Why Is This Such A Commonly Learned Song
Learning how to play seven nation army on guitar is a straightforward process that uses the same musical idea different ways.
- This is a great example of how simplicity is often the best tool we have to write music with.
- The songs main melody follows a strict pattern in both the verse and chorus sections, with only a few slight differences between them.
This makes this song extremely easy to break down for the guitarist who is looking for a simple song to learn.
A unique lesson that learning how to play seven nation army on guitar teaches us is that the guitar can play the same notes as its counterpart the bass guitar.
- This song begins with what sounds like a bass guitar, but is actually just a guitar being pitched down using an octave pedal.
- If youre stressed about not being able to play notes low enough for this song, dont worry It will sound the same with a higher pitch.
Lets start by breaking down the best way to learn songs.
How Do I Read Guitar Tab
Guitar tablaturemore commonly known as guitar tabis a simple way for guitarists to learn how to play chords, melodies, and songs. If you write original music, its also a great way to communicate your musical ideas to other musicians.
The horizontal lines represent the guitar strings, and the numbers represent the frets. The most challenging aspect of reading guitar tab is the string order because its counter-intuitive. The low E-string is at the bottom and the high E-string is at the top.
Seven Nation Army By The White Stripes Seven Nation Army Chords
Seven Nation Army Chords/Lyrics/Verse
I’m gonna fight ’em off Em G C BA seven nation army couldn’t hold me back Em G C BThey’re gonna rip it off Em G C BTaking their time right behind my back Em G CAnd I’m talking to myself at night B Em G C BBecause I can’t forgetBack and forth through my mind B Em G C BBehind a cigaretteAnd a message coming from my eyes says leave it alone
InstrumentalEm G C B x4Am B E
Seven Nation Army Chords/Lyrics/Verse 2
Em G C BDon’t want to hear about it Em G C BEvery single one’s got a story to tell Em G C B
All the words are going to bleed from me Em G C BAnd I will think no more G AAnd the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home
Read Also: Does Apple Offer Military Discount
How Many Times Is The Riff Played In Seven Nation Army
How to play Seven Nation Army on a guitar. The layout of Seven Nation Army is quite simple, and weve laid it out for you in detail below. It starts with a guitar solo, which is followed by the chorus.
The chorus is played in the same manner as the first verse, except that instead of soloing, its played as a group. This means that each member of the group is playing a different part.
In the interlude section, the band plays a short section of a song that is not part of their main song, but is used to introduce a new concept or idea. In this case, were going to take a look at the concept of seven nation army and see how it can be used in your own music.
How To Play Seven Nation Army On Guitar Pre

The pre-chorus is perhaps the easiest section of this song to conquer, as it only requires two power chords to play.
We can jump down to our 3rd fret on the low E string and form a power chord using the following finger shape:
E String Index, 3rd fret
A String Ring, 5th fret
D String Pinky, 5th fret
Give this chord a solid eight strums with your pick, then slide up two frets to the fifth fret and repeat for another eight.
From there, we launch straight into the main chorus riff
- When we are learning how to play seven nation army on guitar, its very important to pay attention to this next riff.
- While we play only one riff in the verse section, we play two alternating riffs in the chorus.
- The first riff of the chorus is similar to the verse and takes place over two bars.
Instead of playing single notes, this time we play octaves.
When we play octaves on guitar, we play them across three strings but only use two.
- The middle string should remain muted. This is easy enough to do by letting our index finger lean back a bit to come in contact with the middle string.
- Mastering the octave is essential for learning how to play seven nation army on guitar., so take some time now to practice this technique.
- The following two bars of the chorus riff see us mimic the first two. The difference here is that we add two extra notes to the riff to round it out.
Pay close attention to this section as it is written across the A and G strings instead of the E and A strings.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Military Records
Seven Nation Army Guitar Solo
The guitar solo in Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes is one of the most iconic and recognizable solos of all time. Its a simple, catchy riff that anyone can learn, but it takes a lot of skill to play it with the same level of intensity and passion as Jack White.
Heres how to play the Seven Nation Army on guitar with string bends and soloing. A guitar solo written by Jack White reinforced the melody he had already written. String bending is simple just practice. Now that weve learned how to bend strings, lets play this solo right away. You can see a more in-depth breakdown of Seven Nation Army below. Jack White used a Digitech Whammy pedal to record seven nations, but any octave pedal can do it. You should do your research on what kind of pedals your favorite guitarist uses.
You can learn guitar tips and watch guitar videos delivered to your inbox by National Guitar Academy. Our guitar tips-by-email service is for guitar enthusiasts who want to stay informed about new guitar learning techniques. Everything appears to fit together in a matter of seconds, thereby making it quick, simple, and efficient to do so. Our YouTube channel is jam-packed with music videos, so if youre a fan of the guitar, check out our channel. Please subscribe to our Learn Guitar podcast to gain immediate access to our guitar progress.
How Do I Tune My Guitar To Major
A note is the root, C# is the third and E is the perfect fifth. This tuning is achieved by raising the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings one full step, while the 1st, 5th, and 6th strings remain the same. A minor chord is made up of a minor third and a major seventh . The major 7th is called the dominant seventh and the minor seventh is the subdominant seventh.
In the key of C major, the A# is raised by one whole step to make up for the fact that the E is now a half step higher than it was in the original tuning. A minor 7b9 chord can also be created by lowering the second and third strings by half a step. The result is a Bb7 chord.
Read Also: Navy Army Credit Union Corpus Christi
How To Play Seven Nation Army On Guitar
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow’s Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 191,683 times.Learn more…
“Seven Nation Army” is a popular rock song by the band The White Stripes. After being covered by pop artist Martin Collins, nearly everyone knows a version of “Seven Nation Army.” Playing this song to family and friends is always going to get a reaction and might even inspire a few people to sing along.
How To Play Seven Nation Army On Guitar Acoustic
The guitar solo in Seven Nation Army isnt technically difficult. It is almost in perfect tune with the bass line from the beginning of the song. Making the solo work as a whole is dependent upon this powerful, plodding, and deliberate rhythm. Its also important to note that this is the first time in the bands history that the bassist has played a solo on the album.
In fact, its the only solo that has ever been played on an album by the entire band.
Also Check: Army Four For The Core
Ben L’oncle Soul Version
“Seven Nation Army” |
---|
Digital Spy |
British singer and The X Factor runner-up performed a cover of “Seven Nation Army” based on Ben l’Oncle Soul’s cover. A music video for the cover was uploaded to YouTube on February 16, 2012. The song was released as his debut single on March 4, 2012.
Critically, Lewis Corner of Digital Spy noted the “distinctive soul-pop” vocals showcased by Collins and wrote that, “Truth be told, we wish he’d fought a little harder to get one those eight original compositions he has on his forthcoming record out first.” Priya Elan of NME concluded that although the cover may have seemed “disturbing in theory”, it was ultimately “disposable and forgettable as a McChicken sandwich but not bad”. Collins said that he received “a lot of abuse” from White Stripes fans in response to his cover, and he asserted that people should “listen to the original if you don’t like my singing”.
Seven Nation Army Electric Guitar Chords
The song Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes is a very popular song, and the electric guitar chords are a big part of what makes it so great. The main chord progression is E-G-D-A-E, with the E and A being the chords that are played the most. The G and D are also important, but they are played less often.
The White Stripes are a rock band from Detroit, Michigan that formed in 1997. Jack White performed as a singer/Songwriter, guitarist, pianist, mandolinist, and mandolinist, and Meg White performed as a drummer and vocalist. The White Stripes became well-known as part of the garage rock revival scene in 2002. There are six studio albums, two live albums, an extended play , a concert film, a tour documentary, 26 singles, and 14 music videos in the bands catalog. Their previous three albums each won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
You May Like: Army Jobs In Demand 2021
Check Out Our Favorite Beginner Guitar For Kids
This is a great starter guitar for learning how to play. Perfect for any budget.
1. Best Budget Guitar The Amigo AM15 Nylon String Guitar is the best budget guitar. Its affordable, durable, and it sounds great for the price! If youre just testing the waters and youre on a budget, the Amigo AM15 is a perfect choice! View Guitar
Whats A Guitar Riff Anyways

Riffs are the short, repeated musical phrases that keep you coming back again and again to your favorite songs. From Suzie Q to Seven Nation Army, a great guitar riff can grab you by the scruff of the neck and pull you all in! Riffs are great to learn on the guitar because theyre often easy to play, instantly recognizable, and immediately rewarding.
