Steve Morse explains how to play Smoke On The Water properly

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MusicRadar

13 жыл бұрын

Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse demonstrates how to play the riff from Smoke On The Water

Пікірлер: 623

@AN-ed8qq 2 жыл бұрын

I love watching great guitarists show how to do fundamental things. There is a lot to unpack from this short and apparently simple video.

@marcosu5547 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Marco Süß

@georgeabrams7345 Жыл бұрын

It doesn't even look easy to me. I've never played.

@gitarmats 2 жыл бұрын

Steve Morse is a guitar legend! At least now we know he can play Smoke on the Water as well.

@joebloggs1444 6 жыл бұрын

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...!!!

@MrSourbastard 6 жыл бұрын

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.

@danadnauseam 7 жыл бұрын

Ritchie Backmore has confirmed that it is intended to be in fourths

@williamkramer9731 6 жыл бұрын

Daniel Reitman no question.... The fourths clearly sound more accurate also

@allrequiredfields 6 жыл бұрын

William Kramer Definitely. There's really no question about it - it's clearly how it was played on the album.

@xyhmo 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, and he has also said he's using his fingers.

@KiraPlaysGuitar 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@thejuiceweasel 9 жыл бұрын

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".

@guybossyns 9 жыл бұрын

***** HA HA yes you are wricht !!...sthe best stand on the side ,they say !!

@tamsinmccormick 8 жыл бұрын

+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 !!

@RorysIrishTour 8 жыл бұрын

what is a sheldon?

@MrKk320 8 жыл бұрын

Actually he doesn't play like that in concerts

@sunshadows1328 8 жыл бұрын

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.

@nato8365 8 жыл бұрын

correct sir - this is how Ritchie himself explains it

@andrewbevan4662 7 жыл бұрын

next week.. Ritchie Blackmore teaches you to play Tumeni Notes...

@DaveWestGuitar 5 жыл бұрын

Never gonna happen;)

@CrazyIceman87 3 жыл бұрын

@@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

@alexanderdimitrov9045 2 жыл бұрын

@@CrazyIceman87 Tumeni riffs that are known around the world, prove that he doesn't suck :)

@CustomReverb 9 жыл бұрын

Now THAT was awesome!

@oldneo4309 9 жыл бұрын

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.

@carloslaboy4022 11 жыл бұрын

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.

@peterking1270 3 жыл бұрын

What a pleasant interview, Steve you're da man.

@benjaminsambol 7 жыл бұрын

But the real question is can he play smoke on the water?

@conodigrom 7 жыл бұрын

Yeah I heard he likes playing guitar in a band

@kuwaitdate2010 6 жыл бұрын

Thott Begone unfortunately you are deaf. sorry for your loss

@DgeminisM 6 жыл бұрын

He right now can play songs that Ritchie right now can't play.

@thepossessor 5 жыл бұрын

Steve can play the shit out of anything, his alternate picking skills are phenomenal. You ever heard of Dixie Dregs?

@randompersonwholikesmemes6938 5 жыл бұрын

I dont think you get the joke.. im pretty sure i dont either but i think its to play Smoke somehow on the water

@jimicrack29 8 жыл бұрын

steve is just awsome y thanks you for sharing steve

@sunriyzmt 12 жыл бұрын

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.

@mitsanut5869 3 жыл бұрын

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.

@bobthebear1246 7 жыл бұрын

I saw him do this song with the band 20 years ago. And I am even more amazed watching this 20 years later.

@wilrodzslayer 3 жыл бұрын

now i have to re-learn the first riff i ever learned 30 years ago!!!

@bonesc7201 2 жыл бұрын

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...!!! 👍❤🙏

@samuelllgui 10 жыл бұрын

For 6 years, I've been playing this song the right way! hahah can't believe it!

@mitsanut5869 3 жыл бұрын

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.

@rubrsol97 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve!!!

@ajwasp 6 жыл бұрын

Now that’s ‘independence ‘ right there where Steve plays the bass line plus the guitar part.

@dvdfrnzwbr 4 жыл бұрын

Steve Morse was the first arena rocker I seen when he opened for Rush in '86 Power Window Tour

@johnnyrocksable 10 жыл бұрын

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.

