Hallelujah | Chords + Lyrics (capo 5)
Intro
|6/8 N.C Em D | C7 | C7 C9 | Em | Em7 |
| C7 | C7 C9 | Em | Em7 | C/Bb | C/Bb |
| Em/B | Em/B | C7/Bb | C7/Bb | Em | A7b5 |
| C/G | C/G | C/G | C/G D |
| G5/D | Em7 | G5 | Em7 | G5 | Em7 | G5 | Em7 |
Verse 1
| G5 | Em7 |
I heard there was a secret chord.
| G5 | Em7 |
That David played and it pleased the Lord.
| C | C D | G/B | D |
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
| G/B | C D |
Well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth.
| Em | C |
The minor fall and the major lift.
| D | B7/D# | Em | Em D5 |
The baffled king composing Hallelujah.
Chorus 1
| C | C | Em | Em7 |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| C | C | G/B | D/A |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Instrumental 1
| G5 | Em7 | G5 | Em7 |
Verse 2
Well, your faith was strong but you needed proof.
You saw her bathing on the roof.
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you.
She tied you to her kitchen chair.
She broke your throne and she cut your hair.
And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah.
Chorus 2
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Instrumental 2
| G5 | Em7 | G5 | Em7 |
Verse 3
Well, Baby, I’ve been here before.
I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked this floor.
You know, I used to live alone before I knew you.
And I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch.
And Love is not a victory march.
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah.
Chorus 3
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Instrumental 3
| G5 | Em7 | G5 | Em7 |
Verse 4
Well, there was a time when you let me know.
What’s really going on below.
But now you never show that to me, do you?
But remember, when I moved in you.
And the holy dove was moving too.
And every breath, we drew was Hallelujah.
Chorus 4
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Instrumental 4
| Cadd9 | C G/B | Em9 | Em9 |
| C | C | G/B | D/A |
| G5 | Em7 | G5 | Em7 |
| C C6 | C | C6 | G |
| D | Em | C | D |
| Cmaj7 | C | C | C | D | D |
Verse 5
Maybe there’s a God above.
But, all I’ve ever learned from love.
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you?
And it’s not a cry, that you hear at night.
It’s not somebody who’s seen the light.
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah.
Outro
| C | C | Em | Em7 |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| C | C | G/B | D/A |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| C | C | Em | Em7 |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| C | C | G/B | D/A |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| C | C | Em | Em7 |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| C | C | C G/B |
Hallelujah.
| G/B | G/B | D | D | D | Cadd9 | G/B | A7sus4 | Em | Em Emadd9 Em |
Hallelujah.
| C | C | Em | Em | C | D | G/D | G/D ||
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah | Chords + Lyrics (Leonard Cohen)
Intro
|6/8 C | G |
Verse 1
| C | Am7 |
I heard there was a secret chord.
| C | Am7 |
That David played and it pleased the Lord.
| F | G | C | G |
But you don’t really care for music, do you?
| C | F G |
Well, it goes like this the fourth, the fifth.
| Am | F |
The minor fall and the major lift.
| G | E7/G# | Am | N.C |
The baffled king composing Hallelujah.
Chorus 1
| F | F | Am | Am |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | C | G | C | G |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Verse 2
Well, your faith was strong but you needed proof.
You saw her bathing on the roof.
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you.
She tied you to her kitchen chair.
She broke your throne and she cut your hair.
And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah.
Chorus 2
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Verse 3
You say I took the name in vain.
I don’t even know the name.
But if I did, well really, what’s it to ya?
There’s a blaze of light.
It doesn’t matter which you heard.
The holy or the broken Hallelujah.
Chorus 3
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
Verse 4
I did my best, it wasn’t much.
I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch.
I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool you.
And even though it all went wrong.
I’ll stand before the Lord of Song.
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah.
Chorus 4
| F | F | Am | Am |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | C | G |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F N.C | N.C | Am | Am |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | C | G |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | Am | Am |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | C | G |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | Am | Am |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | C | G |
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
| F | F | to fade
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah Chords: Exploring the Progressions of Cohen and Buckley
Jeff Buckley’s intro chords vary depending on the version, but once he gets going, he’s thinking in the key of G. Using a capo on the 5th fret, we hear it in C.
Leonard Cohen, on the other hand, plays Hallelujah in C without a capo.
Thinking in Roman numerals, the verse chords begin with “the minor fall” as the lyrics cleverly reveal—the I – VI progression—followed by IV – V, also mentioned in the lyrics!
Hallelujah verse chords (Cohen – key of C):
| C (I) | Am7 (VI) | C | Am7 |
| F (IV) | G (V) | C | G |
| C | F G | Am | F |
| G | E7/G# (IIIx/3) | Am | N.C |
Hallelujah verse chords (Buckley – key of G, capo 5):
| G5 (I) | Em7 (VI) | G5 | Em7 |
| C (IV) | C D (V) | G/B (I/3) | D |
| G/B | C D | Em | C |
| D | B7/D# (IIIx/3) | Em | Em D5 |
While these two progressions are similar, they aren’t identical.
Cohen’s original version can be played using mostly open-position chords in C, making it a great song for beginners.
Buckley, however, adds intricate chord extensions and alternative bass notes, giving his version a unique feel. I provide TAB for his approach and an easier Cohen-style arrangement—here’s a link to that part of the lesson: Hallelujah – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Hallelujah chorus chords (Cohen):
| F (IV) | F | Am (VI) | Am |
| F | F | C (I) | G (V) | C | G |
Notice how each chord creates a distinct emotional response:
- The F has a striving feel—it’s chord IV, “the major lift” in the lyrics.
- The Am is naturally melancholic—it’s chord VI, “the minor fall.”
Recognising how chords influence emotion is a key step in developing musical awareness.
Buckley takes a more elaborate approach, modifying the chorus with extensions, different bass notes, and omitting the last two bars:
Hallelujah chorus chords (Buckley):
| C (IV) | C | Em (VI) | Em7 |
| C | C | G/B (I/3) | D/A (V/5) |
The best way to approach all this? Start with Cohen’s version—after all, that’s what Buckley did!
Here’s a chord chart I made for you.
Hallelujah Chord Chart | PDF + iReal Pro
Should you want to download this chart, here’s a PDF: Hallelujah chord chart PDF.
This chord chart was created using iReal Pro, here’s a link to that file: Hallelujah chord chart iReal Pro. Using this and the iRealPro app, you can change the key and alter the layout of the arrangement.
Jeff Buckley Didn’t Write Any New Lyrics for Hallelujah!
Jeff Buckley made Hallelujah his own, even changing the lyrics—or did he?
In reality, it was John Cale (Velvet Underground) who altered the lyrics first. After asking Leonard Cohen for permission to cover the song, Cohen not only agreed but also sent him additional verses that hadn’t been included in his original recording. Cale then selected the ones he preferred.
Buckley later followed Cale’s version, using the same lyrics while adding his own intricate, extended pre-intro and modifying some of the chords (see above for a breakdown of Cohen’s and Buckley’s versions).
Cohen’s original Hallelujah was released in 1984 on Various Positions. Cale’s version, which initially gained more popularity, came out in 1991. Then, Buckley’s now-iconic rendition arrived in 1994.
But these three versions are just the beginning—over 300 artists have recorded Hallelujah!
Hallelujah Chords: Continue Learning
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley + Leonard Cohen) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Alternatively, here are five similar tunes you might enjoy: