The 6 LEVELS of Iron Man (Main Riff)

[@wezzlyn]

Those slides are essential to playing Sabbath. Once you get fluent with Sabbath riffs they sorta come naturally. I bet he doesn't even consciously do them.

[@angelmolina1744]

Who needs to sleep? Not me, time to grab the guitar

[@Catalist21]

Angel Molina same

[@alig.20]

So bad I live in an Apartment.

[@tenzing2090]

@@alig.20 You don't have to crank the volume to crazy levels. Doesn't matter if you live in an apartment. You can play it at low level.

[@jcvks4526]

Good job Markiplier 👍

[@OklahomaRedneck918]

Jcvks omfg i never thought of that but its so accurate

[@supramusic9667]

He looks like a high Markiplier

[@salemgothic9436]

OMFG LOL

[@salemgothic9436]

If MARKIPLIER didn't hit puberty lol

[@Jsssddfgffghshdhdhusjsjd]

I was expecting someone would say that's racist. I don't even care really

[@tilltheend17]

Where were these videos when I was in the 6th grade trying to learn?! This is how you teach a riff!

[@studioofshred1050]

i cut off my finger tips to play sabbath

[@markriffalo27]

STUDIO OF SHRED oh you!

[@devinthierault]

burgerlice I Oh Me

[@OklahomaRedneck918]

Devin Tariel oh my!

[@HaydenofEverything]

Noice

[@yurtttttt96]

STUDIO OF SHRED I mean if Toni can make these riffs with artificial fingers...🤷🏻‍♂️

[@med3049]

I saw Sabbath perform live at Ozzfest in 1998, I was in the fourth row directly in front of Tony. That night he started the B on the sixth string, seventh fret but moved to the fifth string fifth fret for the D. He would than play the rest of the riff on the fifth string ending on the E which is on the fifth string, seventh fret. He would than jump up to the sixth string, seventh fret to start the riff again. I have also seen old footage (circa 1970) where he plays it exactly as you show. When I first learned this riff, I played it up and down the neck on the fifth string until that night at Alpine Valley in '98.

[@RC32Smiths01]

How about the 150 levels of Cliffs of Dover?

[@notibutthespicegirls9372]

RC32 👍 yes

[@thattigkid7015]

RC32 LMAO It’s so tru tho

[@johncourter2254]

Considering he can't play this right I'd LOVE to see that :P

[@AndriyVasylenko]

How about levels of 'Symphony of Destruction'?)

[@emperordraygon]

Andriy Vasylenko Aguante!

[@cannonfodder4507]

Andriy Vasylenko hey dude! Love your Metallica videos!;)

[@rae5425]

AGUANTE

[@alexvaldivia1855]

Hi FRIEND

[@actividadesdiversasnoespec3228]

Andriy Vasylenko Hi Frrriend!

[@nicobastidas999]

I don’t know how to play the guitar and still watch all this videos lol

[@math.mouraa]

nicolas bastidas same here

[@RyanChaos.0]

nicolas bastidas I’m a drummer that watches these. Then about a month ago a friend gave me his cheap strat copy because he got a new guitar. Now I play guitar I guess lol.

[@onemoreseptember2550]

|-/ how's the hiatus going?

[@MtMars]

@@onemoreseptember2550 id say its over wouldnt you?

[@burningthefields]

Was a drummer, picked up a guitar about a year and three quarters ago, and I haven't gone back to drums since.

[@flohardy2000]

Whole lotta love please

[@HailFireAndIce]

This comment right here pls

[@robbieclark7828]

It’s very important

[@mikegorski065]

I love the fact your revisting the classics & teaching them the correct & more accurate way. As you said, in honoring them. Really respectful to the greats.

[@1PUTTZ]

Level 8: Tune your guitar down 1 1/2 steps to C#. Thanks for another great "Levels" episode!

[@wompus6570]

The original song is in E standard though.

[@devinthierault]

The tuning down started in the album after this

[@lawrencemichaelis5908]

No Toni always tuned down a minor 3rd.

