You can hear it's played in fourths!! I figured that out while playing along with the Made In Japan live album when it came out in the 70s!! My fav purple album of all time...!! What a guitar sound...what a band...!!!
Steve nailed it. I watched Ritchie in an interview many many years ago telling the viewers to pluck the notes in that riff exactly like Steve played it.
Look at all those guitarists not playing in Deep Purple giving the guy playing guitar in Deep Purple for 20 years shit for not playing Deep Purple songs "correctly".
+Alex May Ritchie used to vary this himself because being asperger he would get fed up and make a variation on the main arrangement. Just look as some videos of him playing it and you will see. I think that if Ian Gillan had realised that Ritchie was a Sheldon they might have got on better !!
Stupidities! Blackmore is definitely not an Asperger!.... He far from beeing any stereotyped person. He is fantastically skilled as a guitarist - but he has also a lot of other interests such as the ocults, medieval time, football, castles etc. And he has absolutely no problem within the field of fantasy and playfulness, which is highly connected by persons with Asperger! And as a guitarist he is very much complete - he is known and famous for being highly emotional, soulful, filled with spontanity and he is at the same time using an advanced technic.
Also makes sense why it sounds like there's a lower harmonic. Playing a fourth, say fret 3 on the D and G string, is technically the same is you playing the fifth (power chord) from the first fret of the A string, the root is just up an octave. Cool way to make things sound lower than they are.
Brings it all back, Saw this awesome fellow playing in Birmingham UK quite a while ago Still got the white Ernie Ball pick from the night. Smoke on any way you like I could listen to you for ever Cheers Steve.
@@DaveWestGuitar Sorry Blackmore never will be enought faster for that TN and never have a good arpeggio skills (sad but true) and he will never play tumeni notes, because he sucks
I trust Steve Morris' opinion...lol Steve, you were with the first band I ever worked with while mixing monitors for the Dixie Dregs on a transformered splitter snake (Jenson BTW). (I came in mixing for club bands using AUX sends from FOH)... I walked in blind not knowing who the band was that evening... then you guys showed up I was scared shitless...lol you guys required very little Monitor and the only vocal was Andy West with the song Disco Sucks and in-between speaking to the audience...lmao thank you guys for being so respectful and I respect you like you would not believe... here I am in 2022 age 62 still doing audio, mainly repairing audio and cabling loving all you guys and just spoke with Mark O'Connor while I was recording at Merlefest 2021... God bless all you guys...!!! 👍❤🙏
Thanks Steve! I was playing it right and I have seen it played wrong several different ways. Got the solo down 2. I play a hot rod Tele so the tone is good also.
Yall gotta remember on recent concerts of Deep Purple, Steve travels with them...he started playing with them in 1994. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and his wanting to take the time to show future generations of guitarists a base starting point. Everyone has their own unique sound..but I give him alot of credit.
I love Steve Morse but DP with him on the guitar ain't my cup of tea. I love his Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band albums and his solo projects. Those are phenomenal and their importance to progressive genre cannot be overstated. But after Ritchie left DP the second time, I lost interest in the band. Tried to listen their stuff with Steve but it simply is not DP I am fond of. The sound complexion changed with him playing. He's got his unique style that disturbes the vibe that was there with Ritchie. Even T. Bolin short stint with DP didn't do anything for me. Ritchie's Strat sounded so unique and exceptional in that band that it is practically impossible to match it, especially when Steve's main guitar is Music Man. Different hook up, different pedals, different playing technique and you get a complete change of sound of the entire band. Also, Ritchie was always the main architect of most of the music DP played. So everything that band evolved around his style of playing and feeling the stuff. Steve is no slouch - he is fantastic musician, no doubt, but just because I love his own music, doesn't mean I automatically adore the DP part of his carrier. But I am glad to see DP members loving him being in the band. Ritchie was the band but he was the destroyer of it at the same time - at least from what I know from reading about them.
When I first learned Smoke on the Water, I actually hadn't learned anything about guitar yet. That was back in the mid 1980's. Fast forward to 2018ish, and I started to actually learn. I stumbled on a different video a few years back, and whoever it was on the video, was teaching the plucking method. I tried it, and it seemed better but then I stepped on my overdrive pedal, and was knocked out of my socks! It sounded fantastic. So yes plucking is definitely the right way to play this song. Like someone else mentioned, who are we to argue with Steve here. I mean if anyone knows he certainly does, right!
