UG Weekend Riff: Part 22

It's a Black Sabbath phenomenon! We hope you enjoy learning how to play these two great songs. First is an incredible in depth experience of Crazy Train by high voltage, probably the most talented writer we have here on UG. He has worked incredibly hard to give you this lesson along with the midi for both tabs. The second is a short lesson on the intro to Paranoid which we hope you will enjoy.

Crazy Train

Crazy Train is arguably the most popular and best-known song to come out of Ozzy Osbourne's post Black Sabbath career. In this Weekend Riff I will show you how to play my three favorite riffs from Crazy Train. I would also consider these riffs to be the most well known in the song and the most repetitive so listen carefully!

Here we will start with the ever so famous introduction of Crazy Train which is pretty self explanatory. This is definitely the most common riff throughout the song and is my absolute favorite riff.

Riff #1

After the classic opening riff in F# minor, the band settles into a comfortable groove with this palm-muted figure in A major. Use the bottom of your palm, resting lightly on your guitar's bridge, to gently muffle the strings. Simply lift your palm away from the bridge slightly for the non-muted chords in the passage. Be sure to use alternate picking -- upstroke, down stroke, upstroke, down stroke -- and begin the phrase with a down stroke on the A string. Only deviate from alternate picking for the three-note chords that punctuate the riff -- these should all be played with down strokes. (Be sure to palm mute all single open-stringed notes!)

||------------------|------------------||-----------------|------0----|
||o-----------------|-----------------o||-----------------|------0----|
||------------------|------------------||-----------------|-7----9----|
||------------------|------------------||-----------------|-7----9----|
||o-----4---5---4---|-2-------2-------o||-----4---5---4-2-|-5----7----|
||--2-2---2---2---2-|---5-4-5---5-4-0--||-2-2---2---2-----|------0----|

Riff #2

Watch the jump from the low E string to the D chord on the D, G, and B strings during the first and third measures of this classic Chorus section. Be sure not to let the open strings between them -- particularly the A string -- ring out, making the phrase sound messy rather than tight and crunchy. Play the F#5 chord that begins this excerpt with your index finger on the low E string and your ring finger on the A string. Simply lift the index finger off the fingerboard slightly to hit the open E string, then replace it without changing the position of you hand. The F#5 chord in the final two measures of the example uses the same fingering, but the ring finger is flattened to barre the A and D strings at the 4th fret, doubling the low F# an octave higher. Play the repeated F#5 chord with all down strokes for added heaviness.

|------------------------|-----------------------|---------------7--------|
|------5-------5---------|-3---------2-(2)-------|-------5-------5--------|
|------6-------4---------|-2---------2-(2)-----2-|-------6-------4--------|
|------7-------6---------|-4---------2-(2)-----2-|-------7-------6--------|
|0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0-0-|---0-0-0-0-0-(0)-----0-|-0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0-0|
|------------------------|-----------------3s4---|------------------------|

|-5-----------------------------|
|-3-------2-(2)-----------------|
|-2-------2-(2)-4p2p0-----------|
|-4-------2-(2)-------4p2p0-----|
|---0-0-0-0-(0)-------------4p2-|
|-------------------------------|

Riff #3

|-----------------------|------------|------------|---------|
|------------------3----|------------|-------3----|---------|
|------------------2----|------------|-------2----|---------|
|-4-----4----4-----0----|-4-----4----|-4-----0----|-0-0-----|
|-4-----4----4----------|-4-----4----|-4----------|-----4-2-|
|-2--0--2----2--0-------|-2--0--2----|-2--0-------|---------|

|--------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|
|--------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|
|-2--2---------------------------|-----------------|-------------|
|-2--2--------2----2---------4-4-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-|
|-0--0--------2----2---------4-4-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-|
|---------4-2-0----0----4-4--2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-|

If you're interested in learning the full version of Crazy Train here is the full tablature of the song and here is the midi. There it is folks and thanks for reading, Chris.

