The 7 LEVELS of Smoke On The Water (Main Riff)

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I can see the eyes rolling already. ;) I love going in-depth on the most common, over-taught, over-played, riffs of all time just to show that there's sometimes more than you think going on.
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[@Walamonga1313]

Level 8 is actually playing the whole song instead of just the riff.

[@captainbuck5969]

FUNNY!

[@recipoldinasty]

Megadeth is easy

[@yoda5167]

But that’s impossible

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

When I play it in my head its like level 100+

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

level 8 is going Ritchie Blackmore style and combining levels 4-7 however you like and feel about playing it at that moment in time. Then, let's talk the rest of the song... 🙂

[@IndigoEuphonium]

It's 00:24 am, I have a Calc test in 14 hours and Keanu Reeves is playing Smoking on the Water, progressively upping the difficulty

[@Sherwoodnt]

Sorry, this is actually Keanu's love-child with John Cusack.

[@TidyMk6]

*you don’t have to write AM if you use 24 hour time, that’s the whole point behind it*

[@sonalidasgupta3562]

...ahhhaa....a Musical-Matrix

[@lonelycrona2388]

@@Sherwoodnt Can't believe there are still people out there who know John Cusack!! 😍

[@TwZGFX]

@@lonelycrona2388 My thought exactly, haha

[@Zakitop10]

Level 8: wonderwall version.

[@jrmbayne]

Zakaria ESSARSARI anyway....

[@g4l1l_buckz35]

@@jrmbayne here's

[@menperfect5566]

Maybe

[@ljessante4997]

@@g4l1l_buckz35 Wonderwall

[@invalide]

Yeah, but can he play smoke on the water?

[@olliebean2664]

@ognilouD driB r/woosh

[@jW-kr5xn]

Ollie Bean r/woosh

[@miduslodan9823]

@@jW-kr5xn R/wOosH

[@dylanluman3399]

*wooosh*

[@isaacmeraz8095]

Shoohw

[@misteralfie]

And at level 8 we start to djent

[@RanetaCroak]

Angelo Heringa lvl 8 is lvl 1 with an 8 strings guitar. That's why it's called lvl 8

[@tieukhavu8832]

@@RanetaCroak Djent Purple plays Djent on the Water.

[@beefnacos6258]

I dont know about that lol

[@JAMAC5421]

Angelo Heringa same

[@dipeshadhikari7997]

93 dislike from guitar center

[@g4l1l_buckz35]

Level 20- You play 0-3-5 and not get copyrighte- *This post is claimed by UMG*

[@cypherking5546]

LMAOOOOO

[@lollerte]

This is exactly why i love playing guitar. A lot of people say smoke on the water is easy, but when you really get into the details it (and of any other song really), it is not as easy anymore.

[@DanLokar]

This is why I watch your channel and I love it. I've been playing guitar for almost 14 years and I just realised that I was stuck on a Level 5 "Smoke On The Water". I've never studied it in details - this is so interesting.

[@EvilSean62]

damn straight i watch the tube on all the stuff i play and pretty much 50% of the time i sound fine but im wearing the wrong shoes if you get my drift

[@pshep138]

I've seen "level 5" taught as the way it's played live. I've never even seen the level 7 way. I've also seen where instead of the open D/G strings, you fret 5/5 on the A/D strings, then 3/3 on the D/G, and 5/5 on the D/G. That way sounds the most correct to me with the recording.

[@vroberts1976]

Me too!

[@BenCurrington]

Agree, Preston! This is how it was tabbed out in a guitar mag I had maybe 15 years ago. Not much different to the level seven shown here really.

[@KatzeARL]

Hey, that's actually the way I learned it!

[@woodsman4946]

As a beginner-intermediate this has motivated me to go out and learn the full song while using level 7 during the main riff. Who can’t love some Deep Purple anyway even if the song is overplayed

[@TheArtofGuitar]

That's a badass attitude. Love it.

[@woodsman4946]

Thanks dude!

[@randomguywhostoleallofyour88]

May I ask how long you've been practicing?

[@cafra2]

Xander Mohan Yeah, I've been trying to play the fast arpeggios of the solo but I can't play it right yet. Maybe it's too much for being the second solo I'm trying to learn

[@markhanna5161]

Those fast arpeggios are difficult even for myself... Try something easier since you just began, like their song Lazy or any song by Santana

[@torrancebaird]

This is actually really interesting. I saw you do this with Brown Eyed Girl a while back and it was definitely an eye opener. Thanks for the videos, brother!