[@wompus6570]

Lawrence Michaelis Tony played in standard on the first 2 albums and then in C# for the rest of them, although I believe that that ther were a few albums where he tuned back up to E or Eb. And during live performances, he tunes down a step to Eb also, and I think to C for songs that were in C#.

[@wezzlyn]

Iommi uses very light strings as well, making his tone even more unique

[@Javier-cz6mh]

Sabbath and Zelda. Great combination

[@tanekheath5323]

Javier agreed

[@officialdinodoestuff]

What about sunshine of your love or master of puppets

[@Scott-J]

This is such a great series for learning. It has opened my eyes and ears to the details of performances. Thank you so much.

[@oravlaful]

Nice to see that after so many years of playing i got all but 1 of these details on my own

[@johnvolk9354]

My god the tone is spot on

[@Kornalisch]

i love how you mention every detail and explain it, you're a great teacher! :D

[@ft9924]

Love your attitude and approach here. Working toward getting it accurate is the way to go. These songs deserve that respect.

[@LordFenixBloodstone]

Been playing this song on bass for 37 years and on guitar 35 years, and yes I I knew all of the levels you did and even the slide at the end. Now here's the kicker out of about 100 guitarist that has played this riff only 1, yes only 1 has ever played it right the others I had to tell them there is so much more to it than what you think. But hey great job at this as a true Sabbath fan I hate when it's played wrong. Keep up the great work.

[@alexhurt2882]

I love these videos because most tutorials for these songs don't do the really small details, and I can hear that I'm wrong but don't know why. Keep up the awesome videos!

[@timthel0rd]

These are fucking fascinating. Really illustrates the difference between good players and the masters of their art.

[@maxdurk4624]

A big powerful slide before starting something like that is one the absolute sickest tricks you can ever do on a guitar. Dave Mustaine does that all the time.

[@tommywho924]

First song I learned from start to finish. Still love playing it. Glad I learned it correctly apparently!

[@FalconBass]

Thanks for these videos, these are very helpful!

[@pvanukoff]

Really enjoying these "X levels of X" videos.

[@nashbueno]

I wish I had seen this video a couple of years ago. It took me so long to figure out all the little bits and details of level six on my own. You're a blessing to beginners.

[@danishhussain7127]

whenever i watch your videos, it shows me how much big differences tiny things can make. love your videos,

[@olympiothegreat9381]

"Sultans of Swing" by The Dire Straits would be awesome!

[@mitchfindergeneral]

Minutia like this is crucial to building your guitar feel.

[@hfl_]

Wow great job! You're definitely on a role with these videos. Cheers.

[@scottmagness9575]

I think these videos are amazing. They really do show the progression I myself have gone through. More please!

[@MichaelPetersen]

You had me hooked at the "broen eyed girl" video. These Levels videos are awesome and it just shows that there is so much more to playing these songs than you catch first. Also, as a rookie guitar player it gets me locked in at level 1 and a way to progress from there.

[@101SnowAU]

Been trying to get myself up to a point to sign up to your website. Your shirt was the tipping point.

[@7ime7one]

After level 6 I was like "wait what about that slide, what about that slide" and got unnecessarily pumped when you mentioned it :)

[@RAvery41]

Cool lesson, got it. love it. Love playing the electric after years of Spanish Clasisical which I like also but love these metal Riffs.

[@Brandonmtlhd]

It's amazing how many times I see this riff played differently. Not to say much of the alternate ways are wrong but you can definitely tell the difference. This sounds about as close to the record as you can get.

[@Flendar]

Learned it, loving these levels of videos.

[@AnnaVahtera]

It took me awhile to point who you reminded me about, but now I can't unsee it. Dude, you constantly remind me of Per Gessle.

[@dictatorrich3412]

I think 4 levels of thunderstruck would make a great episode for this! Legato ---> Pick every other note ---> Alternate pick every note ----> BONUS...legato with your hands in the air! Keep it up, nonetheless. This series is great.

