The Ozzy Intro That Tricked Me For Years! (SOLVED!)

[@prometheustv6558]

No more tears when trying to figure out this intro 🤣

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I cried a lot.

[@cem330]

Loool

[@rudyc79]

Love this song. You should do a breakdown of zakk’s solo. This solo has always been my all time favorite

[@kcmichelson4528]

Dude actually uses a slide in a metal song. Legend.

[@ragzy02]

The last part of that solo with the buildup? Oh….my…..god.

[@ck2106]

That build up in the beginning is crazy.

[@masediggity]

I was the 69th like on op's comment ... Niiiiice

[@raspberryjuiceentertainmen719]

I always thought this bass intro was the most confusing intro of any popular song and I’m glad somebody finally made a video on it because nobody seems to talk about this intro

[@masediggity]

I always knew my ear was fighting for it's life while listening to this. It's like you know the bass did something weird, but it's so slight that it's super odd to nail down. I don't even play bass, but what a friggin intro. And the reverb on that first smack of the snare is so perfect. What an atmosphere. Mike Inez was on his way into the touring band, but Bob Daisly played on the record. Good ole reliable if there ever was one. And what a combo I guess right??

[@Auxend]

I’m thinking could have easily been creative tape cuts too - I spent some time with some old school tape folks recently and was surprised how easy it is to swap verses and extend intros etc. this was very common back in this era as well.

[@mykneeshurt8393]

I'd go with this theory for sure....

[@travisjordan1528]

I found the last slayer album to be pretty noticeable for this kind of editing..

[@SlideRSB]

What's tape?

[@macescoolchannel]

@@SlideRSB Magnetic tape, the type used on cassettes and large storage

[@SebastianHagl]

@@macescoolchannel And before cassettes reels were used (some people still prefer them). An I old? No, just ancient.

[@DNinja07]

Listens to no more tears, thinks I Wana learn this, searches KZbin finds this video, watches it, goes back to listening to no more tears, fucking mind blown when I hear it and smile at a much deeper appreciation of this rift ! Amazing video man !

[@stevef3888]

I really thought I was the only one who couldn't get this. Very well done. Your explanation of the 2 different riffs cleared everything up for me. Thank you!!

[@m2svirtual384]

I've always clearly heard the double hammer-ons, but assumed it was improvised so I never bothered to learn it. Interesting to see that it's repeatable parts. Thanks for breaking that down and sharing it!

[@fallenabr7654]

You thought the double hammer ons in the recording was improvised so you didn't learn it? It's how the song goes...

[@BlacklightPosterboys]

You had it right.

[@m2svirtual384]

@@fallenabr7654 Yes. Indeed. Unless I stop and learn a piece of music, I cannot visualize exactly how it is played. Some of us are just like that, and probably not worthy of your attention. I guess even Mike trembles beneath your greatness since he made this ENTIRE video about this riff... yeesh. Man is up in here teaching masses of people about a cool riff, and here you are, trying to make yourself look good at the expense of other people's comments.

[@jimmyjohnspizza3666]

Hey mike it’s 12:AM for me and I just got up for midnight nuggies and saw u uploaded 😁

[@mourning_ghost]

What kind of sauce we talkin' about?

[@tambor76]

Did you go to mickey dee's for the nuggies or did you have your own?

[@jimmyjohnspizza3666]

@@tambor76 my own

[@jimmyjohnspizza3666]

@@mourning_ghost bbq

[@TotoDG]

Not gonna lie, this intro in standard tuning sounds like a Tool riff.

[@L33M_0]

I mean it’s the same position as Forty Six and 2

[@gredangeo]

Yeah. Being a half step down wouldn't have been such a bad idea. That would have been better. Trying to follow with the video and go back to the actual song requires a tuning change.

[@spence_the_buffet_slayer]

Think you mean a Tool riff sounds like Ozzy….

[@youreallygotmenow4855]

Yeah, I thought the exact same thing.

[@five5x]

You mean Tool sound like this riff. No More Tears came out when Tool was still a small bar band and 2 years before they released their first album.

[@lemac3200]

Very cool! This riff puzzled me for years. But it kept me interested in this song, too. Would be so cool if you'd make a video of Zakk Wylde's parts in this one, too. I suggest there are plenty of little specials and secrets hidden that would make an interesting topic for a video :-) Keep shreddin'!

[@tpike32]

Not sure if it was mutt Lange who produced that record. But all of the Guitars are double tracked . That’s all I know so far 😆

[@KaineSpawnX]

For sure, it's a great tune. In the pre-chorus, Zakk does some interesting wide-stretch chord shapes that are worth a look. The outro also gets wacky by changing up the chorus riff with an occasional measure of 5/4. On the Live & Loud version, drummer Randy Castillo actually misses it, but then cycles right back on beat the next measure, which sounds cool in its own way.

