Rosanna | TAB
As this is not 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 is not really correct as it’s an octave, no 3rd, but no 5th either. Gomit3 means no 3rd, which also doesn’t say to avoid the 5th. So both are wrong!
At least Fsus2 – Em7 is simple! After the F5, we play octaves again, just a tone down.
After the Eb5 there’s a Dm7, and then the same muted idea. On the record, I think the guitar doesn’t actually play that Dm7 first, only keyboards do, but it’s nice so I put it in.
Let’s check Rosanna’s pre-chorus next, here’s the TAB.
It’s easy to think that F/A is an Am, but it’s not. On the second line, I’ve just written F, even though it’s still F/A.
Should you include what the keyboards play, and the bass, all chords for Rosanna’s pre-chorus are this:
| Gm/Bb | F/C Bb/D | Eb Bb/D F/C |
| Gm | F/C Bb/D Eb5 | Bb5 F5 |2/4 F5 |
If you want to turn this into an acoustic guitar arrangement, what you just saw is useful. In a band setting, it’s just confusing! What was F/A, F or even an Am is actually an F/C, very confusing…
That final horn lick is played on the guitar live by Steve Lukather so do learn that! It’s just a Dm blues scale.
Finally, here’s the chorus. Should I have called the F and F/A? I guess it depends on who you ask, if you ask the bass player, he’ll tell you it’s a C again!
Rosanna TAB | Related Pages
Rosanna | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Rosanna by Toto using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, TAB, and the original recording.
| G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) |
All I wanna do when I wake up in the morning is see your eyes. Rosanna, Rosanna…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
Toto tunes
Formed in 1977 by session musicians in L.A. Toto released their own albums as well as became Michael Jackson’s backing band.
Under their own name, they had great success with Hold The Line, Rosanna, Africa, Stop Loving You, and Georgy Porgy.
Toto on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers Rosanna. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.