Rosanna (Toto) Guitar Lesson with Backing Tracks + TAB

In this guitar lesson, you get a full chord analysis and TAB for every section of the tune—including that signature horn lick in the pre-chorus - Try it with Backing Tracks!

Rosanna | TAB

As this isn’t going to be easy, let’s get right to it—here’s the verse:

I’ve written G5 on the chords and lyrics page. This isn’t really accurate, as it’s an octave—no 3rd, but no 5th either. Gomit3 means no 3rd, which also doesn’t imply avoiding the 5th. So, technically, both are incorrect!

At least Fsus2 – Em7 is straightforward. After the F5, we play octaves again, just a tone down.

Following the Eb5, there’s a Dm7, and then the same muted idea. On the original recording, I don’t think the guitar actually plays that first Dm7—only the keyboards do—but it sounds good, so I’ve included it.

Next, let’s check out Rosanna’s pre–chorus—here’s the TAB:

It’s easy to mistake F/A for Am, but it’s not. On the second line, I’ve just written F, even though it’s still technically F/A.

If you want to include the keyboard and bass parts, all the chords for Rosanna’s pre–chorus are:

| Gm/Bb | F/C Bb/D | Eb Bb/D F/C |
| Gm | F/C Bb/D Eb5 | Bb5 F5 |2/4 F5 |

If you’re creating an acoustic guitar arrangement, that information is useful. In a full band, however, it can be confusing! What looked like F/A, F, or even Am, is actually F/C—very misleading…

That final horn lick is played live on guitar by Steve Lukather, so definitely learn it—it’s just a D minor blues scale.

Finally, here’s the chorus. Should I have called the F an F/A? I guess it depends on who you ask—ask the bass player and he’ll probably say it’s C again!