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Ventura Highway

Chords

4.92,798 votes

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Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/30

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 30Position: 3

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

America - Ventura Highway
Tabbed by Baddguitar 
Here is an easier version of Ventura Highway.  When America plays this song
live, they use 3 acoustic guitars.  One for the Riff melody, one the Riff 
harmony and the third for the chords.  This arrangement is for one guitar.
Using a capo on the 2nd fret will allow the player to play the song in the 
correct key but offers some easier open chords to play.  The main Riff is 
a bit easier since it includes open strings.  To keep it simple, the riff
harmony is not played.
Listen to the song to get the palm-muted timing on the chord strumming.
Standard Tuning.  Capo = 2
[Main Riff/Intro]
                         Fmaj7(strum)                    Cmaj7(strum)
e|--3h5p3----------------0-0-------3h5p3-----------------0-0------|
B|-------5--3h5p3-0--0h1---1-------------5--3h5p3-0--0h1---0------|
G|-------------------------2-------------------------------0------|
D|-------------------------3-------------------------------2------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------3------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
End of Verse Fill:
e|-12---10---7--|-5---3-0--|
B|-13---12---9--|-6---5-1--|
G|--------------|----------|
D|--------------|----------|
A|--------------|----------|
E|--------------|----------|
Fmaj7[Intro Riff + StrummiCmaj7ng]    x2
{Verse 1]
                                        Fmaj7    Cmaj7[Riff]
Chewin' on a piece of grass walkin' down the road 
                                        Fmaj7    Cmaj7[Riff] 
   tell   me,   how   long   you   gonna     stay here Joe? 
                                        Fmaj7    Cmaj7[Riff]
Some  people  say  this  town  don't  look   good in snow 
Fmaj7                                        Cmaj7      Em      [End of Verse Fill]
   You   don't   care,                       I know. 
[Chorus]
Fmaj7Ventura Highway, in the  Cmaj7sunshine 
Where the Fmaj7days are longer  The nights are stronger than Cmaj7moonshine 
   Fmaj7You're gonna go         Cmaj7I know  ooo-oh  ooo-o-ooo-Emoh  ooo-oh ooo-o-ooo-oh 
Cause the Dm7free wind is blowin' Emthrough your hair
And the Dm7day surrounds your Emdaylight there
 Dm7Season's crying, Emno despair
                Dm7                  Em    Fmaj7[Intro Riff]  
Alligator, lizards in the air, in the air
Cmaj7[Intro Riff + StrummiFmaj7ng]    x2
Doo Do Doo   Doo Do Doo
{Verse 2]
                                        Fmaj7    Cmaj7[Riff]
Wishin' on a fallin' star   Waitin' for the  early train 
                                        Fmaj7    Cmaj7[Riff]
Sorry   boy,   but   I've  been   hit   by   purple rain 
                                        Fmaj7    Cmaj7[Riff]
Aw,  come on  Joe,    you   can   always     change your name 
Fmaj7                                        Cmaj7 [End of Verse Fill]
Thanks    alot     son,      just    the     same 
[Chorus]
Fmaj7Ventura Highway, in the  Cmaj7sunshine 
Where the Fmaj7days are longer  The nights are stronger than Cmaj7moonshine 
   YFmaj7ou're gonna go         I knCmaj7ow  ooo-oh  ooo-o-ooo-oh  ooo-oh ooo-Emo-ooo-oh 
Cause the Dm7free wind is blowin' Emthrough your hair
And the Dm7day surrounds your Emdaylight there
 Dm7Season's crying, nEmo despair
                Dm7                  Em    Fmaj7[Intro Riff]  
Alligator, lizards in the air, in the air
Cmaj7[Intro Riff + StrummiFmaj7ng]    x2  then Cmaj7 (Hold)
Doo Do Doo   Doo Do Doo

The story behind the song

"Ventura Highway" is a 1972 song by America, appearing on their second studio album, Homecoming. The song's writer, Dewey Bunnell, recalled that the lyric "alligator lizards in the air" came from seeing cloud shapes in 1963 while his family was driving down the California coast. During this trip, they had a flat tire, and while his father changed it, Bunnell and his brother saw a road sign for Ventura. He also noted that the song reminds him of his childhood in Omaha, where he longed to go to California, and he believes it has the most lasting power of all his songs.

