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: Learn the progressions
Jeff Buckley’s intro chords are different depending on which version you listen to but once he gets going he’s thinking in the key of G. Using a capo on fret 5, we hear it in C.
Cohen on the other hand just plays it in the key of C, without a capo.
Thinking in Roman Numerals, Hallelujah’s chords start with the minor fall as the lyrics cleverly reveal. That’s the I – VI. This is followed by the IV and V, also revealed in the lyrics!
Here’s the full verse in the 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 |
Buckley, who thinks in the key of G plays this:
| 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 |
These two chord progressions are pretty similar, but not identical.
Cohen’s original version of Hallelujah can easily be played using mainly open-position chords in the key of C, making it a great beginner guitar song.
Jeff is more intricate and unique. I provide TAB for both what Jeff did and an easier Cohen version I designed, here’s a link to that part of the lesson: Hallelujah – Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Hallelujah’s chorus chords are even easier, this is what Leonard plays:
| F (IV) | F | Am (VI) | Am |
| F | F | C (I) | G (V) | C | G |
Consider how each chord makes you feel. The F has a striving feel because it’s chord IV (the major lift as he sings). The Am is sad as it’s chord VI (the minor fall).
When you tap into each chord’s feeling, you have reached a new level of musical awareness.
Jeff is more elaborate than Leonard with his chord extensions and different bass notes, he also scraps the last two bars. Here’s what he plays for the chorus:
| C (IV) | C | Em (VI) | Em7 |
| C | C | G/B (I/3) | D/A (V/5) |
To me, the best way to approach all this is to start with the Leonard Cohen version, after all, that’s what Jeff 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 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?
What happened was that John Cale (Velvet Underground) asked Leonard Cohen if he could cover it, Leonard didn’t just say yes but sent him more verses than he had recorded himself, and John picked other ones he liked.
Jeff then copied John’s version and the lyrics he had chosen, adding the intricate long pre-intro and changing some of the chords.
I haven’t done a deep dive into the piano chords John played, but I have checked Jeff’s chords and they are different from Cohen’s (see above for both!).
Cohen’s original version of Hallelujah came in 1984 on the album Various Positions. John Cale, who initially had a more popular version released it in 1991. Buckley’s iconic version dropped in 1994.
But these three versions are not the only ones, over 300 versions of Hallelujah have been recorded by other artists!
Hallelujah Chords | Related Pages
Hallelujah | Guitar Lesson + TAB
In this guitar lesson, you get the TAB for both the Jeff Buckley version and a simple beginner version based on how Cohen played Hallelujah.
| G5 | Em7 |
I heard there was a secret chord…
Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
- Everybody Hurts chords by R.E.M.
- Famous Blue Raincoat chords by Leonard Cohen
- Lean On Me chords by Bill Withers
- Over The Rainbow chords by Eva Cassidy
- Wish You Were Here chords by Pink Floyd
Jeff Buckley tunes
Growing up in California under a different name and playing in bands, Jeff Buckley moved to New York at the age of 24 to pursue a solo career.
His best-known tunes all came from his only studio album Grace, most notably a cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.
Jeff Buckley on the web
Leonard Cohen tunes
Following a career as a novelist and poet for over a decade, Leonard Cohen released his debut album in 1967.
His best tunes include Suzanne, Bird on the Wire, Famous Blue Raincoat, Chelsea Hotel #2, Hallelujah, Dance Me To The End Of Love, and So Long, Marianne.
Leonard Cohen on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This was a guitar lesson about Hallelujah chords, by Dan Lundholm. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.