Ritchie is an unique player. I have seen videos of him playin' Smoke's main riff over the low E and A strings. And with a pick. So, needless to say, he used to play it "properly" however he wanted to.
I hate that song. Can't stand it. Never liked it. Hate Child In Time, too. Always skip those two when I spin the CD. Now that comes from the guy who absolutely digs 70's DP.
One other thing a lot of people miss, is to pay attention to the way Ritchie cuts off the notes. He brings his plucking fingers down quite hard on the strings to mute them, you hear a definite "click" of his fingers hitting the strings. The timing is precise, he kills the notes dead in sync with the snare drum. If you're doing it right, you can mentally hear a backbeat happening from the "clicks" before the actual snare drum comes in.
The low frequency that Steve is talking about, came from Richie actually playing 5th and 6th string on 10th fret(then 4th and 5th on 8th fret and s.f.) He often did that on concerts. It gave an even darker sound than the original sequence, that starts from 4th and 5th string on 5th fret. That's the secret) Tell it to Steve)))
Steve is right it is in 4ths, plucked not picked, but that low noise he is talking about is because Blackmore starts it (playing D and G) on the low E and A strings at the 10th fret, then moves over to the A and D strings to play the F and Bb notes at the 8th fret etc. Lots of guys don't know that, but I am shocked Steve doesn't. I saw Ritchie do it live when I was a kid, but I am sure there must be live video of him playing it like that on CZcams somewhere.
There is! The Hofstra university video shows this pretty clearly! And you are correct, that is how that "low" sound is acheived! Ritchie playing the riff correctly is also featured in the newly found Budokan footage from 1972!
(ZAPPA'S STUDIO IS ON FIRE!) Anyway, I was going to say, I played by ear from age 7 in the 1970s... and I always played it as fourths. Most of my students from years ago thought it was 1-5 power chord. Based on the natural harmonics, it's fourths. That's what my ears heard. Much meatier than basic 1-5 power chords.
Other than the original studio version, the absolute best version of the song is the live version from the 1972 Made in Japan album. Nothing has ever touched that version, not even Ritchie ever since then. The deep and heavy and slow start complete with the bum riff where he start/stops again is incredible. And pretty sure that version used barre chords and not 4ths, Richie played it both ways over the years, but that '72 live version has never been topped.
True! That whole Live Album has never been beat. Made In Japan is just heads above the great live Albums of the Early Seventies. Yes all those Live Albums are spacial but the Crown Jewel is Made In Japan.
I definitely play it as fours (if nothing else so that you don't have to move around the hand, but it also sounds more accurate), but I also play it with a steady rhythm on the right hand and not just down strokes, so the first three are down, next three are up and with a down at the end, etc. I am usually pretty adamant about using a stready rhythm (when possible) rather than stopping and starting the motion, because it just feels more natural and groovy when you get used to it.
I'm impressed how many experts are in the comments again :) who explain why steve morse is a shitty guitar player. wow! these people really know their shit and must be very educated in guitar stuff. glad these people cared to explain, i used to think Steve was one of the most talented guitarist on this planet with outstanding alternate picking skills but who am i to think that i know something... among all these experts. :/
Those people are crazy if they say Steve can't play. Steve also said that some of Ritchie's Stuff is hard to grasp. A lot of time Blackmore was interpreting Classical in his head. Ritchie has always changed parts of songs live. I have heard about 10 different live Versions of Mistreated and they are all different. Ritchie said he would try and hide his tricks.
ive played it with 4ths and finger style, but i do that with a lot of power chord type riffs. the attack is different, the timing of the notes is in sync as he points out. i think i picked up this style from all the times i pick up a guitar and dont have a plectrum within reach.
You are a great teacher I played smoke on the water the first time I played I saw girl on tic tac who was a master hands on the neck have the time probably the way she drives
Obviously the second way is the right way. Rttchie Blackmore was no beginner. He didn't have to play it the way beginners do. :-) Thanks Steve, you're the man!
Amazing that in 2011 you had not heard Blackmore explain this to the world - he even cites Beethoven's 5th as his source (inspiration). Can't wait for the next compelling insight !
There’s an interview with Ritchie on here and he states that it is 4ths, he also says it’s Beethoven’s 5th inverted and he owes Ludwig a lot of money. He also says he’s never tired of playing, plays it every day, and everyone should play it, cause it’s a good riff. There’s also a very good mini documentary type video Paul David’s has on his channel that has some great footage of the history behind the song.
