"Smoke on the Water" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It was first released on their 1972 album Machine Head.
This song is known for and recognisable by its central theme, a four-note "blues scale" melody harmonised in parallel fourths. The riff, played on a Gibson ES-335 electric guitar by Ritchie Blackmore, is later joined by hi-hat and distorted organ, then drums, then electric bass parts before the start of Ian Gillan's vo...
more
"Smoke on the Water" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It was first released on their 1972 album Machine Head.
This song is known for and recognisable by its central theme, a four-note "blues scale" melody harmonised in parallel fourths. The riff, played on a Gibson ES-335 electric guitar by Ritchie Blackmore, is later joined by hi-hat and distorted organ, then drums, then electric bass parts before the start of Ian Gillan's vocal.
Jon Lord doubles the guitar part on a Hammond B3 organ played through a distorted Marshall amp, creating a tone very similar to that of the guitar. Blackmore uses two fingers to pluck so the pairs of notes can be played exactly simultaneously, to match the organ's timing more closely.
"Smoke on the Water" is the only song on Machine Head that is not played on his famous Fender Stratocaster. Blackmore said that the reason he used the Stratocaster on the other tracks was that it was harder to play than the Gibson. After that he always...
less
