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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Eagles - Hotel California Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsAm, E7, G, D, F, C, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↓↑

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

AmE7GDFCDmE7
AmOnadarkdeserthighwayE7coolwindinmyhair
GWarmsmellofcolitasDrisingupthroughtheair
FUpaheadinthedistanceCIsawashimmeringlight
DmMyheadgrewheavyandmysightgrewdim
E7Ihadtostopforthenight
AmThereshestoodinthedoorwayE7Iheardthemissionbell
GAndIwasthinkingtomyselfthiscouldbeDheavenorthiscouldbehell
FThenshelitupacandleCandsheshowedmetheway
DmTherewerevoicesdownthecorridorE7IthoughtIheardthemsay
FWelcometotheHotel CCalifornia
SuchaDmlovelyplacesuchaAmlovelyface
FPlentyofroomattheHotel CCalifornia
AnyDmtimeofyearyoucanE7findithere
AmHermindisTiffanytwistedE7shegottheMercedesbends
GShegotalotofprettyprettyboysDthatshecallsfriends
FHowtheydanceinthecourtyardCsweetsummersweat
DmSomedancetorememberE7somedancetoforget
AmSoIcalledupthecaptainE7pleasebringmemywine
HesaidGwehaven’thadthatspiritheresinceD1969
FAndstillthosevoicesarecallingfromCfaraway
DmWakeyouupinthemiddleofthenightE7justtohearthemsay
FWelcometotheHotel CCalifornia
SuchaDmlovelyplacesuchaAmlovelyface
FPlentyofroomattheHotel CCalifornia
AnyDmtimeofyearyoucanE7findithere
AmMirrorsontheceilingE7thepinkchampagneonice
AndshesaidGwearealljustprisonershereDofourowndevice
FAndinthemaster’schambersCtheygatheredforthefeast
DmTheystabitwiththeirsteelyknivesbuttheyE7justcan’tkillthebeast
AmLastthingIrememberIwasE7runningforthedoor
GIhadtofindthepassagebacktotheDplaceIwasbefore
FRelaxsaidthenightmanweareCprogrammedtoreceive
DmYoucancheckoutanytimeyoulikeE7butyoucanneverleave
FWelcometotheHotel CCalifornia
SuchaDmlovelyplacesuchaAmlovelyface
TheyFlivin’itupattheHotel CCalifornia
WhataDmnicesurprisebringyourE7alibisAm
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistEagles
AlbumHotel California
GenresRock, Soft Rock, Classic Rock
Year1977
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Hotel California on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Eagles - Hotel California on guitar requires 7 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.

Hotel California uses these transitions most often: C → Dm (13), F → C (13), and Dm → E7 (10). 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 Am - E7 chord transition.

1. Am → E7 chord transition

Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram

Here's how to move from Am to E7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

Am to E7

2. E7 → G chord transition

Guitar E7 chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-0-1-0-0Guitar E7 chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Here's how to move from E7 to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

E7 to G

3. G → D chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

Switching from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

G to D

4. D → F chord transition

Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram

To move from D to F:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

D to F

5. F → C chord transition

Here's how to move from F to C:

  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 B string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  4. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

6. C → Dm chord transition

To move from C to Dm:

  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 A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 13 times.

7. Dm → E7 chord transition

Here's how to move from Dm to E7:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

8. E7 → F chord transition

Switching from E7 to F:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

9. Dm → Am chord transition

Switching from Dm to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 3 times.

10. 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 chorus, played 3 times.

Hotel California chord transition analysis

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

  • Hotel California includes 80 chord transitions, 10 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Hotel California contains 3 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Hotel California connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After E7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are A (31%), Am (28%), and A7 (7%).
    • E7 → Am: 28%
    • E7 → F: 6%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.