Led Zeppelin, AC DC and Hendrix. But recently Ive really been loving Black Sabbath. Just going through a Black Sabbath music marathon (mainly the Ozzy era). Tony Iommi is now one of my favourite guitarists.
I hear you. Hate to say it, but i shyed away. Maybe it was because i grew up in the hair metal era, and all of those bands shouted Sabbath as their inspiration. So I didnt want any part of that. Then i listened, and I heard Ozzy playing harp on The Wizard. I went---Wait, whats this--- Ive beeen a student ever since.
@@benhinds2971 I think a lot of people are the same, most people don't realise that Sabbath aren't even really a metal band they're mostly a hard blues rock band but with darker themes than the peace and love hippies of the time. Most of my friends that I've shown songs like Wicked World don't believe me when I say it's Black Sabbath! There is this preconceived notion I think mostly because of Ozzy that they are just a loud messy devil worshipping bunch of metal heads that bite heads off bats and many fail to acknowledge just how good the musicianship is!
@@benhinds2971 yeah I love the harmonica on The Wizard. Wish they'd incorporated it on a few more of their songs. Led Zeppelin for instance has like 7 or 8 songs with harmonica. It's just a bluesy instrument. Just wondering, is the harmonica called a harp wherever you're from? Because to me a harp is a big ole stringed instrument. 😛
@@coinraker6497 If you're playing blues, you call it a harp. I don't know why. But that's what Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf, etc..called it. So I'm just trying to sound like I know the official blues terminology and people will think I'm really cool.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching you discover the riffs of Black Sabbath. It's mind boggling how one man could come up with so many iconic riffs. I'm a drummer for many years but much later in life I decided I wanted to pick up the guitar...just so I could learn and play along with Black Sabbath tunes. I get the same joy from it that you seem to, they are just so much fun to play. My favourite Sabbath riff of all time is "Into the Void". Naturally I also had to delve into the songs of Led Zeppelin which is how I found your channel a few years ago. Thanks for doing what you do and keep on riffing.
The holy trinity of rock guitarist for me, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix and Tony Iommi. If you study those 3, you can play anything. Thanks for this video.
I remember when all these great Sabbath songs came out. Such wonderful memories. You Carl and the big bands make this look so easy. I took 30 years off from playing and regret it now. I was never very good. I have always been puzzled how one person can practice an hour a day where as someone else can practice 3-4 hours a day and the person with just one hour of practice a day advances faster. I have come to the conclusion that it has to be genetics and other parts of the brain that interpret things differently. Very puzzling at times.
I wonder the same thing! I just try to remember it’s not a competition and the only thing that matters is my growth. I just try to get a little bit better, little by little. Time will take of the rest. Rejoice in the progress no matter how small. Celebrate each moment of improvement and the joy of learning an instrument and making music!!
What an amazing tribute to the King of Riff, well done! 👏 Iommy isn't just the riff master but such an amazing all-round guitar player with wonderfully melodic and original tunes and solos. The number of riffs, transitions and changes he plays in one song can easily be worth several songs. Pure talent.
This is a super fun, vid! I've always been a Sabbath fan, and to hear someone who was not into them, cover some of their great riffs, really made my day!
Great video. I just wanted to add my opinion that the best part in "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" is the riff that starts at 3:14 and hits at 3:18 … heaviest thing ever. It's a perfect example of how groove is a huge part in what makes things sound "heavy". The break at 3:52 makes it even more intense when it returns again at 4:06. RUclips tries to timestamp those above to this video but of course it is in reference to the song.
Master of Reality is my favorite Sabbath album. I bought it Aqualung and Who’s Next in one of my first trips to a record store as a Jr. in High School in 1971
Master of Reality is probably my favorite Sabbath album as well. "Into the Void" is my favorite Sabbath tune. The bass is so heavy, you can't upload it, you can only download it. I swear it has its own gravitational pull. I don't fully trust anyone who doesn't own the first six Sabbath albums.
A few things to take in here. Firstly, that was awesome and you didn't just pick the obvious riffs. Secondly, I am amazed that given when you grew up and being in the Zeppelin world, you never listened to Sabbath. They were my first love which led me to Zeppelin, Purple, Floyd ect. Thirdly, a video on riffs from 1975 would be great. If you do it please don't forget Tommy Bolin's Teaser album, an unheralded classic. And lastly 1975 gave us the greatest album of all time, Physical Graffiti.
Terrific episode Carl thank you. Have been listening to Sabbath since 74 when my Dad accidentally bought Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by mail order, when it arrived he took one look at the album cover and gave it to me. As for 1975 songs for consideration, you mentioned Ted Nugent's album, of course Stranglehold is a classic with that great underlying riff but also a multitude of solos throughout the song, also from that album Motor City Madhouse a brilliant fast tempo rock song.