I use 4 power chords on the middle two strings, utilising open strings, 3rd, 5th, and 6th fret positions. I don't know the name of the chords, but it's easy to play and sounds identical to RB's version.
I saw an interview with Ritchie Blackmore who said it was played in 4ths. He even demonstrated it and said many play it wrong in 5ths which is what the power chord is.
Wow! I'm surprised he would take the time to do this! Very cool and I would agree with him. Steve is unbelievable to watch live when you're 15ft away. He makes you want to take up golf because your numb after that...Nobody folds their arms at a Dixie Dregs show. 'Arm Folders' - you KNOW who you are! :-)
brilliant and do wrll presented.... I'll be playing this track at a jam in Bordeaux and the lead will be on accordingly And for part of the song I'm going to play lead riff on bass. focals will be a motley crew of French speakers so interpretation is the name of the game 🎸🎸🎸
There are several ways to play it as you know, but Mike at Art Of Guitar actually did some extensive research to play the actual Richie Blackmoore way and I was surprise how far off I was, your way sounds really close and has that thickness too, but watch Miles video and see what he found out and see what you think.
awesome...I found out I play that exactly like Steve. I use my pinky and ring finger too- just like him. at least I can play something like him. lol CZcams is awesome. I wish I would have had this just starting out. Kids/young guitar players don't know how lucky they are to have all these resources to learn.
+JONATHON SEAGULL i know how lucky we are back when i was in junior high, just around 8 years ago, iit is still hard to learn guitar without taking class, i have to pay for expensive class that only taught me very little now you can just need youtube to learn instrument
+JONATHON SEAGULL In the bad old days of working out stuff from records guitarists would jealously guard what they knew as they took a long time to figure stuff out and would not show anybody in case they picked it up in minutes !!
"Many ways to play it" maybe but then there's Ritchie's way. Up in 8th position using 6th and 5th strings for first chord to get that deep, bass overtone Steve refers to. Enough vids of Lord Blackmore playing it this way.
TruthSurge X it is not a root. Major 3rd and 5th. Not a 5th power chord. Ritchie recorded this song playing with fingers. Bottom G played with thumb. WTF is a lower 5th. WTF is a middle 5th. Surely you meant a perfect
Richie himself said it should be played in fourths , it's actually part of Beethovens Fifth played in reverse - Source Ritchie Blackmoore in a tv documentary .
@Andreasschow oh I see, so Blackmore is the one who wrote the song, however, since Steve Morse is in Deep Purple , he has the exact sheet music of how it was written , so he knows the correct way to play it, and you can't deny that it sounds a lot better his way...
I remember a GP interview with RB waaaaay back when where he complained about ppl playing his song incorrectly. He then explained it exactly the way SM does in this vid -- 4ths being plucked with two fingers, and it really does make a difference, imo.
Oh sure the first song i learned on the guitar was taught to me wrong. Great teacher! >:( Actually I use smoke on the water to see if my d and g are in tune.
I'd always been playing it in a lower tone on the E and A strings since I like the heaviness, but something struck me as odd when the original recording contained a high G that couldn't be matched by playing it at a low G.
People keep describing it as played in fourths but that's not really what's happening. He's really playing it in fifths, just inverted. The melody starts on G, as stated by the organ when it comes in.
just take a look at desynchronized thumb of Steve's right hand playing the "bourdon" (bumblebee), it's just amazing! I think it makes no sens at all trying to establish comparisons between Steve and Ritchie, btw, like said on other comments, Steve is now THE guitarist while Ritchie is no more. And I deeply thank Steve for being this crucial part of the DP reraise which allowed me to see the Myth live!
sounds so much stronger pulled that way! I'd say if you must use the pick, you would just do only the 2 strings and not the whole cord to get a much tighter feeling.
![Steve Morse/David Grisman/Rob Wasserman Trio • 1985 [Reelin' In The Years Archive]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WLYzPqdDVpk/mqdefault.jpg)
I love watching great guitarists show how to do fundamental things. There is a lot to unpack from this short and apparently simple video.
Thanks Marco Süß
It doesn't even look easy to me. I've never played.
You can hear it's played in fourths!! I figured that out while playing along with the Made In Japan live album when it came out in the 70s!! My fav purple album of all time...!! What a guitar sound...what a band...!!!