Paranoid:

Black Sabbath was one of the greatest bands to come out of the 70's. With a different style unlike the rest, Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads made some of the greatest songs around. One of my favorites is Paranoid.

I first learned this song playing it with the 12th and 14th frets. It didn't take long for me to find a better version. Mainly, your pointer finger and ring finger will be in action sliding down and across the neck. Use your pointer to barre.

Whenever I hear of, or see rhoads I start thinking about the "flying V". He used his Les Paul as well but I think for this song he used one of his custom V's. It's ok if you don't have one so don't fret.

You should use this gear setting in order to get proper sound:

Treble: 9

Bass: 6

Drive: 6

Here's the tablature for paranoid along with the midi.

POSTED: 03/26/2005 - 05:31 am

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Comments

[jake_the_pake]

you bloody fool, Ozzy and Randy rhoads wrote paranoid huh? I know Mr Iommi would have something to say aboout that.....

[natansh_18]

1st....i like black sabbath too. I like the opening riff of Crazy Train.Good piece of work!

[natansh_18]

oh.! i was beaten

[Bassist666]

too right. rhoads may be great but he sure as hell did not write paranoid.

[damnation]

you clown, randy wasn't in Black Sabbath at all! Tony Iommi was the ***ing guitarist and he and Geezer Butler (bass) wrote the song. Ozzy never wrote any lyrics in Black Sabbath, all the lyrics to every song were written by Geezer. Except for maybe a few exceptions I don't know about. AND that tab for paranoid is the version randy played in ozzy's SOLO career, it's not even the original paranoid tab! And just as a side note, Tony Iommi played a Gibson SG. Dude, where have you been? Are you serious about that randy thing? or is it just a misprint... surely you know that he didn't write it, right? I mean, you knew that Black Sabbath did paranoid originally didn't you? And if you're gonna stick with the article the way it is, which is okay if you do as long as you correct a few glaring mistakes, you should change the first line to "It's an Ozzy Osbourne phenomenon!"

[benorage]

black sabbath phenomenon? dude youve tab crazy train and ozzys version of paranoid, so weres the sabbath? tab some really sabbath like IRON MAN , SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH, NIB
they should be easy to learn for ppl
randy rhodes wrote paraniod? - you nimrod

[jimmy henderx]

thts not black sabbath

[starbomb13]

easy songs.

[Unourrit01]

benorage:
black sabbath phenomenon? dude youve tab crazy train and ozzys version of paranoid

just what i was gonna say

[high voltage]

God damn Marc! I worked so hard and you mess it up, lol.

[brendan666]

The Crazy Train tab is a bit wrong.

[YouKnowYourRite]

way to tab paranoid wrong...

[r_lightning]

benorage:
black sabbath phenomenon? dude youve tab crazy train and ozzys version of paranoid

Unourrit01:
just what i was gonna say

just what I was going to say^^

[twistedsister]

Tony Iommi wrote Paranoid

[DeathRattle]

jep

[Justin van Uum]

dumbass...

[joew5150]

jim morrison wrote paranoid in the late 90s

[Zoso-Zep]

Man, this website is run by a bunch of 13 year olds, I swear..

[elsingtonhall]

Tony doesn't play Paranoid like that.
It starts at the twevleth fret.

[The_Eddster]

Give this guy a break, he's done a good job.

[NightFallsSoon]

Not really, he messed up on A LOT OF THINGS.

[rocknroll23]

nice job. BTW, Rhandy was not involved in writing paranoid. And these are 2 good sabbath songs...Paranoid is a little too complicated for the actual version(it doesnt have the open strings and such) but they are good. You should tab some more Sabbath songs...

[Metalology]

First is an incredible in depth experience of Crazy Train by high voltage, probably the most talented writer we have here on UG. He has worked incredibly hard to give you this lesson along with the midi for both tabs.

Wtf? I though high voltage was a girl? Am I mistakened?