[@cracgor]

The irony of this video is I think the higher level ones are easier to play than part 2 and part 3. It is like struggling in a battle, then you enter cheat codes to obtain god level and you are playing it with a frisbee.

[@NeilFein]

I think a lot of learning guitar is figuring out how to work less to play the same thing. Means you can spend energy on doing harder riffs, or work on playing the easy stiff really, really well.

[@SeanLaMontagne]

Well put. Same with percussion, work smarter, not harder.

[@maximusrex8689]

I couldnt agree more. The only ones I can play are 1, 6, 7 and 8.

[@sandysingssongs]

Level 8: when you realize he doesn't slide between the 6th and 7th chords but picks each one.

[@jeffkalmar7871]

He does both. Watch the live video from Japan. He also changes the position he plays the main riff in.

[@lollerte]

Im just sick of hearing bad covers of smoke of the water. I will NEVER get tired of the original riff played by blackmore !

[@Colhogan06]

The best version IMO is the Made in Japan album (1972). Its a live version of the song. Blackmore adds a little extra at the start of the song. Basically extends the riff a little. It has always been my favorite.

[@Javier-cz6mh]

What about a Ritchie Blackmore guitar techniques video? Insane and influential player

[@spd7693]

Javier My favorite. After Glenn Tipton and Dave Mustaine.

[@heavynlouder]

i'm in level 7 1/2, istead of sliding I just bend, btw, nice content you been uploading, you turned my inner light on again

[@jackson2363]

Mike-Jackson from your local GC here. Dare you to sit down and play all these next time you come in!!!

[@thatswhatsgood24]

What happens? im geniunely asking.

[@pinkration]

michael? michael jackson? you're alive?

[@RoelCyborg]

Cool showing ,loved it to see the variations ,people often belittle this riff , and that is silly , think of running with the devil , (it's inspired by this one ,)The Van Halen band played mostly Deep Purple covers in the beginning,an their style is mostly brooking chords all over . I think Richie Blackmore's style opened the door to many techniques , not only brooking chords

[@swaggercat]

Roel Cyborg What is "brooking chords"? I've never heard this term and can't find anything on the internet.

[@multslash]

Other thing that Richie opened up das the Path for neoclassical metal or classical guitar

[@raywt3237]

I, too, would like to know what brooking chords are

[@rikjaims9118]

When I was learning a bit on guitar I had a similar journey to your "7 levels of" videos when learning Schism especially with adding the what I referred to at the time as "background parts" or open strings/mutes. I just discovered your videos and love the format. I look forward to watching more.

[@pedroordonez7031]

Very interesting lesson, thank you! It goes to prove there is always something new to learn

[@jessevance1354]

your videos are helping me and my friend get better at playing guitar. Thank you. It makes playing guitar so much fun.

[@petruccifanboi]

Actually there a video where Steve Morse explains how to play Smoke on The water which i think is the BEST WAY to play it ! He uses the ring and the pinky to grab the notes instead of barring which avoids having any other notes ring out. Plus it allows you to add vibrato to both those notes which gives it that ZINGG and swagger at the end of the riff ! Try it ! It feels great 🙂👍🏼

[@BryannaHitchcock]

Now that I've seen and heard level 6 it seems so evident in the original. I can't un-hear that percussive plucking sound. Great video. Thank you. Like others, I've been playing this riff for decades at level 5.

[@rreszler]

It teaches so much about the guitar, great lesson!

[@JohnHWelch63]

Back in the early 70s I started learning to play guitar when I was 8 years old. My older brother let me use his guitar and amp and I drove my family nuts learning to play the Smoke on the Water riff. It especially made them batshit crazy before I could play it with accurate timing.😂 Thinking back I feel sorry for them. LOL It was the very first thing I ever learned to play, but that was pretty common back then for a beginner to learn that riff first.

[@jak-12]

Jake Harper moment

[@cyko4]

Omg please do 7 levels of enter sandman

[@nayr87]

he did, kind of kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKbEd6Btpp6lf7M

[@cyko4]

nayr87 thanks, actually saw it about 2 days ago

[@ChrisPreece]

I'd say the best bonus level is when you start to play it your own way with your own flairs on it. For me that's when guitar gets its most interesting before you start writing your own music, and sometimes even after you've started writing your own music. For example when I do Smoke on the Water with my band I throw the low G back in there, but not as the full chord, playing it after each note of the riff to double up on the bass line thudding along in the background, it adds this syncopated extra rhythm to it which makes it more fun to play and makes for a bigger sound in a three piece band. Every one of our cover songs now sounds like the band we cover, but with enough of our own styles on bass, guitar or drums to make it our own version.

