Hellraiser by Ozzy Osbourne
Hellraiser is a signature Ozzy Osbourne track from the No More Tears era, released in 1991, with guitarist Zakk Wylde delivering the heavy, groove-forward riffs that defined Ozzy's late-80s/early-90s sound. The song showcases Wylde’s knack for crushing rhythm divisions, squealing harmonic touches, and a chorus that sticks, making it a go-to example for players chasing hard-hitting Ozzy-style riffing.
Written during the No More Tears sessions, the track helped establish Wylde as a marquee Ozzy guitarist, pairing tight palm-muted riffs with blistering single-note runs and dramatic whammy-bar screams. Its enduring cultural footprint lives on in metal and hard rock circles as a rite of passage for players exploring groove, tone, and the art of making a riff breathe.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson you will lock in the song's main riff and its verse/chorus rhythm, learn how to drive the groove with palm-muted power chords, and add signature harmonic accents that give Hellraiser its bite. We’ll break the tune into manageable sections, cover the quick single-note runs that connect phrases, and discuss tempo, feel, and tone to capture the Ozzy Wylde vibe. Watch for tricky picking patterns, tight string muting, and incorporating pinch harmonics and subtle whammy-bar touches to recreate the classic sound without overdoing it.
Intermediate; prior skills in palm-muted power chords, accurate alternate picking, and comfort with some single-note runs will help you level up quickly.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Slowly loop each section with a metronome, then gradually raise the speed until you reach the target tempo.
- 💡Keep your left hand relaxed and your right hand strict with muting to avoid string noise, especially during rapid alternate-picking sections.
- 💡Practice the pinch harmonics at the ends of phrases by lightly touching the string at the node near the bridge and picking with a firm attack to get a clear squeal.
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