Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Practice Studio

Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon - Guitar Tab

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key D# minor
Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon guitar tab video
Guillaume Vrac
Guillaume Vrac Top Contributor
YouTube: 144Ksubs 2.8Kviews
Creator Page →
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Ozzy Osbourne Heavy Metal D# minor
Capo Advisor 0 D# minor · Original key

About Bark at the Moon

Few riffs in Heavy Metal hit as hard as the opening of "Bark at the Moon." Jake E. Lee wrote and recorded the guitar parts, and his tone and phrasing are central to what makes this track worth studying. The song sits in Eb Standard tuning, so drop your whole guitar a half step before you start, and the key of D# minor shapes every melodic choice Lee makes. At 85 BPM the tempo is not brutal, but the precision required in the main riff still demands clean left-hand muting between the power chords, otherwise it turns to mush. The lead work calls for fluid legato runs and controlled vibrato, both of which fall apart if you rush them. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the solo sections slowed down, listening for exactly where Lee shifts position on the neck. Ozzy Osbourne released this in 1983, and the guitar writing remains a solid study in melodic metal phrasing.

  • The entire song is played in Eb Standard tuning, so tune every string down a half step before you attempt the riff.
  • Palm muting between the driving power chords in the main riff is essential: sloppy muting kills the aggressive, punchy feel completely.
  • The solo demands both legato hammer-on pull-off runs and expressive vibrato, making it a useful exercise for combining those two techniques cleanly.

How to Play Bark at the Moon

Tuning: Eb Standard · Key: D# minor · Tempo: 85 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. At 85 bpm the slow tempo leaves every note exposed, so timing, vibrato, and dynamics matter more than raw speed.

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 85 BPM.

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.

Recommended for You

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)