This is a great song by Lenard Cohen this version is one of the most popular And saute after by Jeff Buckley. Rufus Wainwright made it popular with the 2001 version of Hallelujah. Which is the version that is in the video lesson. The song is played on a piano. This is a Hallelujah chords guitar lesson.
In this Hallelujah chords guitar lesson. I will break down the Hallelujah chords guitar arpeggio. Show you the Hallelujah chords guitar progression. There is also the lyrics, and the tab PDF downloadable. To help you while you practice the song. If that’s not enough I through in a bonus video.
Yes, you may be able to figure this song out by just having the chords. But why not get all the information needed right off the bat. So you can start playing the song right way. This is why I have given you everything you need to play Hallelujah. So check it out, and have fun, Enjoy!
What are the Chords to Hallelujah on Guitar?
First things first, lets see what the chords are in Hallelujah.
There are 4 easy chords, and they are the C, A minor, an F, and G. i’m not going to assume anything. Let me show you how to make these chords. If you need help with open chords take a look at first position chords.
Here is the chord diagram for the C chord, and the finger position for the C chord.
- First finger 2nd string at the 1st fret.
- Second finger 4th string at the. 2nd fret.
- Third finger 5th string at the 3rd fret.
- Start the strum from the 5th string.
Next is the Finger Position for the Am Chord
- Your First finger is on the 2nd string, at the 1st fret.
- The second finger is on the 4th string, at the 2nd fret.
- Then your third finger is on the 53rd string, at the 2nd fret.
- Strum from the 5th string down.
The next chord is the F chord. If you need help making the F chord. I have a complete lesson how to make 5 different F chords. Some are really easy. There are also tips that will make playing the F bar chord a lot easier for you. So check out video|5 says to make the F chord.
Here’s How to Make the F Bar Chord Finger Position.
- Bar at the first fret with your first finger. (Across all 6 strings).
- Your second finger is on the third string 2nd fret.
- Third finger is on the 5th string at the 3rd fret.
- Pinkte is on the 4th string at the 3rd fret
- Strum all string.
Like I said there are other ways to play the F chord, have a look.
Finger Position of the G Chord
- Place your first finger 5th string at the 2nd fret.
- Put your second finger on the 6th string at the 3rd fret.
- Then your third finger is on the first string third fret.
- Strum all the strings.
How to Play Hallelujah Chord Progression (Leonard Cohen/Jeff Buckley)
The chord progression is this:
- Intro C Am C Am
- Verse 1 – C Am C Am F G C G C F G Am F G Am
- Chorus – F Am F C G C G
- Verse 2, verse 3, verse 4, verse 5.
- Chorus, chorus, chorus, chorus.
- Outro
The verses are all the same and the choruses. Then the Outro is the same as the chorus.
Related Article: Arpeggiated Chord Guitar Lesson.
This is How to Play Hallelujah on Acoustic Guitar
As previously mentioned the songs starts on a C chord. The intro goes from the C to the Am. Then back to the C and the Am again. It does that two times. Then the verse begins.
The chords are arpeggiated. Which is past tense for Arpeggio. This is to break a chord up. In this song you are positioning your fingers for the chords that are in the song. When they are arpeggiated, you are playing one string at a time. Let me show you how it goes.
Set up your fingers on the fretboard to play the C chord. Then with your pick we want to play these strings one at a time consecutively. I will name the strings. Note that the thickest string is 6 and the thinnest string is 1.
Strings 5, 4, 3, 2 3, 4. As you can see we are starting at the 5th string. Picking it, then pick the 4th string. Move down a string, and pick the 3rd string, and then the 2nd string. Then you want to go back up to the 3rd string. Pick the 3rd string, and end by picking the 4th string.
Then you move to the Am chord. Set your fingers in position for that chord. The strings in order to arpeggio are: 5, 4, 3, 2 3, 4.
You play the C, Am, C, Am in the intro.
Just an observation; Notice when you move from the C to the Am your first finger stays in place. Also your second finger stay at the second fret. You just need to move your third finger into position. Which makes the transition fast between the chords.
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Learn How to play Hallelujah on Guitar
Even when the Verse starts your going back and forth between the C, and the Am. Then the song moves to the F chord. When I play this song I play it with the F barre chord. Some beginners have problems with bar chords. So if this is you, you can choose to play the F chord one of the four other ways.
When your fingers are in position to play the F Major chord. You want to pick these strings: 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5.
If you play the F barre chord after you pick the arpeggio. You can take the same chord shape, and slide up to the G chord. On the third fret.
Once you are on the third fret ready to play the G chord. Play the same strings as on the F chord. ( 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5).
Play through the G one time. Then move to the C, arpeggio, and the song goes back to the G. But to make moving to the G a little spicy. Try the C arpeggio then walk up to the G.
Play an open E string. The 6th string, then pick the first fret of the 6th string. Pick the G note on the 3rd fret. When you land on the G note make sure it’s with the proper finger to go right into the G chord.
The song goes back to the C arpeggio, then to the F. When you get to this F chord you will want to strum it. Two simple down strums. Then move to the G chord strum it two times.
