Africa chords
by TotoSong Key: B Major
Time Signature: 2/2
Tempo: 92 bpm
Guitar Tuning: E A D G B e
Skill Level: Intermediate
Chords: B, B/F#, C#m7, D, D#m7, E, F#m, G#m, G#m, A, A/E
Extra: First 8 bars of sheet music below.
Play-Along Video & Chord Charts
Africa
A G#m C#m7 C#m7 C#m7
Intro: ‖: 1& 2& | 1 & 2 & | 1& 2& | 1& 2& :‖
B D#m7 G#m7
1. I hear the drums ech-o-ing to-night
B/F# A/E C#m7 G#m A G#m C#m7
She hears on-ly whis-pers of some qui-et con-ver-sa-a-a-tion | 1 & 2 & |
B D#m7 G#m7
She’s com-in’ in 12-30 flight
B/F# A/E C#m7 G#m A G#m C#m7
Moonlit wings ref-lect the stars that guide me towards sal-va-a-a-tion | |
B D#m7 G#m7
2. I stop-ped an old man a-long the way
B/F# A/E C#m7 G#m A G#m C#m7
Ho-ping to find some long for-got-ten words or anc-ient me-e-lo-dies | |
B D#m7 G#m7
He turn-ed to me as if to say
A G#m C#m7 C#m7
Hur-ry boy It’s wait-ing there for you | | |
F#m D A E
Chorus: Gon-na take a lot to drag me a-way from you
F#m D A E
There’s noth-ing that a hund-red men or more could e-ver do
F#m D A E
I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
F#m D A C#m7 E F#m E A
Gon-na take some time to do the things we nev-er ha-a-a-a-a-a-ad Oo-(Hoo)
A G#m C#m7 C#m7 C#m7
‖ 1& 2& | 1 & 2 & | 1& 2& | 1& 2& ‖
(Hoo)
B D#m7 G#m7
3. The wild dogs cry out in the night
B/F# A/E C#m7 G#m A G#m C#m7
As they grow rest-less long-ing for some sol-i-ta-ry co-om-pa-ny | |
B D#m7 G#m7
I know that I must do what’s right
B/F# A C#m7 G#m A G#m C#m7
As sure as Kil-i-man-ja-ro ris-es like Ol-ym-pus a-bove the Ser-en-get-ti | |
B D#m7 G#m7
** I seek to cure what’s deep in-side
A G#m C#m7 C#m7
Fright-ened of this thing that I’ve be-come | | |
F#m D A E
Chorus: It’s gon-na take a lot to drag me a-way from you
F#m D A E
There's noth-ing that a hund-red men or more could e-ver do
F#m D A E
I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
F#m D A C#m7 E F#m E A
Gon-na take some time to do the things we nev-er ha-a-a-a-a-a-ad Oo-(Hoo)
A G#m C#m7 C#m7 C#m7
‖ 1& 2& | 1 & 2 & | 1& 2& | 1& 2& ‖
(Hoo)
B D#m7 G#m7 B/F# A/E C#m G#m A G#m C#m7 B D#m7
Instr: ‖ | | | | | | | | | | ‖
G#m7 A G#m C#m7 C#m7
** Hur-ry boy She’s wait-ing there for you | | |
F#m D A E
Chorus: Gon-na take a lot to drag me a-way from you
F#m D A E
There’s noth-ing that a hund-red men or more could e-ver do
F#m D A E
I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
F#m D A E
I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
F#m D A E
I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
F#m D A E
I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
F#m D A E
I bless the rains down in A-a-fri-ca
F#m D A C#m7 E F#m E A
Gon-na take some time to do the things we nev-er ha-a-a-a-a-a-ad Oo-(Hoo)
A G#m C#m7 C#m7 C#m7
‖ 1& 2& | 1 & 2 & | 1& 2& | 1& 2& ‖
(Hoo) ... repeat to fade
Arrangement Details
Introduction - First 8 bars:This snippet of the introduction will give you a closer look at the timing where the chord changes occur - just in case you find the song sheet above a little confusing... hope this helps.
The timing at the end of lines 2 & 4 of each verse is the same as the Intro and Instrumental sections after the Choruses.
B/F# and A/E are both very easy to play. They simply include all 6 strings instead of 5, as the bass notes are located on the 6th string (see charts).
- Key Signature: B Major - 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)
- Time Signature: 2/2 - Two half-note beats per measure
- Tempo: Moderately, in 2
- Metronome: h = 92
- Voice Range: A3-D#6
- Intermediate Guitarist: a good knowledge of open chords, slash chords and barre chords, along with confident timing skills to handle the song’s syncopated rhythm and chord transitions.
Song Details:
- Songwriters: David Paich, Jeff Porcaro
- Date: 1982
- Lyrics Begin: I hear the drums echoin' tonight.
- Featured Artists: Toto
- Album: Riptide
Recorded: June 1981 – January 1982
Released: April 8, 1982 - Single:
Released: June 25, 1982 (UK), October 7, 1982 (US)
B-side: Good for You, We Made It
Toto
Origins: Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Original Line-Up:
David Paich (keyboards/vocals)
Jeff Porcaro (Drums/Percussion)
David Hungate (Bass)
Steve Lukather (guitar/vocals/bass)
Steve Porcaro (keyboards/vocals)
Bobby Kimball (singer)
Music Styles: Rock, pop, jazz fusion
Active Years: 1977–2008, 2010–2019, 2020–present
Associations: Boz Scaggs, LeRoux, Steely Dan, Seals and Crofts, Half Moon, Michael McDonald, Yoso, Michael Jackson, and many more
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