My 3 biggest influences that made me pick up a guitar is Angus, Page, and last but certainly not and never least, Iommi. Of course there's hundreds of others now, but that's where my start came from playing along with the albums over and over and over until I got it right. Or at least thought I got it right. I still find a little nuance here and there sometimes that I missed. Now I have RUclips to help find them. Love your channel!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic It's interesting to me that you hadn't tried a metal sound before. I was into Black Sabbath for a while when I was in High School. They played in Long Beach on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" in the early 70's. I can't remember the date but my best friend and I waited in line for hours to get in and heard them live. The most memorable thing about that concert was that they were so dang loud that it was not fun for me. I really didn't enjoy it that much. I literally had to put my fingers in my ears so that I didn't go deaf. It might have been a problem with the mix where we were sitting but it was not fun for me. Other than that it was fine. ;) We'll talk later. Great video Carl. I love your channel.
Cant remember exactly, but either the American or British release has the addition of Evil Woman. The first song they wrote. If you havent heard it, youre not missing much. But all Sabbath must be absorbed. The Good and Less-Good.
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Wicked World is definitely on the Canadian release. I bought it in 1970 and still have the vinyl. I was 17 and became a lifetime fan.
Hey Carl. Its not on the first 6, but when Sabbath reformed and released "13", they got Rick Rubin in on it. He made the band listen to their first album for a musical target, and I think it won a grammy. There are some really good moments there. "Rock is Dead" I recommend. Sounds like old-school Iommi.
Xcellent….came to this after watching….Black Sabbath Top 50 Riffs…..and I thought…..Man….youve missed this and you’ve missed that…..will never be another like Tony Iommi ……The Rock World will be FOREVER grateful…..
Yeah, there's SO many excellent Sabbath songs beyond the same two everybody hears on the radio. The Sabbath Bloody Sabbath riff is one of the greatest of all time.
Tommy Iommi is one of the most underrated guitar palyers. Watch him playing in many conserts with many other players and it doesn't matter, what they were playing. Tommy has been great every time. He is also super versatile player.
Not underrated. I would say underappreciated. But Sabbath was never mainstream so that shouldn't come as any surprise. The wailing chords of Sweet Leaf and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath sold me on his talent.
It is so great to see you playing these riffs correctly. So many people play them wrong, and they lose the magic. For example, the one-finger technique on Supernaut is what gives the song its fantastic edge and feel. Nice work!
I love how you focus on composition. At the end of the day you can know every scale, every chord, and play a million miles an hour; but if you don’t know how to make interesting compositions, it just becomes a circus act that gets old. Sabbath NEVER gets old.
Great you came out with this today. I was playing War Pigs earlier today to study all the licks. I love the pre-solo moving riff up and down the E and A strings.
Not only did Iommi detune, but he used extremely light strings (due to the permanent injury to his ring and middle fingers of his fret hand) which is counterintuitive to his sound, being so heavy. You don't need 12's to get a heavy sound. I heard Tony routinely uses 7's. In the early days he had to use banjo strings because ultra-light gauge strings for guitar weren't available.
The peace sign is so iconic of Ozzy! Love the Vol. 4 album cover. From what I've read RJD didn't invent the horns! In fact there is photo evidence of Geezer Butler doing it in the late 60s ten years before the Dio era of Sabbath, I believe he got it from Aleister Crowley!
UNBELIEVABLE you’ve never listened to a whole Sabbath album. 🎉My mind just exploded🎉 😂 Glad you found and showed the only Iommi! He has a fingertip missing as well
Oops 2 fingers. 😮 Props to Bill Ward & Geezer Butler!! A little Ozzy too. Killer, I just call Hard Rock...easiest if have to give a genre. Jazz interesting...love it!!
And you asked some suggestions about music albums from 1975. First comes to my mind Grateful Dead - Blues For allah. I saw them in Stockholm in 1990. The gig lasted over 3 hrs. I'm very happy that a dude from Finland was able to see that band at least once. Also few good rifs can be found on Lynyrd's Nuthin Fancy, that came out on 1975, if i remember correctly. Finally the riff library of 1975, AC/DC T.N.T.
Sabbath is the first band I became infatuated with when I was just a little kid in the early 70s. I had my grandma make a Halloween costume based on the cover of Paranoid...not a damned person knew who I was supposed to be. My mom used to photograph concerts at The Warehouse in New Orleans and I was on stage with Ozzy when I was 2.
I could never get that timing count right in the S Bloody S song(coming from the G down to the E barre).Glad you included that. The S Bloody S album is the only one I loved (more prog, varied, finessed, dare I say tasteful).Excellent album from a singer that snorts ants off a pavement for fun. Do a vid on the best Bad Co riffs & leads."Good Lovin' Gone Bad" smokes!!!!! Ralphs tuned in "C" at times so he could just play one-finger barres on any fret and had 3 fingers free. That's rock! Thx, Carl Iommi !
