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Photos provided by: Bill Evans
I can recall learning one of my first riffs. It was “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple. The original riff was created by Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple back in 1971. Steve Morse later joined Deep Purple in 1994 after the song was written. Morse has played the riff live many times with the band, but he didn’t write it. Though some will argue that Steve Morse perfected it.
Steve Morse is a master guitarist and should receive many accolades for his contribution to bands over the years. Such as Dixie Dregs, Kansas, and of course Deep Purple
What is a guitar riff?
A guitar riff is a short, catchy sequence of notes or chords that's repeated throughout a song. It's often the main hook that sticks in your head and defines the groove or feel of the track.
Think of it like:
Other Iconic Guitar Riffs Everyone Knows
Some easier Riffs for Beginners
I Love Rock 'n Roll – Joan Jett
Iron Man – Black Sabbath
Day Tripper – The Beatles
Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones
While Riffs are that constant sequence of notes or chords throughout a song, some people confuse the Riff with a Lick. Think of this way, the riff is that constant groove or drive throughout a song. A Lick is a short musical short, that is not necessarily repeated throughout the song. It is a filler, or improvisation. However, it is also conducive to the success of a song.
Think of the lick like a quick bluesy run during a solo. A finger tapping pattern in a Van Halen song. (Side note) finger tapping was created by Steve Hackett. Another masterful guitarist, compared to many of the famous Riff guitar players. Licks are also the little fills between vocal lines.
One of the guitarists that is very familiar with the distinction of both licks and riffs is today’s guest. He is none other than Steve Morse. As previously mentioned, he replaced Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple in 1994. Steve is an outstanding guitarist in his own right. During his days with Deep Purple, and afterward as well.
Some of Steve Morse Riffs are as follows:
"Take It Off the Top" – Dixie Dregs
"Tumeni Notes" – Steve Morse Band
"High Tension Wires" – Steve Morse (solo work)
"Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming" – Deep Purple
"The Well-Dressed Guitar" – Deep Purple (live)
Flashy, fast, melodic—classic Morse.
An instrumental that Morse wrote and performed with Deep Purple.
We had a chance to catch up with Steve last year. The main question covered during the interview was “How does an artist who has accomplished almost everything in their music career avoid getting stuck in the same routine?”
Steves response: "I constantly hit dead ends, The cure is always to change the point of view."
Now, we want to cover something different. We would like to get more insight into the technical aspects of his career.
ABOUT STEVE MORSE
Having started playing the guitar around the age of 11, he later attended the University of Miami’s School of Music, where he studied classical guitar and jazz. Morse’s solo and collaborative work have netted seven Grammy award nominations. He has appeared on over 200 commercial albums.
A “guitarist’s guitarist”, he was voted “Best Overall Guitarist” in the Guitar Player Readers Poll for five consecutive years. He was then removed from eligibility to open the award to other musicians.
Steve has established himself in a wide range of musical genres, from classical guitar to jazz and fusion to country and bluegrass to progressive rock, pop-rock and hard rock, beginning with bands such as the Dixie Dregs, the Steve Morse Band and Kansas.
In 1994, Steve joined Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Deep Purple; he is the band’s longest-serving guitarist. In 2011, Steve became a member of Evans’ newly formed progressive prog/pop supergroup Flying Colors. To date, they recorded three studio albums and three live albums, including the #1 nationally charting Live in Europe. In between work with his bands, Steve appears and records with other artists, guesting on over 60 albums to date.
In February 2016, Deep Purple recorded a new album, their second one with producer Bob Ezrin. This follow-up to 2013’s highly acclaimed Now What?! is titled infinite and was released in April 2017. Flying Colors reconvened in December of 2016 and started writing for their third studio in 2018, there was a reunion tour of the Dixie Dregs Free Fall lineup. The decade concluded with 2019’s release of Flying Color’s Third Degree and Deep Purple’s Whoosh!
Morse began 2020 with a series of collaboration and guest spots, due to be released later this year.
Steve plays a series of signature guitars designed with Ernie Ball Music Man, outfitted with his signature DiMarzio pickups, and ENGL amplifiers, all of which contribute to his ubiquitous sound.
INTERVIEW WITH STEVE MORSE AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Guitar Thrills: Hi Steve. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us again. It has been a minute, but we have been aiming to follow up with you. The next issue of Guitar Thrills seemed like the best time to include an interview from another legend.
It isn’t a surprise, that you received one of your first breaks as a guitarist when you replaced Ritchie Blackmore for the band Deep Purple in 1994. How did that come about? Did you have to try out for DP?
Steve: Roger Glover had heard me play with my trio, the Steve Morse Band. He suggested to the guys that Purple should try me out. I also was not sure I would like playing with them, so we agreed to a 4 day tryout, with 4 shows. By the time we had jammed before even running down the set list, we were all smiling because the communication and feel of us, musically, was great.