[@SeanLaMontagne]

This is more than just smoke on the water. It's development as a guitarist over time. Very well done, Sir.

[@JamieDombroski]

I have a friend that plays SOTW finger picking, he plays the bass line with his thumb on the E and A string while finger picking the main guitar riff with his index and middle finger on the D and G respectively. Sounds absolutely amazing, and makes SOTW a thrill to hear and see for a guitar player again, easy level 8!

[@noob5000000]

I like this series of videos a lot. It’s really interesting to see something go from basic to more complex while still being “the same”, if that makes sense.

[@Jartny]

Excellent video but I'm excited to see more intermediate lessons in the future :)

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I just put up like 4 videos on modes! haha

[@ShredzTheMetalHead]

I feel like after the first couple of levels something to help the barring would be to Drop the E string to D (so drop D) and with them being taught 2 things at once it helps a bit more. Not cheating by dropping it to D just helps with the strings being thicker is builds up the strength in you fingers just a tish more. Also teaches them what drop D is and can do, drop tunings are a blast if known how to navigate/use properly

[@SuperHappyNotMerry]

your voice is so calm and soothing

[@froggore52]

I learned this at level 7 and have always wondered why it's known as being babby's first riff. I didn't know until watching this video that absolute beginners learn to play it exclusively on the low E. Now I understand the stigma :)

[@winkcrittenden6011]

Because even at "level 7" it's stupidly easy

[@SeanLaMontagne]

It's more or less about the mental game happening, as you get more comfortable with your guitar, and start understanding how the frets work across the board, you change the way you play certain licks/riffs almost constantly. Smoke on the Water is simply the time-tested example that everyone references, yes it is easy to play, but that's not the point of the video. It's to show the mental development, discovering things such as transposing, different chord shapings and lead shapings, that's where the real development is for a guitarist in those early stages. Finger speed and "chops" come later.

[@22cones]

same same

[@MetalCheeseDeathAttack]

Super cool video, I found myself going several times "I never thought of playing it that way!" The way I started out doing it (due to a tutorial vid I watched) has me barring the A and D strings on the fifth fret, instead of doing open strings, and that's how I've played it for years. But now I'll have to do it with the plucking you showed at the end.

[@froggore52]

I like your point at the very end. There's a good reason some of the most iconic riffs are also the easiest to play. The greatest guitarists understand the usefulness of simplicity in crafting a great riff.

[@tony_squad9691]

"What riffs do u know?" "Yes"

[@kevinmaroney8471]

Thanks man, I never learned anything but level 5... Again you have enlightened me, I feel bad I never say thanks. Great channel, long time watcher, think this is my first comment.

[@adrianokury]

Ha! this perception of how your students discover things and how you motivate them to do so... Priceless...

[@der_Schreiner]

Please! More like this! Awesome! Thanks! Gonna teach this to my son soon

[@PaolaBarreto]

This video is amazing, you teach very well, you are not boring at all, you are an amazing guitar player

[@wojciech4101]

LVL MASTER - learning more than just one part of song :)

[@emilandresen7577]

I thought my friend how to play it. He is new to guitar. This video help sooooooo much. Keep up the good work.

[@absurdistcat]

Level 8: fretless guitar BTW don't overlook the album this song is from, _Machine Head._ It's really amazing.

[@akshaykumar_r]

4:04 That. No matter how simple this song is, it still brings a wide grin on my face! :D

[@alexander-germain]

that guitar is so nice

[@adahbombdon1512]

S series prestige baby. Bubinga top

[@adahbombdon1512]

It’ll turn you into a lazy player thats for sure. Action is so low and it plays faster than anything.

[@fezzes428]

Adah BombDon yeah dude i have an rg and the action is so low it gets hard to play barre chords on my taylor

[@ferral1186]

$9000

[@astrog7361]

ikr

[@tempviduse]

I learned just 3-6-8, 3-6-9-8 on just the E string

[@bryniac5]

you forgot the 3-6-8-6-3... jk

[@durster27]

Love this concept for a video! Definitely want to see more! Keep up the great work!

[@sobrcelt]

Hahahaha I totally remember that! 1979, 15-years-old, learning Smoke on the Water on one string and then following it up later that day with Iron Man on one string, as well. The journey began. \m/ :D

[@Toonami94]

Congrats! You've convinced me to learn smoke on the water! Btw I've avoided learning this song like the plague

[@aestethical2221]

That tone is beautiful

[@johnmitchelljr]

Great lesson. Thank you.

