Iron Man
Required String Notes:E - A - D - G - B - E
Tune to Standard ESong Overview & Tuning Breakdown
"Iron Man" by Black Sabbath is played in Standard E (E - A - D - G - B - E). No retuning is needed if your guitar is already in standard tuning. Black Sabbath uses this same tuning on 2 other songs in our catalog, so you can stay tuned and keep playing.
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Tunings Close to Standard E
Already tuned to E - A - D - G - B - E? These tunings are just one small change away.
Drop D Tuning130 songs
D - A - D - G - B - EOnly string 6 differs: D instead of E.Half-Step Down / Eb Standard109 songs
Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Bb - EbSame chord shapes, every string a half step lower.D Standard / Whole-Step Down86 songs
D - G - C - F - A - DSame chord shapes, every string a whole step lower.AADGBE Tuning19 songs
A - A - D - G - B - EOnly string 6 differs: A instead of E.Black Sabbath’s Guitar Tunings
Black Sabbath plays 3 of 10 songs in our catalog in Standard E. Most-used tunings:
- Standard EE - A - D - G - B - E3 songs
Gear for Standard E
Strings and tools that make playing "Iron Man" in Standard E easier.
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010–.046)
Recommended gauge .010–.046. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.
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“Iron Man” Tuning FAQ
What tuning is "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath in?
"Iron Man" is played in Standard E: E - A - D - G - B - E, from the lowest to the highest string. That is standard tuning, so no retuning is needed.
What string gauge should I use for Standard E?
Use a .010–.046 set. Tension stays close to standard, so a regular set works without any setup changes.
Which other Black Sabbath songs use this tuning?
"Feels Good to Me", "Paramoid" — all in E - A - D - G - B - E, so you can play them without retuning.
More Songs by Black Sabbath
Explore other guitar tunings recorded by Black Sabbath:
Other Songs in Standard E
Once tuned to E - A - D - G - B - E, try playing these tracks next: