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I really thought that this is a fresh new song. Then while doing the research for this post, found out that this is actually released 2003! It is included in the album Elephant.

The riff is actually very plain and simple. But that is the beauty of it all, its simplicity. The ‘band’ do not have a bass player. They use an octave effect to make it sound like a bass.

Another fun fact about this riff is that, originally it was supposedly be used in a James Bond movie but the writer thought that will never happen so he use it in this song instead.

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How to Play Seven Nation Army Riff

Here’s how you play the popular riff. The whole thing is played over the A-string.

It starts with the E note, that is the 7th fret on the A-string.  You hit it twice then go over the 10th fret or the G-note, still on the A-string. It then returns to the 7th fret and it continues to descend on the 5th fret and then the last note for the guitar riff is the 3rd fret.

You can refer to the image above or click the image to play the guitar pro tablature at Songsterr.

Seven Nation Army Guitar Chords

Don’t stop with the guitar riff, go ahead and learn the rhythm part of the song and search and study the guitar chords.

Below is the chords for the song.

7 Nation Army Tab

Riff 1:

E|-------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------|
A|----7--7-10-7-5-3-2------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------|

Riff 2:

E|---------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------|
A|----5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7----------|
E|----3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5----------|

Riff 3:

E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------|
G|---9--9-12-9-7-5-4~----9--9-12-9-7-5\9/5-4-----------------|
D|---9--9-12-9-7-5-4~----9--9-12-9-7-5\9/5-4-----------------|
A|---7--7-10-7-5-3-2~----7--7-10-7-5-3\7/3-2-----------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|

Solo:

E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---9--9--12--9--9/12--11-------------9--9--12--14--12--12/14--12--11---|    (2x)
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|--12--12/14--12--12--15b--14------12--12--15--17--15--15--15/17--15--14------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|--12--12/14--12--12--15b--15-|--12--12/14--12--12/14--12---------33333333-55555555-|
B|------------------------------|---------------------------13--12-------------------|
G|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|

E|--------------|
B|--------------|
G|------9~~~~---|
D|------9~~~~---|
A|--0---7~~~~---|
E|--------------|

(Riff 1 - 4x)

          (Riff 1)
I'm gonna fight em' off.
               (Riff 1)
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back.
              (Riff 1)
They're gonna rip it off.
             (Riff 1)
Takin' their time right behind my back.
        (Riff 1)
And i'm talkin to myself at night, because i cant forget.
(Riff 1)                                          (Riff 1)
Back and forth through my mind behind a cigarette
      (Riff 2)
And a message comin' from my eyes, says leave it alone.

(Riff 3 - 4x)

(Riff 2 - 1x)

(Riff 1 - 4x)

           (Riff 1)
Dont wanna hear about it.
              (Riff 1)
Every single ones got a story to tell.
         (Riff 1)
Everyone knows about it.
                  (Riff 1)
From the queen of england to the hounds of hell.
         (Riff 1)
And if i catch you comin back my way, i'm gonna serve it to you.
     (Riff 1)                                              (Riff 1)
And that ain't what you want to hear, but thats what i'll do.
      (Riff 2)
And a feelin' comin' from my bones, says find a home.

Solo:

E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---9--9--12--9--9/12--11-------------9--9--12--14--12--12/14--12--11---| (2x)
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|--12--12/14--12--12--15b--14------12--12--15--17--15--15--15/17--15--14------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

E|--12--12/14--12--12--15b--15-|--12--12/14--12--12/14--12---------33333333-55555555-|
B|------------------------------|---------------------------13--12-------------------|
G|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|

(Riff 1 - 4x)

            (Riff 1)
Im goin' to witchitaw.
              (Riff 1)
Far from this opera forever more.
         (Riff 1)
Im gonna work the straw (?).
               (Riff 1)
Make the sweat drip out of every pore.
        (Riff 1)
And i'm bleedin' and i'm bleedin' and im bleedin' right before my lord.
        (Riff 1)                                              (Riff 1)
All the words are gonna bleed from me, and i will sing no more.
         (Riff 2)
And the stains comin from my blood, tell me go back home.

E|--------------|
B|--------------|
G|------9~~~~---|
D|------9~~~~---|
A|--0---7~~~~---|
E|--------------|

10 little-known facts about the song “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes:

• The song was written by Jack White and was released in 2003 as the lead single from The White Stripes’ fourth album, “Elephant”.
• The main riff of the song, which is played on a guitar tuned to an open A note, is one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock music.
• The song’s title is said to be a reference to the seven divisions of the Iroquois Confederacy, which were made up of seven distinct tribes.
• The song’s lyrics are open to interpretation and have been interpreted in a number of different ways. Some have suggested that they deal with political and social issues, while others see them as being more personal in nature.
• “Seven Nation Army” won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2004, and has been covered by numerous artists, including The Flaming Lips, Audioslave, and Marcus Mumford.
• The song’s popularity led to it becoming a sports anthem, particularly in football stadiums, where it is often played during matches.
• The song’s video, which features Jack White walking through a barren landscape with a drumstick, was directed by Alex and Martin and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing in 2003.
• In 2013, the song was sampled by French DJ and producer Martin Solveig for his hit single “Hey Now”.
• The song was used in the soundtrack for the 2007 movie “I Am Legend”, and has also been featured in a number of TV shows, including “The Office” and “The Walking Dead”.
• The song’s popularity has led to it being used in a number of advertising campaigns, including ones for Coca-Cola and the Apple iPod.