Chordplay - The Chords of Dio

Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords of Dio. Dio was led by the late great Ronnie James Dio, a legendary rock/metal vocalist that worked with Elf, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow, along with eventually forming his own namesake group.
The band housed several top-notch guitarists over the lifespan of the band, but many would agree that the early years with Vivian Campbell on guitar is the best and most fondly remembered era of Dio.
This lesson takes a look at several interesting chord-based moments hiding Dio's music from the albums Holy Diver and The Last In Line. While some of the song selections and examples in this lesson might lean toward the "deep cut" and "fan favorite" variety, there are plenty of interesting chords and voicing mutations happening in this lesson, which should spark some new ideas in your playing while also supplying you with a few creative things to experiment with.
Give this episode a view, leave some comments and feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!

[@SirFurious]

The Last in Line!!! "We are coming... HOME!!!" Killer!!!

[@Hughami]

Let’s not forget Ronnie was also the supreme vocalist for Rainbow, as well as Sabbath and Elf. Nice job, dude.

[@JD-vj4go]

Rainbow was so great with Dio. Not good after Dio.

[@Hughami]

@@JD-vj4go Hey! I'd have to agree, still some great musicians, of course, but the music was a bit ephemeral. Have a good one, JD

[@caljerm]

Pretty sure nobody is forgetting that 😁

[@Hughami]

@@caljerm ah, one would think so, but then it wasn’t mentioned, and not everyone is of the same fine er … vintage. 😉 have a good one.

[@TheCjbowman]

Vivian was so influential - just a beast! Holy Diver is an important album for that time.🤘

[@sawt00th]

What’s not to like about Last In Line 😀🤘

[@MoCatt]

The song ends.

[@CarrigansGuitarClub]

Ah brings me way back to the early 1980's in Donegal Ireland, when we actually meet Vivian Campbell at his fathers holiday home :)

[@adamwarlock5286]

Thank you , I didn't know that.

[@fernandes5986]

You lucky bastard 😃 he was my teenage metal guitar hero, for many years. Greetings from Portugal.

[@image30p]

Oh man. I can't believe it. First VC in Whitesnake and now Dio. This guy is one of my favorite ever guitarists. Specifically those first three albums with Dio. I don't think Dio or Vivian ever got back to that level. I wish there would have been more recordings, but it's kind of like Blizzard and Diary. Just a beautiful moment in metal. I love the way you play this stuff. Especially Invisible and Gypsy. That Les Paul is perfect for this lesson. Thanks so much for this. It's such an important time for me.

[@Scottocaster6668]

Nice comparison to the blizzard/diary albums. Very true, never thought of it that way. 👍

[@image30p]

:) Thanks!

[@ParanormalResponse]

I dont post much but I like and watch all your videos. I appreciate the enthusiasm and the time you take to put these videos together. It really shows how much you genuinely love your craft.

[@billtice5057]

Luv this time period of DIO’s music!

[@davidyates8880]

Carrying on a theme, guess what David. I saw Dio at Hammersmith Odeon in 1983. As much as anything, I love your lessons because they keep bringing back memories of my teenage years, when I was always going to gigs. They were cheap in those days, not much more than a night out to the local pub. Dio sang brilliantly, and the band was tight as. Good times, can't wait to perfect my time machine :)

[@Blue_3rd]

David Yates I was just about to say something very similar. Late 70s, 80s...Hammy Odeon, all the good bands, jumpers for goal posts, tickets for less than a fiver 😃 These lessons are a real nostalgia trip, as well as guitar lessons. ✌️Cheers!

[@davidyates8880]

@@Blue_3rd ​ they were good days indeed. I found a ticket from a Pearl Jam gig I went to in 1993. It cost a whopping £3.50 :) I wish I could find tickets for earlier gigs, to check out what I was paying to see bands in the 80s :) Rock on brother.

[@TreatzTMA]

David Yates you’re making me wistful. Those were the days. Saw dozens ( hundreds?) of bands and thought nothing of it. Hurry up with that time machine!!😀

[@davidyates8880]

@@TreatzTMASame here brother. I'm taking £500 non refundable deposis on time machine trips now :)

[@philipjeremias451]

sorry to be so offtopic but does any of you know a way to log back into an instagram account?? I was dumb lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can offer me.

