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Ozzy Osbourne - Believer - Guitar Lesson

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Key B minor
Ozzy Osbourne - Believer guitar lesson video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Diary Of A Madman album cover
Diary Of A Madman
1981 5:17
Listen on Spotify
Ozzy Osbourne Heavy Metal 1981 B minor
Capo Advisor 0 B minor · Original key

About Believer

"Believer" from Ozzy Osbourne's 1981 album Diary Of A Madman is a deep cut that rewards the guitarist willing to sit with it. The song lives in B minor, and that key gives the riff a heavy, brooding quality that suits a deliberate, measured picking attack rather than anything rushed. The guitar work here demands clean articulation at every note, so sloppy fretting will show up immediately. Pay close attention to how the chord shapes resolve within the minor tonality, because the tension and release in this track is where most of its character comes from. If the transitions between sections feel awkward at first, use the Practice Toolbar to loop those spots slowed down until the muscle memory is solid. Getting the right amount of palm muting in the heavier passages is also worth isolating, since too much or too little changes the feel of the whole riff.

  • The song is in B minor, so check your tuning carefully before playing along as even slight pitch drift will clash noticeably with the recording.
  • Clean articulation and controlled palm muting in the riff sections are the core technique challenges this track puts in front of a guitarist.
  • Looping the section transitions slowed down in the Practice Toolbar is the most efficient way to get the chord changes sitting comfortably under your fingers.

How to Play Believer

Key: B minor · Tempo: 124 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 124 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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