Black Sabbath – War Pigs

War Pigs drum sheet music – a note-for-note transcription of Bill Ward’s drum part on Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”, from the album Paranoid (1970). Every groove, fill and cymbal hit is written out from the original recording in a clean, print-ready PDF.

About the drum part

“War Pigs” opens Black Sabbath’s Paranoid and shows Bill Ward at his best: heavy, swinging and full of jazz-influenced fills. It is one of the most loved drum parts in early heavy metal.

The intro is in a slow 12/8 feel. In the verses the drums play sparse crash hits with the vocal, over eighth notes on the hi-hat foot, with grace-note snare and tom fills between the lines. The faster sections shuffle along with busy sixteenth-note, sextuplet and triplet fills around the kit, and the solo section rides a crash-driven eighth-note groove.

What’s in the War Pigs drum sheet music

This War Pigs drum sheet music labels every section (intro, verses, bridges, choruses and solo), counts the long repeats, and writes out all of Bill Ward’s fills exactly – including the fast sextuplets and triplets.

Looking for War Pigs drum tabs? This is full drum notation on a five-line staff, so it shows the exact rhythm of every note – something tabs can’t do.

Song facts

• Artist: Black Sabbath
• Album: Paranoid (1970)
• Drummer: Bill Ward
• Tempo: ♩ ≈ 90
• Time signature: 12/8 intro, then 4/4
• Style: Heavy metal
• Level: Advanced

What you get

• The full song, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording
• Clearly labelled song sections
• Professionally engraved, print-ready PDF
• Instant download after purchase

How to practise War Pigs on drums

Once you have the War Pigs drum sheet music, here is a good way to learn it:

1. Count the verse rests. The verse hits are sparse – count and listen to the vocal.
2. Practise the fills slowly. Ward’s fills are fast and swung. Learn each one at half speed.
3. Feel the shuffle. Keep the swing feel in the faster sections relaxed.
4. Track the repeats. Use the bar counts to know when each section ends.

Reading tips for this chart

• Open and closed hi-hat are marked with a small “o” (open) and “+” (closed) above the note. The timing of the openings is part of the groove, so follow them closely.
• Repeat bars (the slash signs) mean “play the previous bar or bars again”. The small numbers above them count the bars so you do not lose your place.
• Time-signature changes are written exactly where they happen. When a new one appears, count the smallest note value (eighths or sixteenths) until it feels natural.
• Grace notes and flams are the small notes just before the main note. Play them softly and slightly ahead of the beat.
• Section labels in boxes (such as I, V1, C1) name each part of the song – intro, verse, chorus and so on – so you can find your place quickly.

Who is it for?

This War Pigs drum sheet music is for advanced drummers and fans of classic heavy metal who want to learn Bill Ward’s fill vocabulary and swing feel.

More Black Sabbath drum sheet music

You might also like Iron Man, and the rest of the Black Sabbath drum sheet music collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is this War Pigs drum sheet music the full song?

Yes. It is the complete drum part, transcribed note-for-note from the original recording on Paranoid. Nothing is simplified.

Is it a drum tab or real notation?

It is real drum notation, the standard way drum parts are written. If you are used to tabs, it is worth the switch – notation shows rhythm exactly, which tabs can’t.

How do I get the PDF after I buy?

The download link appears straight after checkout and is also sent to your email. You can print the PDF or read it on a tablet.

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