Composition
"Smoke on the Water" is known for and recognizable by its central theme, a four-note "blues scale"(G minor blues scale) melody harmonised in parallel fourths. The riff, played on a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar by Ritchie Blackmore, is later joined by hi-hat and distorted organ, then drums, then electric bass parts before the start of Ian Gillan's vocal.
We all came out to Montreux, on the Lake Geneva shorelineto make records with a mobile, we didn't have much time —Opening lyrics
Jon Lord doubles the guitar part on a Hammond C3 organ played through a distorted Marshall amp, creating a tone very similar to that of the guitar. Blackmore uses either a plectrum upstroke (to accentuate the tonic) or a double finger pluck.
The song order is intro(riff)-verse-chorus-riff-verse-chorus-riff-guitar solo-riff-verse-chorus-riff-organ solo. The first solo is performed on guitar by Ritchie Blackmore, and the second and final solo is performed on an organ by Jon Lord until the song fades out.
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