Fantastic video and riff selection from their best albums! Black Sabbath is one of my two my favorite bands, listened to them as a teenager starting with Paranoid. Supernaut is my all time favorite song, and you played it and all of them perfectly. Well done! Really enjoy your channel.
More sabbath pls Really enjoy the theoretical breakdown, I've never really thought about these songs like that. Pretty sure the main reason they tuned down was to suit ozies voice. Cheers
What a treat; love the crucifix accoutrements! There's a nice little revelatory bit (around 24m 30s) during your demo of the "tri-tone sandwich" in Symptom of the Universe that's essentially the opening to "Black Sabbath". This was so much fun! It's like looking at a great painting, the artist's put all the work in and one just wanders up and gets to soak it up. Thanks, man. Great job!
Excellent song choices. Huge Sabbath fan and these are all some of my favorites. It's hard for me not to see Into the Void here -- but Master of Reality already got two from you so I can't complain! The whole album's unmatched
Excellent - as always. For me, you're the best song analyst of rock guitar on YT. I always learn something new musically from your analyses. Commiserations - what had you been missing from Sabbath for all those years?😆
Awesome..loved Black Sabbath..all great riffs..so enjoyed watching...those first couple of albums were fantastic..Spiral Architecht is so beautiful..never noticed Tony Iommi played left handed like me till I started playing guitar!🌌🎸
![Top 10 Greatest Guitar Riffs of 1976 [Guitar Lesson, Riffs, Classic Rock Songs]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lDoi1gSp07E/mqdefault.jpg)
![Top 10 Greatest Guitar Riffs of 1976 [Guitar Lesson, Riffs, Classic Rock Songs]](/img/tr.png)
Iommi was overlooked as a great guitarist until people realized they couldn’t duplicate his sound and feel, the mark of a true genius
Absolutely !!!
This guy's having the time of his LIFE jamming some sabbath
Don’t you know it!!!
Tony Iommi is proof that you don't need to play ultra technical noodling to be considered a great and influential guitarist. His riff creating and abilities to create these almost cinematic landscapes of sound with them is far more impressive than a lot of virtuoso players. I'll say it again Led Zep and Sabbath’s discographies are what I'd pick as my desert island choices!
I’m with you!!
No one is wrong but my choice would substitute The Who for Zeppelin
Rock on...
@@daveh9335 I can respect that!
Style trumps speed !
Iommi is pretty quick with those shreddy leads. Still, it’s all nice and tasteful
For as great as Tony is, imagine how creative Bill Ward had to be to follow him through a thousand different rifs over his time with the band. Bill is a genius and is unlike any other drummer out there! Great job nailing the Sabbath tone man!
Thank you! And amen about Bill Ward!!!
But he ended up having huge mental problems because of all the drugs they were doing.
That’s a shame. I’m sorry to hear that.
I agree. Bill has a unique style that's quite jazzy at times. He seems to play lyrically quite often. Rather than play a beat, he kind of talks with the drums complimenting Ozzy's phrasing. Especially in the verses of the song Black Sabbath.
derrière Jimmy Page y avait John Bonham, derrière Jimi Hendrix y avait Mitch mitchell, derrière Tony Iommi y avait Bill Ward, y a pas de hasard
You're never to old to enjoy Black Sabbath💥❤
Tony Iommi was the riff master. Few can compare. Imagine a world without Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Hard rock and heavy metal would not be the same. Great picks BTW. I would have picked "Into the Void" off "Master of Reality", but that is my favorite Sabbath tune.
I’ll gladly revisit for episode 2!!
I second that emotion. The opening riff on "Void" is Black Sabbath in musical notes. Nobody else could have written that riff. And if you had never heard the song, you would know without a doubt who it was. And its my favorite riff to play. No other guitar riff makes you feel that bad ass when you play it.
Love the video. At 63 I’m a huge Sabbath fan. They were the second band I ever saw live it was I believe 72 or 73 sabbath bloody sabbath tour here in Buffalo. Cozy Powell’s Bedlam & James Gang opened the show. Matter of fact Tommy Bolin was the guitarist in James Gang. My first concert was Jethro Tull thick as a brick tour. Love all the Sabbath albums least favorite believe it or not is paranoid probably because I’ve played every song on that album a million times in the bands I was in. Great job.
Sabbath, Zeppelin and Deep Purple, the BIG 3 of the hard rock world.
Where would music have been if Iron Man hadn't gone Space Truckin' on the Stairway To Heaven........
Tony IS the riff master 🐐
Tony Iommi was actually a member of Jethro Tull for one month. It's intriguing to think how different that band would've sounded if he had stayed.
Yea it most definitely is interesting to imagine how it would've been. He felt Jethro Tull was not his kind of a band and returned back to Sabbath. And that was the start of an amazing musical career of Sabbath. The ultimate riff master and Godfather of heavy metal.
