Very impressive Mr Todd. Jake E Lee's riffage is some of the most unique and enduring of that era. The harmonic content he manages to squeeze into short passages of filthy saturation is remarkable.
Jake E. Lee is my 2nd favourite Ozzy guitarist after Rhoads. I was fortunate to see him with Ozzy on the "Bark at the Moon Tour" back in '84. Motley Crue was the opening act. Can't believe I still remember the show almost 4 decades later. I even my have ticket stub. 🙂 Edit: I'm a HUGE Jake E. Lee fan. Have his "Red Dragon Cartel" albums as well. I recommend checking them out! Thanks for the lesson as well!
WOW. I would have NEVER guessed that Jake used a strange tuning to record that song. I wonder if he played it like that live and had a guitar tuned to that tuning for that song specifically? I would have liked to watch you do the pinch harmonics he does in the intro of the song. Maybe another time? Anyway, great video. I love your dives into specific songs
Like to see Zakk thinking THIS FAR out of the box HAHA! Jake E Lee's craftsmanship is way superior than 99% of the guitaring world even when played without any FX he is phenominal!! Thanks Leon for this indepth breakdown of another true classic!!
You're a life saver! This song has been stuck in my head for some time now and I couldn't figure out how to play this tune because I thought it was a regular half step down tuning. Also I love the guitar tone and overall production on this album.
@@LeonTodd and some truly amazing Charvel and Jackson guitars. It's the only time I've ever seen a Jackson Firebird in real life, and I still want one more than any other guitar!
Alternate tunings are one of those things that trip up a lot of guitarists, and that's understandable. We spend most of our time in standard tuning, or for some D or Drop D or lower keys, which is more unusual. But alternate tunings have been around as long as the instrument itself. In the Hawaiin islands there is a culture of guitar playing that actually keeps a lot of their tunings secret. Joni Mitchell is well known for all the alternate tunings she uses. She could use a different tuning for each song some nights. I never got deeply into alternate tunings because the world I've lived in, be it rock, metal or jazz is pretty much tuned to E, or if accompanied by vocals, E flat.
Great work !! Thank you! ! This is one of my favourite Ozzy albums and a fantastic display of Jake E's plethora of writing and playing. Killer of Giants is an absolute beast of a composition.
It's fantastic to know about these things after about 40 years!!!! Thank you so much Leon, I never know about this "alternative" tuning! Very interesting.
I love that song so much I could have a guitar tuned like that only to play the riff every day. Wait, maybe I should do it ..... Thanks for the great lesson.
That is strange tunning...very cool...that whole album was so different after Randy (my hero) but so fantastic.oh love seeing that green S guitar your dad crafted.the world needs more green guitars 😂
This was awesome what a myth buster I never knew that tuning was in this song!!What a massive piece of information I love Jake,thanks LT for the knowledge and know I can finally learn how to play this awesome riff 🤟🏻
Great lesson. I was very surprised to learn this tuning back in '86. I had only been playing for a couple years at that point and this was a very popular song. But anytime me and my ax wielding friend tried to play it, it always sounded off. Then my instructor taught me the tuning. I never got used to it and when I covered this song, I used this tuning a couple of times. I didn't want to take the time to throw my guitar into a weird tuning or bring a specially tuned guitar for one song that wasn't even an original.
Back in the late 80's I could never figure out what Jake E Lee was doing on this song, and I figured out Eruption at 15 with a turntable . I watched the music video 100 times and it looked like he was playing it Am, but it sounds like it is in Bb m. I saw the Ozzy Bark at the Moon tour and watched Jake play this from the 3rd row (after he switched guitars?) I still couldn't it make it work. I watched Zakk Wylde play it , and he wasn't playing like Jake at all, and it didn't really sound right... (sad face) About 10 years ago I read a interview Jake gave where he talked the tuning on this song and how everyone was playing wrong , and then it made sense: Leon Todd you dissected this nicely...bravo..... Honestly I think this shows Jake's brilliance and understanding of music theory that is beyond me.
Phil Soussan wrote the music for this tune and undoubtedly wasn't thinking about how the guitar would chug, so Jake probably had to get creative to avoid changing the key which was perfect for Ozzy.
