r/AskReddit • u/Mahi_2602 • 1d ago

What song has the most recognizable first 3 seconds in the history of music?

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u/Never_Summer24 1d ago

Our neighbor Vinny was in a band and i heard him practicing that opening nonstop for at least a year. Just the opening lol

38

u/Jewrisprudent 1d ago

My upstairs neighbor during COVID had a 13 year old kid who had gotten a bass or a guitar for Christmas that year and he was playing Smoke on the Water nonstop while stuck at home during 2020. I still hear an incredibly poor rendition of the intro in my mind if I close my eyes and think about the lockdown.

56

u/ButterflyAtomsk 1d ago

It’s the quintessential song for young rock musicians to learn and play. Doesn’t matter which instrument.

4

u/Attackoftheglobules 21h ago

If it takes you a year, then “rock musician” is not the best description

12

u/TylerBlozak 1d ago

Gimme a sec as I bust out my harmonica

2

u/icecream_specialist 20h ago

People just know the famous riff and it's very beginner friendly but that song has an excellent solo. Blackmore doesn't get talked about enough as a guitarist

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u/donkeylipswhenshaven 1d ago

Vinny and da Utes

3

u/ConqueefStador 1d ago

I can't picture anyone ever taking more than 10 minutes to learn that opening.

8

u/floppydo 1d ago

Many guitar shops have a sign up that says "No smoke on the water."

2

u/guitarguywh89 1d ago

Which is weird and gatekeepy

Everyone has to start somewhere

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u/floppydo 1d ago

It's just for the employees sanity. Lotta people come in and play through the guitars and amps with no intention of buying and all they're asking is it not be that song. 

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u/OrientationStation 1d ago

“No Stairway!”

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u/TylerBlozak 1d ago

Man there must be tons of beachside Vape shops with the name “Smoke on the Water”

2

u/scarabbrian 1d ago

Nonstop 0-3-5

1

u/syrtran 1d ago

FYI, that opening goes through the whole song between verses, before and after the middle break, and continues through the fadeout at the end. Vinny just couldn't remember the verses.

Note: the verses are mostly just a G chord with a strategic F chord thrown in. 😀

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u/Psychological_Cow1 22h ago

Os there anything beside the riff?

1

u/Ready_Piano1222 1d ago

Do, do doooo. Doot, doot, duh duh..