Do I Wanna Know? — One String Guitar Tab
Arctic Monkeys
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Practice Tips
- 1Start slow — use the 0.5x speed option
- 2Focus on one note at a time
- 3Keep your fretting hand relaxed
Similar Melodies
About This Melody
Do I Wanna Know? by Arctic Monkeys is one of the defining riffs of 2010s indie rock. Released in 2013 as the lead single from the album AM, the song's heavy, crawling guitar line became an instant classic — dark, moody, and impossible to forget. The riff spans a wide range of frets from 1 to 13 on the 6th (low E) string, making it more challenging than typical beginner melodies. But played on a single string, it's a great way to push your skills further while learning one of the coolest guitar riffs of the last decade.
How to Play
- This melody uses just the 6th string (low E string) of your guitar. The fret sequence is: 1, 3, 6, 3, 1, 3, 6, 13, 11, 10, 8, 6, 8, 10, 8, 6, 8, 10, 10, 3.
- Start with the opening motif: fret 1, up to 3, up to 6, then back down — 3, 1. This zigzag pattern repeats twice.
- After the second pass (1, 3, 6), make the big jump to fret 13. This is the widest stretch in the riff — take your time sliding up the neck.
- Now descend step by step: 13, 11, 10, 8, 6. Keep each note even and let them flow smoothly into each other.
- The ending section bounces between frets 8, 10, and 6 in a repeating pattern: 6, 8, 10, 8, 6, 8, 10, 10. Focus on keeping a steady rhythm here.
- The riff resolves on fret 3. Let this final note ring out.
- The original tempo is slow and deliberate — around 85 BPM. Start even slower and focus on clean transitions, especially the jump from fret 6 to fret 13. Gradually increase speed once every note sounds clear.
Common Mistakes
Struggling with the jump from fret 6 to fret 13 — this is a big stretch across seven frets. Practice sliding your hand up the neck in one smooth motion instead of lifting and repositioning. Rushing the descending section (13, 11, 10, 8, 6) — the original riff is slow and heavy, so resist the urge to speed through it. Losing the rhythm in the bouncing 6–8–10 section — count evenly and keep each note the same length. Playing too lightly on the higher frets — frets above 10 require firm finger pressure to avoid buzzing.