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Guitar Songs, Tabs & Lessons

Ozzy Osbourne

38 guitar songs · Tabs, Lessons & Tone Guide Heavy Metal

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No More Tears Zakk Wylde - Guitar Tab Guitar Tab

No More Tears Zakk Wylde - Guitar Tab

YouTube Stats: 1.7M · 30K

Mr. Tabs Guitar Tab
Goodbye To Romance - Guitar Tab Guitar Tab

Goodbye To Romance - Guitar Tab

YouTube Stats: 14K · 483

StephLeGratteux Guitar Tab
Crazy Train Pt.1 - Main Riff & Verse - Guitar Lesson Guitar Lesson

Crazy Train Pt.1 - Main Riff & Verse - Guitar Lesson

YouTube Stats: 2.4M · 26K

GuitarLessons365SongLessons Guitar Lesson
Crazy Train - Guitar Cover Guitar Cover

Crazy Train - Guitar Cover

YouTube Stats: 904K · 26K

Kfir Ochaion Guitar Cover

Artist Overview

History and Guitar Legacy

Ozzy Osbourne's solo career began in 1980 after leaving Black Sabbath, built entirely around recruiting extraordinary guitarists. Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde, and Gus G. each defined distinct eras with their own guitar identity. Rather than one signature Ozzy sound, his catalog represents a lineage of elite players who continually pushed Heavy Metal and Hard Rock forward across multiple decades and styles.

Playing Style and Techniques

Ozzy's guitarists showcase neoclassical shred, blues-rock power, aggressive thrash-influenced riffing, and melodic ballad work. Randy Rhoads pioneered classical composition within metal using arpeggiated sequences, harmonic minor runs, and symphonic solo construction. Jake E. Lee brought blues-infused aggression with tapping and relentless riffing. Zakk Wylde delivered signature pentatonic fury, pinch harmonics, and heavy Les Paul-through-Marshall tone. Each guitarist established distinct techniques that remain foundational to modern metal playing.

Why Guitarists Study Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy's catalog functions as a masterclass in lead guitar across decades and multiple styles. His albums document the evolution of heavy metal guitar from classical fusion to modern shred. For guitarists seeking well-rounded development, studying this discography offers exposure to compositional sophistication, technical innovation, and diverse playing approaches. The combination of legendary players and iconic songs makes Ozzy's music one of the most rewarding catalogs to work through.

Difficulty and Learning Path

Ozzy's material ranges from approachable to brutally demanding. Ballads like 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' suit intermediate players developing clean tone and expressive soloing. 'Bark at the Moon' and 'Crazy Train' present accessible riffs with challenging solos for dedicated intermediate players. Randy Rhoads material, particularly 'Mr. Crowley' and 'Diary of a Madman,' demands advanced speed, precision, and musicality. This progressive difficulty range makes the catalog ideal for guitarists at all levels.

What Makes Ozzy Osbourne Essential for Guitar Players

  • Randy Rhoads' neoclassical approach on tracks like 'Mr. Crowley' and 'Diary of a Madman' demands fluency in harmonic minor and diminished arpeggios, precise alternate picking, and controlled legato runs. His vibrato, wide, even, and classical in character, is a technique worth studying on its own.
  • The 'Crazy Train' main riff is built on a deceptively tricky alternate-picked figure with pull-offs that requires tight synchronization between both hands. The bridge section introduces rapid-fire triads and the solo features one of rock's most iconic tapping sequences alongside blistering pentatonic and modal runs.
  • 'Bark at the Moon' by Jake E. Lee opens with a two-handed tapping riff that became a benchmark for 1980s technique. The rhythm parts throughout the song use aggressive palm-muted galloping and power chord stabs that demand rock-solid downpicking stamina and precision.
  • Zakk Wylde's solo on 'No More Tears' is a masterclass in pentatonic phrasing, wah-driven expressiveness, and his trademark pinch harmonics. It's an excellent study piece for guitarists wanting to add aggression and attitude to blues-based lead playing without going fully neoclassical.
  • 'Goodbye to Romance' and 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' showcase the melodic, clean-tone side of Ozzy's guitar legacy. These songs teach chord embellishments, arpeggiated picking patterns, tasteful bends, and how to construct solos that serve the song emotionally rather than just displaying speed.