[@EllisGordon33]

Great, my favorite lineup. Vivian Campbell is definitely overlooked. Great riffs and leads. He had an awesome version of "Man on the Silver Mountain" off Intermission also. Well done.

[@scottbivins4051]

Not by Dio fans he aint.

[@jamesfurr3346]

Dio, King’s X, & Hammerfall @ the HOB Anaheim back in the day. Epic!

[@misterknightowlandco]

I saw that tour at harpos in detroit. It was the killing the dragon tour. Fucking awesome show.

[@Michlandir]

Just love this whole “chordplay” series! Growing up, i found all the partial chordwork impenetrable, because it flew in the face of the universe of standard guitar teaching/learning. So these are really wonderfully KEY lessons!! Thanks late night brah!!

[@griiseknoen]

Just the other day I was surfing KZbin looking for versions or tutorials of early Dio songs and to my disappointment I didn't find that many. Two days later you come out with this!!! I mean, this is already one of my favourite guitar channels on the Tube, but now it almost became spookily perfect... 😄 Thank you!

[@donaldwrissler9059]

Vivian was one of my first guitar idols when I picked up guitar back in '84. Saw Yngwie open up for Dio , that was one of the most important shows I saw during my early development. I took artificial harmonic's way to far early on, couldn't play more than couple notes without 'Squeelling' everyone. Im much better now, I'm down to only harmonics every 4-5 notes. Excellent and useful content as as always David, Thanks

[@hrosemd]

Those 2 albums are an absolute goldmine. Check out the interaction between the bass and guitar on "Stand up and Shout". Guitar is doing an A chug with a C to B double stop but the bass hits a G# when Viv hits the B. Always loved that.

[@image30p]

Is that what is happening? I knew there was some kind of "Have a drink on me" kind of thing happening there! haha

[@hrosemd]

@@image30p yeah, check it out.

[@mtmayhem933]

Thanks bro...Nice to see somebody covering the licks i was playing in high school. Kids now have no idea the talent that was grooving the 80's...DIO FOREVER !!!

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

What a great video David. I’m happy to see that your giving Campbell some acknowledgment. To me, he was among the top players in the 80”s. Always loved everything he did, especially his solos. Such a fantastic player. Great job! Live your channel.

[@uncleremus5046]

🍺ski I swear you read my mind! Awesome video & Dio always had good guitar players. My favorite metal vocalist just immensely powerful voice.🤘

[@barrybrower7610]

Awesome video ! (as always ) ! Vivian Campbell and Dio were perfect together ! They made 2 of the all time best albums of that era ( Holy Diver and Last In Line ) ! Vivian Campbell . . One of the most underrated guitarists ever . . . . . !

[@rrgghuhgfvjhdrgfzejjg]

One of my favorites from dio , is " wild one " great opening riff .

[@misterknightowlandco]

Dio was awesome. One of the few metal singers whose material got better with age. Magica, Lock Up the Wolves and Killing the Dragon were great but forgotten albums.

[@citizzencain]

Awesome episode...I remember spending my summer days having a happy time wearing out Dio cassettes learning Vivian Campbell riffs.

[@RipVDub]

Viv was a uncontrolled rage of speed riffs and patterns. Awesome stuff Dave!

[@thedeadonmusic1]

Funny that you should mention Whitesnake in this Dio video...Whitesnake opened some dates on Dio's "Holy Diver" tour. I caught that show in Spokane, WA in '84.... Whitesnake was touring the "Slide it In" album w/John Sykes. Great show and great times!

[@sixstringswl]

Dio is one of my all time favorite bands and I really don’t see a change in that. Great video as always!!!

[@ledgesintar]

How is it that there are 2 likes but 0 views? Can I still claim first view lol? Anyway, love the Chordplay series! Saw Dio once in a small club (in the earlier 2000's w/ Goldy??) and the clarity and presentation just blew me away and that's what I remember the show for. I think Ronnie was a bit tired of the song Holy Diver (that's just me reading things into the performance) but even that was still live music excellence bar none. (RIP, Ronnie.) Thanks for this video---very inspiring!