[@Peachrockes]

this is why i love music. i have been playing bass for 6 7 years and this little things just make music so much better! even after listening to a song the one hundredth time i notice something new in a song!!!! ^.^

[@georgespringer3897]

I knew it was the slide. I was thinking *It’s the slide! It’s the slide!* and it was - I love these videos. Thanks Mike!

[@CassidyMartin1028]

I like to play the iron Man riff in Drop D tuning starting off the riff with a power chord on the 1st fret and then going from there. It gives a real heavy tone and sounds awesome in my opinion

[@DelaryHap]

That plus bending the strings behind the neck must sound killer \m/

[@marksawyer6095]

Love to get all these little details, they make the riff sound so much better.

[@patrickmonnin2264]

Love these types of videos

[@deathlove0211]

I love this series! Most because I'm a rookie myself haha

[@mottle_]

Oh man, I've been playing this (along with Enter Sandman) wrong the whole time. Glad you have these videos to keep us humble!

[@lukalesson563lesson2]

New camera ??? Better quality now then last video

[@TheArtofGuitar]

No just different lighting. I don't like it, makes me look sweaty...well sweaty-er. ;)

[@lukalesson563lesson2]

The-Art-of-Guitar to me look like I am in room with you that is awesome but do what ever you want 😊

[@markhurlebaus4296]

Make this a series

[@markhurlebaus4296]

You really got me van halen cover is commonly messed up

[@jaimerojas6578]

Yeah I noticed too

[@dr.derplols8312]

I always learn something new here, thanks for the help!

[@darrensjames]

G'day Mike, I'm really loving these videos. They are very helpful. Thank you.

[@MartinSkrtelsDad]

This is a great series Mike! Keep it up

[@howtoofficia]

That tone and guitar is perfect together

[@PaulKirtley]

Superb detail. Thanks!

[@cansado6751]

Helped me out so much before this video I had know idea how to play it and now I know how to play the last level!

[@Zach-yh7kh]

I really like the way you teach us how you play it ! Keep this up :)

[@supermellow1x265]

Oh I so want to learn this one day

[@peachesnscream]

what i like to do at the very end instead of a slide is a pull off from C back to B so instead of the big descend you just go to that 8th fret and move down hit the 7th, then start the riff over

[@NatefousAnand]

New camera? Looks sharp and HD! Great video as always!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Naw just new blinding lights that make me look greasy. Haha. Looks like I have no choice now, people keep mentioning it looks clearer. :0

[@andreicucu8230]

The-Art-of-Guitar don t buy a new camera

[@KHANPIN]

I'm loving this series, keep it up man!

[@grabbing]

Pick-slide-pick-slide-pick-slide :-) Love these "Levels of..." videos. Great teaching!

[@migueal8731]

That slide at the end makes it sound so epicc

[@montroski9652]

I love these kinds of videos

[@SimianMan]

This series is fantastic, thanks!

[@SrSacaninha]

You're amazing, man. Keep up the good work!

[@Jasyyn1]

I like to stick with 5th string root notes, but sprinkle in some inversions by grabbing the low 5th note on the 6th string and palm muting (mainly for the quick section).

[@newhampshirenate]

I always thought BS tuned down, but I just learned that the first 2 albums were standard tuning. The main riff actually starts on "B", but recent live recordings it's "A", but he is on the 7th fret, so they tuned down to "D". Some stuff was recorded in "C#" tuning, like Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

[@gohomermouth]

"Try to honor the metal gods by trying to play the riff as close as possible" LOL if that's the case, then Tony would probably kill me xD Joke aside, it's been 3 years now since I learnt this song and can say that I started somewhere at level 5.5 :P (didn't do that slide thing, that audio illusion part) but all of these levels are just totally spot on! Tony's riffs are just so awesome that they sound perfect in any level! (Black Sabbath fan boy here xD ) Great vid like always (nice HD btw :P )

[@andygucker1314]

Great video! Why not a "Can't Stop" levels?