Am is next we are still strumming. Strum the F, G, Am. There are 4 strums for the F G and Am. Then We go into the Chorus. To make this a little easier get the PDF with the chords.
Chorus-How to play Hallelujah on Guitar
Next chord progression is the chorus. You are going to continue strumming the chorus. The chorus begins on the F. The Strumming pattern for Hallelujah is Down Down Up Down Down.
Using the same strumming play the F, Am F, when you get to the C. There are two beats, then it goes to the G. Where there are two beats. C and G.
When you get to that last C chord. Play that walk up to the G. Remember, open 6th string, Pick the first fret, and then the G note, third string. Then you play the G chord.
The song moves into the next verse. There are 5 verses in all. This song is a lot of fun to play. When you learn this song. Start by practicing the chords. Learn the chord progression. Then you can try an arpeggio.
This might be a little difficult if you have not tried an arpeggio before. But try one chord at a time. Then move on to the next and the next. Before you know it you will be playing the song. If you want to learn how to play guitar and sing at the same time, click that link.
Here is the Bonus Video Called How to Play Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright version.
Related Questions
For Beginners How to Play Hallelujah guitar easy
If you are a beginner guitarist this is a beginner guitar lesson. The song I am going to show you is Hallelujah. Here is an easy way to play Hallelujah.
The strumming pattern is down up down up, down up down up,
down up down up, down up down up.
The chords in the song are C Am F and G. All easy chords. If you need help with moving between chords. Take a look at this Ultimate Guide how to play guitar chords. This Guitar lesson will be eye opening.
The songs intro is C Am , C, Am Then the Verse begins. Play the C and Am two more times. Then the song goes to the F chord. You can play an easier F chord than the F barre chord. See the Video|5 ways to play the F Chord.
Next set of chords are the G C G C F G Am F G Am. That’s the chord progression for the Verse. There are 5 verses. But once you learn the chord progression to the verse. They are all the same.
Then in between the verses is the chorus. The chord progression for the chorus is F Am F C G C G. The strumming pattern breaks at the C to the G. There are two beats on the C and two on the G. Two on the C and ends on the G.
There are 4 choruses, and the chord progression for the chorus are all the same.
Then there is the Outro, your in luck it’s easy too. The Outro is the same as the chorus. So there’s the easy Beginner way how to play Hallelujah on guitar.
If you want to get the PDF for the song click here.
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Lyrics to Hallelujah
I heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord.
But you don’t really care for music do you?
Well it goes like this the fourth the fifth
The minor fall and the Major lift
The baffled king composing hallelujah
Chorus
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu- u,u,u,jah
Verse
Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
her beauty and the moonlight over through ya
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the hallelujah
Chorus
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu- u,u,u,jah
Verse
Baby ive been here before
I’ve seen this room and i’ve walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew ya
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
But love is not a victory march
It’s a cold and broken hallelujah
Chorus
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu- u,u,u,jah
Verse
Well there was a time when you let me know
Whats really going on below
But now you never show that to me do you
But remember when I moved in you
The Holy Ghost was moving too
And every breath we drew a hallelujah
Chorus
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu- u,u,u,jah
Verse
Well maybe there’s a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you
It’s not a cry that you hear at night
Its not somebody who’s seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah
Outro
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelu- u,u,u,jah
How to Play Hallelujah on Guitar Tabs
This is a great song. That has easy chords, and is fun to play. You can either strum the chords. Or it can played as an Arpeggio. Which really makes the song sound more beautiful. Get the tab to start playing this great song. Hallelujah.
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How to Play Hallelujah on Guitar Finger Style
The chords that you need to know for the song Hallelujah are, C, Am, F, and G. The first thing you need to play this song. Is to know these chords like the back of your hand. Not just know them, but be able to move from one chord to the next smoothly.
If you have not mastered the chords yet. Practice the 4 chords until you can play them without thinking about it.
Most of your concentration is going to be working with your strumming hand. So your fretting hand needs to go on autopilot. You need to position your hand to play the chords, and move between them effortlessly.
If you are planning to playing finger style guitar a lot. You may want to grow your finger nails longer on your picking hand. This will help you with picking the strings. The finger nail also makes the sound of the string more of a bright sound. Rather than if you use the finger on the string you get a dull sound. Which there is nothing wrong with that if you are going for that sound.
You can also get tips that go on the end of your fingers that will help assist with your picking the strings. Click this link to see the different tips.
Let’s talk about your strumming hand. In this case your finger picking hand. Your thumb is going to be playing the E, A, and D strings. Which is the 6th, 5th, and 4th, strings. Your first finger will be playing the G string, 3rd string, and your second finger is at the B string, 2nd string. Then your third finger is in charge of the 1st string. The high E string.
This leaves your pinkie open. You can use your pinkie as a stabilizer. Place it against the body of the guitar. Close to the sound hole. This will keep your hand in place so you can easily pick the strings.
Some people opt to leave there hand floating over the strings. I personally like to have my pinkie on the guitar. Keeping my hand a proper distance from the strings. To me it makes playing finger style this way easier.
