In this video
I sat down with Zakk Wylde to talk about the new Black Label Society album Engines of Demolition, guitar technique, and his approach to songwriting.
How he writes: Songs start on a little practice amp in his gym - the Doom Crew Incorporated Iron Den. If it sounds good at low volume, it'll sound even better cranked. Black Label uses C tuning (the Lord Iommi tuning) or drop D/drop B. His philosophy: make it as simple as possible. Write a song on two strings, tops three. Lots of down-picking. Keep it simple so you've got time to do the dishes while you're playing.
Mount Riffmore: He calls it Mount Riffmore - Lord Iommi, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore. "Smoke on the Water," "Into the Void," "Whole Lotta Love" - that's the template. Look at those three riffs, it's the simplicity. First things you learn as a kid, playing along with the record. That's the power.
Why pentatonics: When Yngwie came out, everyone wanted to sound like him - harmonic minor, arpeggios, three-notes-per-string. To not sound like Yngwie, don't use harmonic minor. To not sound like Eddie, don't tap. What's left? Process of elimination - just use pentatonics and pick them really fast.
The EMG story: Before joining Ozzy, he had a white Les Paul with PAFs through a '79 Marshall combo. A student had EMGs in a Fender Jag. When Zakk played it, the clarity blew him away - like taking a moving blanket off the speaker. He was sold right there, didn't need an endorsement. Pickups are microphones. EMGs give super clarity.
Technique stuff: For pinch harmonics - be on the treble pickup, make sure you've got enough gain. Billy Gibbons was his first influence for that. For alternate picking speed, keep the motion as small as possible, just repetition. Practice pentatonic patterns forward and backward, move up and down the neck. Limit yourself to two strings to really know where the notes are.
His philosophy: Steve Vai told him there's no such thing as "the best," only what's your favorite. Allan Holdsworth plays legato because that's the sound he hears. Al Di Meola picks everything for staccato. It's what you prefer. Like pizza - there's not a bad slice, just depends what you're in the mood for.
Creative control: With Ozzy, his job is riffs and music, but not production or mixing. Black Label is his - he's involved with everything like Jimmy Page was. Production, mixing, artwork. It's his mom and pop shop.
The tour's coming up - Black Label supporting Zakk Sabbath because the drummer gets double podium money and needs to refurbish his kitchen between tours. His advice for live shows: nothing goes wrong until you're on live TV, then the rig that never failed will collapse. Just play through it and laugh.