Did You Know?

Randy Rhoads practiced classical guitar exercises for hours daily, even on tour, his disciplined approach to technique is why his solos sound composed rather than improvised. He was reportedly working toward a classical guitar degree before his tragic death in 1982.

The iconic 'Crazy Train' riff was one of the first things Rhoads played for Ozzy during his audition. Ozzy has said he knew immediately that Rhoads was the guitarist he needed, despite Randy being relatively unknown at the time.

Jake E. Lee recorded 'Bark at the Moon' using a Charvel superstrat with a Floyd Rose tremolo, a departure from Rhoads' Gibson/Jackson setup. The tapping intro was partially inspired by Eddie Van Halen but executed with Jake's own aggressive attack and phrasing.

Randy Rhoads' custom Jackson Concorde (the white V with black pinstripes) was built specifically for him by Grover Jackson and became one of the most recognizable guitars in metal history. Jackson still produces signature models based on his designs.

Zakk Wylde's 'bullseye' Les Paul, which he used extensively on Ozzy recordings from 1988 onward, was originally a stock Gibson Les Paul Custom that he customized himself. His signature EMG pickup set (81/85) became one of the best-selling active pickup combinations in metal.

The guitar harmony section in 'Mr. Crowley' features Randy Rhoads layering multiple harmonized guitar parts that were meticulously arranged note-by-note, not simply doubled in thirds. This level of compositional detail was rare in metal at the time.

On 'Ordinary Man' (2020), Slash performed the guitar solos, bringing a completely different tonal character, loose, blues-drenched Les Paul tone through Marshalls, creating an interesting contrast to the precision of Rhoads or the aggression of Wylde.

Essential Albums for Guitarists

Blizzard of Ozz album cover
Blizzard of Ozz 1980

This is ground zero for neoclassical metal guitar. 'Crazy Train' teaches alternate picking, tapping, and modal soloing. 'Mr. Crowley' is a multi-section solo masterpiece covering arpeggios, harmonic minor runs, and expressive vibrato. 'I Don't Know' has one of metal's greatest riff-based lessons in tight rhythm playing. Essential for any serious electric guitarist.

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Diary of a Madman album cover
Diary of a Madman 1981

Randy Rhoads pushed even further here with complex arrangements and classical-influenced writing. The title track features unconventional time signatures and arpeggiated clean passages that shift into heavy distorted sections, perfect for learning dynamic control. 'Flying High Again' offers a more blues-rock flavored solo that shows Rhoads' versatility beyond shred.

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Bark at the Moon album cover
Bark at the Moon 1983

Jake E. Lee's showcase album. The title track is a must-learn for its tapping intro, galloping rhythm parts, and technically demanding solos. 'Bark at the Moon' covers nearly every essential 80s metal technique in one song. The full album also features strong rhythm work that builds palm-muting endurance and tight riff precision.

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No More Tears album cover
No More Tears 1991

Zakk Wylde's finest hour with Ozzy. The title track's guitar solo is one of the most expressive in hard rock, perfect for studying wah technique, pinch harmonics, and pentatonic phrasing with attitude. 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' is an excellent ballad for working on clean arpeggios and melodic soloing. A great album for bridging blues-rock and metal guitar skills.

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Tone & Gear

Guitar

Randy Rhoads: custom Jackson Concorde V and Jackson Rhoads models (white with black pinstripes), plus a cream 1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom used on early recordings. Jake E. Lee: Charvel superstrats with Floyd Rose tremolos. Zakk Wylde: Gibson Les Paul Custom with his iconic bullseye finish, the Les Paul's thick mahogany body and set neck are central to his sustained, heavy tone. Slash used a Gibson Les Paul Standard on 'Ordinary Man.'

