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Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band

    In this lesson, we have included all the relative parts of the song. Below each part is an explanation of how to play it. This riff is set to 110 bpm (beats per minute).

    Intro

    This is a rather simple intro, but in the original recording, it is backed by a few other instruments. Here, you will be the only instrument, in case you are interested in playing the song from start to finish with only your acoustic! To play this part,
    simply reverse how you usually play power chords, with your 1st finger on the fifth fret and your 4th finger on the seventh fret. Then, all you have to do is move your 4th finger to the eighth fret when applicable.

    Verse

    For the verse, you will start off with the D chord. After that, you will need to mute the strings as shown. Try not to skip this step, mainly because it will throw off your timing. Just start slow, and you will get it. When you go into the hammer-ons, try barring your 1st finger on the fourth frets, so that all you have to do then is use your 2nd finger to hammer on to the fifth frets when needed. In the next measure, you are playing a G chord. Once again, following that is the mutes that you definitely want to play. For the hammer-ons in this part, you won’t be so lucky as to barre. Here, you will just have to allow your fret hand to form a quick E chord shape. That will help you in moving more fluently. Just remember to use your 1st finger on the fourth fret as your pivot point, and allow your 2nd and 3rd fingers to roll right on the fifth fret.


    Pre-Chorus

    Here is what both guitars sound like together:

    Guitar 1

    For this guitar part, you are simply playing a G chord, followed by the D chord, and then to the E chord.

    Guitar 2

    For this part, start with your 3rd finger on the twelfth fret. Next, use your 2nd finger to play the tenth fret. Then, use your 1st finger to play the eighth fret. All you have to do next is use your 2nd finger again to play the tenth fret as you did before.
    The same applies to the twelfth fret as well. You just use your 3rd finger. To end the measure, use your 1st finger on the tenth fret, but this time on the “high E” string. Notice that you will be playing a trill. Do this by rapidly shaking the string.

    NOTE: Notice how in the second measure you will need to do this again, but the ribbon-like thread is much bolder. That just means the same thing, but you are shaking the string much more this time on the twelfth fret. Use your 2nd finger for the twelfth fret.

    Chorus

    The chorus to this song is really easy, but the progressions come rather quick. You will be playing, in this order, the following chords : Bm, D, G, Bm, and finally the A chord.


    Riff Resources

    Complete Transcription To “Ants Marching” (PDF)

    Complete Transcription To “Ants Marching” (Power Tab)