Rock, Pop

Africa Chords

Toto Intermediate Key of A 6 Chords 3 min read Updated Jul 2026

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Key

A

Difficulty

Intermediate

Capo

None

Chords

A · C#m · F#m · D · E · Bm

Africa Chords – Guitar

Toto’s epic rock anthem with its iconic keyboard intro and African-inspired rhythms. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.

Rock Shuffle (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a distinctive shuffle feel. Accent the off-beats to capture the song’s groove. The chord progression is more complex than most rock songs.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A G

I hear the drums echoing tonight

D A

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation

A G

She’s coming in, twelve-thirty flight

D A

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

Verse 2

A G

I stopped an old man along the way

D A

Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies

A G

He turned to me as if to say

D A

“Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you”

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Verse 3

A G

The wild dogs cry out in the night

D A

As they grow restless longing for some solitary company

A G

I know that I must do what’s right

D A

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

Verse 4

A G

I seek to cure what’s deep inside

D A

Frightened of this thing that I’ve become

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Final Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DEA

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Practice tip: The verse uses A-G-D-A, while the chorus switches to D-E-A and D-E-F#m. Practice the chorus progression separately — it’s the most memorable part of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Africa"?

You need 6 intermediate-friendly chords: A, C#m, F#m, D, E and Bm.

Is "Africa" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 6 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Africa" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "Africa"?

It was written by David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and released in 1982.

Atap to play

C#mtap to play

F#mtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

A · C#m · F#m · D · E · Bm

Africa Chords – Ukulele

Toto’s epic rock anthem with its iconic keyboard intro and African-inspired rhythms. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.

Rock Shuffle (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a distinctive shuffle feel. Accent the off-beats to capture the song’s groove. The chord progression is more complex than most rock songs.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A G

I hear the drums echoing tonight

D A

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation

A G

She’s coming in, twelve-thirty flight

D A

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

Verse 2

A G

I stopped an old man along the way

D A

Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies

A G

He turned to me as if to say

D A

“Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you”

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Verse 3

A G

The wild dogs cry out in the night

D A

As they grow restless longing for some solitary company

A G

I know that I must do what’s right

D A

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

Verse 4

A G

I seek to cure what’s deep inside

D A

Frightened of this thing that I’ve become

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Final Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DEA

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Practice tip: The verse uses A-G-D-A, while the chorus switches to D-E-A and D-E-F#m. Practice the chorus progression separately — it’s the most memorable part of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Africa"?

You need 6 intermediate-friendly chords: A, C#m, F#m, D, E and Bm.

Is "Africa" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 6 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Africa" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "Africa"?

It was written by David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and released in 1982.

Atap to play

C#mtap to play

F#mtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Intermediate

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

A · C#m · F#m · D · E · Bm

Africa Chords – Piano

Toto’s epic rock anthem with its iconic keyboard intro and African-inspired rhythms. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.

Rock Shuffle (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a distinctive shuffle feel. Accent the off-beats to capture the song’s groove. The chord progression is more complex than most rock songs.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A G

I hear the drums echoing tonight

D A

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation

A G

She’s coming in, twelve-thirty flight

D A

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

Verse 2

A G

I stopped an old man along the way

D A

Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies

A G

He turned to me as if to say

D A

“Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you”

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Verse 3

A G

The wild dogs cry out in the night

D A

As they grow restless longing for some solitary company

A G

I know that I must do what’s right

D A

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

Verse 4

A G

I seek to cure what’s deep inside

D A

Frightened of this thing that I’ve become

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Final Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DEA

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Practice tip: The verse uses A-G-D-A, while the chorus switches to D-E-A and D-E-F#m. Practice the chorus progression separately — it’s the most memorable part of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Africa"?

You need 6 intermediate-friendly chords: A, C#m, F#m, D, E and Bm.

Is "Africa" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 6 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Africa" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "Africa"?

It was written by David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and released in 1982.

Atap to play

C#mtap to play

F#mtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

A · C#m · F#m · D · E · Bm

Africa Chords – Banjo

Toto’s epic rock anthem with its iconic keyboard intro and African-inspired rhythms. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.

