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Ozzy Osbourne - Ordinary Man w/ Slash's Solos! - Guitar Lesson

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Ozzy Osbourne - Ordinary Man w/ Slash's Solos! guitar lesson video
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Ordinary Man album cover
Ordinary Man
2020 5:02
Listen on Spotify
Ozzy Osbourne Heavy Metal 2020 D minor
Capo Advisor 0 D minor · Original key

About Ordinary Man w/ Slash's Solos!

Few ballads in Ozzy Osbourne's catalogue demand as much from a guitarist as this one, precisely because Slash's solos sit at the emotional centre of the track. The song moves at a measured 92 BPM in D minor, and the whole band drops to Eb Standard tuning, so retune before you even think about playing along. The solos are melodic and lyrical rather than shred-heavy, but nailing their phrasing and vibrato is genuinely difficult. Rushing the bends or vibrato even slightly strips out all the feeling, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop each solo phrase slowed down until the timing feels natural under your fingers. The accompaniment parts are approachable for intermediate players, built around clean chord shapes and a gentle strum feel, but the heavy metal weight comes from tone and dynamics rather than complexity. Getting the balance between restraint and expressiveness is the real challenge here.

  • The song sits in Eb Standard tuning, so every string needs to drop a half-step before you play along with the recording.
  • Slash's solos prioritise expressive vibrato and melodic phrasing over speed, making vibrato control the core technique to practise.
  • At 92 BPM the tempo is slow enough to expose any sloppiness in bends and sustain, so clean intonation matters throughout.

How to Play Ordinary Man w/ Slash's Solos!

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: D minor · Tempo: 92 BPM

It is played in Eb standard, a half step down, so tune down before you start or every position and bend will sit a half step sharp against the recording.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 92 BPM to build it up to tempo.

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.

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