"Dee" by Ozzy Osbourne

One of the most touching and musically refined pieces in Ozzy Osbourne’s catalog, “Dee” is a short, beautiful acoustic guitar instrumental performed by the legendary Randy Rhoads. At LickLibrary.com, we’ve created a detailed, note-for-note guitar lesson that allows players to fully immerse themselves in this timeless composition. The lesson focuses on the nuanced acoustic techniques that define “Dee,” providing not just an opportunity to learn the song, but to elevate your playing across the board. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and the Guitarist

“Dee” appears on Ozzy Osbourne’s iconic 1980 debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz. It serves as a heartfelt tribute from Randy Rhoads to his mother, Delores Rhoads—hence the title “Dee.” Unlike the heavy metal anthems that dominate the album, this track showcases Randy’s classical guitar influences and delicate touch.

Randy Rhoads was a game-changer in the world of guitar. Known for fusing classical music with heavy metal, his legacy lives on through both his electrifying solos and softer, more introspective pieces like “Dee.” His influence can still be felt in the playing styles of guitarists across all genres. Learning “Dee” provides a unique opportunity to explore the more subtle and expressive side of his artistry.

Finger-Picking Mastery

The backbone of “Dee” is its intricate finger-picking style. This technique involves plucking the strings individually with the fingers rather than using a pick. It creates a more expressive and nuanced sound, allowing each note in a chord or melody to ring out clearly.

Benefit to the viewer: Developing finger-picking skills significantly improves hand coordination and timing. It also enhances dynamic control and expressiveness, enabling guitarists to bring emotional depth to their playing.

Use of Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Randy Rhoads incorporates both hammer-ons and pull-offs throughout “Dee” to add fluidity to the melodic lines. These techniques allow notes to be played legato, creating smooth, connected phrases.

Benefit to the viewer: Mastering hammer-ons and pull-offs enhances legato technique and overall finger strength. They’re essential for increasing speed and fluidity in both lead and rhythm guitar playing.

Slides for Smooth Transitions

Slides are another expressive technique used extensively in “Dee.” Rhoads uses slides to glide between notes and positions, maintaining a connected, flowing sound.

Benefit to the viewer: Learning to slide efficiently improves fretboard navigation and helps players create seamless transitions between notes, which is essential for expressive soloing and phrasing.

Arpeggiated Chords and Musical Phrasing

Much of “Dee” is built around arpeggiated chord progressions. Rather than strumming full chords, Randy picks individual notes from within chords to create melodic movement.

Benefit to the viewer: Practicing arpeggios sharpens your right-hand accuracy and your understanding of chord shapes across the fretboard. It’s a foundational skill for both rhythm and lead guitar playing.

Classical Influences and Travis Picking

“Dee” also showcases a subtle form of Travis picking, where the thumb maintains a steady bass rhythm while the fingers pluck melody notes.

Benefit to the viewer: This technique builds independence between the thumb and fingers, which is crucial for more advanced finger-style playing. It also enhances your ability to play rhythm and lead parts simultaneously.

Dynamics and Sustain

Dynamic control and sustain are critical to delivering “Dee” with the emotion it deserves. Rhoads demonstrates how soft and loud passages can be blended for dramatic effect.

Benefit to the viewer: Learning to manipulate dynamics and sustain helps guitarists convey emotion more effectively and develop a more mature, controlled playing style.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

Below is a list of guitar techniques featured in our “Dee” guitar lesson, each linked to detailed explanations in our glossary for further study:

• Finger-Picking
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• Slides
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions
• Travis Picking
• Sustain

Whether you’re a fan of Randy Rhoads or simply want to improve your acoustic technique, our in-depth lesson on “Dee” offers invaluable insight into one of the most elegant compositions in metal history. With our expert instruction, you’ll be playing this piece note for note—while picking up foundational skills that will improve your playing across genres.