[@jem550]

Love taking these trips down memory lane. Great episode!

[@maidenman95]

Love your videos man. Glad I discovered your channel :)

[@Scottocaster6668]

Speaking of augmented .. next Chordplay: Judas Priest!! "Last in Line" love the part as Dios vocals follow the trem/dive at the word DOWN, "The only way is D O W N Nice choice 🤘👿

[@voronOsphere]

Yayyyyyyyy!!!!! Awesome, David!!!! We've been waiting for this one!

[@robertorenner8245]

Man! I am new subscriber. Your channel is awesome. I love the 80s and early 90s guitar playing. Not only the leads but the rhythm guitars from that era too. Your playlist of Chordplay is perfect for that. Please include Winger on your list. Reb Beach is an incredible rhythm player too.

[@peyotepete4903]

Dude! Always need some Late Night Lesson! Thanks!

[@guitarfreak0194]

Awesome job, Dave. This stuff is way cool bro... Thanks

[@wdplays9160]

Boy, you sure are taking me back in time! Thank you for your chordplay lessons, I really enjoyed watching you play some of the good old riffs.

[@btu45nh]

So cool ,Last in Line! Awesome playing Dave!🎸

[@jimcreee3299]

Another great lesson. Those 2 albums are jam packed with killer riffs and solos.

[@gianpaolousai1768]

Great video Dave, fantastic songs you have great taste for Dio material

[@rastadarrin]

The Last In Line🤘

[@2204as]

Thanks a lot for this video! Love it!

[@tallpaul1020]

Love the whole series. So glad I found it. Great playing great sound great lesson. Thx David Keep up the great work.🎸🤘👍

[@colemaund608]

Man this is awesome!

[@stephenboulware3641]

Love your lessons Dave! Always amazing content from such a versatile hard working musician. You have never failed to impress us knowledge chasing and developing artists with passion to improve on a continue basis. You are such a great dude! Bless you man and all your endeavors!

[@Kamy.GG.Official]

*Dio worked with some really fantastic players. Great work on the guitar parts man*

[@72dodge340]

One of my favorite bands and favorite albums. I wore out several of these cassettes when I was a kid. Ronnie and Vivian were amazing together. Thanks for making this video!

[@jjcollins]

Fantastic video! Very well done! These albums were very influential to me as a player, and also shaped my childhood. Vivian is still in my top 5 favorite players of all time, and you did a good job explaining how ahead of his time and how influential he was/is. Also glad you went with the "deep cuts", and I hope the people who have never heard these songs go and listen to them and check them out!

[@stringbender11672]

Wow you hit 2 of my favorites with Gypsy and Invisible. Mind blown!!! Nice one, Dave!!!🤘😎👍

[@TreatzTMA]

Thanks again David. Love the series, both licks and chords. Hard to believe Viv was only in Dio for a handful of years. They made timeless music.

[@EddieB2047]

Killer man! Started learning guitar during that era and wore those Dio albums out!

[@ak_zombie]

Love Vivian's playing. He's showing this type of stuff off again in the band Last in Line.

[@unsurprisingly]

Awesome man you really doing a good thing, I love dio thanks brother I appreciate you and have subscribed to your channel... awesome thanks

[@raultavarez007]

Epic guitar playing lesson

[@MarkH457]

New subscriber here, so glad I discovered your channel. I've enjoyed and learned something from every vid I've watched, including this one. I saw Viv with Dio and then later in the 80s with Whitesnake, definitely one of my fave guitarists.

[@trance9158]

Great stuff...now I have to go and listen to the first 2 albums and reminisce of my youth

[@johnliszewski6742]

Thank you David! Your lessons get right to the core of discerning the intricacies of chords in these songs! Thanks bro... much appreciated!!! John L

[@jeddak]

Great lesson - nice analysis and demonstration as always. Last In Line was the first I ever heard of Dio, and it changed my life. "We may never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never come home!"