Steve Morse is a guitar legend! At least now we know he can play Smoke on the Water as well.
Steve nailed it. I watched Ritchie in an interview many many years ago telling the viewers to pluck the notes in that riff exactly like Steve played it.
Look at all those guitarists not playing in Deep Purple giving the guy playing guitar in Deep Purple for 20 years shit for not playing Deep Purple songs "correctly".
***** HA HA yes you are wricht !!...sthe best stand on the side ,they say !!
+Alex May Ritchie used to vary this himself because being asperger he would get fed up and make a variation on the main arrangement. Just look as some videos of him playing it and you will see. I think that if Ian Gillan had realised that Ritchie was a Sheldon they might have got on better !!
what is a sheldon?
Actually he doesn't play like that in concerts
Stupidities! Blackmore is definitely not an Asperger!.... He far from beeing any stereotyped person. He is fantastically skilled as a guitarist - but he has also a lot of other interests such as the ocults, medieval time, football, castles etc. And he has absolutely no problem within the field of fantasy and playfulness, which is highly connected by persons with Asperger! And as a guitarist he is very much complete - he is known and famous for being highly emotional, soulful, filled with spontanity and he is at the same time using an advanced technic.
Ritchie Backmore has confirmed that it is intended to be in fourths
Daniel Reitman no question.... The fourths clearly sound more accurate also
William Kramer Definitely. There's really no question about it - it's clearly how it was played on the album.
Yes, and he has also said he's using his fingers.
Also makes sense why it sounds like there's a lower harmonic. Playing a fourth, say fret 3 on the D and G string, is technically the same is you playing the fifth (power chord) from the first fret of the A string, the root is just up an octave. Cool way to make things sound lower than they are.
Brings it all back, Saw this awesome fellow playing in Birmingham UK quite a while ago Still got the white Ernie Ball pick from the night. Smoke on any way you like I could listen to you for ever Cheers Steve.
What a pleasant interview, Steve you're da man.
next week.. Ritchie Blackmore teaches you to play Tumeni Notes...
Never gonna happen;)
@@DaveWestGuitar Sorry Blackmore never will be enought faster for that TN and never have a good arpeggio skills (sad but true) and he will never play tumeni notes, because he sucks
@@CrazyIceman87 Tumeni riffs that are known around the world, prove that he doesn't suck :)
But the real question is can he play smoke on the water?
Yeah I heard he likes playing guitar in a band
Thott Begone unfortunately you are deaf. sorry for your loss
He right now can play songs that Ritchie right now can't play.
Steve can play the shit out of anything, his alternate picking skills are phenomenal. You ever heard of Dixie Dregs?
I dont think you get the joke.. im pretty sure i dont either but i think its to play Smoke somehow on the water
I trust Steve Morris' opinion...lol Steve, you were with the first band I ever worked with while mixing monitors for the Dixie Dregs on a transformered splitter snake (Jenson BTW). (I came in mixing for club bands using AUX sends from FOH)... I walked in blind not knowing who the band was that evening... then you guys showed up I was scared shitless...lol you guys required very little Monitor and the only vocal was Andy West with the song Disco Sucks and in-between speaking to the audience...lmao thank you guys for being so respectful and I respect you like you would not believe... here I am in 2022 age 62 still doing audio, mainly repairing audio and cabling loving all you guys and just spoke with Mark O'Connor while I was recording at Merlefest 2021... God bless all you guys...!!! 👍❤🙏
correct sir - this is how Ritchie himself explains it
Thanks Steve! I was playing it right and I have seen it played wrong several different ways. Got the solo down 2. I play a hot rod Tele so the tone is good also.
Yall gotta remember on recent concerts of Deep Purple, Steve travels with them...he started playing with them in 1994. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and his wanting to take the time to show future generations of guitarists a base starting point. Everyone has their own unique sound..but I give him alot of credit.
I love Steve Morse but DP with him on the guitar ain't my cup of tea.
I love his Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band albums and his solo projects. Those are phenomenal and their importance to progressive genre cannot be overstated.
But after Ritchie left DP the second time, I lost interest in the band. Tried to listen their stuff with Steve but it simply is not DP I am fond of.
The sound complexion changed with him playing. He's got his unique style that disturbes the vibe that was there with Ritchie. Even T. Bolin short stint with DP didn't do anything for me.
