My set up is fairly simple. I have an Ibenez EX350, with a Floyd Rose floating bridge, or my Epiphone SG, hooked into an Ibenez RP50 Digital Phrase Sampler. The Line Out to the sampler goes to my Fender Champ 50 watt amp, or I sometimes just plug in my head set for those hard-to-hear parts. Typically, I'll use the stereo jacks, but with multiple guitar over lays, I find a mono jack really handy! The Phrase Sampler has an input from the stereo for recording the section of a song you want to copy.

My guitar plug goes either to the Sampler or to my Marshall Model 8100, 200 watt amp, or through the phrase sampler to the headset. When using the amp, I run through a Boss MT-2 Metal Zone, then to a DOD FX80 Compressor. I feel that this gives me the '70's sound of the SG Tony played then. If I want the more modern sound of his guitar, I just go straight to the Marshall and use the on board effects.

When it is hard to hear the licks, I plug the guitar into the sampler and do phrase sampling through the headsets.

When the notes are tough, you can break them into individual notes or short groups with the Sampler. It will digitally record up to 15 seconds of a phrase, but with a little timing from the stereo, you can easily record short bits of lead. It can slow the piece to 1/2 speed without changing octaves. This little device has helped improve my lead 200%!!!
Other equipment I use when transcribing are an Ernie Ball Voulme Pedal, Cry Baby Wah (an Original!), MXR Dynacomp, and to tune, a Korg DT-3 Chromatic Digital Tuner ,and I use .09 gage strings on the guitars for E & Eb tunings, .10 for C# tunings.

---------------------- e <-1st string {High e string}
---------------------- B <-2nd string
---------------------- D <-3rd string
---------------------- G <-4th string
---------------------- A <-5th string
---------------------- E <-6th string {Low E string}

[p] [f] Dynamic Marks
p=piano (soft) f=forte (hard) m=mezzo (moderately)

EXAMPLES:
[mf] moderately hard
[ff] very hard
[ppp] very soft
[mf>>p] from moderately hard to soft


--7^(9)[rm h]11`-- Right Hand Hammer On
Bend the string at the fret indicated to the tone of the secondary note, then with your right hand, use a finger, [rm] to hammer [h] the fret indicated following the "h". In this sample, bend the string at the 7th fret to the tone of the 9th fret, then with your right middle finger "hammer" or tap, the string on the fret indicated. In this case, the 11th fret, then release the 11th fret {`}.
ri=right index finger
rm=right middle finger
rr=right ring finger
rp=right pinky finger


---5h7-- Hammer On.
Play the first note as normal, then strike the higher note.


--7p5-- Pull Off.
Play the first note normally, then pull your finger off the higher note, sounding the second note.


--5^(7)--Bend Up.
Play the first note normally, then bend the string so that the sound of the second note matches the fret indicated by the parenthesied () note.

--(7`5)--Pre Bend (Early Tabs)
A pre bend is a note that is bent on the string (On my early tabs) indicated and to the tone indicated by the 1st note written, but ast the fret location of the 2nd note written, followed by the "`".It also indicates that the pre bend is released down to that note.

--(^5{7}`5)-- Pre Bend(Newer Tabs)
The note played at the fret shown (the 1st number in the bracket is bent(^) to the position indicated by number in the {} bracket and then released (`) to the original note. This release does no always follow a Pre Bend. I changed it to this method because I thought it made more sense.

--5/7-- Slide Up
Play the first note and slide your finger up to the second note indicated.

--7\5-- Slide Down
Play the first note indicated, then slide your finger down to the second note on the notation.

--(7)\-5- Ghost Slide
There are times when a "volumed in", (vp in) note has no true beginning, ie, Into the Void, Cross Purposes Live. Basically, begin the slide at the note enclosed in the parentheses and slide down to the second note. It's a guess as to the beginning of the slide. The slide can be up or down the fret board.

--(5\)-7- Ghost Slide
Opposite of the above. Begin the slide at the note the parenthesis, and slide up or down to the note indicated.

--x-x-- Muted string
A note with no numeric equivelant that is played by muting the string(s) indicated and playing or the string(s).

--(xx)-- Ghost Mute
Same as above, however the ghost notes are often fills that happen quickly in a song.

--7~-- Vibrato
Play the note indicated and quickly "wiggle" your finger to create a quick wavering sound. The sound should be about 1/8 step up and down.

-5^(7~)- Bent Note
Play the first note then bend the string to the second note indicated, and use vibrato on the bent note.

-----
-----
--7--
--7--
--5--
-----
u
Up Stroke
Play the chord or note indicated and stroke from the "e" string

-----
-----
--7--
--7--
--5--
-----
d
Down Stroke
Play the chord or note indicated and stroke the strings from the "E" string down.

-5h7p5h7p5h7p5- Trill (Early Tabs)
A series of quickly played hammer on and pull offs at the notes indicated. An essential part of Tony's hot style!!

(2h4 tr~~~~) Trill (Newer Tabs)
Same as above, but I changed it after 14 Sept 97. It saves space while transcribing, and is more descriptive.

{..pm..} Palm Mute
Play the notes indicated but with your pick hand, slightly mute the notes with the palm or edge of your hand. Another essential to Tony's style!!

{..vp in..} Volumn Pedal IN
Use a volumn pedal and play the note or chord indicated so that you have a "fade in" effect.

{..vp out..} Volumn Pedal OUT
Opposite of the above.

-----
--2--
--2--
--2--
--0--
-----
{ss}
Slow Strum
A chord that when played is strummed so that individual notes are distinguishable, but still has the body and sound of a chord.

* Asterix
Nothing played--just a symbol to help you follow a progression of notes that might otherwise be confusing (for example: arpegio playing).

--7[~\3]-- Tremolo Down
Using your tremolo bar, bend the note to the sound of the second note indicated.

--7[~/9]-- Tremolo Up
Opposite of the above.



-----x-
----x--
---7---
--7----
-5-----
-------

Arpegio
A chord that each note in the chord is played individually, giving a melodic effect. Sometimes an arpegio is played quickly, but not always.

[9] Harmonic Note
A note played so that the string is lightly touched with your fret hand and picked so that a harmonic "ring" is played.

Two great sources for learning Tony Iommi's style and techniques can be found on the Star Licks Master Series Cassette/Video, dated 1984.

Also, Tony is now doing a monthly column in Guitar World Magazine, entitled "Heaven and Hell". You can get an audio version of his lesson at:br> Guitar World On Line /center

By far, IMHO, if you're interested in emulating Tony's style, or the style of any other guitarist, the best thing to do is sit down in a quiet room, plug in your axe, put the head sets on, and practice, practice, practice!!!

Be sure to check the pages I have linked! They are great sources for tab, general information, photos, bootleg music, and guitar instruction. Ya gotta check out "Chops From Hell". It is THE best learning tool for an Axe Grinder on the web!!

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The Black Sabbath Mailing List (BSML)
Finally, write Joe Siegler and ask to be added to the Black Sabbath Mailing List. You can get info from Joe via the links on my page. There you'll find many other Sabbath Fans talking about everything to do with Sabbath! (And I mean EVERYTHING!)

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Official Pages of Sabbath Members

Tony Iommi
{You'll find my page along with Mike James' page in the Clinic Tablature Links!!}
Ozzy Osbourne
Bill Ward
Cozy Powell
Ian Gillan
Vinny Appice
Ronnie James Dio

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Good Luck, have fun, and e-mail me if you have questions or comments! I love transcribing these great tunes and I hope you enjoy the tablature.