The opening riff of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes is instantly recognizable. Its powerful, driving rhythm has made it a stadium anthem and a go-to for guitarists of all levels. Featured on their breakthrough 2003 album, Elephant, this track isn’t just a song; it’s a cultural phenomenon. For aspiring guitar players, learning “Seven Nation Army” is a rite of passage. This lesson will break down the iconic riff and the song’s structure, providing you with the Seven Nation Army Guitar Notes and techniques you need to master it.
Many guitarists start by learning songs by ear, and while that’s a valuable skill, sometimes a little structured guidance can go a long way, especially when tackling rhythmic complexities. “Seven Nation Army” is a perfect example. While it sounds straightforward, the signature rhythmic hook requires a closer look to truly nail. In this lesson, we’ll dissect the song, focusing on the guitar parts and providing clear, step-by-step instructions to get you playing along.
Unpacking the ‘Seven Nation Army’ Rhythmic Hook
The backbone of “Seven Nation Army” is a repeating rhythmic pattern that serves as the intro, verse foundation, outro, and instrumental breaks. This pattern, originally played on bass, translates brilliantly to guitar and is the key to unlocking the song. Let’s examine the guitar notes for this iconic riff, presented as Example 1:
[It seems there was no image of guitar notes in the original article to directly use. I will create a textual representation and explain it, as visual notation is crucial but not provided in a usable format.]
Imagine the riff written in standard guitar notation. The first two notes are both E, played at the 2nd fret of the D string. The first E is a dotted quarter note, held for one and a half beats. The second E is an eighth note, lasting for half a beat. While this example uses the 2nd fret of the D string, remember that these E notes can be played in other positions on the guitar neck, such as the 7th fret of the A string or even the 12th fret of the low E string. Choosing the 2nd fret D string placement keeps the riff compact and easy to finger in this lesson.
Now comes the slightly trickier part: the last three notes. At first glance, they appear as quarter notes, which would create a five-beat measure in 4/4 time – impossible! Look closer, and you’ll see a bracket with a “3” above these three quarter notes. This indicates a quarter note triplet. A triplet means these three notes are evenly spaced within the space of two beats.
Counting triplets can be challenging, even for experienced musicians. To simplify this, we can temporarily “cheat” by thinking of the rhythm in 2/4 time. This effectively halves all note values: half notes become quarter notes, quarter notes become eighth notes, and eighth notes become sixteenth notes. A triplet over two beats now becomes a triplet over a single beat, making it easier to internalize the rhythm.
In this 2/4 time feel, the counting becomes more manageable. Sixteenth notes are often counted as “One, ee, and, ah, two, ee, and, ah…” and triplets as “one and ah two and ah…”. By combining these, we can count our two-beat measure as “One, ee, and, ah, two and ah.” The crucial point is to ensure the triplet truly sounds like a triplet – three evenly spaced notes within one beat – and not like three rushed sixteenth notes followed by a rest.
To help internalize this rhythm, tap your foot steadily to the beat. Start by saying a four-syllable word evenly across each beat, like “Alligator.” Once comfortable, switch to a three-syllable word, like “Elephant” (fittingly!), again ensuring even spacing within the beat. This syllable practice helps develop the feel for the triplet rhythm.
Once you’re comfortable counting and feeling the rhythm in 2/4, you can transition back to 4/4 time. You’ll notice when counting triplets aloud in 4/4, the triplet falls across beats three and four. Counting aloud, even if it feels a bit awkward at first, is an incredibly effective way to solidify the rhythm in your playing. Since this rhythmic figure is the heart and soul of “Seven Nation Army,” dedicate time to practicing it until it becomes second nature. Consistent practice is key!
[Download MP3 of Rhythmic Hook Example – if possible, link to original audio example, or suggest creating a new one if needed]
Adding Power: The Verse Chords
With the rhythmic hook under your fingers, the rest of the song becomes much more accessible. The second key part, which we’ll call Example 2, consists of two measures of power chords played in straight eighth notes. These power chords form the harmonic foundation of the verses.
[Again, no image provided. Textual explanation follows.]
Example 2 features power chords G5 and A5. Played in straight eighth notes, these chords create a driving, powerful feel. In the original recording, you can hear multiple guitar layers, with some using two-string power chords and others employing variations like switching to an open A chord for the A5.
In these examples, we’ll use three-string power chords for a fuller sound, especially when playing solo without overdubs. Experiment with both two and three-string voicings to find your preferred sound. For the G5 power chord, you can use a barre shape at the 3rd fret (355XXX), and for the A5, move that shape up to the 5th fret (577XXX). Alternatively, you could use the open A chord shape for the A5, which offers a different tonal color.