I was just listening to this album today from start to finish reminiscing about being 13 years old and listening to this the for the first time and then I turn on UA-cam and see this!?!? Time to buy a lotto ticket!!
Awesome. I wore out the vhs of that love concert they shot back in the day. Jake was and is a beast. Bark at the moon is such a unique use of phrasing as well. No one plays it right. Lol
Love these 5 Minute Licks videos! Would love, love, love to have you do another Jake E. Lee riffs but from the first Badlands album... Jake's playing (both rhythm AND lead) on that specific album does not get enough traffic IMO (Dreams in the Dark gets some mention, but I'd love to see one of the other tracks get some love).
@@LeonTodd it’s desert island album for me every song is great!Its one of those albums that makes you say why wasn’t this a bigger hit? It is part of my youth man I wore this tape out!Like to see LT do some playing of those songs now that would be the sh*t!……And Savatage too I know your busy but I’m waiting patiently for a huge Savatage video and tone video of the Master Mr.Criss Olivia 🤟🏻
Great breakdown. How about a full song lesson? My favorite track from Jake, but I think Zakk captured its spirit perfectly on the live version he did with Ozzy & Geezer in Moscow decades ago.
Hey Leon, once again I find that we have very similar tastes: John Sykes Jake E. Lee Queensryche So on and so forth This was always my favorite Ozzy song. That riff is so freaking sexy. Question though. Are you adding an extra note to the beginning riff? The one on the lower strings. I’m not hearing the one your playing. Am I just hearing you add something for flavor or am I just not hearing it in the original recordings? Thanks for all the great content.
as a 14 year old kid, this fecking tune made me so angry cause I loved it, but it never sounded right. Now it makes complete sense. Love you man, purely for my teenage mental health 😂
Awesome. By far my favourite Ozzy track. So melodic. So, when Jake or Zakk played this live, would they have had to switch to a specifically tuned guitar just for this song?
I remember trying to learn this song and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t get it. Found out about the tuning and was like “oooh”. Also sucks ozzy isn’t touring anymore cause I’d love to see him live but his health is the most important
Jake has always been my favorite Ozzie gunslinger.
For years. I mean for years...until I just gave up. Ugh. "Light Bulb" Thank you!!
Very impressive Mr Todd. Jake E Lee's riffage is some of the most unique and enduring of that era. The harmonic content he manages to squeeze into short passages of filthy saturation is remarkable.
His riffs are nutrient rich!
@@LeonTodd lol. Well said!
yes! some kind of metal SRV.
i wasn't expecting someone talking about shot in the dark and the weird tuning, let alone you, Leon. What a nice surprise.
Jake E. Lee is my 2nd favourite Ozzy guitarist after Rhoads. I was fortunate to see him with Ozzy on the "Bark at the Moon Tour" back in '84. Motley Crue was the opening act. Can't believe I still remember the show almost 4 decades later. I even my have ticket stub. 🙂 Edit: I'm a HUGE Jake E. Lee fan. Have his "Red Dragon Cartel" albums as well. I recommend checking them out! Thanks for the lesson as well!
WOW. I would have NEVER guessed that Jake used a strange tuning to record that song. I wonder if he played it like that live and had a guitar tuned to that tuning for that song specifically? I would have liked to watch you do the pinch harmonics he does in the intro of the song. Maybe another time? Anyway, great video. I love your dives into specific songs
Pretty sure they're natural harmonics and he bends them behind the nut on a Strat!
Like to see Zakk thinking THIS FAR out of the box HAHA! Jake E Lee's craftsmanship is way superior than 99% of the guitaring world even when played without any FX he is phenominal!!
Thanks Leon for this indepth breakdown of another true classic!!
Thanks to your video I finally understood why bass was playing B, but riff was using 5th open string
Not sure how you figured that tuning out, but kudos. Makes that riff remarkable sounding.
Read it years ago in an old guitar mag!
You're a life saver! This song has been stuck in my head for some time now and I couldn't figure out how to play this tune because I thought it was a regular half step down tuning. Also I love the guitar tone and overall production on this album.
Some of Jake's best work!
I saw Ozzy in early 1986 touring this album with Ratt supporting. That was a proper guitar lover's fest, it was so good I went two nights running.
