Smoke on the Water

[Upnorth]

I have been trying to work out how to play Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple on my mandolin, and the best I have so far come up with is this:

Iconic riff: D2 D5 A0 D2 D5 A2 A0 D2 D5 A0 D5 D2 (played six times)
We all came out to Montreux: A2 A4 A4 A2 A0 A2 D6
On the Lake Geneva shoreline: D6 D6 D5 D5 D3 D5 D6 D3
To make records with a mobile: A2 A4 A4 A2 A4 A2 A4 D6
We didn’t have much time: D6 D5 D3 D5 D6 D3
Frank Zappa and the Mothers: A4 A4 A2 A4 A2 A4 D6
Were at the best place around: D6 D5 D5 D3 D5 D6 D5 D3
But some stupid with a flare gun: A2 A4 A4 A2 A4 A2 A4 D6
Burned the place to the ground: D6 D5 D5 D3 D5 D6 D5 D3
Smoke on the water: A4 A2 A0 A2 D6
Fire in the sky: D6 D5 D6 A0 D6 D5
Smoke on the water: A4 A2 A0 A2 D6
Iconic riff played twice, then second verse.

I know this is not quite right, and that some of the lines have an extra note or two of instrumental before the next line begins. Also I am a long way off unravelling either of the two instrumental breaks. Nevertheless I took up playing mandolin in September of last year, and I think the above represents considerable progress on my part.

[zedmando]

Let me give it a shot & get back to you--my initial impression is it isn't right--but I have I'd have to think about it & try it--and I'm off to bed soon.
I'm exhausted after a lengthy & fun jam today--I played bass for all of it--I would have played some guitar as well, but I was the only bass player there--we did have a mando player and he did give me some tips.

[Upnorth]

I based it on an Em scale, although I also make extensive use of C# and G#.

[Upnorth]

On reflection I realise I made a couple of mistakes which I have now corrected, although I'm still not sure about the fire in the sky line.

Iconic riff: D2 D5 A0 D2 D5 A2 A0 D2 D5 A0 D5 D2 (played six times)
We all came out to Montreux: A2 A4 A4 A2 A0 A2 D6
On the Lake Geneva shoreline: D6 D6 D5 D5 D3 D5 D6 D5 D3
To make records with a mobile: A2 A4 A4 A2 A4 A2 A4 D6
We didn’t have much time: D6 D5 D3 D5 D6 D3
Frank Zappa and the Mothers: A4 A4 A2 A4 A2 A4 D6
Were at the best place around: D6 D5 D5 D3 D5 D6 D5 D3
But some stupid with a flare gun: A2 A4 A4 A2 A4 A2 A4 D6
Burned the place to the ground: D6 D5 D3 D5 D6 D5 D3
Smoke on the water: A4 A2 A0 A2 D6
Fire in the sky: D6 D5 D6 A0 D6 D5
Smoke on the water: A4 A2 A0 A2 D6
Iconic riff played twice, then second verse.

[DavidKOS]

On reflection I realise I made a couple of mistakes which I have now corrected, although I'm still not sure about the fire in the sky line.

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=3]Iconic riff: D2 D5 A0 D2 D5 A2 A0 D2 D5 A0 D5 D2 (played six times)

First the original is in G. Bridge chords C and Ab.

Second, almost all guitarists play open 5ths which is wrong, the classic Ritchie Blackmore riff is played in 4ths. (and technically fingerpicked, not picked with a plectrum)

moved to your key of Em, the opening riff is:

D2 and G4, D5 and G7, A0 and D2, then D2 and G4, D5 and G7, and slide from A1 and D3, a half-step above, to the the A0 and D2. Then D2 and G4, D5 and G7, A0 and D2, D5 and G7, D2 and G4

Bridge chords are A and F.

Have fun.

[zedmando]

And since fourth are like backwards 5ths--it works.
You could also look at it as Blackmore plays the 5th & octave.

I do that quite often on the guitar--lots of blues stuff uses that kind of playing.

[Upnorth]

I began by watching a tutorial for the guitar which began with an Em chord. That was what prompted me to use the Em scale.

[zedmando]

I have no problem if you change the key--you've already changed the instrument--so why can't you change the key?

[journeybear]

That's a half step, not a whole step, in the second bar of the riff: D2 D5 A1 A0

Can you read guitar tab? Try some tab sites like this one and adapt the notes to mandolin.

[Upnorth]

That's a half step, not a whole step, in the second bar of the riff: D2 D5 A1 A0

That does make sense, yes - A# rather than B. I was working on a scale, which is why I used the B.

I have looked at guitar tabs before now, but I wanted to try to work out a tablature for myself using my ear and a scale chart. I'm actually quite pleased with myself. I was very much a musical novice when I bought my Alden back in September last year, and never expected to progress as quickly as this.

[DavidKOS]

I have no problem if you change the key--you've already changed the instrument--so why can't you change the key?

Nothing wrong with changing the key, I was using the original key for reference.