[The UG Squirrel]

sorry, but that paranoid tabs horrible

high voltage:
God damn Marc! I worked so hard and you mess it up, lol.

Eh.. if people are more interseted in names rather than the tab itself than who cares. I realize the Paranoid tab came out horrible and I apologize.

Let me be the first to say... So I had the wrong name.

WHOOP-DE-DOO. Let's forget about the entire article because he got the guitarist wrong.

Chris worked hard on his part yet all you do is complain about a name? How disappointing.

Metalology:
Wtf? I though high voltage was a girl? Am I mistakened?

You are mistakened.

[xtreme_edgez]

sorry, but that paranoid tabs horrible

true dat, and ozzy's version of paranoid can never stack up to the all time original, cuz u cannot beat IOMMI!!!

[xtreme_edgez]

you clown, randy wasn't in Black Sabbath at all! Tony Iommi was the ***ing guitarist and he and Geezer Butler (bass) wrote the song. Ozzy never wrote any lyrics in Black Sabbath, all the lyrics to every song were written by Geezer. Except for maybe a few exceptions I don't know about. AND that tab for paranoid is the version randy played in ozzy's SOLO career, it's not even the original paranoid tab! And just as a side note, Tony Iommi played a Gibson SG. Dude, where have you been? Are you serious about that randy thing? or is it just a misprint... surely you know that he didn't write it, right? I mean, you knew that Black Sabbath did paranoid originally didn't you? And if you're gonna stick with the article the way it is, which is okay if you do as long as you correct a few glaring mistakes, you should change the first line to "It's an Ozzy Osbourne phenomenon!"

ok first off, geezer was not the only one to write lyrics in black sabbth, cuz bill ward wrote a few of the lyrics ,ecspecially on the master of reality album

[TheJack]

rocknroll23:
nice job. BTW, Rhandy was not involved in writing paranoid. And these are 2 good sabbath songs...Paranoid is a little too complicated for the actual version(it doesnt have the open strings and such) but they are good. You should tab some more Sabbath songs...

Well the least you could do is spell RANDY RHOADS' name right...

[EV0L]

CRAZY TRAIN IS NOT BLACK SABBATH! AND TONY IOMMI WROTE PARANOID!

[DohntA]

MAAA..D give em all an inch hey, i think its a good effort and dont really give a f*ck about who wrote what or whatever, cheers high voltage.

[FaLsE MeMoRieS]

Sorry, but that's a terrible Paranoid tab. It's completely wrong. You guys really shouldn't post stuff as a lesson that isn't right. You are misteaching all the people that read it.

[damnation]

xtreme_edgez, sorry dude, you're right, i forgot about bill, and he actually sang one of the songs on technical ecstasy, my bad, my bad

[TheMutts]

Crazy train is dead on, but paranoid is ...i dunno what it is

[ACDCROCKSHARD!!]

The Paranoid tab is the one Ozzy did, but the Crazy Train was great

[gomezisastud07]

what a bunch of whiney children who cares there free tabs and somthin to learn, i enjoyed it now i actually know the other rifts in crazy train

[Contraband]

The Crazy Train part really helped. Thanks.

[wootlooops]

stop being bitches, watch this: "cool tab, thanks! can't wait for next weeks."

[strumntheguitar]

Here's a great solution... Get ready, it's a pretty radical situation...

If you don't like the tab, don't look at it and quit whining

I know, it's pretty extreme, but if you put your mind to it, it'll work out

[AngusYoung4ever]

wow, i think almost 6792819 people pointed out the man's honest mistake. You know, instead of criticising people, you could try, you know, tabbing the damned music yourself. I know it's you, those ignorant morons who post tab requests in the forums "oh, help me tab this, i'm an excellent guitarist even though i've been playing for (insert X number of WEEKS) but i can't figure out how to play twinkle twinkle, can you help me out?" Just back off, and try focusing on the positive for one. No one's proud of you that you can tell people who wrote paranoid, and there are probably million crack heads in any london bus terminal who can rattle off the names of ozzy's accompanyists. Either write something better, or die, or both. FUCK off.

