Africa chords
by TotoKey: B Major
Chords: B, B/F#, C#m7, D, D#m7, E, F#m, G#m, G#m, A, A/E
Time Signature: 2/2
Tempo: 92 bpm
Guitar Tuning: Standard (E A D G B e)
Skill Level: Intermediate 🟠
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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:
- 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 (h represents a half-note)
- Voice Range: A3 - D#6
- Chord Types in This Arrangement:
- Major chords: B, D, E, A
- Minor chords: F#m, G#m
- Minor 7th chords: C#m7, D#m7
- Slash chords: B/F#, A/E
- Intermediate Level 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.
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).
Song Details:

- Songwriters: David Paich, Jeff Porcaro
- Lyrics Begin: I hear the drums echoin' tonight.
- Featured Artists: Toto
- Album: Toto IV
Recorded: June 1981 – January 1982
Released: April 1, 1982 - Single:
Released: June 25, 1982 (UK), October 7, 1982 (US)
B-side: Good for You, We Made It
You May Also Like:
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|---|---|---|---|
| Beast Of Burden - The Rolling Stones | - | E | E, C#m, A, B |
| Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin | +1 | E | E, Bm, A, C, D, G |
| Constant Craving - K D Lang | +1 | Em | Em, G, B7, Bm7, Cmaj7, D |
| Nights In White Satin - The Moody Blues | - | Em | Em, F, G, A, B, C, D |
| Venus - Shocking Blue | - | Em | Em, A, Am, D, C, B, B7sus4 |
| Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum | - | C | C, Em, Am, C, F, Dm, G |