[Download MP3 of Power Chord Example – link to original audio or create new one]
Expanding the Sound: Full Chords and Arrangement
The next section of “Seven Nation Army” revisits the opening rhythmic pattern, but this time, it’s enriched with fuller chords. The original single-note bass line now serves as the root for these chords, creating a richer harmonic texture. On the record, you’ll hear at least two distinct guitar parts in this section: one playing power chords and another adding full major chords, often with a slide guitar technique.
[Textual explanation as no image available]
Example 3 utilizes the rhythmic pattern of Example 1, but with chords. One guitar part plays root 5 power chords. “Root 5” power chords are simply power chords where the root note is on the 5th (A) string. For instance, an E5 power chord in root 5 position would be 779XXX. If you’re unfamiliar with power chords or root positions, Guitar Noise offers excellent lessons like [The Power of Three](original “The Power of Three” lesson link) and [Building Additions (and Suspensions)](original “Building Additions (and Suspensions)” lesson link) which are great resources to explore.
Another guitar part in the original recording adds full major chords using a slide. For simplicity, we’ll focus on playing full chords without a slide in this lesson. Using the open A chord shape for the A chord progression in this section becomes very practical. Your fingers are already in a shape that can easily slide up and down the neck. By barring across the 2nd fret with one finger to create an A shape and being mindful of your strumming to avoid the high E string, you can efficiently play the chord progression.
[Download MP3 of Full Chord Example – link to original audio or create new one]
Song Structure and Arrangement
Once you’re comfortable with Examples 1, 2, and 3, the next step is to understand how they fit together to form the complete song structure. “Seven Nation Army” follows a relatively straightforward verse-chorus structure, with a guitar solo section. The ability to seamlessly transition between these sections is key to playing the entire song.
Here’s a breakdown of the song’s structure:
- Intro: Example 1 (Rhythmic Hook)
- Verse 1: Example 1 (Rhythmic Hook)
- Chorus: Example 2 (Power Chords)
- Verse 2: Example 1 (Rhythmic Hook)
- Chorus: Example 2 (Power Chords)
- Guitar Solo: (Based on Example 3, Full Chords)
- Verse 3: Example 1 (Rhythmic Hook)
- Chorus: Example 2 (Power Chords)
- Outro: Example 1 (Rhythmic Hook)
Practicing the transitions between Example 1, Example 2, and Example 3 is crucial. Work on moving smoothly from the rhythmic hook to the power chords and then to the fuller chord section, and back again. This back-and-forth practice, as demonstrated in [Download MP3 of Song Section Transitions – link to original audio or create new one], will solidify your grasp of the song’s arrangement. Developing a strong internal sense of the rhythm is essential, especially if you plan to sing and play simultaneously. Practice the rhythm parts extensively until they become automatic.
Soloing with a Pentatonic Twist
The guitar solo in “Seven Nation Army” occurs between the second and third verses. While the original solo is played with a slide guitar, it can be effectively played without one and still capture the song’s essence. The solo primarily utilizes the E minor pentatonic scale, a staple for rock guitarists.
The solo is played over four repetitions of the Example 3 chord progression (full chords). The soloing is based largely on the E minor pentatonic scale. Here are some key positions and notes within the E minor pentatonic scale that are relevant to the solo:
[Again, no image. Textual representation.]
E minor pentatonic scale (and notes used in the solo): E, G, A, B, D. The solo also incorporates a couple of notes outside the standard E minor pentatonic scale: C (found at the 13th fret of the B string) and F# (14th fret of the high E string). These added notes provide a slightly bluesier flavor to the solo.
During the solo section, especially when playing without a slide, you might find it easier to play the G5 and A5 power chords higher up the neck, mimicking the slide guitar’s register. You can play G5 by barring across the 12th fret (XX12 12 12 XX) and A5 at the 14th fret (XX14 14 14 XX), focusing on the D, G, and B strings.
Notably, the solo includes double stops, specifically at the 7th fret of the D and A strings. These notes are A and E, creating an A5 dyad played against the underlying E chord progression, resulting in a slight dissonance, characteristic of the original recording and likely a result of the slide guitar technique. [Download MP3 of Guitar Solo Example – link to original audio or create new one]. While this solo transcription isn’t strictly note-for-note, it captures the spirit and key elements of the original, providing a solid foundation for learning to solo over “Seven Nation Army.”
With practice and attention to the rhythmic details and guitar notes outlined in this lesson, you’ll be well on your way to mastering “Seven Nation Army.” Keep practicing, experiment with the different sections, and most importantly, have fun playing this iconic riff! Stay tuned for a future lesson where we explore creating a single acoustic guitar arrangement of “Seven Nation Army.”
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to visit the Guitar Noise Forum’s “Guitar Noise Lessons” page or email [email protected].
Peace.