Don’t Miss: Warrant Officer Basic Course Army
What Are Power Chords On Guitar
A power chord is a two-note chord, with no major or minor quality to it. The root and fifth of the power chords are the only parts that make it up. A major or minor quality is usually left out of the power chords. If you play the C5 power chord on the guitar, you will get a C major sound.
Power chords can be used in a number of different ways. For example, you can use them to create a bluesy sound, or to add a bit of grit to a chord progression. You can also use a power-chord in place of a dominant chord in your chord progressions.
How Do You Read Tabs For Guitar
How to read guitar tabs. Guitar tab is read left to right, and all notes indicated are in chronological order. The numbers are in line with each other vertically. A guitar is played by strumming all the strings at the same time. For example, if you play a C chord, you would play the first string on the left, then the second string, the third string and the fourth string.
Guitar tabs can also be read from top to bottom, or from bottom to top, depending on what you are looking for. If you want to know what the notes of a particular chord sound like, it is best to start from the top and work your way down to the bottom of the tab. This will give you a better idea of what each note sounds like.
Recommended Reading: Army Height And Weight Regulation 2022
What Is The Best Way To Learn Songs On Guitar
The answer to this question strongly depends on who you ask, but were going to give you our golden rule to learning songs.
Its simple:
- Learn everything in small portions.
Not only do you want to approach learning the song slowly, you also want to understand what is happening in each section.
Learning in sections helps us get a better picture of how to play the song as a whole, and the same applies to learning how to play seven nation army on guitar.
In todays lesson, this song will be broken down into four sections:
Its important to note that there are only slight differences between the verse and chorus sections.
Top Tip Remember, to listen first before you play.
Your ears are your greatest tool as a guitarist. They will never lie to you, and they will always try to guide you in the right direction.
How To Play Seven Nation Army On Guitar An Introduction
In March of 2003, Meg and Jack White released the lead single from their fourth studio album Elephant.
The single was titled Seven Nation Army, and it rocked the worlds airwaves.
- Seven Nation Army enjoyed a long life as a catchy, Billboard-topping Rock tune.
- The songs life was further extended in 2017 when it became the most played song in TV commercials due to its appearance in Dr. Dres Be Heard campaign for Beats Headphones.
- On top of all of this success, this White Stripes classic is also an influential song for many beginner guitarists.
Since its release, learning how to play Seven Nation Army on guitar has been a rite of passage for many musicians.
Also Check: Army Green To Gold Active Duty Option
Formats And Track Listings
The song has been covered by blues musician C. W. Stoneking as well as the country group The Oak Ridge Boys ,funk metal band Living Colour, rock supergroup Audioslave, indie band Hard-Fi, alternative rock band The Flaming Lips, English indie singer Kate Nash, British soul singer Alice Russell, American singer and television personality Kelly Clarkson, hard rock band The Pretty Reckless, heavy metal band Metallica, Argentine electrotango band Tanghetto, and reggae band The Dynamics. It has also been covered by German artist Mickie Krause, credited as Krausetto. In 2015, it was covered by Haley Reinhart for Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox in a style reminiscent of a “New Orleans funeral march”.Frenchneofolk group SKÃLD covered the song in 2019 for the Alfar Fagrahvél edition of their album Vikings Chant, with minor changes to the lyrics, with the city of “Wichita” changed to “Uppsala“.
The song is also included in the “Backstage Romance” number of Moulin Rouge! , where it is in a medley with Bad Romance, Tainted Love, Toxic, and Sweet Dreams . During The Bandito Tour, musical duo Twenty One Pilots would sometimes perform the song as a mashup with one of their own songs, Morph.
What Is The Sixth String On A Guitar
The 6th string is the thickest string and can be thought of in descending or ascending order. This is usually referred to as the low E string, meaning the lowest note on the guitar, in standard guitar tuning. The other strings are the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th strings. They are tuned in the same way, but with a different pitch.
For example, if you were to play a C major scale on an acoustic guitar, you would play the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C# and D#. These notes would be played in ascending or descending order, depending on which string you played them on.
Don’t Miss: Army Officer Ranks In Order