Hello! Below you'll find my "A Horse with No Name" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This classic song by America is super fun is very simple to learn the basics - it's just two chords back and forth the whole time! In the video, I build up some additional rhythm and harmony in 5 levels of difficulty to really get the most out of the piano arrangement.
Enjoy!
A Horse with No Name Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for A Horse with No Name:
A Horse with No Name Chords & Lyrics
Note:
D/F# = D6/9/F# throughout
Optional: Em = Em9 after first half of Verse 1
Optional: Em = Em9 after first half of Verse 1
[Intro]
| Em | D/F# | x2
| Em | D/F# | x2
[Verse 1]
Em D/F#
On the first part of the journey
Em D/F#
I was looking at all the life
Em D/F#
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
Em D/F#
There were sand and hills and rings
Em D/F#
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
Em D/F#
And the sky with no clouds
Em D/F#
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
Em D/F#
But the air was full of sound
[Chorus]
Em D/F#
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
Em D/F#
It felt good to be out of the rain
Em D/F#
In the desert you can remember your name
Em D/F#
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
Em D/F# Em D/F#
La, la, la lala la la lala la, la, la X2
Em D/F#
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
Em D/F#
It felt good to be out of the rain
Em D/F#
In the desert you can remember your name
Em D/F#
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
Em D/F# Em D/F#
La, la, la lala la la lala la, la, la X2
[Verse 2]
Em D/F#
After two days in the desert sun
Em D/F#
My skin began to turn red
Em D/F#
After three days in the desert fun
Em D/F#
I was looking at a river bed
Em D/F#
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Em D/F#
Made me sad to think it was dead
Em D/F#
After two days in the desert sun
Em D/F#
My skin began to turn red
Em D/F#
After three days in the desert fun
Em D/F#
I was looking at a river bed
Em D/F#
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Em D/F#
Made me sad to think it was dead
[Chorus]
Em D/F#
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
Em D/F#
It felt good to be out of the rain
Em D/F#
In the desert you can remember your name
Em D/F#
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
Em D/F# Em D/F#
La la, la, la lala la la lala la, la, la X2
Em D/F#
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
Em D/F#
It felt good to be out of the rain
Em D/F#
In the desert you can remember your name
Em D/F#
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
Em D/F# Em D/F#
La la, la, la lala la la lala la, la, la X2
[Solo]
| Em | D/F# | X4 (or substitute every other F#m7 with A)
| Em | D/F# | X4 (or substitute every other F#m7 with A)
[Verse 3]
Em D/F#
After nine days I let the horse run free
Em D/F#
'Cause the desert had turned to sea
Em D/F#
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
Em D/F#
There were sand and hills and rings
Em D/F#
The ocean is a desert with its life underground
Em D/F#
After nine days I let the horse run free
Em D/F#
'Cause the desert had turned to sea
Em D/F#
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
Em D/F#
There were sand and hills and rings
Em D/F#
The ocean is a desert with its life underground
Em D/F#
And a perfect disguise above
Em D/F#
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
Em D/F#
But the humans will give no love
And a perfect disguise above
Em D/F#
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
Em D/F#
But the humans will give no love
[Chorus]
Em D/F#
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
Em D/F#
It felt good to be out of the rain
Em D/F#
In the desert you can remember your name
Em D/F#
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
Em F#m7 Em D/F#
La la, la, la lala la la lala la, la, la. repeat and fade
Em D/F#
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
Em D/F#
It felt good to be out of the rain
Em D/F#
In the desert you can remember your name
Em D/F#
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
Em F#m7 Em D/F#
La la, la, la lala la la lala la, la, la. repeat and fade
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
A Horse with No Name Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "A Horse with No Name" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "A Horse with No Name" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