OMG so many great riffs and tunes!
@@LeonTodd and some truly amazing Charvel and Jackson guitars. It's the only time I've ever seen a Jackson Firebird in real life, and I still want one more than any other guitar!
@@davidyates8880 Me too! That guitar is HIGH on my "must have" list.
This album is hugely underrated, imo. One of my favorites from Ozzy \m/
Killer of Giants!
@@LeonTodd Absolutely! I love Secret Loser as well \m/ Bunch of great tracks throughout.
Listened to it endlessly while studying for Sat’s. I’m old. Lol
Alternate tunings are one of those things that trip up a lot of guitarists, and that's understandable. We spend most of our time in standard tuning, or for some D or Drop D or lower keys, which is more unusual. But alternate tunings have been around as long as the instrument itself. In the Hawaiin islands there is a culture of guitar playing that actually keeps a lot of their tunings secret. Joni Mitchell is well known for all the alternate tunings she uses. She could use a different tuning for each song some nights. I never got deeply into alternate tunings because the world I've lived in, be it rock, metal or jazz is pretty much tuned to E, or if accompanied by vocals, E flat.
Great work !! Thank you! ! This is one of my favourite Ozzy albums and a fantastic display of Jake E's plethora of writing and playing. Killer of Giants is an absolute beast of a composition.
It's fantastic to know about these things after about 40 years!!!! Thank you so much Leon, I never know about this "alternative" tuning! Very interesting.
My pleasure!
I love that song so much I could have a guitar tuned like that only to play the riff every day. Wait, maybe I should do it ..... Thanks for the great lesson.
That is strange tunning...very cool...that whole album was so different after Randy (my hero) but so fantastic.oh love seeing that green S guitar your dad crafted.the world needs more green guitars 😂
Never knew about the alternate tuning. My favorite Jake-era song.
Same!
This was awesome what a myth buster I never knew that tuning was in this song!!What a massive piece of information I love Jake,thanks LT for the knowledge and know I can finally learn how to play this awesome riff 🤟🏻
I love this.
Great lesson. I was very surprised to learn this tuning back in '86. I had only been playing for a couple years at that point and this was a very popular song. But anytime me and my ax wielding friend tried to play it, it always sounded off. Then my instructor taught me the tuning. I never got used to it and when I covered this song, I used this tuning a couple of times. I didn't want to take the time to throw my guitar into a weird tuning or bring a specially tuned guitar for one song that wasn't even an original.
Back in the late 80's I could never figure out what Jake E Lee was doing on this song, and I figured out Eruption at 15 with a turntable .
I watched the music video 100 times and it looked like he was playing it Am, but it sounds like it is in Bb m. I saw the Ozzy Bark at the Moon tour and watched Jake play this from the 3rd row (after he switched guitars?)
I still couldn't it make it work. I watched Zakk Wylde play it , and he wasn't playing like Jake at all, and it didn't really sound right... (sad face)
About 10 years ago I read a interview Jake gave where he talked the tuning on this song and how everyone was playing wrong , and then it made sense:
Leon Todd you dissected this nicely...bravo..... Honestly I think this shows Jake's brilliance and understanding of music theory that is beyond me.
great - thanks for breaking it down in the original (weird) tuning & in a normal tuning as well!
Great song and riff!!!! One of my favorites from Ozzy for sure!
Super cool!
One of my all time favorites
Thanks Leon.
I love Jake. I love this album.
Phil Soussan wrote the music for this tune and undoubtedly wasn't thinking about how the guitar would chug, so Jake probably had to get creative to avoid changing the key which was perfect for Ozzy.
Jake is a master riffmeister!!! Cool lesson!!! 👍🏻
I was just listening to this album today from start to finish reminiscing about being 13 years old and listening to this the for the first time and then I turn on UA-cam and see this!?!? Time to buy a lotto ticket!!