@@sandeepsreehari9188 Well, I'm glad he went back. I "cut" my teeth on Rock music in the 70s listening to Master of Reality and Animals by Pink Floyd. I think things worked out pretty well for Toni.
Yup, cool seeing him play with Tull on "The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus". Although it's a little hard to recognize him under that big floppy hat he's wearing. 🤣
@@jjackomin To me the early Sabbath albums were more addictive than alcohol. I just love the various riffs and guitar solos on those tracks. In addition, Butler's bass and Ward's hard drumming blends in perfectly. I guess these four folks formed one of the best lineup in rock.
Tony Iommi is the Godfather of Heavy Metal! He has written the Best and Heaviest Riffs EVER! God bless Mr Tony Iommi! 💯💪
Sabbath never grow old, it’s like drinking water from the heavy metal spring. Pure riffs and powerful bass lines and drumming, to top it off with Ozzy vocals! Cheers from Macedonia, Europe!
You can nevr be tired of Black Sabbath, It just touches something deep down inside
In 1975 rush came out with the fly by night album. Also tush by zz top. It’s actually insane the amount of amazing music came out back than. I’m 20 so I can only imagine what it was like at that time.
That’s wonderful that a 20 year old is even familiar with that period! Bravo!
Caress of Steel too eh?...
That 69-72 period had some of the most iconic rock music ever produced in my opinion. Glad I was there to take it all in. Great stuff Carl.
Thank you!!!
I was a kid around 1984 and still collecting Star Wars toys, and my uncle threw a set of headphones on me and said”listen to this”. It was Kasimir by Led Zeppelin. Ill never forget that moment,because that was the moment i put all my toys away,and became obsessed with Led Zeppelin. A few years later I became aware of AC/DC ,and then shortly after Black Sabbath. I know every minute detail of all those albums.
Black Sabbath were so ahead of their time in music and in tone,it’s mind blowing. My favorite albums are their first record”Black Sabbath and of course,Masters of Reality. But really,all their albums are killer from start to finish.
Almost the same story I was 11. Was loving ACDC then Other bands, But when I heard Black Sabbath I was blown away. Tony Iommi's detuned guitar had an incredible dark sound and his guitar riffs were beyond anything I've ever heard. To this day not a single band is mire creative than Sabbath. The only one album I take to heaven is Randy Rhoads Tribute/Peranoid/Van Halen Debut. That's it. 🎸
crazy to hear you were never into sabbath but you really nailed these awesome video and your insight is priceless thanks carl!
Thank you! It’s not that I wasn’t into it, I was just consumed by other music!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Well said. So many bands I have not gotten into. Not because I did not like them, I just knew that it is a lot of material, and it would probably consume me. Unfortunatly because of that attitude I have JUST recently gotten into Tool, Rage Against, Crimson, Ween, Fela Kuti. DONT PUT OFF LISTENING. I could have seen some of those groups Live!
@@benhinds2971 I'd never listened to Ween before and a few months ago a friend sent me a link to one of their songs (The Fruit Man). I thought cool, a psychedelic reggae band, I'm gonna check out more of their stuff. Soon found out you can't categorize their music but I now love them and listen to them regularly. Anyways, it's always great to keep discovering new music.
Dude, "Wicked World" was definitely included on the original U.S. release in June 1970, which I had in my vinyl collection. It was criminally omitted from the initial UK release in Feb 1970. Great choice for your highlight of this album!
Tony is truly a genius. I remember them being interviewed saying they were having major writer's block on the Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album. So much so they were getting nervous that they wouldn't have an album. Then one day, out of the blue, Tony starts playing the beginning riff to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Then suddenly the ideas all started flowing.
I remember when Geezer Butler said that after the first two albums they thought they were going to have to get jobs
And what a killer riff!!! Slash says it's the heaviest riff ever. I disagree. Symptom of the Universe and Children of the Grave and the ending for Black Sabbath. Killer 🎸
Outstanding representation here Carl. Can’t get enough of Iommi’s riffs, which are so often misplayed.
Master of Reality will forever be my favorite Ozzy-era Black Sabbath album. In their entire career, though, the Dio era was my favorite by far 🤘
Started listening to Sabbath around 1970 at age 12….along with Zeppelin, my two top favorite bands of all time.
My two favorites as a kid.
The way you explained these songs helped understand, why i always loved the “flow” of Black Sabbath. I am a fan for life, can’t wait to watch some other videos!
As great as Tony Iommi is, I feel he is not as revered as some of my other favorite guitar players for his style, feel and ingenuity. Next to Led Zeppelin, early Black Sabbath may very well be my favorite band. What a lineup and I am so glad you have finally given them a listen! Better late than never ;)
Thank you. I’m so happy I’ve started in on it!!
