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Ok.. so I taught myself the intro to Crazy Train a while back.. you know the part that you can either stretch and reach for the 5th fret or simply play the open string... Ok, well my guitar teacher told me that you HAVE to do the stretch to the fifth fret, that is how it is done. And then I go into a guitar shop and mess around a bit and the owner comes up to me and asks me why I make it difficult for myself with the reaching... He claims that Randy Rhoads plays the open string like I used to.. I guess he has it on some video. Is he right? therefore making me right in the first place?

What is really funny is that my teacher told me that noone he knows does the 4th note of the chords that follow after the intro- because it is difficult.. lol..

Well, Randy would say: Play it whichever way you want, just make sure that you're able to play it both ways so you can switch off whenever you want.

It's the same note. So ******** it and play it whichever is most comfortable is my view.

I own the Blizzard of Ozz "Play it as it is Book". They strech to 5, but the open octave sounds just as good. Play it both ways, the practice will do you good. xd

There is no right or wrong when playing a song! Only if you're playing the wrong damn note xd

The only difference is the octave. But it sounds the same no matter what octave, just as long as it's the same note identical to the first note.

sweatdrop damn I wish i made sense.

e -0------------
b ---5----------
g -----9--------
D ------14-----
A ---------19---
E ------------23

All strings coordinate with the note on e

so on and so on... neutral just like..

e -------------------------------
b -------------------------------
g -------------------------------
D -------------------------------
A ----4--5--4--2-------2--------
E 2-2--2--2--2--5-4-5--5-4-0

WOuld be similar to...

e -------------------------------
b -------------------------------
g -------------------------------
D -------0----------------------
A ----4-----4--2-0--0-2-0----
E 2-2--2--2--2----4-------4-0

Whatever's easier to you lol


~\m/

do both its good for you , plus I think I seen a video where randy played it the strechy way . Not sure , but just learn both I guess ^_^

i always do the stretch, and play the fourth note, i think since i started learning that way it was easier for me. either way, Randy rocks!

I have never even heard that song before, but i'll say what i think about open string position:

Only when playing arpeggios or chords do I play open strings. I'd rather stretch and hit a note if i'm playing a riff... one because I can, and two because I can mute it quickly just by lifting my finger a little.