Awesome. I wore out the vhs of that love concert they shot back in the day. Jake was and is a beast. Bark at the moon is such a unique use of phrasing as well. No one plays it right. Lol
My Ozzy tribute band (Ozzmosis Texas) covers this. Of course I use the Jake tuning. Having keys in the band really makes the tune 🤘🏼
Great lesson Sir
Love these 5 Minute Licks videos! Would love, love, love to have you do another Jake E. Lee riffs but from the first Badlands album... Jake's playing (both rhythm AND lead) on that specific album does not get enough traffic IMO (Dreams in the Dark gets some mention, but I'd love to see one of the other tracks get some love).
That first badlands album is amazing
@@LeonTodd it’s desert island album for me every song is great!Its one of those albums that makes you say why wasn’t this a bigger hit? It is part of my youth man I wore this tape out!Like to see LT do some playing of those songs now that would be the sh*t!……And Savatage too I know your busy but I’m waiting patiently for a huge Savatage video and tone video of the Master Mr.Criss Olivia 🤟🏻
Awesome. I've always wondered what tuning this song was in.
Great breakdown. How about a full song lesson?
My favorite track from Jake, but I think Zakk captured its spirit perfectly on the live version he did with Ozzy & Geezer in Moscow decades ago.
That Moscow gig footage is awesome hey
Awesome lesson Leon, great tone too, … definitely a kiwi 😎🎸🤙
That is a weird tuning! I would have never guessed.
Brilliant!🤘
It's a great tune. I guess the tuning fuckery was to get it into a singable pitch and to mimic the voicing of the keyboard parts of the original.
Great lesson! Do "Fool Like You" next.
Probably 1 of the best riffs in history of rock
Nice tone well done picking that riff apart
Thanks a lot!
Thanks Cool 👍🏻🎸😎
I always wondered if the song was in standard tuning and sped-up or something... like "Too Shy" and a lot of stuff was done in the '80's... 🤣
Hey Leon, once again I find that we have very similar tastes:
John Sykes
Jake E. Lee
Queensryche
So on and so forth
This was always my favorite Ozzy song. That riff is so freaking sexy.
Question though. Are you adding an extra note to the beginning riff? The one on the lower strings. I’m not hearing the one your playing. Am I just hearing you add something for flavor or am I just not hearing it in the original recordings?
Thanks for all the great content.
as a 14 year old kid, this fecking tune made me so angry cause I loved it, but it never sounded right. Now it makes complete sense. Love you man, purely for my teenage mental health 😂
It was written on piano by Phil that’s why it’s B Flat
Awesome. By far my favourite Ozzy track. So melodic. So, when Jake or Zakk played this live, would they have had to switch to a specifically tuned guitar just for this song?
Yeah I wonder about that too!
Jake ❤❤❤
Funny man I had to learn the riff myself like a month ago after hearing the song a bunch. I was like wtfff when it came to the tuning.
Yeah it messes with my head!
A killer Riff, most lovely riff from Jake E Lee 😍😍
Great LEON....Can you replicate with Axe Fx 3 Symbolic Sound of Chuck Schuldiner? Thank you very much.....
Jake E Lee is my favorite Ozzy guitarist. But, man, that tuning… 🤔🤨
Very nice! What about the tone? What did you use there? Sounded pretty close to the song
My main Axe-Fx live preset which is a model of a Mesa MArk series amp
@@LeonTodd Interesting! I would have thought it would be something Marshall. Cool
Weirder tuning: Shot In The Dark (FBbDbGbBbEb) or Rock Lobster (CFxxFF) aaaaaaand GO! =D
Wow.that guitar's pretty!
It is!
How did you figure out the tuning? Matching up video footage (and hence fingerings) against the audio? Or something else? Intrigued!
I read it in a guitar world or guitar player mag years ago
Hmm...I wonder if it would be feasible to play this on a guitar tuned to C standard (C-F-Bb-Eb-G-C)? Or even drop B flat?
Worth a crack!
🤙🏼
B flat.....cousin of Eflat
I remember trying to learn this song and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t get it. Found out about the tuning and was like “oooh”. Also sucks ozzy isn’t touring anymore cause I’d love to see him live but his health is the most important
You suck dude. You made me grab the guitar tune it and jam on it. Great song I haven't played it in years
Sad that Phil used this songs success to get Jake canned
No way people will use this strange and difficult tuning. Very unhelpful.
04:35 onwards discusses ways to play it without having to retune.