Rock Shuffle (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a distinctive shuffle feel. Accent the off-beats to capture the song’s groove. The chord progression is more complex than most rock songs.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A G

I hear the drums echoing tonight

D A

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation

A G

She’s coming in, twelve-thirty flight

D A

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

Verse 2

A G

I stopped an old man along the way

D A

Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies

A G

He turned to me as if to say

D A

“Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you”

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Verse 3

A G

The wild dogs cry out in the night

D A

As they grow restless longing for some solitary company

A G

I know that I must do what’s right

D A

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

Verse 4

A G

I seek to cure what’s deep inside

D A

Frightened of this thing that I’ve become

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Final Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DEA

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Practice tip: The verse uses A-G-D-A, while the chorus switches to D-E-A and D-E-F#m. Practice the chorus progression separately — it’s the most memorable part of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Africa"?

You need 6 intermediate-friendly chords: A, C#m, F#m, D, E and Bm.

Is "Africa" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 6 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Africa" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "Africa"?

It was written by David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and released in 1982.

Atap to play

C#mtap to play

F#mtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Intermediate

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

A · C#m · F#m · D · E · Bm

Africa Chords – Mandolin

Toto’s epic rock anthem with its iconic keyboard intro and African-inspired rhythms. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.

Rock Shuffle (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a distinctive shuffle feel. Accent the off-beats to capture the song’s groove. The chord progression is more complex than most rock songs.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A G

I hear the drums echoing tonight

D A

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation

A G

She’s coming in, twelve-thirty flight

D A

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

Verse 2

A G

I stopped an old man along the way

D A

Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies

A G

He turned to me as if to say

D A

“Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you”

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Verse 3

A G

The wild dogs cry out in the night

D A

As they grow restless longing for some solitary company

A G

I know that I must do what’s right

D A

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

Verse 4

A G

I seek to cure what’s deep inside

D A

Frightened of this thing that I’ve become

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Final Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DEA

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Practice tip: The verse uses A-G-D-A, while the chorus switches to D-E-A and D-E-F#m. Practice the chorus progression separately — it’s the most memorable part of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Africa"?

You need 6 intermediate-friendly chords: A, C#m, F#m, D, E and Bm.

Is "Africa" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 6 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Africa" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "Africa"?

It was written by David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and released in 1982.

Atap to play

C#mtap to play

F#mtap to play

Dtap to play

Etap to play

Bmtap to play

Key

A

Difficulty

Intermediate

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

A · C#m · F#m · D · E · Bm

Africa Chords – Harmonica

Toto’s epic rock anthem with its iconic keyboard intro and African-inspired rhythms. Intermediate difficulty in the key of A.

Rock Shuffle (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: This song has a distinctive shuffle feel. Accent the off-beats to capture the song’s groove. The chord progression is more complex than most rock songs.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

A G

I hear the drums echoing tonight

D A

But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation

A G

She’s coming in, twelve-thirty flight

D A

The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

Verse 2

A G

I stopped an old man along the way

D A

Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies

A G

He turned to me as if to say

D A

“Hurry, boy, it’s waiting there for you”

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Verse 3

A G

The wild dogs cry out in the night

D A

As they grow restless longing for some solitary company

A G

I know that I must do what’s right

D A

As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti

Verse 4

A G

I seek to cure what’s deep inside

D A

Frightened of this thing that I’ve become

Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DE

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Final Chorus

D E A

It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you

D E A

There’s nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

D E F#mD

I bless the rains down in Africa

E A DEA

Gonna take some time to do the things we never had

Practice tip: The verse uses A-G-D-A, while the chorus switches to D-E-A and D-E-F#m. Practice the chorus progression separately — it’s the most memorable part of the song.

Frequently Asked Questions

What chords do you need to play "Africa"?

You need 6 intermediate-friendly chords: A, C#m, F#m, D, E and Bm.

Is "Africa" easy to play on guitar?

It is rated intermediate and uses only 6 chords in the key of A, making it a good choice for players at that level.

What key is "Africa" in?

It is in the key of A.

Who wrote "Africa"?

It was written by David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and released in 1982.