About Smoke on the Water#
“Smoke on the Water” is the work of Deep Purple, recorded in 1972 for the album Machine Head. Its four-note riff is one of the most recognized figures in rock, and for a lot of guitarists it is the first thing they ever pick out. The lyrics recount something that actually happened to the band: a fire that burned down the casino in Montreux, Switzerland, during a Frank Zappa concert, which they watched from across Lake Geneva.
On the 6-hole ocarina the riff stays in a tight span from D up to A flat, all near the top of the instrument. There are no wide jumps to chase, so the shape falls under the fingers quickly. The A flat is the highest note here and the one worth getting comfortable with first.
Smoke on the Water Ocarina Tab#
| D | F | G | D | F | Ab | G | ||
| D | F | G | F | D |