[@vikram8578]

Andy Gucker OMG YES. This song for sure

[@TheTribute410]

He also slides into the first power chord a lot when he’s playing Live after the first full riff

[@yoshingui1681]

such perfect tone

[@musikk83]

Mike, the legend of how to play it right!! thank you man!!

[@west_8189]

Level 1 was exactly the way I played it the first time😂

[@guydumas2729]

the lesson i needed... i was in a dead end.. Merci A . O " G

[@PallyNut]

I play a combination of levels 3,5 and 6 I play chords on 5th string, i do slides and i knew about the pause.. the third long slide will be added to my playstyle.. Keep up the good content

[@jordanevans3507]

The Art of Tone Damn 😍

[@nathanbraswell7673]

Your SG is really cool looking. And I usually hate SGs, especially large guard SGs

[@acogzxin2963]

You honestly deserve more subs dude

[@gebno5299]

2:35 - 2:40 lol that's so true

[@EvanSchatz]

As a pretty newb guitarist I was real happy there because even I realize the power chords sound different on E rather than A

[@guitarsandweightbars9537]

Yes! there is definitely a difference! But it's all preference. I prefer the brighter sound of the A string. Same with the song Paranoid. I always play both of those songs on the A string just because I like the brighter (more aggressive) sound. But some like the darker Tony Iommi sound, so then play it on the E string.

[@slamrules2529]

Thanks didn't know some details in level 6

[@jackwiedemann]

Wow i don't play guitar and i have no idea how i ended up here, but the first thing i realized in any of your levels 1-5 was that something was wrong and it definitely is the long slide. Only the 6th level sounds right to me and i would add that long silde before anything else, it's really the most important thing!

[@dmitryWeirdo]

I always played everything with the details, since it’s what the riff sounds on the record. The only non-clear thing is playing everything on E and A strings, and I read about it in Iommi’s interview several years after learning the riff.

[@patrickp8446]

Love these videos

[@digijohnny2501]

I love these, keep them coming!

[@MetalCheeseDeathAttack]

It's interesting cuz I've been doing a lot of the smaller details sub consciously for a while now. For the most part I've done the basic pick and slide stuff, and even that wasn't intentional. But the rest and the slide from G to D just always happened naturally for me. As for the slide at the end, I've only ever done it down back to B, since mainly I've used the slide up during the single not stuff in the verse to give it more flair. But I wonder if a lot of these details came naturally just cuz I've listened to the song so many times? Huge Sabbath fan, this Riff never gets old!

[@joejones9520]

very true, like you are able to see into my guitar past!

[@galaxyoutcast7377]

I couldn't keep my eyes off that giant vein in his left arm

[@ryanninnes5580]

h u l k m o d e

[@MrMrSPRIKE]

LOVE THE TONE!!!!

[@thunderjeep08]

This video series is awesome!

[@Celtic_Nutter]

DUDE. That was amazing!

[@chanchoconcadena]

You a are a Master , congratulations for you channel sorry for my inglish. I'm from argentina and learn so much with your videos

[@brettd2308]

While I first learned this at level 3, I later saw a tab book that showed it like the level 6, including the upwards slide at the end. So I relearned it that way, only for my guitar friends to try to tell me that wasn't how it was played XD

[@MrRafaelSencio]

I like those tips so much! Thanks!

[@NineEleven1]

Nice series. Keep it up

[@lIlIANONYMOUSIlIl]

There is more levels if you wanna go ham like Randy or Zakk. I think Randy ends the first measure, using an open high e and b strings together on the tribute album.

[@hawg427]

I like these 6 levels of" " that you've been putting out. :-)

[@freddielizard]

Nice!!! i used to play level 5 for years!

[@cranberrysack2139]

My guy mike! Thx man! Even though I am taught under Tim, I still appreciate your advice!

[@LoveSetMatchTennis]

you are a great guitar teacher!

[@HannahCope88]

Love this riff, what are the chances that I should watch this video exactly 3 years after it was uploaded.