R you kidding his sound and style is phenomenal and it fit soo well with the whole theme
I discovered Black Sabbath when I went into a record store in 1972 to buy a different album and Volume IV was playing on the store turntable. I was blown away. I’m so glad you’ve discovered them and are enjoying their music. I still love it to this day.
Same here, in a way. In 1972, I had been into Cream, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, Jimi Hendrix, Mountain, Pink Floyd, Ten Years After and others. Being eclectic, however, I went with friend Mike Miller to the record store across from Marist High, in Chicago, to buy "I'm Still in Love With You" (Al Green). This was prior to our Christmas vacation. Miller suggested I also buy Black Sabbath's new record, "Vol 4", challenging me, " If you don't like it, Steve, I'll buy it back from you for three times what it cost!" I bought it, and played Snowblind three times before going on to the next track! Great stuff!
So was Al Green, lol.
Carl- I never heard more the one song.
Me- Remembers every bonfire, cruise, jam outside, parking lot at every concert and jam session with friends and at age 55, can still remember every lyric and hum note for note every song.
Good times!
"KIng if the riffs" Sabath once never left my tape deck for 4 years(1979-1983),,,,never got tired of and still listen to for months at a time now. ...first 6 albums...I constantly go to when playing in my bedroom style studio....nothing like before or since....
Yeah Dio Sabbath and Dio Rainbow were superb. As was Dio/Dio.
Great selections Carl. One thing I’m hearing that’s different though is that Tony seemed to slide up the neck twice in the 2nd riff of Supernaut instead of just chugging. Makes it a bit more bouncy and groovy.
Great channel-keep it up 😎
Yup! Slide up from 2 to 10 on the low E, with muted open notes! It's what puts the bounce in the groove!
I'm the same with you Carl. I've always been more into Led Zeppelin, AC DC and Hendrix. But recently Ive really been loving Black Sabbath. Just going through a Black Sabbath music marathon (mainly the Ozzy era). Tony Iommi is now one of my favourite guitarists.
I hear you. Hate to say it, but i shyed away. Maybe it was because i grew up in the hair metal era, and all of those bands shouted Sabbath as their inspiration. So I didnt want any part of that. Then i listened, and I heard Ozzy playing harp on The Wizard. I went---Wait, whats this--- Ive beeen a student ever since.
@@benhinds2971 I think a lot of people are the same, most people don't realise that Sabbath aren't even really a metal band they're mostly a hard blues rock band but with darker themes than the peace and love hippies of the time. Most of my friends that I've shown songs like Wicked World don't believe me when I say it's Black Sabbath! There is this preconceived notion I think mostly because of Ozzy that they are just a loud messy devil worshipping bunch of metal heads that bite heads off bats and many fail to acknowledge just how good the musicianship is!
Count me in as one who missed it completely. So glad I found them!!
@@benhinds2971 yeah I love the harmonica on The Wizard. Wish they'd incorporated it on a few more of their songs. Led Zeppelin for instance has like 7 or 8 songs with harmonica. It's just a bluesy instrument. Just wondering, is the harmonica called a harp wherever you're from? Because to me a harp is a big ole stringed instrument. 😛
@@coinraker6497 If you're playing blues, you call it a harp. I don't know why. But that's what Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf, etc..called it. So I'm just trying to sound like I know the official blues terminology and people will think I'm really cool.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching you discover the riffs of Black Sabbath. It's mind boggling how one man could come up with so many iconic riffs. I'm a drummer for many years but much later in life I decided I wanted to pick up the guitar...just so I could learn and play along with Black Sabbath tunes. I get the same joy from it that you seem to, they are just so much fun to play. My favourite Sabbath riff of all time is "Into the Void". Naturally I also had to delve into the songs of Led Zeppelin which is how I found your channel a few years ago. Thanks for doing what you do and keep on riffing.
Thank you so much for the encouragement. Please share my channel to help me keep it going! Peace, Carl
The holy trinity of rock guitarist for me, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix and Tony Iommi. If you study those 3, you can play anything. Thanks for this video.
I really wanted a Sabbath video from you and there it is
I remember when all these great Sabbath songs came out. Such wonderful memories. You Carl and the big bands make this look so easy. I took 30 years off from playing and regret it now. I was never very good. I have always been puzzled how one person can practice an hour a day where as someone else can practice 3-4 hours a day and the person with just one hour of practice a day advances faster. I have come to the conclusion that it has to be genetics and other parts of the brain that interpret things differently. Very puzzling at times.
I wonder the same thing! I just try to remember it’s not a competition and the only thing that matters is my growth. I just try to get a little bit better, little by little. Time will take of the rest. Rejoice in the progress no matter how small. Celebrate each moment of improvement and the joy of learning an instrument and making music!!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Well said Carl. If we set our standards or goals too high then we just set ourselves up for disappointment. Thanks.