[@Bmxicano2]

This intro has always messed with my head. One of my favorite songs. Kickass guitar playing and a solo that sends chills down my spine every time

[@TheDoctahLove]

You have no idea how excited I got when I saw this video. This riff has stumped me for years in timing.

[@Cpt_Adama]

That song has always had what I thought was one of the coolest bass riffs in all rock. Great deep dive!

[@Rockeiro70]

Yesss, today after coming home from work I started exercising with Your video, then with the original song. Also at first only intro and later all verses. The way how they flip is sometimes confusing, but now (after 2,5 hours) I understood all parts and can play along. What a great feeling. Totally crazy, constantly only 3 notes, but so well composed 👍🏼

[@djm2196]

Mike! Dennis here haven't seen you in years! But here you are crushing it online! Keep killing it man! Great stuff!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Hey Dennis!

[@jasonrodenbeck5064]

I JUST noticed the change on this after decades of listening to it. Thanks for explaining it!

[@syiunshi]

I figured it out. He switches between each version of the riff to compliment the vocals and then compliment the guitar when it does the callback to the vocals. Starts the bar with the 5-7 hammer on for vocals and starts the bar with open Db for the guitar callback.

[@Sommatix]

Soon as I saw Ozzy, I knew it was gonna be this song lol. Always thought there was some funny business going on at the start, but then I figured it was just some weird time signature thing that I couldn't detect and stopped trying. Thanks for clearing this up, Mike! Love videos like these!

[@HannahCope88]

Loving the phenylacetic acid bee shirt! Will definitely listen to the intro on this song a lot more carefully and hear how it changes. I'm actually reminded a little bit of Hearts Love Alive with this intro.

[@alexandernicely4621]

Bro thank you! I’m not going to pretend I’m good enough to play along with you once and have it down but it does make perfect sense now. Atleast I can practice the right way! Thanks man!!

[@1594matt]

Thank you for your efforts in figuring this out & making this video. I've cried myself to sleep every night since 1991 because I just couldn't wrap my head around it. There'll be No More Tears from hereon in... 🥲

[@cagecrawford103]

This is my absolute favorite Ozzy album....Zakk and Mike's work is stellar...I love it so much.

[@zoomosis]

It was Bob Daisley who played bass on the album. Supposedly Mike came up with the bass riff to the song No More Tears though.

[@fredlaroche6969]

same, best Ozzy album!

[@cem330]

Agreed, Zakk at his absolute zenith! Album had brilliant production (early to mid 90s was the peak of rock and metal production) and Zakk's tone was just killer!

[@JonHawaii2003]

@@zoomosis Yup, it was the master Bob. One of my favs

[@RedBlaze02]

@@zoomosis true Bob played all bass on the album. Mike came up with the bass riff but Bob re-did the timing of it (according to Bob himself, who is always kind and gracious to his fans) so that’s probably why it’s the cool way it is.

[@chrisc5854]

Thank you! I thought the same thing, like every time I played it something was always off and I guess I just never gave it the critical listen that was needed to point this out. Very cool, thanks for posting this one!

[@stephencollins4480]

Great lesson on a groovy bass line. Thank you for unpacking that pick-up hammer on and the riff flipping.

[@denniswerner1670]

This drive me nuts for years, until now. Thanks.

[@albertschaf6985]

I always considered the versions opposite of yours. Version 1 starts when the drums kick in and morphs into version 2. That's the order they are in when the band comes in and during the verses. I figured out that the first notes you hear is the last hammer-on of version 2 acting as a pickup into version 2 alone, lining things up to get to version 1 when the drums kick in.

[@skateebee]

Wow! Who knew such a cool riff could be created with just 3 notes! Thanks for breaking this down. It has intrigued me for years.

[@MKDumas1981]

Two notes*

[@ironsaint]

4 notes*

[@curdledmayonnaise]

great explanation. no more tears is probably my favorite song of all time

[@davespin9034]

Really liked this. Thank you. This is my favorite bass riff. Besides tool its rare in my music tastes to hear the bass stand out. Cool

[@rcredmon]

I wasn't planning to listen to 'No More Tears' tonight... But now I am. Great breakdown.

[@LicksoftheLegend]

Doing Gods work my guy. Easily my favorite channel on KZbin.

[@OneDayOfPiece]

I always loved the bass riff for no more tears. Truly amazing

[@Wiseguy83]

Thank you for doing this! I’ve actually been revisiting this again a lot lately in my head and it’s been driving me nuts. I was actually googling its few weeks ago. You read my mind.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

The bass intro rhythm kind of reminds me of Fripp and Belew’s “gamelan” parts on the King Crimson song “Frame by Frame” where they both play in different time signatures and they meet every few bars

[@erikr968]

This intro has been bugging me for decades too. I got as far as realizing there are different versions of the riff and that it doesn't start on the 1 beat. Great explanation!

