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Key
E
Difficulty
Intermediate
Capo
None
Chords
E · G · D · Em
War Pigs Chords – Guitar
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Key
E
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
E · G · D · Em
War Pigs Chords – Ukulele
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Key
E
Difficulty
Intermediate
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
E · G · D · Em
War Pigs Chords – Piano
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Key
E
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
E · G · D · Em
War Pigs Chords – Banjo
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Key
E
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
E · G · D · Em
War Pigs Chords – Mandolin
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Key
E
Difficulty
Intermediate
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
E · G · D · Em
War Pigs Chords – Harmonica
Black Sabbath’s anti-war anthem from their 1970 album “Paranoid”. Intermediate difficulty in the key of E.
Heavy Rock (4/4 Time)
↓↓↓↓↓↓
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Tip: Use heavy downstrokes and palm muting for the main riff; the tempo is slow and deliberate.
Chords & Structure
Full Song
Intro Riff
(Play main riff)
Verse 1
E
A
E
A
E
A
E
A
Chorus
G
D
A
E
Verse 2
E
A
E
A
E
A
E
A
Chorus
G
D
A
E
Bridge / Solo Section
E
Verse 3 / Outro
E
A – E (×3)
Final Chorus
G
D
A
E
Outro
E
A – E (×7)
E
Practice tip: Master the main E-A riff and the chord changes to G and D before adding the vocals; the power of this song comes from locking in the slow, heavy groove with the bass and drums.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "War Pigs"?
You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: E, G, D and Em.
Is "War Pigs" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of E, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "War Pigs" in?
It is in the key of E.
Who wrote "War Pigs"?
It was written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, and released in 1970.