Africa chords

by Toto

Song Key: B Major

Key Signature: 5 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#)

Time Signature: 2/2 (𝅗𝅥)

Tempo: 92 bpm (Moderately)

Vocal Range: A3 - D#6


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.

Chord Chart Legend
A Major A/E B Major B Major Barre Chord B/F# C#m7 D#m7 D Major E Major F#m G#m G#m7
Lefties Chord Chart Legend
A Major - LH A/E - LH B Major Barre Chord - LH B/F# - LH C#m7 - LH D#m7 - LH D Major - LH E Major - LH F#m - LH G#m - LH G#m7 - LH

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

Notes

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.

Africa Introduction Music Score

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).

Toto
Toto IV album
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

Song Details:
  • Songwriters: David Paich, Jeff Porcaro
  • Date: 1982
  • Lyrics Begin: I hear the drums echoin' tonight.
  • Performing Artists: Toto
  • Album: Toto IV (pictured)
  • Recorded: June 1981 – January 1982
  • Released: April 8, 1982
  • Single Release: June 25, 1982 (UK), October 7, 1982 (US)
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