Over the years there have been so many covers of the song Hallelujah. In our Hallelujah guitar chords no capo guide we will be using the Jeff Buckley version, with the original song being by Leonard Cohen. You can find more easy folk songs on guitar here on our website if you enjoy this genre of music. Below are the chords you need to learn, the strumming pattern and the full song with all of the guitar chords so that you can play the song. We have also included a video tutorial for you in case you get stuck at any point. Let’s get started.
Hallelujah Chords with No Capo
If your aim is to play Hallelujah chords without using a capo then you will need to know C, Am, F, G and E7. We’ve included the chord charts for you to learn them above. You will notice that all of these are open chords which makes them much easier to play. These chords can be used for both the Jeff Buckley version and the original version of Leonard Cohen’s song. They’re best played on an acoustic guitar as this is the instrument that was used in the Jeff Buckley song.
Hallelujah Strumming Pattern
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Yes, the strumming pattern really is that easy for the piece. You will be playing in 6/8 time and all of the chords are played on a down strum. However, you may also want to fingerpick the single notes for the chords instead of strumming if you want it to sound closer to the original. Refer to the video lesson below if you want to learn how to do this properly.
The way the song works, it’s quite a low-key tempo that has parts that build up towards the end of each verse, which is where you’ll be playing more chords. The chorus is the same every time and uses the same strumming pattern. These are calmer parts that fall between the verses. The outro is basically the same as the chorus played three times over.
Hallelujah Chords with Lyrics
Verse 1
C Am
I heard there was a secret chord
C Am
That David played, and it pleased the Lord.
F G C G
But you don’t really care for music, do ya?
C F G
Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth,
Am F
The minor fall, the major lift
G E7 Am
The baffled king composing Hallelujah.
Chorus
F Am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
F C G C
Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah
Verse 2
C Am
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
C Am
You saw her bathing on the roof
F G C G
Her beauty in the moonlight overthrew ya
C F G
She tied you to a kitchen chair
Am F
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
G E7 Am
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Chorus
F Am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
F C G C
Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah
Verse 3
C Am
Baby, I’ve been here before
C Am
I’ve seen this room, I’ve walked this floor
F G C G
I used to live alone before I knew you
C F G
I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
Am F
But love is not a victory march
G E7 Am
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Chorus
F Am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
F C G C
Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah
Verse 4
C Am
Well, there was a time you let me know
C Am
What’s really going on below
F G C G
But now you never show it to me, do you?
C F G
But remember when I moved in you
Am F
And the holy dove was moving too
G E7 Am
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Chorus
F Am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
F C G C
Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah
Verse 5
C Am
Well, maybe there’s a God above
C Am
But all I’ve ever learned from love
F G C G
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya
C F G
And it’s not a cry that you hear at night
Am F
It’s not somebody who’s seen the light
G E7 Am
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Outro
F Am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
F C G C
Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah
F Am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
F C G C
Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah
F Am
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
F C G C
Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-u-u-jah
Conclusion
All of the tips we have given you above should mean that you can play the song from start to finish without any problems. If you do become stuck at any point it’s well worth watching the video tutorial we included in this guide or listen to the song. Both of these can give you great guidance on the strumming patterns, rhythms and timings that are used throughout this song. We hope that this helped and that you will be playing Hallelujah from start to finish in no time at all.