[@Gledii]

that dissonant chords just fits perfectly in the song. great Vivian

[@p.shephard2081]

I was at the last in line tour in Houston Texas and met Vivian Campbell at I believe it was Ace music before the concert. He had his lightning bolt guitar.;so awesome

[@mickymort4534]

Loved me some Dio back in the day. Great licks.

[@davemcdonald8790]

Great video! Thanks!

[@clamdigr]

David, thank you for this video! Fwiw, I was a senior in high school (1983), sitting in "Invertebrate Zoology" class dissecting a frog the first time I heard "Rainbow in The Dark" on the radio (teacher had the local rock station on when he wasn't lecturing). Game changer for me. And I agree with your take on Vivian's pinch harmonics, I remember that the mechanical screech in the main riff of "Straight Through the Heart" was very unique in its delivery.

[@coleknight5335]

Last few videos have been on fire

[@65Lynchy]

Great lesson,👍seen last in line twice last year,amazing seeing Viv up close playing,LP plugged into engls,🔥,massive tone,if they play near you I'd really reccommend going to the gig,whole bands "tight' n is a great show

[@centaurus5676]

The opening heavy riff on Don't talk to stranger's sounds like a cross between 'Bark at the Moon' [Jake e lee] and I'll see the light tonight [Yngwie] ! Good tutorial, thanks Dave.

[@Busyfingers24]

Da Brewster has done it again! The Metal Gods are pleased with your efforts and we get to reap the rewards🤘 Thanks Dave...

[@carloesposito8485]

Thank you for this video 👍

[@voronOsphere]

Vivian's energetic style squeals and chirps on those Dio albums in a most exciting and unique way!

[@ct90twa]

Great lesson. Love the deeper cuts. I've played the intro to Don't Talk to Strangers as you showed it for years, but that is not how Viv plays it. He plays at the 5th.

[@Ken-yg4um]

I wish I had a teacher like you 35 years ago when I first started getting serious about my guitar playing. My teacher would just show me the basics chords and not really explain what I was playing and as a added bonus your not so obsessed with tone like alot of other guys you just play...😎👍 my tone comes from how I hold my pick and usually how I fret the chords and notes but a decent guitar helps 😁

[@jeffersononetwo]

Indeed! Vivian Campbell is the man - loved him in all of his bands and Def Leppard ... I just like his style

[@GeauxSaints121]

Excellent!

[@maidenman95]

Nice guitar tone 🎸

[@douglaschristine8387]

Great video David. Dio is the lyric master. When Holy Diver came out I was hooked and such a great lineup. Vinny Appice is a monster on the drums. Ronnie James Dio was definitely a master of his craft. Peace.

[@eddiejr540]

FINALLY...I know how to play the first part of “last in line”...you know how you’re playing something and you know in your heart it’s not quite right...I freakin hate that...thanks Brewster...coulda used this lesson back in ‘83 when I was 18....rock on my brother!!!

[@demus89]

Found you through your The sword walkthroughs just wanted to say thanks brother. Would be great to hear your history on how you got to where you are now with playing. Your a great teacher.

[@dinociuffetelli4591]

I saw Dio in 1986 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre with Graig Goldy on guitar and was totally blown away. Dio was on pointe as usual, the band was super tight and Goldy was melting faces! It was the first big international act I saw live. So inspirational.....thanks for the lesson. About that time in the 80s I was also listening to Autograph a fair bit and saw Steve Lynch at a guitar clinic in my home town of Canberra. Have you considered doing a chord play from Autograph or a licks lesson featuring Steve Lynch?

[@tomsmith29]

dio is the king of rock"n"roll and what a talent Vivian was and his leads were blistering good he could really make that that thing bleed

[@666walshinator]

Still waiting for some JUDAS PRIEST!!!!

