Ventura Highway
America
Note: "ho" means hammer on, and "po" means pull off, and "sl" means slide.
To really do this song right, you need at least two guitars, and the one doing the riff
should be a twelve string. I've charted it for 2 guitars Rhythm Guitar, (Rhy) and lead
guitar (Lead). All riffs are done by the lead.
(Riff 1)
HiE---5---ho7---po5-----------------------------------------------------------|
B-----------------------7----5----ho7----po5--------------------5-------------|
G---------------------------------------------------6---6---sl7---------7-----|
D-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(Riff 2)
HiE---5---ho7---po5---------------------------------------------------------|
B---------------------7----5----ho7----po5--------------------5-------------|
G------------------------------------------------6---6---sl7---------5------|
D---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
(Intro)
(lead) Riff 1| Riff 2
(rhy) G | D
(Verse 1)
(Riff 2)
Chewin' on a piece of grass, walkin' down the road.
(lead) (Riff 1)
(Rhy) G Dm
Tell me, how long you gonna stay here Joe?
(lead) (Riff 2)
(rhy) G Dm
Some people say this town don't look good in snow.
(lead) Tacet until end of chorus
(rhy) G Dm
You don't care, I know.
(Chorus)
Ventura highway in the sunshine
Where the days are longer, the nights are stronger than moonshine
You gotta go, I know
'Cause the free wind is blowin' through your hair
And the days surround your daylight there
Seasons crying no despair
Alligator lizards in the air
In the air
(Do the intro, except switch riffs one and two with one another.)
(Verse 2)
(Lead) (Riff 2)
(Rhy) G Dm
Wishin' on a fallin' star, waitin' for the early train
(Lead) (Riff 1)
(Rhy) G Dm
Sorry son, But I been hit by Purple rain
(Lead) (Riff 2)
(Rhy) G Dm
Aw, c'mon Joe, You can always change your name
(Lead) Tacet
(Rhy) G Dm
Thanks a lot son, just the same.
(chorus)
To get the timing right with the words, you'll have to listen to the song.
Also, if you have 3 guitar players, if the 3rd plays the same riffs that the lead plays,
except 3 frets higher, it gives a really nice sound. You don't need a 12-string, but it
helps.
-Reno