Learning Guitar Solos Note for Note Part 2

Randy Rhoads – Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne)

Unlike a lot of lead guitar breaks which are improvised, most of Randy Rhoads guitar solos were mini compositions within the song.  The solo in “Crazy Train” is definitely one of these solos.  The solo is so memorable and important to the song that it’s hard to imagine anything else being played for that section.

I was 15 years old when I first heard the song.  I was mesmerized by the guitar solo. I thought it would be the greatest thing if I could learn to play it note-for-note.  I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I made it a personal goal to work on it until I could play it.  I’m not sure if I ever nailed it perfectly but the hours of practice I put into it definitely made be a better player.

This solo is a great technique builder.  It starts with some finger tapping (Randy had a distinctive way of using finger tapping – two taps in quick succession with the right hand followed by a pull off and  hammer on) followed by some pull offs, bends and melodic runs using  F# Aeolian.   The solo continues with more tapping and ends with a blazing scale run and one final climactic high pitched bend.

I’ll never forget the look on people’s faces when my band performed the song and I got to step up to play the guitar solo.  It was like “wow that kid is playing the Randy Rhoads solo!”  It was very gratifying and gave me a sense of accomplishment.  Randy Rhoads guitar playing and this solo in particular were very inspirational for me.

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