Seven Nation Army

The White Stripes, 2003, from Elephant. Solo by Jack White.

A raw slide break played over the octave-shifted riff, showing that a simple lead can stand next to a huge hook.

Seven Nation Army is built on that famous riff, pitched down so it sounds like a bass line, and the slide break proves you do not need a busy solo to follow it. Jack White plays raw, jagged slide with a fuzzy, overdriven tone, sliding up into notes and letting them scream rather than resolve neatly. The whole thing is short, noisy and a little unhinged, which is exactly why it works against the steady march of the riff and Meg White's drums. It is a reminder that attitude and texture can count for as much as note choice. Listen for how White drops back to the riff right after the break, so the contrast makes both parts hit harder.

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes is ranked #320 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Jack White and the song was released in 2003. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #96 (Guitar Solo Legends).

In our lists

• The Most-Taught Solos — #10
• The 25 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #6
• The 2000s — #23
• Slide Guitar — #15
• The Best The White Stripes Guitar Solos — #2
• The Best Jack White Guitar Solos — #2

Sources

• Guitar Solo Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026) — #96
• Musician Tuts: The 51 Best Guitar Solos Of All Time