Shot in the Dark Guitar Lesson (Chords/Rhythms) - Ozzy Osbourne

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In this Shot In The Dark guitar lesson video, we will take an in-depth look at one of the last Ozzy Osbourne songs that the great guitarist Jake E. Lee performed on.

There are a lot of cool guitar riffs in this one and the solo is full of flashy 80's guitar licks. Tons of fun!

Before we get started, you will need to get your guitar into a tuning that is quite unorthodox. Jake E. Lee used the following tuning starting from the 6th string (F Bb Db Gb Bb Eb). That tuning is basically the standard half-step down tuning used by many rock guitarists, however, in addition to the that, Jake E. Lee raises the pitch of the lowest two strings in order to help facilitate the playing of the guitar riffs.

You will see people play this in a more standard tuning, but it is more more difficult to play that way. What we are learning here is exactly how the song was recorded.

In the first video lesson, I will show you how to play all of those classic guitar riffs, along with any of the guitar fills that happen sporadically throughout the song. The riffs in "Shot In The Dark" can be pretty challenging. You will need move around pretty quickly and play some large stretches. One of Jake E. Lee's favorite techniques is using large stretches, so you can't really play his songs without coming upon some licks or riffs that require you to really spread those fingers out.

In the second video lesson, I will finish up the song by teaching you how to play the guitar solo. The solo has some very fast legato work and once again moves across the fretboard at very fast speeds.

There is also a cool arpeggio section of the solo which is followed by a rapid tremolo picked section. The tremolo section should be performed with your picking hand wrist and forearm as relaxed as possible. Make sure you use very small but relaxed movements. Those movements should come from the wrist.

So I hope you guys enjoy learning the Ozzy Osbourne classic! I would definitely say that it is one of my favorite Ozzy songs. :)

Carl...

[vagelisdiamandis]

From the tuning to the melody...pure genius.Jake is responsible for not letting Ozzy sound like all the other 80s bands.

[tommyholtMN]

i've played guitar for over 35 years - i never did learn this and wow my mind is blown. Jake E Lee was the man and really was a fabulous player

[jaikwillis]

Jake E Lee : "The song was originally written in [the key of] A, so you have the open strings that you can chug along with. The day before I was going to go into the studio to record my parts, the producer Ron Nevison told me; “Oh, by the way, ‘Shot In The Dark’ is in B now”. And I’m like; “Wait a minute, what?” He said; “Yeah, we moved it up so Ozzy’s vocals would work better”. Okaaay. So I had that night to figure out how to chord everything and fret everything, and it was just a lot easier for me to keep the open A chugging string, so I tuned that up to a B, a whole step, and I tuned the E, I believe, also up a whole step that they would match each other. So it’s standard tuning for E, B, G, D, and then the A and the E strings are up a little step. It made for some interesting chord inversions, so it worked out really well. During the Ozzy tours I would have a guitar specially tuned that way, but on the last Red Dragon Cartel run, we popped the song out, and I played it with a standard tuning. So, you can still play it in standard tuning.” (Interview with Eon Magazine)

[Shadefecator]

This is a testament to how great Jake E. Lee was!

[areztofek]

01:00 harmonics
04:33 main riff
07:25 clean verse
10:32 pre chorus
12:35 chorus
16:06 second chorus
17:50 bridge
19:40 outro filas

[chrismoe]

Man I cant get enough of your videos. You've taught me so much over the years. Thank you very much carl, you really are great!

[markpaul]

After Eddie heard Jake play at a show in the early 80s he approached him backstage and told Jake that he was the best guitarist he'd heard come out of california since himself. Ed hated the plethora of imitators that came after him but he knew talent when he saw it.

[Jaymze]

Wow. This nutty tuning speaks to Jake's talent. And more so to your talent for figuring it out and being able to teach it.

[demonicsorrow]

Jake is such a underrated guitar player

[Trinergy-Livewire]

Jake was like the Beethoven of harmonics I see. Needed this, riff plays in my head like voices now I can learn it. Good instruction and chops. Not mechanical but with emotion. You rock!!

[kevinmattie]

Man, I can’t thank you enough ..This song has been on the back burner for a long, long time for me. You have some incredible musicianship.Thanks for passing along your knowledge, it surely simplifies all the amazing parts of this masterpiece..the amount of time you saved me is invaluable…🎸❗️🤘

[remolalougarou]

So
Lucky to have Carl teaching and learning notes.
Tks Carl

[shezza]

Great lesson. Brilliant song. And you realise how expert Jake is. he makes it sound easy

[xxjj]

You are just AMAZING... I, like many others, enjoy both watching you play and teach.

[tweedguitar]

Hi Carl, Your nut handles the bend and release very well, and your guitar sound is very clear for such an overdriven patch. It's great to hear good intonation and clarity. cheers

[carlsylvester]

By far, the best tutorial for this song out there...MASS props to you, sir!!👍

[stevehawkes]

I've been trying to learn for about a year, I have these aspirations to play these types of songs. They sound awesome but also easy to me, But then I watch you play them and I'm like OMG I'll never be able to play this stuff. Thanks for what you do, it's great to see all that's involved to make such great sound.

[joemusicman]

Man this song really keeps your hands busy. I'm learning it bit by bit. The tabs were wrong for the pre-chorus which brought me here. So awesome to hear it played correctly. When it's too much for me I come here. Thanks 365.

[BusterRoonie]

👍🏼Thanks. That tuning makes perfect sense now. 30+ yrs later… lol
Jake E. Lee is a Phenomenal player and writer!
Saw him with Ozzy in mid 80’s. Saying in front row being gagged by the fog machines. Just incredible!!!

[somewhatsomething]

JEL had an amazing flickback upstroke fluidity that gives this tune a great heavy groove.