Amp

Randy Rhoads ran Marshall heads, primarily a 1959 Super Lead Plexi and later a modified JCM800, cranked for natural tube saturation with a tight, focused midrange. Jake E. Lee also used Marshalls, leaning on JCM800s for their aggressive gain structure. Zakk Wylde became synonymous with Marshall JCM800 2203s dimed for maximum crunch, later developing his own signature Wylde Audio amps. Across all eras, Marshalls are the backbone of the Ozzy guitar sound.

Pickups

Rhoads used stock PAF-style humbuckers in his Les Paul Custom and a Seymour Duncan Distortion (SH-6) in his Jacksons, hot enough to drive a Marshall hard but retaining clarity for fast runs. Zakk Wylde popularized the EMG 81 (bridge) and EMG 85 (neck) active humbucker combination, high output, tight low end, compressed sustain ideal for heavy riffing and pinch harmonics. Jake E. Lee used various hot-wound humbuckers in his Charvels for a bright, cutting lead tone.

Effects & Chain

Randy Rhoads kept it minimal: a Dunlop Cry Baby wah, an MXR Distortion+, and an MXR 10-Band EQ for solo boosts, tone came primarily from fingers into a cranked Marshall. Jake E. Lee added chorus and delay for atmosphere but stayed Marshall-driven. Zakk Wylde uses a Dunlop Wylde Wah, MXR ZW-44 Overdrive for extra gain push, chorus for cleans, and occasional delay, but his core sound is Les Paul straight into a roaring Marshall with the volume on 10. Across all eras, the Ozzy guitar sound is defined by raw amp tone over pedal-heavy rigs.

Recommended Gear

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Slash's Les Paul Standard on 'Ordinary Man' delivers Ozzy's signature thick, warm sustain through its mahogany body and set neck. The guitar's natural resonance cuts through a cranked Marshall while maintaining the heavy, blues-rooted tone that defines modern Ozzy records.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde both relied on the Les Paul Custom's thick mahogany construction and PAF-style humbuckers for sustained, focused leads that pierce through Marshall saturation. The Custom's weight and warmth became sonic anchors for Ozzy's most iconic guitar tones across decades.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Zakk Wylde dimed the JCM800 2203 for maximum crunch and tight low-end response, making it the backbone of modern Ozzy heaviness. The amp's aggressive gain structure and natural breakup at volume deliver the roaring, sustained tone perfect for pinch harmonics and heavy riffing.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

Randy Rhoads' modified 1959 Super Lead Plexi delivered natural tube saturation with a tight, focused midrange that allowed his fast runs and solos to cut through with clarity. The Plexi's simple, responsive design meant tone came directly from his fingers and Les Paul into the amp.

EMG 81
Pickup

EMG 81

Zakk Wylde's bridge position EMG 81 provides high output and compressed sustain essential for heavy riffing and pinch harmonics that define modern Ozzy songs. The active humbucker's tight low-end response couples perfectly with a dimed Marshall JCM800 for maximum aggression.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde both used the Cry Baby wah to add expressive texture to leads without cluttering their core Marshall-driven tone. The wah's responsive sweep enhanced their solos while remaining secondary to the raw tube amp saturation that defines Ozzy's sound.

How to Practice Ozzy Osbourne on GuitarZone

Every Ozzy Osbourne song page on GuitarZone includes a built-in Practice Toolbar. No app to download, no account needed. Open any song, then use the toolbar to slow the video to 0.5× speed, set an A/B loop around the exact riff you're working on, and jump between song sections instantly.

The toolbar appears automatically on every guitar tab, lesson, and cover page. Pick a song below, hit play, and start practicing at your own pace.

Practice No More Tears Zakk Wylde - Guitar TabPractice Bark at the Moon - Guitar TabPractice Crazy Train Pt.1 - Main Riff & Verse - Guitar Lesson