Rosanna | Chords + Lyrics
Intro
| N.C | N.C | (drums only)
||: G5 (octave) :|| x4
Verse 1
| G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) |
All I wanna do when I wake up in the morning is see your eyes. Rosanna, Rosanna.
| Fsus2 | Em7 | G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) C5 |
I never thought that a girl like you could ever care for me. Rosanna.
| F5 | F (octave) | F (octave) |
All I wanna do in the middle of the evening is hold you tight. Rosanna, Rosanna.
| Eb5 | Dm7 |
I didn’t know you were looking for more than I could ever be.
Pre-chorus 1
| Gm | F/A Bb | Eb5 Bb F/A |
Not quite a year since you went away. Rosanna, yeah.
| Gm | F/A Bb Eb5 | Bb5 F5 | 2/4 F5 | 4/4
Now she’s gone, and I have to say.
Chorus 1
||: Bb Eb5 | Eb5 Bb F/A Bb :||
Meet you all the way.
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Meet you all the way.
| Bb Eb5 | Eb5 Bb5 F5 | 2/4 F5 | 4/4
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Verse 2
I can see your face still shining through the window on the other side. Rosanna, Rosanna.
I didn’t know that a girl like you could make me feel so sad. Rosanna.
All I wanna tell you is now you’ll never ever have to compromise. Rosanna, Rosanna.
I never thought that losing you could ever hurt so bad.
Pre-chorus 2
Not quite a year since you went away. Rosanna, yeah.
Now she’s gone, and I have to say.
Chorus 2
Meet you all the way.
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Meet you all the way.
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Solo (as verse)
| G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) |
| Fsus2 | Em7 | G5 (octave) | G5 (octave) C5 |
| F5 | F (octave) | F (octave) | Eb5 | Dm7 |
Pre-chorus 3
Not quite a year since you went away. (Who is it?) Rosanna, yeah.
Now she’s gone, and I have to say.
Chorus 3
Meet you all the way, yeah, yeah, girl.
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Meet you all the way ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah.
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Chorus 4
Meet you all the way.
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Meet you all the way.
Meet you all the way. Rosanna, yeah.
Outro
||: G5 (C/G) | G5 (C/G) :||
Rosanna Chords: Unlocking the Genius Behind Toto’s Classic Hit
Best known for Jeff Porcaro’s legendary hi-hat groove, Rosanna isn’t just a favourite among drummers—chord enthusiasts like us can also appreciate its brilliantly crafted slash chords!
If you’ve searched for Rosanna chords online, you’ve probably come across variations like Am instead of F/A. However, neither is entirely accurate. Technically, it should be F/C, as the bass plays a C. But for guitarists, this shape looks more like F/A when played on just two strings.
Similarly, the Bb should actually be Bb/D, though on guitar, it’s simplified to just two strings.
After much deliberation, I’ve aimed to strike a balance between accuracy and simplicity. With music this intricate, it’s easy to overcomplicate things—so, TAB to the rescue! It even includes that signature horn riff at the end of the pre-chorus.
Here’s a link to the TAB lesson: Rosanna – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Spend some time working through the TAB before relying solely on the chord chart at your next gig!
Rosanna Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Rosanna chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Rosanna chord chart iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key.
Rosanna is every drummer’s favourite tune!
Released in 1982 on Toto IV, Rosanna became a huge hit—not just with the general public but also among drum teachers, who finally had the perfect challenge for their students.
The intricate hi-hat groove featured in the song even has a name—not after Rosanna‘s drummer, Jeff Porcaro, but after another legend, Bernard Purdie. Jeff blended this technique with John Bonham’s feel and the Bo Diddley beat to create what became known as the Rosanna Shuffle.
Few drummers can play it as smoothly as the original, but they keep trying—just as they do with the iconic 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover groove from Paul Simon and Steve Gadd.
Perhaps the challenge these rhythms present is what makes them every drummer’s favourite—at least, if they can pull it off!
Why not challenge the drummer in your band to play Rosanna? He’ll be impressed when you nail that horn lick at the end of the pre-chorus…
Rosanna Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Rosanna (Toto) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: