Riff Tone
I Don't Know (Live from Blizzard of Ozz Tour)
Ozzy Osbourne
Guitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1970 Gibson Les Paul Custom (white, used live on Blizzard of Ozz Tour)
AmpMarshall 1959 Super Lead 100-watt head (early 1970s, metal front) into two Marshall 1960A/B 4x12 cabinets with Altec 417-8H speakers
PickupsGibson humbucker (likely T-Top or original PAF-style, bridge position)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass4.5
mid6
treble7
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionMXR MXR Distortion+
eqMXR MXR 10-Band Graphic Equalizer
flangerMXR MXR Flanger
chorusMXR MXR Stereo Chorus
Notes
Live rig from Blizzard of Ozz Tour, 1980-1981. Guitar tuned to standard (EADGBE), .009–.042 string set. Effects from pedalboard ('chip pan') with MXR Distortion+, MXR 10-Band EQ, MXR Flanger, MXR Stereo Chorus, Vox Cry Baby wah. No evidence of amp reverb or delay. Settings are for live performance.
Tone Character(10)
tight palm-muted chugsaggressive pick attacksquealing pinch harmonicsbright and cuttingthick, saturated distortionpercussive rhythmarticulate note separationslight modulation swirl (flanger/chorus)fast attackmetallic edge
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate picking with heavy palm muting, frequent pinch harmonics, and quick shifts between power chords and single-note lines, making it challenging for most players.
Sources
How to Play Ozzy Osbourne's "I Don't Know" | Guitar WorldMaking Blizzard of Ozz with Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads | Guitar WorldRandy Rhoads’ guitar tone on Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train: secrets behind the sound | Guitar WorldHow Randy Rhoads reinvented classical guitar for metal | Guitar WorldRandy Rhoads on joining Ozzy Osbourne & classical influences | Guitar World
Create an account to adapt this tone to your gear
Create Free AccountGuitarmetal1980s
Original Gear
Guitar1970 Gibson Les Paul Custom (white, used live on Blizzard of Ozz Tour)
AmpMarshall 1959 Super Lead 100-watt head (early 1970s, metal front) into two Marshall 1960A/B 4x12 cabinets with Altec 417-8H speakers
PickupsGibson humbucker (likely T-Top or original PAF-style, bridge position)
Amp Settings
gain7
bass4.5
mid6
treble7
reverb1
presence5.5
Effects & Signal Chain
distortionMXR MXR Distortion+
eqMXR MXR 10-Band Graphic Equalizer
flangerMXR MXR Flanger
chorusMXR MXR Stereo Chorus
Sources
How to Play Ozzy Osbourne's "I Don't Know" | Guitar WorldMaking Blizzard of Ozz with Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads | Guitar WorldRandy Rhoads’ guitar tone on Ozzy Osbourne’s Crazy Train: secrets behind the sound | Guitar WorldHow Randy Rhoads reinvented classical guitar for metal | Guitar WorldRandy Rhoads on joining Ozzy Osbourne & classical influences | Guitar World
Notes
Live rig from Blizzard of Ozz Tour, 1980-1981. Guitar tuned to standard (EADGBE), .009–.042 string set. Effects from pedalboard ('chip pan') with MXR Distortion+, MXR 10-Band EQ, MXR Flanger, MXR Stereo Chorus, Vox Cry Baby wah. No evidence of amp reverb or delay. Settings are for live performance.
Tone Character(10)
tight palm-muted chugsaggressive pick attacksquealing pinch harmonicsbright and cuttingthick, saturated distortionpercussive rhythmarticulate note separationslight modulation swirl (flanger/chorus)fast attackmetallic edge
Difficulty
The riff requires fast, accurate picking with heavy palm muting, frequent pinch harmonics, and quick shifts between power chords and single-note lines, making it challenging for most players.
More Ozzy Osbourne tones
- Crazy Train · riff
- No more tears · riff
- Crazy Train · solo
- No More Tears · solo
- Bark at the Moon · riff
- Mr. Crowley · riff
- Miracle Man · riff
- Mr. Crowley · solo
- Bark at the Moon · solo
- S.A.T.O. · riff