Iron Man

Key: B minor (detuned to Bb on record)

Chord Progression: B5 -> D5 -> E5 -> G5 -> F#5 -> G5 -> F#5 -> E5 -> D5 -> E5 (power chord based)

Time Signature: 4/4 with deliberate pauses creating a "lurching" feel

Notable Techniques

• Riff SPACING -- the gaps between notes are as important as the notes
• Tritone intervals for darkness (Devil's interval)
• Iommi's detuned guitars (necessity from finger injury = heavier sound)
• Stop-start syncopation creates "stomping" effect
• Robotic vocal filter: metal fan in front of mic (low-tech genius)
• Doubled vocals in chorus for thickness
• Vocal melody follows guitar riff = unity

Emotional Effectiveness

• SLOWNESS is the secret -- feels like inevitable doom approaching
• Tragic sci-fi story: hero becomes villain through rejection
• First-person POV creates empathy with monster
• Restraint makes explosive sections feel bigger
• Isolation in lyrics ("Nobody wants him") resonates emotionally

Production Elements

• Raw, live feel from 5-day album recording session
• Guitar tone came from Iommi's finger injury adaptations
• Practical effects (fan for robot voice)
• Minimal overdubs -- power from performance not production

Songwriting Tricks

• Let riffs BREATHE -- don't fill every moment
• Try singing along with your riff -- natural hooks emerge when voice mirrors guitar
• Character POV pulls listeners into the story
• Slow build: restraint makes release feel bigger
• Tragedy arc: inevitability creates more tension than surprise
• Voice + instrument unity (vocal line follows riff) = cohesion
• "Happy accidents" can become hooks (Ozzy's "I am Iron Man" intro was improvised)