What an amazing tribute to the King of Riff, well done! 👏
Iommy isn't just the riff master but such an amazing all-round guitar player with wonderfully melodic and original tunes and solos.
The number of riffs, transitions and changes he plays in one song can easily be worth several songs. Pure talent.
Idk why when this man smiles i smile too
Aw!! I love that! I’ve made more money smiling than by any college degree I ever earned!!
Into the Void got to be my favorite Sabbath riffs of all time. Great video sir, jamming to Sabbath is one of the life’s greatest pleasures!
This is a super fun, vid! I've always been a Sabbath fan, and to hear someone who was not into them, cover some of their great riffs, really made my day!
Your Joy is infectious.
Amazing job!! Please do MUCH more Sabbath!
Check out Children of the Sea and Heaven and He’ll from the Dio era. Incredible music!
How the hell could you be this good and knowledgeable and never listened to black sabbath
I was pretty narrowly focused as a kid!
Great video.
I just wanted to add my opinion that the best part in "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" is the riff that starts at 3:14 and hits at 3:18 … heaviest thing ever. It's a perfect example of how groove is a huge part in what makes things sound "heavy". The break at 3:52 makes it even more intense when it returns again at 4:06.
RUclips tries to timestamp those above to this video but of course it is in reference to the song.
Thank you. I’ll listen closely!
Master of Reality is my favorite Sabbath album. I bought it Aqualung and Who’s Next in one of my first trips to a record store as a Jr. in High School in 1971
Master of Reality is probably my favorite Sabbath album as well. "Into the Void" is my favorite Sabbath tune. The bass is so heavy, you can't upload it, you can only download it. I swear it has its own gravitational pull. I don't fully trust anyone who doesn't own the first six Sabbath albums.
Wow! What a trio of albums!!
Now that was a good day at the record store. When have 3 albums like that come out at the same time?
Does that beat my Thriller and Synchronicity purchase on my first record store trip? ....Just Kidding
😆
A few things to take in here. Firstly, that was awesome and you didn't just pick the obvious riffs. Secondly, I am amazed that given when you grew up and being in the Zeppelin world, you never listened to Sabbath. They were my first love which led me to Zeppelin, Purple, Floyd ect. Thirdly, a video on riffs from 1975 would be great. If you do it please don't forget Tommy Bolin's Teaser album, an unheralded classic. And lastly 1975 gave us the greatest album of all time, Physical Graffiti.
Great suggestions. I can’t wait to do this episode!!
Yes, 'Physical' 2 for one!
Physical Graffiti is my favorite Zeppelin album and I think it's their best.
Terrific episode Carl thank you. Have been listening to Sabbath since 74 when my Dad accidentally bought Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by mail order, when it arrived he took one look at the album cover and gave it to me. As for 1975 songs for consideration, you mentioned Ted Nugent's album, of course Stranglehold is a classic with that great underlying riff but also a multitude of solos throughout the song, also from that album Motor City Madhouse a brilliant fast tempo rock song.
I’ll definitely include that one!! Thank you!!
Thanks, Carl! Another great video and tribute to the great Black Sabbath.
Thank you for giving Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath the respect they deserve.Great show .
My 3 biggest influences that made me pick up a guitar is Angus, Page, and last but certainly not and never least, Iommi. Of course there's hundreds of others now, but that's where my start came from playing along with the albums over and over and over until I got it right. Or at least thought I got it right. I still find a little nuance here and there sometimes that I missed. Now I have RUclips to help find them. Love your channel!
Hi Carl, great tone coming out of that SG!
It was the 1st time I ever tried a metal sound. You’ve to play those riffs to have that sound work!!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic It's interesting to me that you hadn't tried a metal sound before. I was into Black Sabbath for a while when I was in High School. They played in Long Beach on "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" in the early 70's. I can't remember the date but my best friend and I waited in line for hours to get in and heard them live. The most memorable thing about that concert was that they were so dang loud that it was not fun for me. I really didn't enjoy it that much. I literally had to put my fingers in my ears so that I didn't go deaf. It might have been a problem with the mix where we were sitting but it was not fun for me. Other than that it was fine. ;) We'll talk later. Great video Carl. I love your channel.
Wicked World was on the original release of Black Sabbath's first album. I have it on vinyl that I bought in 1970.
Cant remember exactly, but either the American or British release has the addition of Evil Woman. The first song they wrote. If you havent heard it, youre not missing much. But all Sabbath must be absorbed. The Good and Less-Good.
@@benhinds2971 it would be the British release. I’ve heard Evil Woman, which is actually a cover tune, but it is not on the copy I have.
I stand corrected if that’s the case! Thank you!!
@@G1llmanBlacklg00n Thank You. I didnt know it was a cover. There are a lot of Evil Womans(?) Spooky Tooth, ELO, Cactus....
