The ULTIMATE Africa Chords And Guitar Lesson (Toto)

Behold… a musical masterpiece 

Few songs capture the imagination quite like “Africa” by Toto. Its soaring melody, intricate rhythms, and lush harmonies, have etched this iconic track into the fabric of pop and rock music history. 

It’s become more than just a hit song…

It’s a cultural phenomenon. 

Below I’m going to break down the story behind the song, the inspiration behind its lyrics and music, plus the guitar chords and techniques that bring it to life.

So grab your axe, and let’s dive into this "Africa" chords and guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Africa? 

“Africa” was written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro, both members of the iconic rock band Toto. It was released in 1982 as part of their Toto IV album, and the song became one of their biggest hits. 

David Paich came up with the melody and most of the lyrics inspired by Africa and its culture, which he had learned about through documentaries and school studies.

Jeff Porcaro, the band's drummer, contributed to the song's signature groove, drawing from African rhythms he'd studied as a teenager. Paich, who had never been to Africa, was inspired by missionary work he learned about in Catholic school and the vivid imagery in National Geographic magazines. 

The song became a metaphor for longing, faith, and adventure.

“Africa” was recorded at multiple studios in Los Angeles, including Sunset Sound Studios and Studio 55. The track is known for its layered vocals, including a massive chorus that involved all the band members harmonizing. 

The tune topped the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1983 and reached the top 10 in multiple countries. Plus, the Toto IV album won several Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 1983. 

The song has become a pop culture phenomenon. It’s earning renewed attention through internet memes, posts, and covers.

For example, In 2018, the band Weezer released a cover of "Africa," which became a hit in its own right. This came after a fan campaign on Twitter urged them to record the song.

Now, you may be wondering…

What is the tuning for Africa?

The tuning for "Africa”, as recorded by Toto is standard tuning.

Steve Lukather kept things simple.

Standard tuning for a guitar is spelled out as EADGBE. 

Here are the strings: 

• E (6th string, lowest pitch) 
• A (5th string) 
• D (4th string) 
• G (3rd string) 
• B (2nd string) 
• E (1st string, highest pitch)  

Let’s next take a look at the…

Africa Chords

To play “Africa” on guitar you’ll need to know 11 main chords A, G#m7, C#m, B, D#m7, B/F#, A/E, E/F#, F#m, D, and E. Here are a few ways to play these chords on the fretboard. 

A can be played as a bar chord in 5th position like this:

G#m7 is played shifting down one fret to 4th position like this:

C#m is another bar chord. This one is played from the 5th string down like so:

B is played in 2nd position using strings 5-2 like this:

D#m7 shifts C#m up 2 frets and takes off the pinkie finger like this:

B/F# is a slash chord. To play it take the same B chord we learned above, but this time, make the 6th string 2nd fret note (F#) the bass note:

A/E follows suit with more inversions. This A chord I play in open position but include the open 6th string E like this:

E/F# is a beautiful suspended sound it’s played in open position like this:

F#m comes in during the chorus section and is played as a bar chord in 2nd position like this:

D is another bar chord played in 5th position on strings 5-2 like this:

Finally, E is played using all 6 strings and in open position like this:

If you’ve struggled to understand the fretboard and want to learn it faster and in the simplest way. Then get your hands on my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:  

All right, now that you know the "Africa" chords, let’s next talk about…

What key is Africa in?

"Africa" as recorded by Toto can be seen in many different keys. It’s a flowing piece that modulates throughout the tune. The intro feels like the key of C#m, the verse feels like B major, and the chorus section feels like A major/F# minor. 

Let’s now talk about the…

Africa Strumming Pattern

The main underlying feel for “Africa” is a driving 16th-note rhythm. Jeff Porcaro came up with the groove idea by being inspired by African rhythms. In 4/4 time, there are 16 sixteenth notes per measure. Each quarter note is divided into four equal parts.

Counting sixteenth notes out loud would sound like this:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a 

"1, 2, 3, 4" are the main beats.

"e" and "a" represent the divisions between each beat and the "&" is the halfway point. 

When counted out loud, it sounds like:

"One-ee-and-uh, Two-ee-and-uh, Three-ee-and-uh, Four-ee-and-uh."

However, I don’t recommend strumming all sixteenth notes. During the verses I’ll play sparcer, using half notes. Half notes get two beats each. 

Then in the chorus, I will typically bring in more rhythm to spice it up. Here is an example of a strumming pattern in the style of “Africa”: 

Africa Riff

The intro to “Africa” uses a simple 2 bar riff. This riff is based on 3rds. In music theory, 3rds are intervals that span three letter names in a scale or key. They are one of the foundational intervals used to build chords and melodies.  

Here’s an example of 3rds in the style of “Africa”:

Conclusion

Bottom line, “Africa” is a musical masterpiece. It showcases the bands powerful songwriting and incredible musicianship. 

Keep practicing, and if you want to learn songs faster, better understand the fretboard, and not waste years spinning your wheels with guitar, grab my free fretboard guide PDF right here now:   

Jon MacLennan