7 Shocking Secrets And The Accurate Bass Tab For The White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army'

Learning the iconic "Seven Nation Army" riff is a rite of passage for every aspiring bassist, yet the story behind it is full of surprises. This guide, updated for December 2025, cuts through the noise to deliver the definitive, accurate bass tablature and reveals the seven most fascinating secrets about the song—including the shocking truth that the famous riff wasn't played on a bass guitar at all. It remains one of the most recognizable and powerful riffs in rock history, a testament to the minimalist genius of The White Stripes.

The riff, which has transcended its garage rock origins to become a global sports anthem, is deceptively simple. Mastering it is easy, but understanding its context and sonic architecture is what separates a good player from a great one. We'll break down the notes, the technique, and the essential gear tricks used by Jack White to create this legendary low-end groove.

The Definitive 'Seven Nation Army' Bass Tab (Standard Tuning)

This tablature is written for a standard 4-string bass guitar tuned E A D G, which is the most common way bassists play the riff. The song is in the key of E minor (Em). The tempo is typically around 120 beats per minute (BPM), giving it a driving, march-like feel.

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The Main Riff (Verse/Chorus)

This is the iconic, repeating eight-bar phrase that forms the backbone of the entire song. Pay close attention to the rhythm—it uses a distinctive dotted-eighth note feel.

Tuning: E A D G (Standard)

G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

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D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

E|--12--12--15--12|--10--10--8-----|----------------|----------------|

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G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

E|--12--12--15--12|--10--10--8-----|--7-------------|----------------|

Note: The notes are E (12th fret on the E string), G (15th fret on the E string), F# (10th fret on the E string), E (8th fret on the E string), and D (7th fret on the E string). For beginners, you can also play this using open strings and the A string, but the above tab is the most common and accurate transcription for the lowest register.

The Bridge Riff

The bridge section provides a brief melodic break before returning to the main riff. It's often played with a slightly less aggressive attack.

G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|

A|--7---7---7---7-|--5---5---5---5-|--3---3---3---3-|----------------|

E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--5---5---5---5-|

Notes: The notes are E (7th fret on the A string), D (5th fret on the A string), C (3rd fret on the A string), and G (5th fret on the E string).

7 Shocking Secrets Behind the Iconic Bass Line

Beyond the simple notes, the true genius of "Seven Nation Army" lies in its production and context. These secrets provide the topical authority you need to truly understand the song.

1. It's Not a Bass Guitar at All

The most famous secret is that the "bass line" is actually played by Jack White on his semi-acoustic guitar. The White Stripes famously had no bass player, consisting only of Jack White (guitar, vocals, piano) and Meg White (drums).

2. The Magic of the Octave-Down Effect

To achieve the deep, growling tone, Jack White ran his guitar through an Electro-Harmonix POG (Polyphonic Octave Generator) or a similar pitch-shift pedal. This effect electronically drops the guitar's pitch down exactly one octave, perfectly mimicking the sound of a bass guitar. This technique allows a guitar to function as a low-end instrument, a crucial part of The White Stripes' minimalist aesthetic.

3. The Name Came From a Mispronunciation

The song's title, "Seven Nation Army," is a childhood mispronunciation by Jack White. As a young boy, he referred to The Salvation Army as "The Seven Nation Army." He kept the phrase in his memory and used it as a working title for the track, which eventually stuck. This personal touch adds a layer of unexpected history to the track.

4. It Was Almost a B-Side

"Seven Nation Army" was released in 2003 as the lead single from the band's fourth album, Elephant. Despite its eventual global dominance, Jack White initially thought the track was strong but perhaps better suited as a B-side track. The band’s record label, however, insisted it be the A-side single, a decision that proved to be one of the most important in modern rock history.

5. The Riff is Built on a Simple Pentatonic Scale

The main riff is incredibly effective because it uses notes that are all found within the E minor pentatonic scale. This five-note scale is the foundation of countless rock and blues riffs, making the melody instantly catchy and memorable. The simplicity is intentional, allowing the raw, distorted tone and Meg White's driving drum beat to carry the song's energy.

6. The Global Sports Anthem Phenomenon

The song's status as a global sports anthem began spontaneously. In 2003, during a UEFA Champions League match in Italy, fans of the Belgian club Club Brugge began chanting the riff after hearing it in a local bar. It quickly spread across Europe and then the world, becoming the unofficial theme for events like the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Its rhythmic pulse and vocal-friendly melody make it perfect for crowd chanting.

7. The Bridge Features the Only True Bass Sound

While the main riff is an octave-shifted guitar, the bridge section (the part that goes "I'm going to Wichita...") is often where a genuine bass guitar is employed in live performances and cover bands, or where the guitar part shifts to a higher register. The bridge uses a different, more melodic pattern (E-D-C-G), which breaks the tension before the main riff explodes back in.

Mastering the Riff: Beginner vs. Advanced Techniques

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, there are specific techniques that can elevate your performance of this legendary riff. It’s a perfect piece for practicing rhythm and attack.

For Beginners: Focus on Rhythm and Staccato

• Fretting Hand Economy: Since all the notes are on the E string, practice moving between the 12th, 15th, 10th, 8th, and 7th frets efficiently. Using your index, pinky, and ring fingers will help minimize hand movement.
• Rhythm is Key: The most common mistake is playing the notes as straight eighth notes. Listen closely to the original track to capture the slightly "swung" or dotted-eighth feel. Use a metronome to lock in the steady 120 BPM tempo.
• Staccato Attack: To replicate the punchy, aggressive sound, practice muting the strings immediately after you pluck them. This staccato technique gives the riff its signature percussive quality.

For Advanced Players: Tone and Variations

• Dial in the Tone: To truly emulate Jack White’s sound, you need distortion or fuzz. Run your bass through a heavy overdrive or a dedicated fuzz pedal. This adds the necessary grit and saturation to mimic the sound of a cranked, pitch-shifted guitar.
• Octave Pedal Experimentation: If you own an octave pedal (like the Electro-Harmonix POG or a Boss OC-3), experiment with blending the dry signal with the octave-down signal. This allows you to recreate the exact mix of the original recording.
• Bassline Variations (The "Spice"): Once you've mastered the main riff, try adding subtle variations to the rhythm or using hammer-ons and pull-offs on the notes to add fluidity. A common variation is to add a ghost note between the main rhythmic hits to increase the funk factor, or to slightly alter the final note of the phrase.

The Lasting Legacy of 'Seven Nation Army'

The success of "Seven Nation Army" is a powerful lesson in musical minimalism. Jack White and Meg White stripped rock music down to its bare essentials—guitar, drums, and a massive riff—proving that creativity and tone can overcome a lack of traditional instrumentation. The riff itself is a perfect example of a bass line that is both simple enough for a beginner to grasp and complex enough in its sonic texture and cultural impact to remain relevant decades later.

Its enduring popularity as a sports chant ensures that the low, growling notes will continue to echo across stadiums and arenas worldwide, cementing its status not just as a great rock song, but as a piece of global cultural folklore.