AI-written from these sources:Ventura Highway — Wikipedia ↗America (band) — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

🎸 Tips from players

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Ventura Highway

by America

Lyrics & chords · Original key

America - Ventura Highway

Tabbed by Baddguitar

Here is an easier version of Ventura Highway. When America plays this song

live, they use 3 acoustic guitars. One for the Riff melody, one the Riff

harmony and the third for the chords. This arrangement is for one guitar.

Using a capo on the 2nd fret will allow the player to play the song in the

correct key but offers some easier open chords to play. The main Riff is

a bit easier since it includes open strings. To keep it simple, the riff

harmony is not played.

Listen to the song to get the palm-muted timing on the chord strumming.

Standard Tuning. Capo = 2

[Main Riff/Intro]

Fmaj7(strum) Cmaj7(strum)

e|--3h5p3----------------0-0-------3h5p3-----------------0-0------|

B|-------5--3h5p3-0--0h1---1-------------5--3h5p3-0--0h1---0------|

G|-------------------------2-------------------------------0------|

D|-------------------------3-------------------------------2------|

A|---------------------------------------------------------3------|

E|----------------------------------------------------------------|

End of Verse Fill:

e|-12---10---7--|-5---3-0--|

B|-13---12---9--|-6---5-1--|

G|--------------|----------|

D|--------------|----------|

A|--------------|----------|

E|--------------|----------|

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

[Intro Riff + Strumming] x2

{Verse 1]

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

[Riff]

Chewin' on a piece of grass walkin' down the road

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

[Riff]

tell me, how long you gonna stay here Joe?

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

[Riff]

Some people say this town don't look good in snow

Fmaj7 Cmaj7 Em [End of Verse Fill]

You don't care, I know.

[Chorus]

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

Ventura Highway, in the sunshine

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

Where the days are longer The nights are stronger than moonshine

Fmaj7 Cmaj7 Em

You're gonna go I know ooo-oh ooo-o-ooo-oh ooo-oh ooo-o-ooo-oh

Dm7 Em

Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair

Dm7 Em

And the day surrounds your daylight there

Dm7 Em

Season's crying, no despair

Dm7 Em Fmaj7

[Intro Riff]

Alligator, lizards in the air, in the air

Cmaj7 Fmaj7

[Intro Riff + Strumming] x2

Doo Do Doo Doo Do Doo

{Verse 2]

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

[Riff]

Wishin' on a fallin' star Waitin' for the early train

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

[Riff]

Sorry boy, but I've been hit by purple rain

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

[Riff]

Aw, come on Joe, you can always change your name

Fmaj7 Cmaj7 [End of Verse Fill]

Thanks alot son, just the same

[Chorus]

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

Ventura Highway, in the sunshine

Fmaj7 Cmaj7

Where the days are longer The nights are stronger than moonshine

Fmaj7 Cmaj7 Em

You're gonna go I know ooo-oh ooo-o-ooo-oh ooo-oh ooo-o-ooo-oh

Dm7 Em

Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair

Dm7 Em

And the day surrounds your daylight there

Dm7 Em

Season's crying, no despair

Dm7 Em Fmaj7

[Intro Riff]

Alligator, lizards in the air, in the air

Cmaj7 Fmaj7

[Intro Riff + Strumming] x2 then Cmaj7 (Hold)

Doo Do Doo Doo Do Doo

About Ventura Highway Chords by America

Learn how to play Ventura Highway by America with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ventura Highway chords”, “Ventura Highway guitar chords”, or “America Ventura Highway chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Ventura Highway chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ventura Highway lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include B, G, D, A, E, Fmaj7.

FAQ — Ventura Highway by America

How do I play "Ventura Highway" by America on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Ventura Highway" by America on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Ventura Highway" by America free?

Yes. The chords for "Ventura Highway" by America are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Ventura Highway" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Ventura Highway" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Ventura Highway"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Ventura Highway" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Ventura Highway" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Ventura Highway" by America with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by America below.

What key is "Ventura Highway" in?

The chords for "Ventura Highway" show the original chord names (including B, G, D, A, E, Fmaj7). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.