How Black Sabbath's "Into The Void" Track From Their Master Of Reality Album, Can Take Your Playing To A New Level

A lot of musicians want to play their own way these days and that's all fine and good. But you need to learn from some of the masters of rock and metal. Black Sabbath is one of those bands you need to learn from, even if all you play is jazz fusion or even folk music. Doesn't matter.

A lot of Sabbath material is blues based and you'd be well advised to heed my words, or be forever floundering in shit ass bands that take you no where. Just my opinion. The intro to Into the Void has a
strong bass like chord and riff structure that's all Geezer Butler. Even Ozzy's vocals are based on the lead and bass riffs if you listen closely.

Near the end of the song Tony Iommi's playing structure takes on not just a heavier tone, but more of a melodic bass and almost jazz like texture that's ingrained in this song. What you want to do is learn how to infuse these types of playing and phrasing in your heavier material. It all stems from more of a blues like foundation.

With the advent of certain music software, you have the ability to play along and play your own way. But I always implore musicians to find an actual long play album, yes vinyl, and play to that. Playing with actual analog recordings will serve you better in the long run to learn to be creative as an axeman. Take certain chord structures from,"Into the Void" switch them around to suit your playing or musical style and inject into your mix.

Really astute players and fans of your music will hear the little nuances of Sabbath like material, or even Zakk Wylde or Geezer Butler influences. If you want to take your playing to new heights, learn from classic material like Sabbath.

Mark Grove