Guitar & Bass Tabs
America
Learn America's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how America developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
In 1977, Dan Peek left the group to pursue a solo career, but Beckley and Bunnell carried on, keeping America’s music alive through tours, reissues, and renewed interest in their early catalog. Over the decades, their songs have endured as touchstones of classic rock and Americana, frequently resurfacing in film and television to evoke a particular sun‑soaked nostalgia. Today, America remains a reference point for melodic, guitar‑driven pop with tight vocal harmonies, a testament to the enduring appeal of their laid‑back, carefully crafted arrangements.
🎸 Want to know what gear America used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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A Horse With No Name
America
Sister Golden Hair
America
Playing Style
America’s playing style centers on clean, melodic guitar work and lush vocal harmonies. The band is best known for jangly 12‑string acoustic timbres and straightforward, effective rhythm guitar that serves the song rather than stealing the spotlight. Their arrangements favor open chords, steady strumming, and tasteful arpeggios, with simple but memorable chord progressions that invite sing‑along hooks. The result is a bright, sunlit texture where the guitars and voices blend in a way that feels intimate yet expansive, teaching players how to balance melody, rhythm, and harmony in pop‑rock contexts.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic gear for America emphasizes bright, jangly guitar tones and a clean, vintage vibe. The core sound leans on acoustic 12‑string and rhythm guitars, often routed through clean tube amps with generous reverb or light chorus to widen the space. In the studio, this setup supports the trio’s lush vocal harmonies and wide, open arrangements, while live rigs typically use straightforward, transparent amplification that preserves the guitar’s sparkling, airy character.
Why Learn America Songs?
Learning America’s catalog equips guitarists with essential rock fundamentals: strong, memorable melodies, approachable chord shapes, and effective three‑part harmony work. The songs are approachable for beginners yet richly rewarding for developing players, offering opportunities to practice rhythm stability, chord voicings, and clean lead‑in phrasing without overwhelming difficulty. Mastery of these tunes builds a solid foundation for pop‑rock and soft‑rock phrasing, harmonized singing, and tasteful dynamic control.
Did You Know?
- 1Dan Peek left the band in 1977 to pursue a solo career, after which Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell continued America.
- 2America formed in London in the late 1960s as the sons of U.S. Air Force personnel gathered to create music together.
- 3The group scored a breakout hit with A Horse with No Name in 1972, one of the era's best‑selling singles.
- 4The band is renowned for its lush three‑part vocal harmonies and jangly 12‑string guitar sound that helped define early 70s soft rock.
2 America lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play America Guitar
Explore America guitar and bass lessons with a focus on riffs, rhythm parts, classic rock techniques, and practice-friendly video lessons.
Start Here
Begin with the most recognizable riffs and rhythm parts before moving into harder songs.
Techniques
Practice power chords, timing, picking control, bends, vibrato, and classic rock phrasing.
Next Step
Use the lessons below to build a practice path from easier songs to more advanced parts.
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If you're learning America on guitar or bass, these related artists use similar riffs, tunings, playing styles, and classic rock techniques.