[@silentstormstudios]

Awesome overview of Dio's music and some of the interesting guitar parts from those albums. I learned a lot from this video, as I always do from your videos. This one brought back junior high for me. I saw Dio at Stabler Arena in Allentown, PA when I was in eighth grade. I agree that pinch harmonics may not have been very mainstream at this point in time, but you also have to remember that Van Halen had been on the scene since '78, and he used pinch harmonics pretty regularly, so the other players of the time were very likely feeding off of that influence. This was the period in time when higher gain amps were becoming more widely available (i.e. Marshall JCM800), which made pinch harmonics much easier to execute. Players like Zakk Wylde took the pinch harmonic to a whole new level in the late eighties and early nineties, some might say beyond where they needed to go! ;-) I'm a huge Zakk Wylde fan, though. I think I burned through my No More Tears CD!

[@CarlosMVOliveira]

Thank you!

[@ericriggs501]

Up next on LNL / Chord Play............Fates Warning followed by Metal Church!DO IT for the people David!

[@johnbostrom9165]

What a fantastic band and an amazing singer/songwriter. His Sabbath albums are classics as well as was Rainbow.

[@MJHiteshew]

Regarding pinch harmonics, this is the time when George Lynch was really using them in Dokken. They were contemporaries who were exploring together.

[@voronOsphere]

Definitely! Alex Lifeson does one of the best pinch harmonics ever in the opening guitar solo of "Jacob's Ladder" in 1979-80 (Permanent Waves- Rush)!

[@Blue_3rd]

Thanks for another trip down memory lane ✌️The solo in Invisible always got me going! I believe Vivian was only about 21 when he recorded Holy Diver. Crazy!

[@oconnortony2]

Vivian one of the best, two of my favorite albums

[@davidmcauliffe8692]

Billy G in ZZ Top used pinch harmonics quite a bit from his arsenal. Neal Schon and particularly EVH used them in the late 70s/early 80s. You could use your pick or fingernails to create some awesome squeals that blew up with humbuckers and distortion. It's cool to see those augmented and partial chords. So many George Lynch/Dokken songs incorporated them.

[@bearzden]

Oh man..loved Vivian Campbell..awesome guitar player..i know he's still around but you don't hear about him..not like back then..damn I miss his style and sound w/ DIO...thanks man..that was cool..🤘😬🤘 "We dont come alone, we are fire, we are stone"

[@RocketinExile]

excellent

[@williamdon3442]

Push was the first dio track I ever heard. That was more than enough to get me hooked.

[@jmata4237]

Holy...Diver! Vivian was and is a great guitarist. Ground breaking for sure. Reminds me a little of Randy Rhodes. For sure had a major influence on my playing. Thank you again for shredding some light on a great player from before what some people only know as the 2nd guitarist in def leppard. Vivian #1🤘🏼👌🏽👍🏼 Holy Diver!

[@jmata4237]

Tomorrow Holy Diver in cd player!!!

[@chadphillips1217]

Your are a great teacher

[@Horrorfreak106]

Awesome video as always! Can you do a video on licks/chords of Chris Holmes? He's one of my favorite guitar players out there and his tone is MASSIVE.

[@mikeneal8651]

So Cool . . .

[@frankiedonofrio5438]

nice job.....subbed

[@Briansgate]

that was great

[@stephenboulware3641]

And BTW I see some Jeff Beck analysis is on track for a future deep insight. Looking forward to that one! Thanks Dave

[@Jimbo1268]

Epic, huge DIO fan, Very under-rated album is Lock Up the Wolves with Rowan Robertson laying down some great stuff.

[@tomsmith29]

rowan killed it on lock up the wolves one of my favorites

[@J24777]

Dave Love how you get the pitched harmonics!!!!

[@martymooney8099]

Thanks again bro for real.. intro to Invisible has eluded me for years...🤘F... Yes🤘... like a 48year old kid in a damn candy store lol.... my favorite channel

[@NVC1019]

awesome dave you picked all my favorite DIO tracks excellent lessons!!! ...maybe next a craig goldy chord play from "dream evil"? ...keep shreddin' \m/ \m/

[@markdakel9253]

80s Metal 🎸 Exceptionally good musicians crafting the licks and tone that stands the test of time!

[@youtoo2233]

Vivian Campbell definitely one of my fave guitarists to come out of the 80s. Reminds me of a Time with a friend of mine we would go around and use the names of guitar players to mess with everybody's head, he usually was Vivian Campbell and I was Jimmy Page.