Today we’re going to look at how to play “A Horse with No Name” on guitar.
This hit song was written by the American rock band America. It features simple chords and strum patterns and is a great song for beginners. In this tutorial, we will go through the chords, strumming pattern, and more. If you want to make the most out of learning this song, check out the Ukelele and Guitar App. “A Horse with No Name” is one of the featured songs on this app, and you can go step by step with customized feedback to make sure you learn it well. Without further ado here’s how to play “A Horse with No Name” by America on guitar.
Chords of “A Horse With No Name”
This song uses four simple chords, making it very easy to learn. We start with an Em7. To play this, place your second finger on the 2nd fret of the A string and your third finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.
We then move on to a Dsus2. For this one, place your first finger on the 2nd fret of the G string. Place your second finger on the 3rd fret of the B string. Remember to avoid playing the low E string.
Next up is the A7sus4. Place your first finger on the 2nd fret of the D string. Then place your second finger on the 2nd fret of the G string. Finally, put your third finger on the 3rd fret of the B string.
The last chord is a Fmaj7. Here, place your first finger on the 1st fret of the B string and your second finger on the 2nd fret of the G string. Then, place your third finger on the 3rd fret of the D string. Play it from the fourth string down.
Remember that you can use the Coach app to learn these chords with easy diagrams and in a visual manner. The app will record your playing and give you feedback that is personalized.
Strumming pattern
The strumming pattern for “A Horse with No Name” is straightforward and repetitive. This also helps with learning as you’ll essentially be using a simple strum pattern with simple chords. The basic pattern is down, down-up, up-down-up.
Again, you can rely on the Ukulele and guitar app to learn this song in a seamless and visual way, seeing if you can hit all the chords at the right time.
Structure of “A Horse With No Name”
Now that we know the chords and strumming pattern, let’s put them together into the structure or form of the song. Here are the chord progressions for each section of the song:
Verse: Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4 – Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4 – Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4 – Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4
Chorus: Fmaj7 – Em7 – Fmaj7 – Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4
Bridge: Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4 – Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4 – Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4 – Em7 – Dsus2 – A7sus4
Practicing
Although this song is relatively simple, it’s important to take your time and practice slowly at first. Be patient with yourself and don’t let frustration get to you. As you get more comfortable with the chords and strumming pattern, you can gradually increase the speed.
Also, feel free to practice with a metronome in order to develop your sense of timing and rhythm. Better yet, use the Ukulele and Guitar app to play along with the provided track. This way the app will see exactly where you need help and tailor suggestions specific to you.
With just a bit of practice, you’ll be able to play “A Horse with No Name” by America on guitar in no time. Once you have learned it, move on to some of the other songs on the App, as they are all classified according to level. See you next time!