[@PiPArtemis]

Been playing level 5 for yeeeeears Hell, that's how I've taught it to other people xD Crazy to think such a vanilla riff was so much more detailed than that

[@mannygee005]

I think you skipped a level or two where it's supposed to be played with perfect timing. It has a groove, the groove is what sets it apart. In the live Japan album you can hear where he stops the notes are very important and gives that signature sound and creates the groove. A "groove" is where you "feel it" but the notes are not (necessarily) played that's why the silence is important and the percussive muting are there because of the hidden groove. Also the two notes in the chord are inverted, so it's not a power chord of 1-5 interval but the interval is 4 which make it not a power chord such as D-G is not a power chord of D ... so if it's really a G then it's inverted. The notes are simple but I think it can't be strummed to get this groove, because it was created by plucking. When I listen to the drumming in the intro with the strong beat, that's what the guitarist feels but he actually strikes the chords on the upbeat not on the downbeat. Blackmore mutes on the downbeat and so that's why they're percussive mutes - he feels the groove and plays around it or creates the groove without playing it. I thought he plays ahead of the beat and if so maybe he's using a faster internal rhythm such as the fast high hat that comes in later ... even when the bass comes in it starts with fast notes. To summarize there are just a few fretted notes but what is he 'really' playing? The guitar part seems to be in contrast to the rhythm, it is slower and not on the beat yet in supports and creates the groove.

[@azrael666ethereal]

I hear what you say about Richie playing it higher on the neck but that is something he only does sporadically from time to time to kinda show off.. Because he can ;) hehe The main riff is indeed played using 4ths and the chords are pulled rather than picked..

[@kizix8801]

Thank you so much

[@patricklastname5646]

What a cool teacher!

[@latergator915]

At every level, in my head, I hear the bass coming in. What a line.

[@jamiealexandermacdonald6686]

I've kept this riff interesting for myself by adding in the bassline on the E-string with my thumb while I play the riff on the D and G strings.

[@RafaSkateorDie]

Great! I usually use this song when i try to teach, and i used also another level which consist in play the riff with eighth notes so you have to pick faster and you have to learn a little of rhythm (and also sounds cool haha)

[@eddieshell]

Very nice and educational, all that level stuff is to another level. Keep it up🎃

[@speediskey3856]

Because of this video im getting a guitar for Christmas:)

[@ludimilojko5044]

Guys, I’ve been playing guitar about 15 years, this what I see hear is nothing new, just you have i such songs much more things that you don’t hear

[@TheophanyComedyGuru]

God I love the tone!

[@multslash]

People talk about how this song is super easy and joke about but still play this song wrong, because not knowing rythmic figures

[@wilsonfisk6156]

Pedro Gabriel im naturally struggling with rythm and cant nail the rythm of this song

[@rimmersbryggeri]

They are power chord inversions. using 5 and 8 rather than 1 and 5. The thumb thigs is from jimi hendrix he used to bar most of the neck with his thumb. Listen to Catch the rainbow and the 6000 levels of that and you will reallise just how influenced Ritchie is by Jimi.

[@lizzardlife]

Excellent insight!!

[@ulfdanielsen6009]

Level 9: Playing it as an inverted power chord on the fifth and fourth string 5. fret starting position with the plucking technique, which is the way he most commonly plays it. Level10: Playing it with the thumb giving you the g-bass note on the sixth string third fret WHILE playing it as inverted power chords as described above, only this time as fingerstyle guitar on an acoustic. He does this in an interview during a documentary on the making of Machine Head. That is: Playing Roger Glover´s thumping bass line along with his own riff simultanously. Pretty impressive to watch,- and it being Ritchie Blacmore - of course effortlessly and flawlessly.

[@hevorg1381]

You can play the riff and the bass line at the same time. It's a good tune for that.

[@drpelliper5818]

i always have plucked starting with open d and g. never new the song was actually played up high like that. neato

[@rangamsarmah2061]

I play the hetfield-style power cord so much now (index and pinky) , that the hanging pinky when someone plays power cords gives me stress.

[@ricksmith7370]

When I learned it for the first time, my uncle showed me to pluck the two E strings at the same time. Same frets as your level one.

[@RyanChaos.0]

Rick Smith Wtf lol

[@HollowDesert]

I started playing bass before guitar and I was a really big kiss fan. I learned god of thunder and felt so cool going up to the 7th fret.

