How to play the Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair riff

Alex Turner onstage in September 2011
Alex Turner onstage in September 2011 (Image credit: Henry Ruggeri/Corbis)

Despite the apparent simplicity of Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair, you'll still have to deal with a slightly awkward fingering if you want to get the right sound.

Play the open D5 chord with your second finger and use your first finger to play the E note that forms the main part of the riff. Play the descending line with your third finger, then use your first finger for the remaining notes. This fingering produces an uncomfortable stretch on the final note that may take a little time to master.

Make sure the A note on the third string isn't played too loudly. It should ring subtly in the background. Generally, this note sounds as you play the E note on the fourth string and on the descending notes. However, Alex Turner doesn't play it consistently throughout the song, so don't get too bogged down trying to copy it exactly.

Get the sound

Go for a clean tone with plenty of treble and be quite generous with the reverb. Use a guitar with a single-coil pickup in the bridge position. If you're using a guitar with a humbucker, you can try rolling off the bass to its lowest setting to get close to a singlecoil tone and to stop the sound from getting too woolly.

For more guitar lessons where that came from and a whole lot more besides, check out Total Guitar magazine on Apple Newsstand. US readers click here.

Total Guitar

Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

Every month we feature interviews with the biggest names and hottest new acts in guitar land, plus Guest Lessons from the stars.

Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/totalguitar