“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes is instantly recognizable, thanks to its incredibly catchy and deceptively simple guitar riff. For guitarists of all levels, especially beginners, learning Seven Nation Army Guitar Chords is a rite of passage. This lesson breaks down the iconic riff and the accompanying chords, offering a step-by-step guide to mastering this rock anthem. We’ll explore the rhythmic nuances, the power chords that drive the song, and even touch upon the guitar solo, ensuring you can confidently play this crowd-pleaser.
Many guitarists learn by ear, picking up riffs and chords as they hear them. While this is a valuable skill, it can be frustrating for beginners seeking structured instruction. Instead of just saying “I just do it,” this guide provides clear, actionable steps to understand and play “Seven Nation Army” effectively.
This lesson focuses on dissecting the song, starting with its signature rhythmic hook. We’ll then expand to the power chords and song structure. While the original track is electric, the principles learned here are foundational for any guitarist, whether you’re playing electric or acoustic. Let’s dive into the world of “Seven Nation Army” and unlock its guitar secrets!
Decoding the Rhythmic Heart of Seven Nation Army
The backbone of “Seven Nation Army” is its unforgettable bass line, which is often played on guitar and serves as the song’s central riff. This riff is rhythmically intriguing, and understanding it is key to playing the song accurately.
Here’s the basic bass line, transcribed for guitar:
Seven Nation Army Bass Line Guitar Tab
The first two notes, both Es played at the 2nd fret of the D string, are straightforward. The first is a dotted quarter note (one and a half beats), and the second is an eighth note (half a beat). It’s worth noting that while this tab shows the notes on the D string, you can also play these Es at the 7th fret of the A string or the 12th fret of the low E string, depending on your preference and hand position. The aim here is to keep the initial notes within easy reach for smooth transitions.
Now, let’s look at the last three notes. At first glance, they appear to be quarter notes, which would create a five-beat measure in 4/4 time – an impossibility! However, the bracket and the number “3” above these notes indicate a quarter note triplet. This means these three notes are to be evenly spaced within the last two beats of the measure.
This triplet rhythm can be tricky to grasp initially. Counting triplets over two beats isn’t intuitive, even for experienced musicians. To simplify things, we can temporarily imagine the song in 2/4 time. This effectively halves all note values, turning quarter notes into eighth notes, and so on. A triplet over two beats becomes a triplet over a single beat, making it easier to count and internalize the rhythm.
By doing this mental shift, we make the rhythm more manageable for practice. Think of counting sixteenth notes as “One, ee, and, ah, two, ee, and, ah…” and triplets as “one and ah two and ah…”. Combining these, we get “One, ee, and, ah, two and ah” for our simplified 2/4 measure.
The crucial aspect is to ensure the triplet is played as a true triplet – three evenly spaced notes within a beat – and not as three sixteenth notes followed by a rest. Listening to examples and practicing slowly is key to getting this right.
To help internalize the rhythm, try tapping 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, such as “Elephant” (fitting for the album “Elephant” from which “Seven Nation Army” comes!), again ensuring even spacing of the syllables within the beat.
Once you’re comfortable counting and vocalizing the rhythm, you can put it back together, first in the simplified 2/4 time and then in the original 4/4 time.
Download MP3 of Rhythmic Example 1 Here
You’ll notice that when counting in 4/4 time, the triplet falls on beat three, and it’s helpful to emphasize this beat while counting aloud. Mastering this rhythmic figure is paramount as it’s the core of “Seven Nation Army.” Consistent practice is essential to ingrain it into your muscle memory and play it effortlessly. Don’t rush this step – solid rhythmic foundation makes the rest of the song much easier.
Powering Up with Power Chords
After mastering the iconic riff, the next section of “Seven Nation Army” introduces power chords. This section, which we’ll call “Example 2,” consists of two measures of power chords: G5 and A5, played in straight eighth notes.
