free guitar tabs lesson
for beginners
Smoke on the Water – Deep Purple
“Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple is one of the greatest guitar songs of all time — and the perfect song for beginners to learn rock guitar. Released in 1972, the track has a stunning, simple riff composed entirely of power chords and played on only two strings, making it the perfect place to start learning finger placement and rhythm.
The song’s iconic riff was based on an actual fire during a Frank Zappa performance in Montreux, Switzerland — a tale immortalized in the song’s lyrics.
tips for beginners-
- Play this using power chords or double stops (G and D string together).
- Use a little palm muting and overdrive to get the right tone.
- It’s usually played with a pick, but works fingerstyle too.