Song practice guide
How to Practice Horse with No Name
America's 'A Horse with No Name' is one of the most-played folk-rock songs of the 1970s, and famously uses only two chords. The simple progression, the steady rhythm, and the dreamy lyric have made it a cornerstone of campfire and acoustic-bar repertoire.
Song Details
- Key
- Em
- Tempo
- 115 BPM
- Time
- 4/4
- Style
- boom-chuck
Structure
This song is still under copyright, so we publish its form rather than its chord chart. Add it to your library and you can enter or attach your own chart, and Repertoire will schedule it either way.
What to Focus On
Two chords (typically Em-D6add9 or Em-D9). Steady strumming. Singing the contemplative lyric with breath support.
Practice Tips
- 1
Two chords, no excuses. The challenge is the rhythm and the chord voicings.
- 2
The chord shapes are slightly unusual (the second chord uses an added note). Learn them carefully.
- 3
The vocal is conversational and dreamy. Don't oversing it.
Why This Song
It's the famously-two-chord folk-rock standard, and a campfire favorite.
Practice Horse with No Name Daily
Repertoire uses spaced repetition to keep your songs sharp. Add this song to your collection and the system schedules your practice automatically.
No credit card required • Free tier: 3 collections · 15 songs each
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