Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Em7 chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
[Opening]
I re[C]member you [G]well in the [F]Chelsea Hotel [C]
You were talking so [Em7]brave and so [Am]sweet
[C]Giving me [G]head on the [F]unmade [C]bed
While the [F]limousines wait in the [G7]street
[verse 2]
[Am]Those were the reasons and [F]that was New York
We were [C]running for the [Em7]money and the [Am]flesh
And [F]that was called love for the [C]workers in song
Probably [F]still is for those of them [G7]left
[chorus]
Ah but [F]you got away, [C]didn’t you babe
You [C]just turned your [Em7]back on the [Am]crowd
[F]You got away, I never once [C]heard you say
I [F]need you, I don’t [C]need you
I [F]need you, I don’t [C]need you
And [F]all of that jiving a[Am]round [G7]
[verse 3]
I re[C]member you [G]well in the [F]Chelsea Hotel [C]
You were famous, your [Em7]heart was a [Am]legend
You [C]told me a[G]gain you [F]preferred handsome [C]men
But for [F]me you would make an ex[G7]ception
[Closing]
And [Am]clenching your fist for the [F]ones like us
Who are o[C]pressed by the [Em7]figures of [Am]beauty
[F]You fixed yourself, you said, [C]”Well never mind
We are [F]ugly but we have the [G7]music.”
[chorus]
And then [F]you got away, [C]didn’t you babe
You [C]just turned your [Em7]back on the [Am]crowd
[F]You got away, I never once [C]heard you say
I [F]need you, I don’t [C]need you
I [F]need you, I don’t [C]need you
And [F]all of that jiving a[Am]round [G7]
How to play Chelsea Hotel on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Leonard Cohen - Chelsea Hotel on guitar requires 6 chords and 10 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
Chelsea Hotel uses these transitions most often: F → C (16), C → F (10), and Am → F (6). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with C - G chord transition.
1. C → G chord transition
To move from C to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
2. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
3. F → C chord transition
To move from F to C;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
4. C → Em7 chord transition
To move from C to Em7;
- While playing C, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
5. Em7 → Am chord transition
To move from Em7 to Am;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
- Place index finger on B string fret 1.
- Place ring finger on G string fret 2.
6. Am → C chord transition
To move from Am to C;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
7. F → G7 chord transition
To move from F to G7;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
8. G7 → Am chord transition
To move from G7 to Am;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
9. Am → F chord transition
To move from Am to F;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
10. G7 → C chord transition
To move from G7 to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
Chelsea Hotel chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Chelsea Hotel.
- Chelsea Hotel includes 67 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- Chelsea Hotel contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how Chelsea Hotel connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
- C → G: 35%
- C → F: 16%
After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).- F → C: 40%
- F → Am: 11%