Guitar Thrills: When you got the gig, not sure I should label it as a gig or not. It always seems to downplay the significance. It must have been unbelievable at the time. What was your reaction?
Steve: Like I said before, I was hesitant until we got to actually play together, then I really felt like it was a powerful rock band with musicians that were willing to give alternate influences a chance in the new writing.
Guitar Thrills: When a member of band leaves, it usually signifies that there are unrepairable issues that are deep seated, and irreparable. What was the vibe in the group as you started performing with them?
Steve: Everybody was 'full speed ahead' and very positive. We also began a new custom of playing everywhere in the World that wanted to hear Purple.
Guitar Thrills: Did any of the members ever comment on the reason why Ritchie left the band?
Steve: I heard many details over the years, but the bottom line was simply a difference in musical direction and philosophy..........like every time a band loses a founding member. Ian Gillan always said, “We're like a family. We live close, we work close, and we have disagreements like any family.”
Guitar Thrills: When did you meet Ritchie in person? When was the topic of conversation?
Steve: Actually, I've only comunicated with him and his wife using messages and emails. I've met his son in Germany a couple of times. We get along nicely, since I have always respected his work, including while playing his guitar parts.
Guitar Thrills: Do you recall the critics ever saying you were not worthy to replace Blackmore?
Steve: Sure. Ritchie had die hard fans, since he was from the classic period of the band, as well as a founding member. When they saw a new guy, they directed their disappointment at me (the new guy), thinking that Ritchie might come back if they could get rid of me.
Guitar Thrills: Listening the Deep Purple from the earlier days and when you joined, they didn’t seem to miss a beat. What do you think contributed the cohesion of the band?
Steve: Having 4 out of 5 of the Machine Head era band members right there pretty much guaranteed a steady progression. The band wouldn't use an idea if one member objected strongly, so every idea that was put up for consideration was immediately voted yea or nay. My job became to put up a lot of ideas. Jon was a big part of my writing satisfaction, because he would let me develop an idea before turning it down.
Guitar Thrills: The introduction of the article referred to Riffs. One of the famous Riffs that I remember from decades ago, was “Smoke on the Water”. When did you first hear it, and when did you first start playing the Riff?
Steve: I was starting my 2nd year of music school, playing part time in a cover band, and they added that song when it came out. I had heard it on the radio in my car, and I already liked it because I was a fan of Purple from the “Hush” days.
Guitar Thrills: I don’t know if there is a lot of leeway with changing how that Riff should be played. When it became official that you were a member of Deep Purple, did you suggest different ways it should be played? If so, what suggestions did you make?
Steve: In the early days, we improvised a lot, which I loved. So, for some years, I improvised a different intro for “Smoke” and the band was ok with it. Over time, I think they got a little tired of me doing that and just wanted me to play it like the record.
Guitar Thrills: Before the interview, I took out my PRS for some “Smoke on the Water”. I tried playing it a several ways. From the basic one note at a time, to the chords. Needless to say it sounded better on chords. How do you prefer to play it?
Steve: Depending on the sound, mostly the 3rd and 4th strings, although it can sound even better on some amps playing it on the wound strings in 8th position.
Guitar Thrills: I was thinking that the Riff would be better suited for a blues song. Add in there a slide bar, or sustain at the end….and it would be perfect. Maybe the song could be released as a blues hit. What do you think? 😊
Steve: Maybe as a rap sample/collaboration? I don't know. You don't need a lot of structure to make it a blues tune, so that's certainly possible and easily done. We did do a jazz version on a live TV show once, and it had a sense of humor about it.
Guitar Thrills: You have played in other accomplished bands. Did each of them contribute to the success you currently are experiencing?
Steve: Definitely. It's all a learning opportunity, if you take the chance to learn. Success, like my Mom always said, is like: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” I believe that and have taught my own son, who is interested in many things, but is doing so well writing and recording the music he loves. The music business nowadays is infinitely harder to succeed in, from my point of view, than it was in the decades I was doing it.
Guitar Thrills: Looking back, do you have any regrets on how your music career turned out? Is there something that you would have changed, even minor changes.
Steve: I'm human, so of course, I have regrets, but not huge regrets, since I did take away important lessons from every wrong turn. I might have benefitted from getting into Movie scoring early on, and composing more.
Guitar Thrills: Do you think that you career as a guitar player will go on forever, or is there a timeline that you have giving yourself to call it quits?
Steve: My career writing will hopefully go on for a long time, likewise, teaching. However, practicing hard every day is now limited by the amount of arthritis that I've gotten. There will be a time, if every treatment is tried, that I simply can't play the parts I've written. But then again, somebody just sent me a video of a guy with no hands playing guitar and piano, so I never say “Never”.
Guitar Thrills: Honestly, I hope that you would never decide to call it quits. You’re a huge talent in the music industry, and if there are more Riffs to be created, I hope that they come from you. Keep on rocking…. And we hope to talk to you again soon.
