Ventura Highway Guitar Lesson -How To Play It At Your Solo Acoustic Gigs

I will show you how to play Ventura Highway from beginning to end in this acoustic guitar lesson and I will also show you how I perform this at my solo acoustic gigs using a looper pedal. This is an in depth deep dive guitar lesson that will have you playing Ventura Highway by the group America in no time. Consider this the ultimate and complete Ventura Highway guitar lesson and looping lesson and pro tips all in one.

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00:00 Intro
02:11 My Approach
03:19 Chord Shapes and Verse
04:04 The Strum
08:20 The Form and Chorus Section
12:25 Review of Form from the Top
14:42 The Riffs
20:44 Tips for Committing to Memory
21:06 Loop Pedal
25:32 Final Breakdown

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[travismiles]

My dad is a huge America fan. I grew up listening to him and his buddy play this song in the basement when they would get together to jam. I have an old sheet music songbook of America tunes that belonged to my dad. Maybe I'll go dig it out of the box now.
Cool lesson. Brought back some memories.

[odelljl]

Thanks so much for this lesson. I'm 66, and I gig once or twice a month. I've played this tune in various forms since high school and still picked up some ideas and tips.

Your lesson motivated me to work on looping this song. I loop occasionally—maybe once or twice a set—usually to interject some lead. I listened to your lesson while walking the dog, came back, and worked out the looping over a couple of days. It got reasonably smooth—I already knew the lead parts from playing in duos and with friends.

I looped it at the gig on Friday, and it came off well. Even my intently observant guitar-picking friends commented on how smooth it was. They don't like anything. ;>

I returned tonight and listened to the looping part of your lesson again. Surprisingly, I realized I picked the OTHER chord - the G/D - to start on! It may not matter too much as long as you know where you are. It does allow me to play the initial lick coming out of the chorus - the one you pointed out you were missing. I start the looper on the second "...in the air..."

I'm not suggesting either of us learn it the other way—once it is in your head, it is better left alone!

At some point, if I have any cojones, I'll also learn to loop the lead part and play the harmony lead part above it. That presents a good challenge for me.

Thanks for the lesson and the push to get looping - I am enjoying your channel.

[peterditchfield]

This is a great tutorial for a wonderful song. I saw this band in a small pub outside Glasgow in the very early seventies, where I was living at the time; it was a brilliant gig in a very intimate venue. I’ve been trying to sound reasonably accurate playing this for decades, without great success! This tutorial has been a lightbulb moment for me. Thanks so much and I will now be a subscriber to your channel.

[elc]

I really appreciate this lesson! I've played this song on and off over the years with varying degrees of frustration! The loop pedal makes total sense to get the main riff integrated.

[bigdogpete]

Love it. Been trying to figure out that F in the chorus for literally YEARS and it never sounded right! So simple. Thanks.

[kerryfromaj]

I just got a used acoustic guitar and last night lowered the action, installed new nut, strings, bridge and locking tuners.
It’s an Ibanez and it’s sure a lot more difficult for me to play than an electric guitar.
I was trying to figure out a couple acoustic songs to learn.
Knockin’ On Heavens Door, Wish You Were Here are “roughed in” and coming along well.
Ventura Highway is a great idea 👍🏻
I’ll try it today.
Thanks Frank !

[ghijkmnop]

Starting on the Dmaj7 for the looper just made it click for me. Thanks, Frank!

[callanturner]

One of my biggest challenges has been how to keep the younger audience members happy. I struggle to connect with a lot of the newer music and I dont feel it suits me. I have found that twisting 80’s classics works but I would be grateful to hear what songs you have chosen in your mix. Cheers

[peterbernice]

An Amazing tuition of one of my favourit America's songs, a big thankyou Dude 👌👌👌

[scottpull]

Great lesson. Just started really using my looper. Already knew the chords and strumming for the song. Practicing my basic improvised solos by ear over the 2 chords from the song. Really opens up another area in my playing. Thanks!

[dvanolya]

Great lesson, Frank...keep coming up with more "how to play" tunes that appeal to most audiences!

[FASFatherandSon]

I thought I did not know the song at all but then when I heard the chorus I was like yeah I've heard this before. Great lesson.

[frankm]

I saw them 10 yrs ago or so. I was surprised to hear them say how heavy their tour schedule has been over the years. They put on a great show.

[callanturner]

Good one Frank. I’ve been wanting to do this song for ages and the way I have been playing without a looper is OK but this is way better. Thanks.

[CapoTripps]

Ok man, so I'm in a spot where I can dedicate some time to this one. I love this song. America was a phenomenal band that people often dismiss because it sounds easy. I always put it to them that usually, a well crafted song is deceptively simple. Such is the case with ventura highway. It is possible to play this in real-time without a looper, even including the riffs in proper sequence, but the riffs don't hold the A major (9?) 1st inversion shape (right?). They drop to a D major root (4th string) position (yeah?) shape on the ascending notes for the second and third riffs in order to catch the G6 on the hit. Challenging, but right now I'm doing it on an ibanez pn1. It's doable, for sure. Just not easy. Love your stuff. Hopefully this makes sense to someone (might be handy if you're stuck in a fleabag motel learning covers on a cheap acoustic without a looper). Thanks for this tutorial!

[Nota bene: edited many, many times to ensure clarity]

[randall]

Looper, beat buddy is what I need, I would have lots of fun with family gathers. Thanks for the video awesome guitar song.

[kens]

Gonna have to get a looper pedal, always played around with this song could never get it right. Your explanation is really helpful, thanks Frank

[wesanderson]

This was a very impressive insight into your skill set. When are you going to put up videos of your gigs or something of you doing a cover as if you are on stage? As a beginner guitar learner, I can’t even say I’m a beginner guitarist yet; but as a beginner, I am impressed at your virtuosity on the acoustic guitar. Thanks for the seminar.

[nutube]

From the mid 60s through mid 70s, best music ever across the board.

[dougsmith]

Came across This lesson as I Going through some other Guitar lessons… love this beautiful Song, love the Band America! I’m 63 and I kind of grew up with them, definitely going to learn this song, I play Sister Golden hair, lonely people, and horse with no name… This will be a great addition! Just subscribed!