[@musikk83]

thank you ver much !! you are the best!!

[@marcellocaddeo7581]

Hi John Cusack from the past.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Hi!

[@gliocchiali6075]

Marcello Caddeo THAT'S WHO HE LOOKS LIKE!!! Hahahaha

[@mrlemmons60]

Him: Says Smoke on Water, Enter Sandman, and Stairway to Heaven are overly taught Me: “stands up walks to guitar plays all three and thinks to myself no one taught me these other than tabs.”

[@BoboEverest]

I play start playing with 5 and 4 string on 3 frat and go down to 3 frat on string 3 and 4 and so on... Btw, great lesson, 8 different ways to play same, one of the best riffs ever.

[@markgowans]

According to Ritchie himself the 'proper' way to play Smoke on the water is in parallel 4ths without a pick but I've seen him play both with and without a pick over the years so I guess you should use whatever style suits your experience. That remark you made towards the end of the video about Ritchie playing the riff with his thumb reminded me of something I've read and heard people talk about over the years and that was when Deep Purple were making the album Stormbringer Ritchie played a song with just his thumb. I cant remember the song exactly but think it might have been Hold on.

[@crimson8606]

Level 13:Playing the every note two octaves down and two octaves up while Wonderway to Heaven’s wall On a Epiphone Eds 1275, but you’re using both necks at the same time.

[@Inkwell_Music]

Wow. I was 7 and on my first lesson I learned level 5 right off the bat. Wierd that my teacher would do that, but I appreciate it.

[@diegolomac]

Don't think I didn't see that morph cut at 4:56

[@diegolomac]

Also holy crap a bunch of them afterwards

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Not trying to hide them. :)

[@truthtopower420]

Beautiful tone on your guitar and amp mate :)

[@Kleyguy7]

I know the way how to go to the bonus level 9 :D. It is when you are playing the bass guitar and the guitar riff at the same time. Seems hard at first but when you learn it is so satysfing and develops great thumb technique

[@CletoFrost]

i played the barre chords like a Em open chord, i use it all over the neck all the time, sounds kinda glassy and minimalistic and really natural.

[@MusicMotivator]

Even Steve Morse couldn't figure out it was played on 6th and 5th strings for that fat tone.(when he joined Purple ;) Nice lesson man!

[@jeffkalmar7871]

The cool thing is that Blackmore switches to the 5th & 4th strings for a brighter sound when the bass comes in so it won't sound muddy.

[@hawg427]

I was in High School when Purple came out with "Burn" that would be a nice one to show people. Also there is one by UFO called "Rock Bottom" Have a good one.

[@Max604]

"When I was watching him live... 'on KZbin'" lol

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Live on KZbin is the new front-row seat. haha

[@Enzo-fs3bx]

Level 8 is managing to stay in the store

[@PD-ld5sq]

He’s a good instructor and seems like he would be very patient with a learning student.

[@nikoyochum6974]

This was the first riff that I learned by ear. I got the key right, and then quickly picked up the barre, so I basically entered at level 5

[@Stringfreak2]

Good video Good personality And i acually learned cool ways to play a song but i did it a way that was not shown in video instead of open on g i was 5th fret

[@thejuiceman4213]

awesome , you;re a great descriptive teacher ,wish i could find someone like you to get me going , as i know i'd be making you worried within a year ;)

[@thejuiceman4213]

well i have previous experience i played in a band in school , vocals and lead , slipknot , korn , mudvayne those types of bands. but that's been 13 years and the only thing i could remember was seven nation army haha. so im back to ground 0 again but by the time this video was over i was close to being able to do stage 6

[@ganjagoblin1939]

Level 8: playing the whole song

[@jasonjohnson4170]

Excellent! Never knew that

[@letzrockitrite8469]

Many good thoughts in this video.. thank you

[@Ameen2310]

You're an Assassin's Creed fan? Bro, I love you.

[@investorjake3476]

as a beginner i actually learned this at level 5, using index to barre, while middle and pinky play D,G strings. interesting but im going to learn level 7 now .

[@nicholasdaronch6156]

My cousin taught me this one ages ago, my first song! :)

[@dplzgb101]

I seen an interview with RB on CNN (I think) where he says that in the studio version he does bar chords and he plucks with his fingers starting on the open D and G strings. I tried it and it definitely sounds most like the studio intro before the organ kicked in.

[@victorbennett5570]

I saw that one too (I can't remember where) and that's the way I've always played it. It certainly sounds the most authentic. Need another (level 8?)demo.