[kNoThEaD666]

???..I will also like to point out the fact that Mr. Rhoads was not in Sabbath. I knew that Iommi was in sabbath since I was like 7(My parents raised me right)

[l3loody_§abbath]

OKAY CRAZY TRAIN IS BY RANDY

PARANOID IS BY IOMMI

I HOPE THEY BOTH BEAT YOU UP FOR THAT

[IllegalPanda]

wow guys is it really that big of a deal who cares? those were great tabs and you people need to find something better to do than bitch about who wrote a damn song tab it yourself if your not satisfied

[kill 'em pretty]

lol

[mrbassman]

why does everyone think randy rhoads was in sabbath iommi is better than him he wrote better songs and argue all you want but thats my opinion sabbath rule (not to say that i don't like randy lol)

[psychodelia]

Lol this guy's getting torn apart... I knew mixing up Ozzy and Sabbath could lead to some problems.

[Pyro128]

Poor unfortunate soul... he made a mistake, let the poor guy live. It was a pretty good UG riff anyways

[killer_mop]

is it jsut me or are they tabing songs that basicly everyone has over tabed....

[SlipDolls1Joey]

i damn this guy to purgatory because he got Iommi and Rhoads mixed up, how dare he

[WishIHadAGibson]

tony iommi and a custom V? i think not.

and a les paul? not so much, although i have seen pics of him with it.

paranoid is played up at the 12 and 14, any Iommi fan should know that. what a ***ing moron, this guy should be FINED for being so gay.

[VelvetÆnema33]

THis is how it is... People bitch because of it being wrong. You don't post a lession that's WRONG! But mixing some of this stuff up is not a smart thing, because I know in many peoples eyes, Tony was the Rift God in Metal.

[garypower]

randy in sabbath? is dis guy crazy? does he know n e ting about ozzy and sabbath

[garypower]

joew5150:
jim morrison wrote paranoid in the late 90s
what????

[slash is god]

iommi played the main riff to paranoid at 12th fret but it can be plated at 7th fret on A string as done by megadeth and ozzy solo (randy rhoads).

[Angry-Young-Man]

Hey everyone, quit bitching ok? You wanna moan and whine because he spelt your idols name wrong or something equally immature? THEN WRITE YOUR OWN ARTICLE AND SEE HOW HARD IT IS. Marchoso, you deserve some sort of medal for putting up with this kind of crap and still doing one of these.

does anyone remember when geldof used to do these? yeah, he stopped cause you assholes wouldnt stop bitching about minor mistakes. if thats what you people want to happen again, then keep whigning.

high voltage, nice job on crazy train. im glad to see it done, especially so well. nice job. if thats the way rhodes play paranoid, it looks to be worth learning just for something different. hv and marc, keep up the good work and dont listen to the people who complain.

[VelvetÆnema33]

jof1029:
does anyone remember when geldof used to do these? yeah, he stopped cause you assholes wouldnt stop bitching about minor mistakes. if thats what you people want to happen again, then keep whigning.

high voltage, nice job on crazy train. im glad to see it done, especially so well. nice job. if thats the way rhodes play paranoid, it looks to be worth learning just for something different. hv and marc, keep up the good work and dont listen to the people who complain

You don't post something noticably false buddy! Proof reading can do wonders when writting articals as well. Spell check/grammar check are useful tools. If someone is too lazy to do these things, they deserved to get flamed.

[TheFonz3301]

All though Randy Rhodes was an awsome guitar player, he never played with Black Sabbath or even wrote Paranoid.

[milk_it_good]

This section is for comments, not complaints. But the way most of you are writing, it's apparent that complaining is a natural talent. Come on, stop the scrutiny for just enough time to admire all of the positive aspects of the article. I would have never thought of learning crazy train until now. I am eternally grateful.

