"Dee" by Ozzy Osbourne - Guitar Lesson

Danny Gill dissects a piece that, although brief, is an awe-inspiring example of guitar musicianship— "Dee," by Ozzy Osbourne. This instrumental track showcases the abilities of the late, great Randy Rhoads, a guitarist who has left an indelible mark on heavy metal and rock music.

The Lead Guitarist: Randy Rhoads

Before diving into the song's technical aspects, let's talk about Randy Rhoads, the man behind the strings. Rhoads was a classically trained guitarist who effortlessly blended his love for classical music into the heavy metal landscape. His influences are evident in "Dee," a tribute to his mother, Delores Rhoads, which serves as an interlude on the 1980 album "Blizzard of Ozz."

Chord Progressions and Musical Theory

The song is primarily in the key of D Major, with touches of D minor to give it that soulful, emotional flair. It kicks off with an elegant D Major chord and moves into a C add9 before switching between G Major and A7sus4. If you listen closely, you'll recognize that it isn't just a sequence of chords; it's a storytelling device, each chord change elevating the mood and emotion of the song.

Scales Utilised

The scales that Randy employs are a beautiful amalgamation of major and minor scales, pentatonic licks, and fragments of harmonic minors. The underlying scale seems to be the D Major scale, but Randy was never one to limit himself strictly to a single scale.

Guitar Solo Analysis

Now, the cherry on the top—the solo. The solo in "Dee" isn't flashy in the way that a Van Halen or a Joe Satriani solo might be, but that's not the point. Rhoads’ solo is a dialogue between him and his guitar, displaying his deep-rooted classical influences. It's meticulously crafted, each note chosen with purpose, and every phrase designed to resonate emotionally.

His solo has a beautiful ascending sequence, starting with the root note (D) and scaling upwards, all the while maintaining an emotional resonance that few guitarists can match. He uses techniques like fingerpicking and vibrato to add texture and depth to the solo. You can sense the alternate picking when he picks up speed, and the exquisite legato phrases that make the transitions between the notes so fluid and natural.

Guitar Techniques Used

Randy Rhoads was a virtuoso who had an extensive toolbox of techniques at his disposal. While "Dee" is not as aggressive or heavy as other tracks, it showcases a range of Rhoads' skills:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Chord Progressions
• Arpeggios
• Finger-Picking
• Pull-offs
• Hammer-ons
• Slides

While the song may not showcase Rhoads' full spectrum of techniques, like two-handed tapping, pinched harmonics, or dive-bombs, it offers an intimate glimpse into the world of a guitarist who knew how to blend emotion, technicality, and musicality into a unified masterpiece. And that, my friends, is why "Dee" is a song that stands as a tribute—not just to Randy's mother but also to his incomparable artistry on the guitar.