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Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

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Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water - Famous Riffs - Guitar Lesson

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Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water - Famous Riffs guitar lesson video
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Smoke On The Water - Famous Riffs

"Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple is one of rock's most recognizable songs, released on their 1972 album Machine Head. Its lyrics document a real event: a fire that destroyed the Montreux Casino in Switzerland in 1971, where the band had planned to record. For electric guitar players, it is an essential study piece, as its main riff, built on fourth intervals, is among the most iconic and widely taught in rock history.

  • The main riff uses parallel fourths rather than single notes or power chords, giving it a distinctive, instantly recognizable sound.
  • The song is based on real events: a fire broke out at the Montreux Casino during a Frank Zappa concert in 1971.
  • Ritchie Blackmore played the riff on a Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall amp during the Machine Head sessions.
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