[eternalrest-a7x]

penis

[Angry-Young-Man]

You don't post something noticably false buddy! Proof reading can do wonders when writting articals as well. Spell check/grammar check are useful tools. If someone is too lazy to do these things, they deserved to get flamed.[/qoute]

Oh I see, he's lazy because he did something that he didn't really HAVE to do, for the benefit of people on this site. Yup, that sounds pretty lazy to me. Everyone complained when this got taken away because people were bitching too much, and now everyones bitching again? Doesn't make sense to me.

[VelvetÆnema33]

Angry-Young-Man:
You don't post something noticably false buddy! Proof reading can do wonders when writting articals as well. Spell check/grammar check are useful tools. If someone is too lazy to do these things, they deserved to get flamed.[/qoute]

Oh I see, he's lazy because he did something that he didn't really HAVE to do, for the benefit of people on this site. Yup, that sounds pretty lazy to me. Everyone complained when this got taken away because people were bitching too much, and now everyones bitching again? Doesn't make sense to me.

crittics are everywhere, deal with it. Posting information that is false turns people that don't know the truth in the wrong direction. Otherwise, showing them things wrong.

[LPStudio]

I applaud you for the effort. However, they are right when they say proof reading can do great things. I'm sure it was just an oversight though, and it happens. Thanks for the effort.

A

[nirvanafuk23]

you all wine too much and all you guys can seriously argue about anything..i swear

[Mental Hop]

This is how UG works.

One person posts an article with a minor mistake. Eighty-five people notice the mistake and point out the mistake using a plethora of angry words or phrases. Eighty-five more people read the posts by the previous guitarist about the mistake and proceed to revisit the mistake. After they have posted their opinion on a meaningless mistake eighty-five more people complain about the mistake and give you history on why the mistake was wrong. The cycle continues until people have wasted a minimum of 300 hours to complain about a simple mistake. 300 hours that could have went playing guitar/writing or doing other musically constructive activities. 2-4 people offer amnesty on the guy, and then complain about people who attack other on a simple mistake and then those 2-4 people are verbally raped because someone made a mistake. God Bless UG

[Y2A 66]

^^^
Lets not forget that after the original barrage of insults towards the tab has been completed, 85 more people feel bad for the poor guy and come to his defense by insulting all the people who originally insulted the article. God love UG

[metalhead369]

screw this everyone is either bitching about the tab and his screw-up(i thought it was funny actually)or bitching about people bitching.i hope you people realize that.by doing this, i am bitching in a way to point out everyone bitching, so i am bitching along with everyone in the process.c ya bitches.

[axeman84]

randy didn't write paranoid, you ***ing retard!!!! and i really doubt that you play guitar, post a tab that hasn't been printed 1000x already,,,,jackass!

[axeman84]

anyone of those tabs can be found in countless issues of guitar magazines over the years,,,and they're correct!!!..

[axeman84]

More time in spelling class, less time hurting eardrums w/ your lame ass guitar playing
Angry-Young-Man:
Hey everyone, quit bitching ok? You wanna moan and whine because he spelt (SPELLED) your idols name wrong or something equally immature? THEN WRITE YOUR OWN ARTICLE AND SEE HOW HARD IT IS. Marchoso, you deserve some sort of medal for putting up with this kind of crap and still doing one of these.
[POSTED: 09 April 2005 - 11:11]|

[LPriffer23]

Who cares who wrote what, who plays with who. The point is, these are all definitely some kick a$$ songs

[SG thrasher]

kudos on the crazy train but good god what were you smoking when you did the paranoid tab fool?

[Metallica12_12]

Wow..
Tony Iommo wrote Paranoid.
Crazy Train=Randy.

It was ok but the Paraniod tabs in shit.

[oddling8]

I'm not a ***ing Sabbath fan, atleast I don't obsess over them and I haven't heard alot of their music, but even I was ***ing pissed that he got Rhoads confused with Iommi. Tool.