Seven Nation Army Bass Line Guitar Tab
There are various ways to play this power chord section. The original recording features multiple guitar tracks, with some using two-string power chords and others using fuller voicings. For simplicity and a richer sound with a single guitar, we’ll use three-string power chords here. Experiment with different voicings to find what you prefer. You could use two-string power chords for G5 and then switch to an open A chord (as shown in some alternate versions) for A5.
Understanding power chords is crucial here. Power chords are two-note chords (root and fifth) that are neither major nor minor, making them versatile and powerful in rock music. They are easy to play and create a driving, energetic sound.
The next part of “Seven Nation Army” is a variation of the opening riff section, now fleshed out with full chords. The original bass line serves as the root notes for these chords. Again, the recorded version uses multiple guitar parts, including one playing root 5 position power chords.
“Root 5” power chords are simply power chords where the root note is on the 5th (A) string. You can see in the upcoming example that all power chords have their root on the A string.
Another guitar in the original recording adds full major chords on the D, G, and B strings, often played with a slide. To keep things straightforward, we’ll focus on the non-slide version in our example.
Download MP3 of Power Chord Example 2 Here
Download MP3 of Full Chord Example 3 Here
Hopefully, the use of the open position A chord in Example 2 now makes more sense. Your fingers are already in a shape that can easily slide up and down the neck for the subsequent chord progression. By barring across the second fret with one finger for the open A shape and avoiding the high E string while strumming, you can smoothly transition through Example 3.
In the original recording, the slide guitar sometimes uses a single quarter note of the final B chord followed by a quarter note of A (X0222X). Both approaches sound great and add subtle variations to the song.
Once you’re comfortable with Example 3, the final step is transitioning smoothly between all sections – Example 1, Example 2, and Example 3, and back again.
Download MP3 of Section Transition Example 4 Here
Putting it all together, that’s essentially the entire song structure. Being completely comfortable with the main rhythmic riff is vital, especially if you plan to sing and play simultaneously. Practice each section thoroughly and then practice even more!
Here’s a breakdown of the song structure:
(Verse 1 – Example 1 & 2)
(Verse 2 – Example 1 & 2)
(Interlude – Example 1)
(Verse 3 – Example 1 & 3)
(Guitar Solo – Example 3 & 2)
(Verse 4 – Example 1 & 3)
(Outro – Example 1)
Unleashing the Guitar Solo
“Seven Nation Army” features a guitar solo between the second and third verses. While originally played on slide guitar, it can be effectively played without a slide and still sound great. You might want to make slight adjustments to simplify it for non-slide playing.
The solo is relatively simple, primarily using notes from the E minor pentatonic scale in these positions:
Seven Nation Army Bass Line Guitar Tab
Two notes outside the Em pentatonic scale (C at the 13th fret of the B string and F# at the 14th fret of the high E string) are used to add color. These are included in parentheses in the scale diagram, allowing you to incorporate them into your scale practice.
The solo unfolds over four repetitions of “Example 3” and concludes by returning to “Example 2.” Given the higher position on the neck during the solo, playing the G5 power chord in the same three-string manner as the slide guitar (barring the 12th fret and playing the D, G, and B strings) becomes convenient. For the A5, simply slide this shape up two frets.
Download MP3 of Guitar Solo Example 5 Here
In the first half of the solo (the first eight measures), you’ll notice double stops on the 7th fret of the D and A strings (A and E notes), creating an A5 inversion while the rhythm section plays an E chord. This creates a slight dissonance, a characteristic element likely arising from the slide guitar in the original recording.
This solo transcription is not note-for-note perfect, but it captures the essence and is more than accurate enough for most players.
Ultimately, learning Seven Nation Army guitar chords and riffs is a rewarding experience. It’s a fantastic song for building rhythm skills, mastering power chords, and understanding basic song structure. We’ll revisit “Seven Nation Army” later to explore creating a single acoustic guitar arrangement, which will present another interesting perspective on this iconic track.
Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or share your progress in the Guitar Noise Forums!
Peace.