@GetzGoth 6 жыл бұрын

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!

@sfcmp7005 2 жыл бұрын

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!

@salatieljyrustumanan4929 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, I played it right! Thanks for the confirmation!

@LahamaJones3 12 жыл бұрын

you are my inspiration

@nalilord 5 ай бұрын

what a great charisma and kindness this guy has

@dalethehardluckcowboy7852 6 жыл бұрын

Excellent!!!

@aruizislas 12 жыл бұрын

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.

@ckalas 12 жыл бұрын

took 20 mins to add the continuous bass in and it sounds so much ether, thanks!

@matiasmercado4608 6 жыл бұрын

Such a nice guy

@malik__k__ 3 жыл бұрын

Very nice lesson

@PutItAway101 11 жыл бұрын

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.

@NArioliEvo 6 жыл бұрын

Mr. Morse is fantastic guitarist and a Master* His personal version of SOTW is absolutely amazing and full of groove!

@DavidvanLochem 11 жыл бұрын

Happy to see that it is what i've done in my acoustic playing SOTW ... :)

@dogwood8031 4 жыл бұрын

I've always wanted to be an expert on Smoke On the Water.

@salvadorvela8146 3 жыл бұрын

super cool

@SalvatoreCuleddu 13 жыл бұрын

bellissimoo grazie steve

@leedsunited007 8 жыл бұрын

thanks Steve

@fozonkiller6008 7 жыл бұрын

PERFECT

@BHAKTIBROPHY 5 жыл бұрын

(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.

@rudeboy3796 11 жыл бұрын

the best teacher

@helmut0011 12 жыл бұрын

steve morse - he is great as a musician and person

@guitarmemoir 7 жыл бұрын

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 KZfaq somewhere.

@BrentDehn 6 жыл бұрын

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!

@greatunz67 6 жыл бұрын

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.

@kurtsherrick2066 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@cynthia6389 Жыл бұрын

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

@gshock3092 6 жыл бұрын

You do a great job for the band. Saw you in 2017 in Detroit

@scythianarcher4133 5 жыл бұрын

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)))

@lilsavage79 7 жыл бұрын

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.

@Ublomor 5 жыл бұрын

I saw him demonstrating this and more in Palermo, before the concert with Deep Purple, many years ago. It was just great!

@TheAgentAssassin 11 жыл бұрын

I always played the first note open strings , then as Steve the rest

@mastopage3120 2 ай бұрын

Adding the bass with is thumb i just awesome.

@javierorellano7759 9 жыл бұрын

Son of a...he's one of the best!!

@westpur 12 жыл бұрын

Your so right....

@michaelbrodie4276 7 жыл бұрын

chuck berry double stops instruction & this video...fantastic starter kit.

@Twobarpsi Жыл бұрын

Steve 🤘🤘🤘🤘

@xstingrayx 8 жыл бұрын

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. :/

@HansVHimmelreich 7 жыл бұрын

thats basically the internet in a nutshell, everybody here is an expert at everything

@Faktaunikdankeren 5 жыл бұрын

Experts with youtube lisence 😁😁

@jamesgoddard2321 3 жыл бұрын

Steve Morse is the finest electric guitar player in history. Take it from an expert ;-)

@kurtsherrick2066 2 жыл бұрын

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.

@user-js3yz4wd5c 5 жыл бұрын

ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@cmancope 12 жыл бұрын

Good. Could you tell us the frets and notes and left hand stuff

@xyhmo 3 жыл бұрын

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.

@dorianharley 12 жыл бұрын

And, as if it wasn't enough being a terrific guitarist, he is also adorable. ♥

@vedatkutsal 4 ай бұрын

very good

@danmar007 10 жыл бұрын

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!

@thrashingpanic 7 жыл бұрын

I'm proud of myself ;) as I've always played it this way. And I started before the internet era.

@sjk254 12 жыл бұрын

That low harmonic was a combination of the sound of the cabinet Ritchie was using, the mic placement, and the mic itself.

@daviddaigle2419 10 ай бұрын

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

@pg123ab 6 жыл бұрын

Check out the video Live at Budokan, Ritchie does it in fourths starting on the 10th frets playing D and G

@geckobaldy 6 жыл бұрын

A variation on the riff from 'She loves you'. My hunch is it was intentional by Ritchie Blackmore.

