Smoke on the Water

[lexxmexx]

I have asked a similar question on this technique before but I'll start a new thread for this specific song.

How do you guys play the G-D-G riff on the first verse of the song (see tab below).

------------
--------5---
-----5------
--3---------

I have difficulty fretting them to get a clean sound. I mean, how do you guys actually fret the 2nd and 3rd note of this riff?

[TeeMartin]

Pinky, fret out a power chrod.

[Deacon_Blues]

Fretting hand fingering for that riff: Index-ring-pinky. Can't imagine any other fingering being usable for that riff.

Remember to fret right behind the frets for the cleanest sound and to have the hand in a relaxed position.

[TerenceSharp]

I've always used my pinky to bar across the last two frets

[ryco]

I do it: Index-pinky-pinky lifting the pinky from the A and D string playing the notes separately.
The song isn't that fast, so it's very do-able.

But I also agree with Deacon's fingering as well.

[phxlbrmpf]

Barring the A and D strings with my ring finger feels best to me because it's stronger than my pinky.

[Deacon_Blues]

Strange how people play this in different ways... Barring with the ring finger works for me as well but the pinky. Anyway, the fingering I posted above is to me the best way and it should be the easiest way to fret the notes cleanly. Barring is slightly harder and requires a small change in hand position.

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by phxlbrmpf

Barring the A and D strings with my ring finger feels best to me because it's stronger than my pinky.

+1

[Hellbastard]

Originally Posted by Deacon_Blues

Fretting hand fingering for that riff: Index-ring-pinky. Can't imagine any other fingering being usable for that riff.

Remember to fret right behind the frets for the cleanest sound and to have the hand in a relaxed position.

+1 This how I do it
If I didn't I'd probably Barre the D and G with my ring finger

[mike phillips]

Originally Posted by TerenceSharp

I've always used my pinky to bar across the last two frets

works for me

[Xanthyr]

All about the ring finger here, never an easier way for myself.

[ryco]

Not to make a fuss or diss, but I can't think of a situation where I would ever barre with a ring or pinky.
Like I said earlier, "Smoke..." is so mid tempo I can easily play the fifth-octave with my pinky moving back and forth between strings.

If I'm playing a faster fifth-octave line where I couldn't shift my ring or pinky back and forth, then I would use Deacon's ring-pinky fingering method. By having a separate finger on each separate string I have way more control moving back and forth between the notes and it's much cleaner sounding. I'm able to pump the notes a little better and can add little nuances and accents easier.
But then that's just me - maybe something to consider.

Percussive slap is the only style I can think of where I use barre style, and a lot of that is flapping out dead notes.

[rockwarnick]

i think the best thing to do is to avoid this song as best as possible.
im so sick of this song and everyone learning it and covering it and singing it and forever relating it to guitar.

....</rant>

[AlphaMale]

Pinky always seemed like the wussy way to hold down a powerchord.

[Thunder Pulse]

Originally Posted by AlphaMale

Pinky always seemed like the wussy way to hold down a powerchord.

^^^ This coming from someone who 'forgot' how to play with 2 fingers on his plucking hand.

[lexxmexx]

Barring with the pinky is mission impossible for me, I had some luck with the ring finger though but still get some fret buzzes occasionally. The ring finger and pinky method requires some good coordinations. Looks like there ain't easier way to do it without some real hard work involved. Thanks again, guys!

[crazyguy832]

This is how I would do it...

Fret the first G with my index finger. Fret the D with my ring finger normally. Fret the second G by rolling my index finger backwards (this will also mute the D). Not quite a barre... almost, though.

[ysand]

Matbe you wear your bass too low lexxmexx? If so, that's why u can't stretch your hand to make it sound clearly.

[lowendgenerator]

Originally Posted by rockwarnick

i think the best thing to do is to avoid this song as best as possible.
im so sick of this song and everyone learning it and covering it and singing it and forever relating it to guitar.

....</rant>

Why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel?

[SmokeyB]

Actually, on the recording the guitar plays that riff. The bass comes in with a one note pulse, which you can fret almost any way you please.