In today's lesson, we are going to learn the intro to Crazy Train, and pay tribute ot the late, great Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy came on to the scene with Black Sabbath in the late 60s. By 1970, they were recording their first album, Black Sabbath. This had a completely new sound that created a whole new genre of music called heavy metal.
Later, in the late 70s, he left Black Sabbath to build a solo career. To do so, he needed a new guitarist, and after auditioning many different ones, he came upon a young man named Randy Rhoads in 1980. With the help of Sharon Osbourne, they assembled a band and wrote and recorded the groundbreaking album "Blizzard of Ozz." From which Crazy Train is from.
Learning to play the iconic intro to "Crazy Train" on the guitar is a rewarding challenge for any aspiring guitarist. It incorporates techniques that are quite different from standard blues riffs. This guide will walk you through 5 steps that will help you master this iconic guitar riff.
Step #1: Index Finger At The 2nd Fret
As you can see from the picture above, you place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 6th string. This is the F# note, which is the key that this song is in. F# minor. As you can also see from the picture, you want to have your elbow close to your side. This allows you to stretch your ring and pinky fingers up to the 6th string on the 4th and 5th frets.
Placement of the index finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string will also be needed to master this intro. You can either accomplish this by moving your index finger between strings, or you can bar it across both strings. This is a bit harder, but it will allow you to focus on the other fingers more when going through the riff.
Step #2: Learn To Stretch Your Pinky
This picture shows the stretch in more detail. Once again, you can see the elbow is tucked in close to the side of the body. This allows the fingers to stretch further up the fretboard. If the elbow were facing outward, away from the body, you would not be able to bring your ring and pinky fingers up. So, this is a very crucial step in the process of playing this song intro.
Step #3: Ring Finger Placement
This picture shows the placement of the ring finger. In this riff, you will be going back and forth between the ring and pinky fingers on the 5th string while holding down the 2nd fret on the 6th string. Practice holding down the 2nd fret while alternating your ring and pinky fingers on the 5th string. This will help you get used to the stretch needed for this intro.
Step #4: Incorporate Power Chords
This picture shows the power chord format. This is very important to master when playing not only this song's intro, but also the style of music this song is written within. Rock and heavy metal music use a lot of power chords. These are simple two-note chords that, when played with distortion, have a lot of power to them.
Look at how the index finger is on the 5th string, 5th fret, and the ring finger is on the 7th fret on the 4th string. Although the 2nd finger looks like it's on a fret, it is not. It is just tucked in and slightly suspended above the strings, and the pinky is not on a fret either.
Step #5: Develop Your Picking Hand
Your picking hand is crucial when playing the guitar. Especially for this song intro, because you will be alternating between the 6th and 5th strings. So with that being said, you want to have your hand close to the strings with your fingers tucked in.
Make sure to work on developing your picking hand. This is vitally important for getting down the timing, cadence, and rhythm of the song. Also, be aware of how you hold your pick. Keep it close to the strings and use just the tip. Having it too far out will add friction when striking the strings.
The more you work on your picking hand, the better your articulation will be when strumming and picking the strings individually. Also, make sure to just use your wrist and not your whole arm. This will help make string transitions smooth and easy.
Watch The Video Lesson Below For More Details
Mastering the "Crazy Train" intro riff takes practice and patience. By following this simple 5-step guide and watching the video lesson, you'll be playing this legendary riff with confidence in no time. But it will require dedication and plenty of practice. So, give yourself patience and let things develop naturally. This will allow you to enjoy the process and have fun doing so.
Dive Deeper
If you'd like to delve deeper into learning the lead guitar techniques associated with Randy Rhoads' playing, along with others, I recommend you check out the book I authored, Learn To Play Lead Guitar.
Learn To Play Lead Guitar is for the student who wants to take their playing to the next level by learning how to play guitar solos. The student should already have a basic understanding of playing chords, creating chord progressions and guitar riffs, and reading basic music notation such as guitar tabs.
With this fundamental foundation already in place, you will be able to progress faster at becoming a lead guitarist. You'll just need the desire to learn. Playing lead guitar is an exciting and rewarding expression of your inner passion for the guitar. With this skill, you can add a unique voice to the music while increasing your mastery of the fretboard.
Written in an easy step-by-step method that anyone can easily learn from. All you need is the desire to learn and the time to practice. With these two things, along with this training guide, you'll soon be making sounds with your guitar that will have others turning their heads. This book, as well as all others that I have authored, can be found on Amazon or where all other books are sold.
Thanks for your time reading today,
And reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely, Dwayne Jenkins
Dwayne's Guitar Lessons