Now that your hand is in place we need to know what order to pick the strings. The song starts on a C. When you are playing the C chord. Whether you finger pick it or strum it. You do not want to play the 6th string. We are starting on the 5th string.
Open C Chord Finger Position
- Your first finger is on the 2nd string at the first fret.
- Second finger 4th string, 2nd fret.
- Third finger 5th string 3rd fret.
Once your hand is in position for the C Major chord. In the open position. You want to play strings in this order 5, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4.
You pick strings 5 and 4 with your thumb. Then play strings 3 and 2 with your 1st and 2nd fingers. Play up to the 2nd string, and then come back to the 3rd string. If this is new to you practice picking the C for a few minuites until your comfortable with it. Then the next chord that is played in the song it the Am.
Related Article: 5 Reasons You Should Learn Acoustic Guitar Before Electric.
Finger position for the A minor chord
The finger position for A minor is:
- First finger on the 2nd string, at the first fret.
- Second finger at the 4th string, at the 2nd fret.
- Then your third finger is on the 3rd string, at the 2nd fret.
When your fingers are in position for the Am chord. Your going to pick strings 5, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4. Then move back to the C chord. The intro of the song is C, A, C , A. Your toggling back and fourth from C to A, C to A. Practice the intro.
On the Am your thumb is still picking strings 5 and 4. Where as strings 3 and 2 are being plucked with fingers 2 and 3. Which is the same pattern as when you pick the C chord.
When the verse begins we are starting it with the C chord. Then one more Am. After the Am the song goes to the F chord. I like to play the F barre chord. It has a rich bass sound.
Finger Position of the F Barre Chord
- Place your first finger across all the strings on the first fret.
- Put your second finger on the 3rd string at the 2nd fret.
- Third finger is on the 5th string at the 3rd fret.
- Pinkie on the 4th string 3rd fret.
Get ready to finger pick the F Major Barre chord. This time we are picking strings 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5. I find it easier to pick the F chord this way. I use my thumb on the 6th, 5th and 4th string. Then my first finger on the 3rd string. When I come back up from the 3rd string to the 4th I use my first finger on the 4th string, and thumb on the 5th string.
Then Keeping that same barre shape. Move up one whole step or two frets to the G chord. At this point if you wanted to you could play an open G chord. I find it quicker just to move up to the third fret, and play the G barre chord. Since my hand is in position all ready.
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Open G Chord Finger Position
There are several ways to play the G chord. Here is one example.
- 1st finger 5th string, 2nd fret.
- 2nd finger 6th string, 3rd fret.
- 3rd finger 1st string, 3rd fret.
Whether you play the F barre chord or the open G chord the pinking is the same. Using your thumb pick the 6th, 5th and 4th strings. Then with your first finger play the 3rd string.
From the 3rd string back to the 4th string use your first finger. Then use your thumb again on the 5th string. Practice going from F to G.
After the G the verse moves to the C chord. This time only pick up to the 2nd string. Then there is a walk up to the G. Which is play an open E string. The 6th string. Then place your first finger on the first fret of the 6th string. Which is the F note pick it.
Then play the G chord. Starting with the G note on the third fret of the 6th string. So you are positioning your fingers in position of the G chord. At the same time you start to play the G note on the 6th string. Then play strings 5, 4, 3.
The next chord in the progression is the C. Pick strings 5,4, 3, 2, then back to the F chord. This time picking the 6th string, and the 3rd string at the same time. Do this two times and move over to the G barre chord. Play the 6th string, and the 3rd string two times.
When you play the F and the G. Play the 6th and 3rd string simultaneously. Picking them twice. After the F do the same finger picking playing the G chord.
Moving to the Am chord, using your thumb pick string, 5, 4, 3, picking back 2, 3, 5, use your first finger. This part of the song is fairly fast. If you were just performing this with a pick it would be an arpeggio, but at this part of the song you would actually be strumming.
The next chord in the songs progression is the F and then G. The F Barre chord we are picking 6,5,4,3,4,5, move to the G where it 6,5,4,3,4,5, two times. Play the Am and just pick the 5th string and the 4th and 2nd strings. When you pick strings 4 and 3 they are plucked at the same time.
Finger Picking the Chorus of Hallelujah
Now we are at the chorus. The chorus starts on the F chord then Am. It goes back and forth between the two chords. The F chord is picked in this order. With strings 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5, play those strings two times through. Then the Am two times through.
On the Am your picking the strings in this order 5, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4. Back to the F chord. Where you play it again two times through ( 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5). Then play the C chord, and the G chord. The C chord is 5, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, play it once through and then 6, 5, 4, 3, 4, 5 for the G. Back to the C chord. Play the C one time through. Then remember that little walk up to the G?
Play open E string, the 6th string. Then the F note on the first string of the 6th string. Then the G chord.
The second verse starts after that. There are 5 verses that are all played the same way. There is a chorus after the verses. The chorus are all the same. So all we need to know now is the Outro. The Outro is the same as the chorus.
There you have it a fun and beaustiful song to play. If you need help with playing and singing at the same time. Check out this Ultimate Guide how to play guitar and sing at the same time.
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