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Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the Dark - Guitar Tab

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Key E minor
Ozzy Osbourne - Shot in the Dark guitar tab video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
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Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
The Ultimate Sin album cover
The Ultimate Sin
1986 4:16
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Ozzy Osbourne Heavy Metal 1986 E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Shot in the Dark

Few tracks from the mid-1980s hard rock era sit as comfortably under the fingers as "Shot in the Dark," yet there is more going on than first appears. The song is built on a clean, keyboard-flavored guitar figure that opens the track, and nailing its rhythmic feel in E minor is the first real task. Jake E. Lee had already left the band by the time Ozzy Osbourne recorded the album, with guitarist Phil Soussan and songwriter Jake E. Lee both credited, but the guitar parts themselves are very playable for intermediate players. The chord movement leans on minor and major shapes in the key of E minor, so knowing your first and second position chords cold is a genuine advantage. The chorus rhythm work has a punchy, syncopated feel that can slip if you play it too rigidly, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop that section slowed down until the accents land naturally. Once the feel is in your hands, the whole song comes together quickly.

  • The song is in E minor, so open-position E minor and G major shapes are central to the rhythm guitar parts throughout.
  • The opening guitar figure mimics a keyboard-style melodic line, requiring clean picking and precise timing to keep it from sounding muddy.
  • The chorus rhythm has syncopated accents that reward slow, looped practice before you attempt it at full tempo.

How to Play Shot in the Dark

The song moves through: Intro, Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Bridge, Solo, Outro.

Key: E minor · Tempo: 138 BPM · Difficulty: Medium

The arrangement runs through 7 distinct sections, and the solo is the steepest jump, so isolate it on its own.

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 138 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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