Transcribing Notes From John Neil (Head Transcriber)
Paranoid – Black Sabbath – Song Breakdown
A very busy production, many tracks — multiple pianos, guitars etc. I simplified things a bit for this arrangement.
Melody
This iconic Black Sabbath song was actually written as an afterthought, to fill a needed 3 minute gap in the album which came to be titled the same. It then got lots of airplay because it was a short song. The vocals – unsurprisingly about depression and drugs, have the range of D4-Bb4.
Download the Melody Music Here
Keyboard
There isn’t a keyboard part in this song, so I made up a part based on the bass and guitar. It specifies electric piano (you might want to distort it a bit to fit the tone), but can be played on any keyboard sound, really.
Download the Keyboard Sheet Music Here
Lead Guitar
The guitars consist of a rhythm part, which is doubled left and right, and a lead part over that at the solo section, which is panned more left, and put through a ring modulator which is panned more right. This part has that solo, as well as the rhythm guitar part panned to the left.
Download the Lead Guitar Tab Here
Rhythm Guitar
This part contains the rhythm guitar that’s panned right, and the general rhythm guitar during the solo section.
Download the Rhythm Guitar Tab Here
Strum Guitar
There isn’t an acoustic strum part of this song, so a part was made up to keep you strumming. It’s quite basic, but has some quick change from the G to D chords.
Download the Strum Tab Here
Bass
An aggressive bass part played with the fingers. Lots of fast 8th notes to keep your fingers moving.
Download the Bass Tab Here
Drums
A good rocking drum part with lots and lots of bass drum (constant 8th notes most of the time).
Download the Drum Music Here
Download the Lead Sheet Here