[@magicspiral]

I mentioned this song on your other video about confusing intros. Glad you covered it here!

[@andrejz8954]

Thanks Mike! I really like your content, especially cause you seem so excited and best of all lacking of a bigger than needed ego. Thanks for the content! 👍✌😊

[@TranzparentMethods]

This song is weird bass wise. That's why when I played it I'd through a hammer-on and off on the D string on the 5 and 7 just to keep the band I was playing with at bay. I'd add that "Paranoid" style riff in between. It wasn't text, but it would keep people from falling off time.

[@txc123]

I’m not a bass player but was always intrigued by this intro, thanks for clearing it up, I can hear it clear as day now 👍🏻🤘🏻

[@pablomontesinos6852]

I've always had that same affliction with this intro and when you played two versions of the bass riff, I stopped feeling crazy about it. I was sure that something weird was happening.

[@tanneryordan]

I'm just impressed all your tuning pegs line up

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Love when that happens.

[@iutchube]

@@TheArtofGuitar Don't we all? 😆

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

It’s often the subtle things that separates the pros from the Joes. Great job figuring this out. I always thought it started that way too. 👍

[@Obi-WanKannabis]

these small details are what make these great pieces stand out, as you said, it's like an audio illusion. It just makes the track more dynamic and odd.

[@philipbeasley72]

Pure genius Mike. Or they just came in wrong. And came up with an extra note

[@findJLF]

Wow - well done. This is awesome. Great breakdown on the bass part!

[@HowardBobson]

Dude! I was listening this the other day and always wondered what beat the drums come in!

[@JonHawaii2003]

Mike Inez came up with the riff but it was Bob Daisley who played on the album. His last work with Ozzy

[@Paincakes]

That was a brilliant breakdown. I was always puzzled on that bass line as well.

[@Guitar387]

Just watching this has done my head in completely.

[@EltonThorson]

I'm happy to see I'm playing that song in the right way. But that confusion in the intro haunt me until today. Hahahah

[@thehunter7422]

I was about to start learning this song on bass and Didn't know there was much backstory for the intro for it lol. Definitely gonna keep vid this in mind when trying to play it

[@Inferno5150]

Thank you!!!!!! I NEVER would have figured this out on my own

[@DavidBentley23]

Lmao No way! Me and a high school buddy have been so confused by that opening for 23 years.

[@claudevieaul1465]

Bob Daisley is an absolute genius on bass (AND songwriting!!). Bob recorded this line - Mike Inez joined the band later, for the videos and live....

[@J.D.0502]

Mike! You're a genius in explaining stuff! Thank you so much!!!!!

[@Bob1014ify]

I always wondered about that bass riff. Another confusing riff is the keys intro to "Best I Can" by Queensryche.

[@scottgardner4546]

Mike, thank you SO much for this!

[@DougyG76]

I was looking for an explanation to this riff as I KNEW that I was hearing something different. I just couldn’t pin point it. But I did think it was something to do with that off-camber bass line. So I think you more than answers this question I was thinking about…WTF is up with this song and why does it sound so good?!! Thanks mate. This explains a lot 😁👍

[@stratotele12]

Thank you, I always messed this riff up and never took the time to figure out why!

[@TylerCrossWrestling]

Trying to air-bass this has always been impossible. Thanks Mike Inez for writing the greatest bass riff of all time and then making it impossible for me to hear right.

[@Tat2Dragons]

The light in the window is a crack in the sky A stairway to darkness in a blink of an eye

[@johnstewart7619]

Yeah it’s always been a pain the ass to play this bass riff right and it sound correct live. Would be really cool if you cover the bass line for Zombie stomp for everyone too. 😉

[@thenext9537]

When I saw them on tour in the early 1990s for this album, it was weird because they came in on time vs this weirdness off the album. I saw them again, and the seem to have flipped it around. The Album does one thing, the live version they adapted, and it seemed to change. It bothered me for years, but I figured it out. I used an eq and just slammed all the highs and some of the mids and tweaked on one of those hardware eq rack mount things and figured it out. Flipping around was confusing, but kind of easy now (but not if you don't practice it!). Damn song tricked everyone forever! Still does!

[@bartwitek9526]

Thanks for explaining .. seems like version 2 follows the drum track more naturally ..version 1 is kinda odd but it obviously works

[@AhYesIndeedItsFunTime]

Cool seeing you pop up on the Kyle Dunnigan show last night!

[@jmabs5096]

YESSSSSSS! THIS PONDERS ME FOREVER AS WELL!

[@KYSMO]

You see, Version 1 goes ding ding ding digi ding ding, but Version 2 goes ding ding ding digi ding ding DI ding ding ding digi ding ding DI ding...

