Africa chords
by Toto
- Africa was written by David Paich & Jeff Porcaro from the band Toto.
- Recorded: Oct 25th, 1981
- Released: Sept, 1982 from the album Toto 1V
- Music: Key of B Major in 2/2 time at 92 bpm (♩)
- Chords: A, A/E, B, B/F#, C#m7, D, D#m7, E, F#m, G#m, G#m7
- If you are finding the timing a little difficult, we have the first 8 bars of sheet music below.
Chart Legend
Numbered Circles: Fingers used to play chords O: Optional Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note
Barre Line: One finger holds down multiple strings R: Root Note
Unmarked strings: Play open X: Don't play string B: Bass Note






















Africa chords & lyrics
Intro: 2/2 Timing: 1& 2& 1 & 2 & 1& 2& 1& 2& 𝄆 A | G#m C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7 𝄇 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 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 t o 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) 1& 2& 1 & 2 & 1& 2& 1& 2& A | G#m C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7 (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) 1& 2& 1 & 2 & 1& 2& 1& 2& A | G#m C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7 (Hoo) Instr: B | D#m7 | G#m7 | B/F# | A/E | C#m | G#m | A | G#m C#m7 | B | D#m7 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) 1& 2& 1 & 2 & 1& 2& 1& 2& A | G#m C#m7 | C#m7 | C#m7 (Hoo) ... repeat to fade Please Note: The timing at the end of lines 2 & 4 of each verse | A | G#m C#m7 | is the same as the Intro and Instrumental sections after the Choruses.
Please Note: The B Major chord has 2 options
- Use fingers 2, 3 and 4 to play the 3 strings or
- Use your 3rd finger to play a mini-barre over the 3 strings.
- Free Music Transposition Simply highlight & copy the entire song chart above - then click on the link... more
- Help on reading the song charts
Notes
Introduction - First 8 bars:This snippet of the introduction will give you a closer look at the timing and where the chord changes occur - just in case you find the song sheet above a little confusing... hope this helps.
Africa by Toto