Ritchie's Strat sounded so unique and exceptional in that band that it is practically impossible to match it, especially when Steve's main guitar is Music Man. Different hook up, different pedals, different playing technique and you get a complete change of sound of the entire band.
Also, Ritchie was always the main architect of most of the music DP played. So everything that band evolved around his style of playing and feeling the stuff.
Steve is no slouch - he is fantastic musician, no doubt, but just because I love his own music, doesn't mean I automatically adore the DP part of his carrier.
But I am glad to see DP members loving him being in the band.
Ritchie was the band but he was the destroyer of it at the same time - at least from what I know from reading about them.
Now THAT was awesome!
Wow! it sounds so much better.Thanks,now I know how it's meant to be played.Now on to that killer solo most beginners never mess with.
I saw him do this song with the band 20 years ago. And I am even more amazed watching this 20 years later.
Mr. Morse is fantastic guitarist and a Master* His personal version of SOTW is absolutely amazing and full of groove!
Im going with Stevie on this one. Man, I cant wait til Sat. My ass is headed for Morrell Music to crank this one up! Thank you Mr. Morse!
When I first learned Smoke on the Water, I actually hadn't learned anything about guitar yet. That was back in the mid 1980's. Fast forward to 2018ish, and I started to actually learn. I stumbled on a different video a few years back, and whoever it was on the video, was teaching the plucking method. I tried it, and it seemed better but then I stepped on my overdrive pedal, and was knocked out of my socks! It sounded fantastic. So yes plucking is definitely the right way to play this song. Like someone else mentioned, who are we to argue with Steve here. I mean if anyone knows he certainly does, right!
You do a great job for the band. Saw you in 2017 in Detroit
Steve Morse was the first arena rocker I seen when he opened for Rush in '86 Power Window Tour
steve is just awsome y thanks you for sharing steve
Ritchie is an unique player. I have seen videos of him playin' Smoke's main riff over the low E and A strings. And with a pick. So, needless to say, he used to play it "properly" however he wanted to.
For 6 years, I've been playing this song the right way! hahah can't believe it!
I hate that song. Can't stand it. Never liked it. Hate Child In Time, too. Always skip those two when I spin the CD.
Now that comes from the guy who absolutely digs 70's DP.
I saw him demonstrating this and more in Palermo, before the concert with Deep Purple, many years ago. It was just great!
One other thing a lot of people miss, is to pay attention to the way Ritchie cuts off the notes. He brings his plucking fingers down quite hard on the strings to mute them, you hear a definite "click" of his fingers hitting the strings. The timing is precise, he kills the notes dead in sync with the snare drum. If you're doing it right, you can mentally hear a backbeat happening from the "clicks" before the actual snare drum comes in.
The low frequency that Steve is talking about, came from Richie actually playing 5th and 6th string on 10th fret(then 4th and 5th on 8th fret and s.f.) He often did that on concerts. It gave an even darker sound than the original sequence, that starts from 4th and 5th string on 5th fret. That's the secret) Tell it to Steve)))
Steve is right it is in 4ths, plucked not picked, but that low noise he is talking about is because Blackmore starts it (playing D and G) on the low E and A strings at the 10th fret, then moves over to the A and D strings to play the F and Bb notes at the 8th fret etc.
Lots of guys don't know that, but I am shocked Steve doesn't. I saw Ritchie do it live when I was a kid, but I am sure there must be live video of him playing it like that on CZcams somewhere.
There is! The Hofstra university video shows this pretty clearly! And you are correct, that is how that "low" sound is acheived! Ritchie playing the riff correctly is also featured in the newly found Budokan footage from 1972!
(ZAPPA'S STUDIO IS ON FIRE!) Anyway, I was going to say, I played by ear from age 7 in the 1970s... and I always played it as fourths. Most of my students from years ago thought it was 1-5 power chord. Based on the natural harmonics, it's fourths. That's what my ears heard. Much meatier than basic 1-5 power chords.
what a great charisma and kindness this guy has
now i have to re-learn the first riff i ever learned 30 years ago!!!
Yes, I played it right! Thanks for the confirmation!
Other than the original studio version, the absolute best version of the song is the live version from the 1972 Made in Japan album. Nothing has ever touched that version, not even Ritchie ever since then. The deep and heavy and slow start complete with the bum riff where he start/stops again is incredible. And pretty sure that version used barre chords and not 4ths, Richie played it both ways over the years, but that '72 live version has never been topped.
