Hallelujah Chords & Guitar Lesson
This song written by Leonard Cohen and performed by Jeff Buckley is probably one of the most requested songs from my students. This has a bit of different feel to it because it is played like a waltz, so it swings. Each chord for this song has 6 counts instead of 4 counts.
Some of the chords in this chart are half a measure and some are a full measure.
This song is great finger picked, but if you cannot do that you can use a simple guitar strumming pattern.
Return to All SongsJump to:
Hallelujah Guitar Chords:
Hallelujah Strumming Patterns:
Strum 1:
1 2 3 4 5 6
D D D D D D
Strum 2:
1 2+ 3+ 4 5+ 6+
D DU DU D DU DU
Hallelujah Guitar Lesson:
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Hallelujah Chord Chart:
Intro: / G / Em7 / (play twice)
Verse:
G Em7 G Em7
Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord,
C C (½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)
But you don’t really care for music, do you? It goes like this: the fourth, the fifth
Em C D B7 Em Em
The minor fall, the major lift, the baffled king composing Hallelujah!
Chorus:
C C Em Em C C G D G Em7 G Em7
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah!!
Verse:
G Em7 G Em7
Your faith was strong but you needed proof. You saw her bathing on the roof;
C C (½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you. But she tied you to a kitchen chair
Em C D B7 Em Em
She broke your throne, she cut your hair, and from your lips she drew the Hallelujah!
Chorus:
C C Em Em C C G D G Em7 G Em7
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah!!
Verse:
G Em7 G Em7
You say I took the name in vain; But I don’t even know the name.
C C (½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)
But if I did, well, really, what’s it to you? There’s a blaze of light in every word;
Em C D B7 Em Em
It doesn’t matter which you heard; The holy, or the broken Hallelujah!
Chorus:
C C Em Em C C G D G Em7 G Em7
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah!!
G Em7 G Em7
Baby, I’ve been here before. I know this room, I’ve walked this floor.
C C (½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)
I used to live alone before I knew you. I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch,
Em C D B7 Em Em
Love is not a victory march. It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah!
Chorus:
C C Em Em C C G D G Em7 G Em7
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah!!
G Em7 G Em7
There was a time you let me know What’s really going on below
C C (½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)
But now you never show it to me, do you? I remember when I moved in you,
Em C D B7 Em Em
And the holy dove was moving, too. And every breath we drew was Hallelujah!
Chorus:
C C Em Em C C G D G Em7 G Em7
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah!!
G Em7 G Em7
Now maybe there’s a God above But all I ever learned from love
C C (½) D (½) G D G C (½) D (½)
Is how to shoot at somebody who outdrew you. And it’s not a cry that you hear at night,
Em C D B7 Em Em
It’s not somebody who’s seen the light, it’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah!
Chorus:
C C Em Em C C G D
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u
C C Em Em C C G D
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u
C C Em Em C C G D G (hold)
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu-u-jah
This file is the author’s own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It’s intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
We do not distribute printable chord and lyrics charts. These charts are here only to support online learning. We highly recommend buying music from Hal Leonard or a reputable online sheet music store.