@evalex71 11 жыл бұрын

Sounds killer

@tatethompson1234 12 жыл бұрын

For this riff no one will ever top Ritchie.

@onefatstratcat 4 жыл бұрын

I have always played it open G chord string style using the neck pickup full on my paul

@Viper6-MotoVlogger 10 жыл бұрын

Well done bro!

@IsraeliPastafarian 11 жыл бұрын

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.

@gcf7175 9 жыл бұрын

I have a serious question: Do you guys get laid a lot from playng the guitar? I lift weights and tan and I just started playing the guitar and I still never get ANY. This is frustrating. What the hell am I doing wrong?

@DeadVoltage1 9 жыл бұрын

this shit made my day. hahah

@stevepotts80 9 жыл бұрын

You're ugly.

@JeanMarceaux 9 жыл бұрын

I think I know what the problem is. You're commenting on KZfaq. Stop doing it, and wimminz will come in flocks.

@HBSuccess 9 жыл бұрын

Genuine Chocolate Face Yes, I get laid alot. Or used to - until I caught the clap and "it" fell off.

@gcf7175 9 жыл бұрын

Tioga Fretworks Damn, kid. Shit Just real, a little too real.

@redrock1963 6 жыл бұрын

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 !

@anz2441 6 жыл бұрын

Ritchie said himself that the correct way is in 4ths....this is correct to my ears and has that organ sound.

@dyster5179 11 жыл бұрын

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! :-)

@tgv1975 10 жыл бұрын

Mastery is in the details.

@carolbell8008 2 жыл бұрын

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!

@NihilisticSnake 6 жыл бұрын

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.

@bigl6322 Жыл бұрын

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.

@grobbler1 4 жыл бұрын

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.

@euanelliott3613 3 жыл бұрын

I've seen Ritchie Blackmore explaining how it's played on Classic Albums in 2002.

@JakeSpeed1000 6 жыл бұрын

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.

@tamsinmccormick 8 жыл бұрын

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"

@pb12661 8 жыл бұрын

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 KZfaq 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.

@ikrammaududi6205 8 жыл бұрын

+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

@tamsinmccormick 8 жыл бұрын

+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 !!

@guitaromontalban6841 8 жыл бұрын

I thought it was played open C# tuning capo 2 with a 7 string and a violin bow?

@TruthSurge 7 жыл бұрын

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.

@6string697 7 жыл бұрын

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

@PhilipKerry 7 жыл бұрын

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 .

@dementisband 7 жыл бұрын

i second that.

@jamespaulmitchell 7 жыл бұрын

+Philip Kerry try Maria Quiet...

@andy_182 3 жыл бұрын

who cares

@effzee 12 жыл бұрын

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.

@63terrence Жыл бұрын

Steve Morse can improve anybody's music, make it sound better, he is the greatest.

@Dusty-Shades 11 ай бұрын

Anyone know the full song/chords?... Key of Gm, verse chords are: Gm muted 5th, F Chorus: C, Ab, Bb/4th alternating to Gm/4th then to to F/4 in Gm tonic minor scale

@oziris1244 8 жыл бұрын

Oh shit! is he using a roland cube amp? I have the same amp and it sounds like that.

@zebes2694 5 жыл бұрын

Tabs?

@peterbridge7940 2 ай бұрын

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 🎸🎸🎸

@Kostas1601 12 жыл бұрын

@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...

@brendanmoore5456 4 жыл бұрын

This should be put in history books

@SalvoVecchioGuitar 13 жыл бұрын

cool versions

@user-js3yz4wd5c 5 жыл бұрын

You plah with overdrive or reverb, drive????

@Ofinfinitejest 7 жыл бұрын

People make fun of this song but it's about the most emotionally intense simple composition in music history. It's right there with the opening of Beethoven's 5th in terms of being universally recognizable. Hearing it played right is powerful stuff.

@gabrielharapu7133 2 жыл бұрын

Sounds more like Maria Moita from Carlos Lyra :)

@Rotary_Lover_89 10 ай бұрын

It's actually the famous riff from Beethoven's 5th played backwards and inverted