Smoke on the Water
Deep Purple
- Starts on
- Low E string
- This excerpt
- Intro riff
- Strings used
- Low E
- Written in
- E (open strings)
The tab
Tab is short for tablature: a picture of the strings. Numbers are frets. 0 means play the string open.
Computer notes — not the original recording.
Bar 1
Low E
thickest string
Bar 2
Low E
thickest string
Bar 3
Low E
thickest string
Bar 4
Low E
thickest string
Rhythm in words
Da da daaa. Da, da-da, daaa. Da da daaa. Da daaaa.
How to play this
- 1Use only the thickest string — Low E.
- 2Bar 1 is three notes: 0, 3, then hold 5 — that long 5 is the “daaa.”
- 3Bar 2 starts on 0, then a quick 3-6, then hold 5 again.
- 4Bar 4 walks 3 down to a long 0. That wait is part of the riff.
Practice slowly
The long notes are the 5s and the last 0. If the riff feels jumpy, stay on 1/2 speed until the holds feel easy. Start with Hear the notes at full speed or slower, then copy on the guitar. If a note buzzes, press a little closer to the fret wire — not in the middle of the space.
This arrangement is a simplified educational excerpt for learning. Playback is a computer playing the tab notes, not the original recording. It is not a full transcription and is not affiliated with Deep Purple.
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