Randy Rhoads explaining the chord progressions on the song, “Diary of a Madman” — his final track on his final album — bear in mind he taught guitar as well so he really knew his music theory 🎼

Here’s how “Diary…” eventually came together with its more bombastic production, at least for its time, violins et al.

Like Jimi, we as a society got robbed when we lost Randy so young. Diary was the harbinger of things to come from him. Not quite neoclassical as most people view it. Much more harmonically diverse. Less baroque, more violent romantic/Mahler even 20th century. Odd time signatures, complex chords, dissonance. And that TOWERING RIFF we only get two stanzas of. Best Ozzy song by a mile.

Very well said.

He knew more than music theory. He was one of those rare people that had both technicality and soul. Malmsteen - technically brilliant but mechanical and soulless. Rhoades - in every way a master of technique and emotion. Virtually every day I think about what he would have done

That's spooky, I heard this song for the first time for ages being played on @PlanetRockRadio went into work and told my guitar playing work colleague who said it's one of his favourite @OzzyOsbourne songs to play ..... 12 hours later (UK time) and here it is on my timeline! 🎸

@PlanetRockRadio @OzzyOsbourne 🤗

Not only that, his mom ran a music school so he already grew up having to learn the correct way. What a loss for the world but hey at least we have Auto-tune rappers who can barley speak English now, yay

Diary is my favorite Ozzy song and favorite song written by Rhoads. Incredible chords and progression. He was capable of so, so much.

I once read Randy was giving guitar lessons to adults when he was only 15 and his guitar instructor said that there was nothing more he could teach him.

I can still remember being so crushed, hearing of his death on the radio that day. He was a huge talent.