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic Wicked World is definitely on the Canadian release. I bought it in 1970 and still have the vinyl. I was 17 and became a lifetime fan.
You found the Lord of the Riffs! 👏 👏
Hey Carl. Its not on the first 6, but when Sabbath reformed and released "13", they got Rick Rubin in on it. He made the band listen to their first album for a musical target, and I think it won a grammy. There are some really good moments there. "Rock is Dead" I recommend. Sounds like old-school Iommi.
I’ll check it out!
God, this is excellent Carl!! 6 Riffs, 6 Albums 6...Tony=The Dark Lord of The Riff.
Jimi and Tony were my first guitar 🎸 hero’s. Great video
Xcellent….came to this after watching….Black Sabbath Top 50 Riffs…..and I thought…..Man….youve missed this and you’ve missed that…..will never be another like Tony Iommi ……The Rock World will be FOREVER grateful…..
Yeah, there's SO many excellent Sabbath songs beyond the same two everybody hears on the radio. The Sabbath Bloody Sabbath riff is one of the greatest of all time.
You are such an amazing guitarist. Holy cow. Cheers.
I’m so glad you’re digging what I’m doing!
Tommy Iommi is one of the most underrated guitar palyers. Watch him playing in many conserts with many other players and it doesn't matter, what they were playing. Tommy has been great every time. He is also super versatile player.
Not underrated. I would say underappreciated. But Sabbath was never mainstream so that shouldn't come as any surprise. The wailing chords of Sweet Leaf and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath sold me on his talent.
I love Iommi but I'd say the most underrated member of that band is Bill Ward (the drummer).
Tommy?
@@waltergaming782 lol, I was gonna say just an honest mistake.....but he did it twice. 😂
I love that you get the jazz, classical/baroque influences...Sabbath sometimes gets dissed as just derivative riff rock... TY
This band is so much more than the uninformed will ever know.
Expanding beyond their first six albums......"Turn Up the Night" from the album Mob Rules gets my blood pumping like no other.
Country girl is my favorite song from that album.
@@BROU-bb2uc lotta great songs on that album. Heaven & Hell too.
IMO Tommy Iommi is the GOAT riff master. Great selection of riffs for the demo 👍🏼
Mob Rules and Heaven and Hell as well…just killer🤘🏻
It is so great to see you playing these riffs correctly. So many people play them wrong, and they lose the magic. For example, the one-finger technique on Supernaut is what gives the song its fantastic edge and feel. Nice work!
I love how you focus on composition. At the end of the day you can know every scale, every chord, and play a million miles an hour; but if you don’t know how to make interesting compositions, it just becomes a circus act that gets old. Sabbath NEVER gets old.
Absolutely!! Never has this been better said!!!
Great video. Love to hear your take on the last two Ozzy Black Sabbath albums and the four Dio Black Sabbath albums.
I’ll dig in!
Very interesting, light history and music theory explanation of the greatest artists
I don’t play guitar, but still love to watch how charmingly you present riffs from these great groups.
Thank you so much!
I love Black Sabbath! So many Awesome Riffs.
Symptom also displays the shine of Bill Ward percussion awesome
Tony is the riff-master...I been back on my Sabbath train again @65 Tomorrows Dream from Vol-4 is also a good one...a keeper.
Great you came out with this today. I was playing War Pigs earlier today to study all the licks. I love the pre-solo moving riff up and down the E and A strings.
Supernaut is such an incredible song. That riff is absolute killer
And I dont even know wth you're explaining but his riffs, the sound...powerful ❤
Tony like myself is left handed so his picking with his left hand. Being a righty you’re just used to saying right hand picking. Love all your vids.
Yes indeed!
Great vid! My favourite sabbath riff is Jack the Stripper. So cool and sounds fresh even today!
I’ll check it out!
Not only did Iommi detune, but he used extremely light strings (due to the permanent injury to his ring and middle fingers of his fret hand) which is counterintuitive to his sound, being so heavy. You don't need 12's to get a heavy sound. I heard Tony routinely uses 7's. In the early days he had to use banjo strings because ultra-light gauge strings for guitar weren't available.
You should do the PEACE SIGN as ozzy ALWAYS did not the ridicolous horn sign invented by RJD.
The peace sign is so iconic of Ozzy! Love the Vol. 4 album cover. From what I've read RJD didn't invent the horns! In fact there is photo evidence of Geezer Butler doing it in the late 60s ten years before the Dio era of Sabbath, I believe he got it from Aleister Crowley!
Oh, Vol. 4 has so many treats on it! "Supernaut" is an excellent choice here. I also love "St. Vitus Dance" and "Cornucopia" 😁
I've watched you for a while and you're talent is bar none and for you to dig in to sabbath is really cool thanks for really being open minded
UNBELIEVABLE you’ve never listened to a whole Sabbath album.