[@turdferguson2]

-Vanilla Ice

[@StuffWhatGoesBoom]

Guitar Magazine or Guitar World tab from back in the day transcribed this pretty well.

[@phunkym8]

arent these little switch ups what producers would come up with during recording? ive seen a few studio documentaries and the musicians really appreciate the producers input or suggestions on how to make stuff more interesting. for example with bob rock telling kirk how to play the unforgiven solo or when flea asked rick rubin what bassline fits better to give it away

[@ognir66]

If anyone ever doubted the genius of bassist Bob Daisley, you're seeing it on display here.

[@jonathanphlek5252]

that bass tone is beautiful

[@TomGrubbe]

I could never figure this out either. You explained this very well!

[@AggioSound]

I literally tried for ten minutes last week to come in on time on the drums and gave up. Lol. Thanks for the explanation. 🤘

[@Rockeiro70]

Oh Yeah ! Thanks for clarifying that mystery 👍🏼 Remembering how many times I tried to dance to everything in the Rock Disco and was always confused. 🤣🤣🤣 I really have to exercise that bass line.

[@fadetoblack1290]

This caught me SO off guard while listening to it in bed about 4 years ago. I never owned the album, I was always a Rhoads/Ozzy buy and a BLS for Zakk. Buuuut, NMT is a must have. It got to the song and I went "wait....waaaait" and I must have rewound it 100 times. Believe it or not, your Metallica video on how Lars plays on the "inside and outside of the beats" helped me with this riff! I finally got it after that, so, thank you!!

[@zoomosis]

It sounds weird played in standard tuning. I'm sure Versions 1 & 2 were recorded as separate tracks and switched during mixing. In 1991 they were using a digital mixing consoles so were automating a lot of funky stuff. You'll see glimpses of it in the "Don't Blame Me" Ozzy documentary from 1992. (Though from what I understand the DVD version is missing scenes shown in the original VHS release.)

[@eirikstor]

Plays bass with a pick... approved!

[@NorskGamer1]

Many rock and metal bassists play with a pick

[@420RittzBish]

You use the right tool for the job. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.

[@juliandivakar]

Bless you brother

[@deavida]

This composition is genius...Inez absolutely did it to make it not easy to recreate. I dont even play bass and I totally music nerded out to this video. So fun!

[@earthdust923]

Inez didn't do shit. It's Bob Daisley in the studio

[@kfing1]

@@earthdust923 Yeah, Daisley recorded in studio. Inez wrote the bassline

[@f.herumusu8341]

As a bass player I entertained teh audience with that, when the in-house mixer came to me and told me that I had to redo the sound check with doors open. Nobody cared about the one, but we had a lot of fun whit one bass on stage ond the crowd did not wnt me to leave.

[@mattkent6919]

This video is awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@syns-exitium3268]

I heard Clyde plays electric bass pretty well

[@labrujacassino5770]

Hi! One more question about this song: it seems that they changed the way they play NO MORE TEARS along the years. Since at least LIVE AT BUDOKAN you can hear they playing the way that you (and me) always thought it should be (version 2 in the beggining). Bizarre!

[@jariel1031]

Now I have to go listen to this song. I always wonder though why they took out, It's just a sign of the times going forward in reverse.

[@JMeredithTwigs]

This makes sense, but I'm convinced there is only 1 version and the issue is a production mistake. When played live it is always played in the way we expect. If you listen to the bass stem the transition between both timings almost sounds like a lazy production correction.

[@andresalbornoz1935]

Please do the Love gun Solo and the Making Love Solo of Kiss, thanks.

[@Maximus091768]

EXCELLENT EXPLANATION!!

[@williep1626]

This has driven me crazy for decades too.

[@dio1304]

6:25 ah, classic. Van halen did the same thing in the unchained, but one step above

[@mikebro341]

Thank you! This has bugged me for years!

[@humanseekingtruth6080]

Listening to the beginning of the track, unless the double D hit is muted, I think it’s starts with version 2 😅 I thought before you explained it 😂

[@theonlyabsolute]

Someone help my brain fathom the intro to the song Melt by Makari. Is it two riffs, or am I just not hearing the beat right?

[@bryheidt8915]

This is so strange, I was just trying to playing this.

[@drumhead126]

I'm a drummer, I've been playing this song since the CD was released and I've never been able to get in at the right time. The bass player always had to correct it.

[@NerveFlux]

I had so much fun trying to learn that album by ear hahaha. What a mental symphony eh? :)

[@cem330]

Thanks for this! That intro and the timing always threw me off and drove me mad!

[@SolidGearMetal]

Excellent video... Thank you

[@brianjlevine]

Bob Daisley. Strangely creative.

[@iutchube]

Such an amazing and criminally underrated bassist, lyricist and songwriter.

[@longnguyenhong]

I still shake my head every f*cking time I heard this intro :)