True! That whole Live Album has never been beat. Made In Japan is just heads above the great live Albums of the Early Seventies. Yes all those Live Albums are spacial but the Crown Jewel is Made In Japan.
chuck berry double stops instruction & this video...fantastic starter kit.
took 20 mins to add the continuous bass in and it sounds so much ether, thanks!
Now that’s ‘independence ‘ right there where Steve plays the bass line plus the guitar part.
I definitely play it as fours (if nothing else so that you don't have to move around the hand, but it also sounds more accurate), but I also play it with a steady rhythm on the right hand and not just down strokes, so the first three are down, next three are up and with a down at the end, etc. I am usually pretty adamant about using a stready rhythm (when possible) rather than stopping and starting the motion, because it just feels more natural and groovy when you get used to it.
Been a fan since the dregs, one of the best players ever. Wish you and your wife well. I thinh Steve is also a good man, which is super rare
Thanks Steve!!!
steve morse - he is great as a musician and person
Such a nice guy
I'm impressed how many experts are in the comments again :) who explain why steve morse is a shitty guitar player. wow! these people really know their shit and must be very educated in guitar stuff. glad these people cared to explain, i used to think Steve was one of the most talented guitarist on this planet with outstanding alternate picking skills but who am i to think that i know something... among all these experts. :/
thats basically the internet in a nutshell, everybody here is an expert at everything
Experts with youtube lisence 😁😁
Steve Morse is the finest electric guitar player in history. Take it from an expert ;-)
Those people are crazy if they say Steve can't play. Steve also said that some of Ritchie's Stuff is hard to grasp. A lot of time Blackmore was interpreting Classical in his head. Ritchie has always changed parts of songs live. I have heard about 10 different live Versions of Mistreated and they are all different. Ritchie said he would try and hide his tricks.
Very nice lesson
Happy to see that it is what i've done in my acoustic playing SOTW ... :)
Check out the video Live at Budokan, Ritchie does it in fourths starting on the 10th frets playing D and G
ive played it with 4ths and finger style, but i do that with a lot of power chord type riffs. the attack is different, the timing of the notes is in sync as he points out. i think i picked up this style from all the times i pick up a guitar and dont have a plectrum within reach.
I've always wanted to be an expert on Smoke On the Water.
you are my inspiration
Excellent!!!
the best teacher
Son of a...he's one of the best!!
A variation on the riff from 'She loves you'. My hunch is it was intentional by Ritchie Blackmore.
I have always played it open G chord string style using the neck pickup full on my paul
I'm proud of myself ;) as I've always played it this way. And I started before the internet era.
thanks Steve
Adding the bass with is thumb i just awesome.
You are a great teacher I played smoke on the water the first time I played I saw girl on tic tac who was a master hands on the neck have the time probably the way she drives
And, as if it wasn't enough being a terrific guitarist, he is also adorable. ♥
Obviously the second way is the right way. Rttchie Blackmore was no beginner. He didn't have to play it the way beginners do. :-) Thanks Steve, you're the man!
Amazing that in 2011 you had not heard Blackmore explain this to the world - he even cites Beethoven's 5th as his source (inspiration). Can't wait for the next compelling insight !
bellissimoo grazie steve
There’s an interview with Ritchie on here and he states that it is 4ths, he also says it’s Beethoven’s 5th inverted and he owes Ludwig a lot of money. He also says he’s never tired of playing, plays it every day, and everyone should play it, cause it’s a good riff.
There’s also a very good mini documentary type video Paul David’s has on his channel that has some great footage of the history behind the song.
I use 4 power chords on the middle two strings, utilising open strings, 3rd, 5th, and 6th fret positions. I don't know the name of the chords, but it's easy to play and sounds identical to RB's version.
I saw an interview with Ritchie Blackmore who said it was played in 4ths. He even demonstrated it and said many play it wrong in 5ths which is what the power chord is.
super cool
Wow! I'm surprised he would take the time to do this! Very cool and I would agree with him.
Steve is unbelievable to watch live when you're 15ft away. He makes you want to take up golf because your numb after that...Nobody folds their arms at a Dixie Dregs show. 'Arm Folders' - you KNOW who you are! :-)
PERFECT
I always played the first note open strings , then as Steve the rest
brilliant and do wrll presented.... I'll be playing this track at a jam in Bordeaux and the lead will be on accordingly And for part of the song I'm going to play lead riff on bass.
focals will be a motley crew of French speakers so
interpretation is the name of the game 🎸🎸🎸
I've seen Ritchie Blackmore explaining how it's played on Classic Albums in 2002.
