Artists / Deep Purple

Machine Head artwork

Smoke on the Water guitar tone

Deep Purple · Machine Head · 1972 · Hard Rock

KeyG minor
ChordsG5 – B♭5 – C5 riff
Crunch

Main Riff

AmpMarshall Super Lead (Plexi)
GuitarGibson Les Paul
PickupBridge humbucker
GAIN5
BASS5.5
MID4.5
TREBLE5.5
PRESENCE5.5
REVERB1

SIGNAL CHAIN

  1. Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer overdrive
    Drive 4.5 · Tone 6 · Level 7.5
    Pushes the amp's own breakup harder.

Set gain so the tone cleans up when you pick softly and bites when you dig in.

Lead

Solo Boost

AmpMarshall Super Lead (Plexi)
GuitarGibson Les Paul
PickupBridge humbucker
GAIN6
BASS5.5
MID5
TREBLE5.5
PRESENCE5.5
REVERB1

SIGNAL CHAIN

  1. Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer overdrive
    Drive 4.5 · Tone 6 · Level 7.5
    Pushes the amp's own breakup harder.
  2. MXR Carbon Copy delay
    Time 4.5 · Repeats 3 · Mix 3
    Kicks in for the solo — repeats tucked under the dry signal.

Lead variant: extra gain and mids to cut through, delay for width. Pick nearer the bridge and let bends sustain.

These are starting points, not gospel. Every amp is a little different, so let your ears do the last 10%.

Open in ToneAmp

Adapt this tone to your own amp and pedals in the app.

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