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Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah Chords

ChordsC, Am, F, G, E7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

CAmCAm
WellI’veCheardtherewasaAmsecretchord,
ThatCDavidplayedanditAmpleasedtheLord,
ButFyoudon’treallyGcareformusic,CdoGya?
ItCgoeslikethis,theF4th,theG5th,
TheAmminorfallandtheFmajorlift,
TheGbaffledking E7composing Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah, Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah,halleCluujahC
YourCfaithwasstrongbutyouAmneededproof,
YouCsawherbathingAmontheroof,
HerFbeautyandtheGmoonlight CoverthrewGya,
SheCtiedyoutoherFkitchenGchair,
SheAmbrokeyourthroneandsheFcutyourhair,
AndGfromyourlipssheE7drewthe Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah, Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah,halleCluujahC
MayCbethereisaAmGodabove,
ButCallIeverAmlearnedfromlove,
WasFhowtoshootatGsomeonewho CoutdrewGya.
Andit’sCnotacryyoucanFhearatGnight,
It’snotAmsomebodywho’sFseenthelight,
It’saGcoldandit’saE7broken Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah, Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah,halleCluujahC
ICdidmybest,itAmwasn’tmuch,
ICcouldn’tfeelsoIAmtriedtotouch,
I’veFtoldthetruth,IGdidn’tcometoCfoolGya.
AndCeventhoughitFallwentGwrong,
I’llAmstandbeforetheFLordofSong,
WithGnothingonmyE7tonguebut Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah, Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah,halleCluujahC
ThereCwasatimewhenyouAmletmeknow,
What’sCreallygoingAmonbelow,
ButFnowyouGnevershowittomeCdoGya.
Well CrememberwhenImovedFinwithGyou,
AndtheAmholydovewasFmovingtoo,
AndGeverybreathweE7drewwas Amhallelujah
FHallelujah, Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah,halleCluujahC
FHallelujah, Amhallelujah,
FHallelujah,halleCluujahC
AlbumVarious Positions
GenresPop
Year1984
KeyC
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Hallelujah on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah on guitar requires 5 chords and 8 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.

Hallelujah uses these transitions most often: Am → F (21), G → C (16), and F → G (15). 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 - Am chord transition.

1. C → Am chord transition

To move from C to Am:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the intro, played 12 times.

C to Am

2. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 21 times.

Am to F

3. F → G chord transition

To move from F to G:

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 15 times.

F to G

4. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

G to C

5. C → F chord transition

Here's how to move from C to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

6. G → Am chord transition

Switching from G to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

7. G → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from G to E7:

  1. While playing G, lift your ring finger from E string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

8. E7 → Am chord transition

Switching from E7 to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 5 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Hallelujah.

  • Hallelujah includes 115 chord transitions, 8 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Hallelujah contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Hallelujah 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 Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → C: 16%