Your so right....
That low harmonic was a combination of the sound of the cabinet Ritchie was using, the mic placement, and the mic itself.
That part has been done to death !!
I'd like to see the chords that go with the actual lyrics "Smoke on the water -Fire in the sky"
The plucked fourths is definitely correct. I saw it in a video demonstrated by RB himself.
Are you from Atlanta? Seems like you were in a band there back in late 70’s, thanks. May have seen your band at Champagne Jam!
Mastery is in the details.
For this riff no one will ever top Ritchie.
There are several ways to play it as you know, but Mike at Art Of Guitar actually did some extensive research to play the actual Richie Blackmoore way and I was surprise how far off I was, your way sounds really close and has that thickness too, but watch Miles video and see what he found out and see what you think.
awesome...I found out I play that exactly like Steve. I use my pinky and ring finger too- just like him. at least I can play something like him. lol CZcams is awesome. I wish I would have had this just starting out. Kids/young guitar players don't know how lucky they are to have all these resources to learn.
+JONATHON SEAGULL i know how lucky we are
back when i was in junior high, just around 8 years ago, iit is still hard to learn guitar without taking class, i have to pay for expensive class that only taught me very little
now you can just need youtube to learn instrument
+JONATHON SEAGULL In the bad old days of working out stuff from records guitarists would jealously guard what they knew as they took a long time to figure stuff out and would not show anybody in case they picked it up in minutes !!
"Many ways to play it" maybe but then there's Ritchie's way. Up in 8th position using 6th and 5th strings for first chord to get that deep, bass overtone Steve refers to. Enough vids of Lord Blackmore playing it this way.
Ritchie said himself that the correct way is in 4ths....this is correct to my ears and has that organ sound.
very good
1:10 anyone with an ear can hear it's a lower 5th and root above (4th interval between the notes). No way does it sound like a power chord. Ears.
TruthSurge X it is not a root. Major 3rd and 5th. Not a 5th power chord. Ritchie recorded this song playing with fingers. Bottom G played with thumb. WTF is a lower 5th. WTF is a middle 5th. Surely you meant a perfect
Richie himself said it should be played in fourths , it's actually part of Beethovens Fifth played in reverse - Source Ritchie Blackmoore in a tv documentary .
i second that.
+Philip Kerry try Maria Quiet...
who cares
@Andreasschow oh I see, so Blackmore is the one who wrote the song, however, since Steve Morse is in Deep Purple , he has the exact sheet music of how it was written , so he knows the correct way to play it, and you can't deny that it sounds a lot better his way...
Sounds killer
I remember a GP interview with RB waaaaay back when where he complained about ppl playing his song incorrectly. He then explained it exactly the way SM does in this vid -- 4ths being plucked with two fingers, and it really does make a difference, imo.
Oh sure the first song i learned on the guitar was taught to me wrong. Great teacher! >:( Actually I use smoke on the water to see if my d and g are in tune.
Come on guys, he is just explaining how to actually play it. Everyone can make it SOUND like it, but he is actually playing it.
Steve Morse can improve anybody's music, make it sound better, he is the greatest.
Well, it's clear as day that second version is how it was played on the original recording - even if Blackmore may have played it differently, live.
Well done bro!
I'd always been playing it in a lower tone on the E and A strings since I like the heaviness, but something struck me as odd when the original recording contained a high G that couldn't be matched by playing it at a low G.
ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
People keep describing it as played in fourths but that's not really what's happening. He's really playing it in fifths, just inverted. The melody starts on G, as stated by the organ when it comes in.
Steve 🤘🤘🤘🤘
just take a look at desynchronized thumb of Steve's right hand playing the "bourdon" (bumblebee), it's just amazing! I think it makes no sens at all trying to establish comparisons between Steve and Ritchie, btw, like said on other comments, Steve is now THE guitarist while Ritchie is no more. And I deeply thank Steve for being this crucial part of the DP reraise which allowed me to see the Myth live!
sounds so much stronger pulled that way! I'd say if you must use the pick, you would just do only the 2 strings and not the whole cord to get a much tighter feeling.
Nice how he incorporates the bass line with his thumb.
Yup. Saw Blackmore actually teach it the proper way and Steve is right in the button.