[imthaman]

this is terrible. The tab is totally incorrect. It may sound like it but it's not how my man randy played it. Zakk wylde doesn't even play it like that. I think you should know what your talking about before you post things like this.

[johnnybgoode]

1. Paranoid was a Black Sabbath creation, it is the title track to thier best album
2.Ozzy solo performed crazy train
3.i personally find it easier to pluck the open 5th string rather than play the 5th string of the low E in the intro to Crazy Train (just a suggestion)
4.nice goin love the series keep on a rockin'!!!

[no_username]

who cares who wrote what? the crazy train tab is good, in my opinion i dont think that the paranoid tab is very good, but thats ok, you made some mistakes big deal. you should tab some more.

[Billymack1933]

good job on crazy train, and screw all you immature ppl who cant find n e thing better to do than bitch about this tab

[pokescab]

Zoso-Zep:
Man, this website is run by a bunch of 13 year olds, I swear..

HEY I'm A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD. Now I'm all insulted. I think I'll go into my special crying corner.

[metalhead296]

YO
U ARE ALL FUCKING BITCHES...HE HAD HIS MISTAKE POINTED OUT 10000 FUCKING TIMES HE REALIZED IT AND IF LOOKED ABOVE, HE ADMITED TO IT, AND YOU KEEP TELLING HIM I SWARE YOU ARE A BUNCH OF FUCKING HYPORCRITS AND I DONT CARE IF I SPELLIED IT WRONG



























































































AND THAT IS Y I AM TAKING UP SPACE



































































ASSHOLES

[lespaulbuddy]

Think of it this way, he got off his ass and made this for us...

at least you could thank him for that

[kirkhammett150]

i like that asshole-thing!

[Jason144]

Thanks for the riffs. Having known no Sabbath/Ozzy tabs
(Not even Iron Man!), this was just what I needed. It's okay if some people find something needed fixing (the Paranoid tab didn't sound right to me), but he already apologized for it. Here's hoping for more tabs (Iron Man maybe???)

[griff1987]

Riff 3 of crazy train is hopelessly wrong. first 2 are right though

[riffer_raffer]

i knew that this poor guy was gonna get flamed as soon as i read this "Black Sabbath" segment. poor guy, never had a chance .... RIP...

[rayIII]

I think when he said the Randy Rhoads version of Paranoid he was talking about the live version from the Tribute CD, he didn't write it, just the solo.

[Punk_Dude2005]

metalhead369:
screw this everyone is either bitching about the tab and his screw-up(i thought it was funny actually)or bitching about people bitching.i hope you people realize that.by doing this, i am bitching in a way to point out everyone bitching, so i am bitching along with everyone in the process.c ya bitches.
[POSTED: 10 May 2005 - 18:32]|

Im with him..Yeah true he did make mistakes but its not the end of the world and at least he was actually trying to teach us something and is not one of you ***ers who just likes to flame people

[dividedfaith]

***ing human rights lawyers are all over this message board..Piece of suggestion FAGS.. stop bitchin and dissin' here coz this aint georgetown mother***ers.. GO GET A LIFE you SONS OF BITCHES!!!!

[dividedfaith]

BTW marchoso keep it up man!! dont listen to these georgetown kiddies .. bunch of knobs.. peace out... your doin great..

[DamienI]

Paranoid is most definatly not played like that

[HardrockGtrist8]

Jeez, everyone on here need to friggin chill. So what, it was a little messed up. He realized his mistake and admited to it. Cut him some slack. Nice tabs.

[acdc101]

Hahaha....

[mikanator]

..this is fun,lol

[cantshreddave]

ok so we've all worked out where this guy messed up, whether your defendin this guy or the opposite, quit the bitchin and the abuse at ppl u dont know please, the tab is there i guess, though i think now tht the worl wuld be a slightly betta place had this whole article and comments below never happened non?