A HORSE WITH NO NAME
(AMERICA)
BEGINNER GUITAR LESSON
Original Tempo: 126bpm
Learn how to play “A Horse with No Name” by America with this relaxed, beginner-friendly guitar lesson. This acoustic classic uses just two easy chords, perfect for first-time players. You’ll find clear chord diagrams, a simple strumming pattern, and a chord guide with timestamps that matches the video tutorial. Practice along slowly, then build confidence to play it at full tempo. It’s a great first song to develop consistent rhythm and relaxed right-hand motion.
CHORDS
STRUMMING PATTERNS
EASIER STRUMMING PATTERN
ACTUAL STRUMMING BAR 1
ACTUAL STRUMMING BAR 2
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CHORD GUIDE
INTRO (0:00)
|Em |D69/F#
|Em |D69/F# |
VERSE (0:08)
Em D69/F#
On the first part of the journey
Em D69/F#
I was lookin at all the life
Em D69/F#
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
Em D69/F#
There were sand and hills and rings
Em D69/F#
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
Em D69/F#
and the sky with no clouds
Em D69/F#
the heat was hot and the ground was dry
Em D69/F#
but the air was full of sound
CHORUS (0:40)
Em D69/F#
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
Em D69/F#
it felt good to be out of the rain
Em D69/F#
in the desert you can remember your name
Em D69/F#
'cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
INTERLUDE (0:55)
Em D69/F# Em D69/F#
la la la lalalala la la la la la
The chord progression continues the same throughout so use this as a challenge to remember the chord shapes...
VERSE
After two days in the desert sun
my skin began to turn red
After three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
made me sad to think it was dead
CHORUS
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name it felt good to be out of the rain
in the desert you can remember your name
'cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
la la la lalalala la la la la la
VERSE
After nine days I let the horse run free
'cause the desert had turned to sea
there were plants and birds and rocks and things
there were sand and hills and rings
The ocean is a desert with its life underground
and the perfect disguise above
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
but the humans will give no love
Copyright Disclaimer
This file is the authors work and represents my interpretation of the song. It is intended solely for private study, scholarship, or research. The chord charts and lesson sheets provided are simplified resources to support online learning. For official sheet music, I highly recommend purchasing from licensed publishers such as Hal Leonard or Musicnotes.