Play Smoke on the Water

Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water features one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in history. It is a fantastic riff to play when you start to play guitar online.

Riff Notes (Power Chords / Diads)

The riff is traditionally played using double-stops (plucking two strings together) on the G and D strings. Strum these frets together on our guitar online simulator:

Step 1: G(0)+D(0) (Open)

Step 2: G(3)+D(3) (3rd Fret)

Step 3: G(5)+D(5) (5th Fret)

Step 4: G(0)+D(0) -> G(3)+D(3) -> G(6)+D(6) -> G(5)+D(5)

The Music Theory

This riff is built in the key of G Minor, using the G Minor Pentatonic scale:

Instead of standard major or minor triads, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore used perfect fourth intervals (called "double stops") played with bare fingers rather than a pick. This gives the riff its distinctive fat, organ-like tone.

Watch Autopilot Perform the Riff

Open the virtual guitar tool, expand the AI Song Player, and click "Smoke on the Water" to watch the simulator perform it automatically.

Open Autopilot