🎉My mind just exploded🎉 😂
Glad you found and showed the only Iommi!
He has a fingertip missing as well
Oops 2 fingers. 😮
Props to Bill Ward & Geezer Butler!! A little Ozzy too. Killer, I just call Hard Rock...easiest if have to give a genre. Jazz interesting...love it!!
And you asked some suggestions about music albums from 1975. First comes to my mind Grateful Dead - Blues For allah. I saw them in Stockholm in 1990. The gig lasted over 3 hrs. I'm very happy that a dude from Finland was able to see that band at least once. Also few good rifs can be found on Lynyrd's Nuthin Fancy, that came out on 1975, if i remember correctly. Finally the riff library of 1975, AC/DC T.N.T.
Perfect. Thank you!!
Nice! I’m a Line 6 James Tyler Variax player too! I’ve got the Les Paul style JTV-59. Absolutely game-changing instrument.
Excellent work.
Bonus cool points for "Sweet Leaf" 😁
😁
A life long Sabbath fan and player, may have to buy an SG. I will checkout the pedals you spoke of. You nailed the T.I. sound. Thanks so much !!
Part of what made Sabbath cool was Bill Ward's swing, jazzy drumming against Tony & Geezer's heavy riffs. And Ozzy sang great melodies.
carl carl you got me so excited with that i now want to go buy a guitar and play!!!!!!!!!!!! such a classic band. i grew up listening to them.
Go for it!!!!!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic it will take time. i found a guitar. just need to save to buy it then more steps to learn.
I could definitely get used to more Sabbath videos from you 😆 Awesome content!! 👍
Sabbath is the first band I became infatuated with when I was just a little kid in the early 70s. I had my grandma make a Halloween costume based on the cover of Paranoid...not a damned person knew who I was supposed to be. My mom used to photograph concerts at The Warehouse in New Orleans and I was on stage with Ozzy when I was 2.
Wicked World actually was included on the first album, but just the US version of the album
1975 Heard it on the X by ZZ TOP. Killer Riff !
I could never get that timing count right in the S Bloody S song(coming from the G down to the E barre).Glad you included that. The S Bloody S album is the only one I loved (more prog, varied, finessed, dare I say tasteful).Excellent album from a singer that snorts ants off a pavement for fun. Do a vid on the best Bad Co riffs & leads."Good Lovin' Gone Bad" smokes!!!!! Ralphs tuned in "C" at times so he could just play one-finger barres on any fret and had 3 fingers free. That's rock! Thx, Carl Iommi !
growing up Black Sabbath, Grand Funk, Jethro Tull listening with my friends
Fantastic video and riff selection from their best albums! Black Sabbath is one of my two my favorite bands, listened to them as a teenager starting with Paranoid. Supernaut is my all time favorite song, and you played it and all of them perfectly. Well done! Really enjoy your channel.
Thank you!!
Carl, you’re excitement for what Iommi produced is both infectious and understandable. Great vid as always. Thanks!
More sabbath pls Really enjoy the theoretical breakdown, I've never really thought about these songs like that. Pretty sure the main reason they tuned down was to suit ozies voice. Cheers
Actually the reason they started tuning down to c# or 1 1/2 step down so it was easier on Tony’s fingers. He was able to bend notes etc easier.
Great to see your interest in Sabbath. I felt the same since age 16 in 1988....deep heavy grooves.....
What a treat; love the crucifix accoutrements! There's a nice little revelatory bit (around 24m 30s) during your demo of the "tri-tone sandwich" in Symptom of the Universe that's essentially the opening to "Black Sabbath". This was so much fun! It's like looking at a great painting, the artist's put all the work in and one just wanders up and gets to soak it up. Thanks, man. Great job!
Thank you very much!!!!
Excellent song choices. Huge Sabbath fan and these are all some of my favorites. It's hard for me not to see Into the Void here -- but Master of Reality already got two from you so I can't complain! The whole album's unmatched
Incredible video!! I know you made this a year ago, but I hope that you continue to do more stuff with sabboth… Great stuff
Excellent - as always. For me, you're the best song analyst of rock guitar on YT. I always learn something new musically from your analyses. Commiserations - what had you been missing from Sabbath for all those years?😆
That’s so kind! …and lucky me that I get to hear it all so fresh for the 1st time so many years hence!!
Thanks Brother, that was very cool
Great video!!
Awesome..loved Black Sabbath..all great riffs..so enjoyed watching...those first couple of albums were fantastic..Spiral Architecht is so beautiful..never noticed Tony Iommi played left handed like me till I started playing guitar!🌌🎸
I continue to learn words that describe what I hear but cant express... "Suspended Resolution". Damn you are a Wizard.
Haha! So glad you get a kick out it!
@@CarlBaldassarreMusic i hear it all the time now. The half step resolve. Sounds so... Sabbethy lol. You are a gem, my friend.