The original song is in the key of Gm. I have transposed it up one step to Am to make it slightly easier for beginners as well. You can refer to the Gm key version below after this one as well. Main Riff: Can be played either with notes below or with chords: A5 C5 D5 A5 C5 D#5 D5 A5 C5 D5 C5 A5 e|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- B|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- G|---2---5---7-|---2---5---6-7-|---2---5---7-|---5--2------ D|---2---5---7-|---2---5---6-7-|---2---5---7-|---5--2------ A|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- E|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- Intro: Main Riff x4 / A5 - - - / - - - - / We all came out to Montreux on the / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / Lake Geneva shoreline / A5 - - - / - - - - / To make records with a mobile / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / We didn't have much time / A5 - - - / - - - - / Frank Zappa and the Mothers / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / Were at the best place around / A5 - - - / - - - - / But some stupid with a flare gun / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / Burned the place to the ground Chorus: / D5 - - - / A#5 - - - / A5 - - - / - - - - / Smoke on the water, and fire in the sky / D5 - - - / A#5 - - - / Smoke on the water Main Riff x2 / A5 - - - / - - - - / They burned down the gambling house / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / It died with an awful sound / A5 - - - / - - - - / The funky Claude was running in and out / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / Pulling kids outa the ground / A5 - - - / - - - - / When it all was over / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / We had to find another place / A5 - - - / - - - - / But Swiss time was running out / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / It seemed that we would lose the race Chorus Main Riff x2 / A5 - - - / - - - - / We ended up at the grand hotel / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / It was empty cold and bare / A5 - - - / - - - - / But with the rolling truck stones thing just outside / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / Making our music there / A5 - - - / - - - - / With a few red lights and a few old beds / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / We make a place to sweat / A5 - - - / - - - - / No matter what we get out of this / - - G5 - / A5 - - - / I know we’ll never forget Chorus Main Riff x2 Original Scale: Main Riff: e|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- B|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- G|-------3---5-|------3---6-5-|--------3---5-|---3-------- D|---5---3---5-|--5---3---6-5-|---5---3---5-|---3--5------ A|---5----------|--5-----------|----5---------|-------5------ E|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- Intro: Main Riff x4 / G5 - - - / - - - - / We all came out to Montreux on the / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / Lake Geneva shoreline / G5 - - - / - - - - / To make records with a mobile / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / We didn't have much time / G5 - - - / - - - - / Frank Zappa and the Mothers / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / Were at the best place around / G5 - - - / - - - - / But some stupid with a flare gun / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / Burned the place to the ground Chorus: / C5 - - - / Ab5 - - - / G5 - - - / - - - - / Smoke on the water, and fire in the sky / C5 - - - / Ab5 - - - / Smoke on the water Main Riff x2 / G5 - - - / - - - - / They burned down the gambling house / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / It died with an awful sound / G5 - - - / - - - - / The funky Claude was running in and out / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / Pulling kids outa the ground / G5 - - - / - - - - / When it all was over / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / We had to find another place / G5 - - - / - - - - / But Swiss time was running out / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / It seemed that we would lose the race Chorus Main Riff x2 / G5 - - - / - - - - / We ended up at the grand hotel / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / It was empty cold and bare / G5 - - - / - - - - / But with the rolling truck stones thing just outside / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / Making our music there / G5 - - - / - - - - / With a few red lights and a few old beds / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / We make a place to sweat / G5 - - - / - - - - / No matter what we get out of this / - - F5 - / G5 - - - / I know we’ll never forget Chorus Main Riff x2
How does it become easier by transposing two semitones up? BTW in the actual version Ritchie plays the riff as (live videos): Code: e|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- B|-------------|---------------|-------------|------------- G|-------3---5-|-------3---6-5-|-------3---5-|---3--------- D|----5--3---5-|----5--3---6-5-|----5--3---5-|---3--5------ A|----5--------|----5----------|----5--------|------5------ E|-------------|---------------|-------------|------3------ The reason why the open string notes are replaced by G power chord is because when your guitar is on distortion - you want to control the sound using your left hand fingers. Otherwise you will have to you your right hand palm for muting selectively.
