Eagles - Hotel California
Hello! Below you'll find my "Hotel California" chords & lyrics chart as well as a tutorial video on how to play the piano accompaniment.
This song by Eagles is a timeless classic, and it's easy to learn! I even go into some of the cool rhythms and arpeggios. If the key (B minor) doesn't suit your voice, in the video I also teach it in the key of Em, and you can find that chord chart here.
Enjoy!
Hotel California Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Hotel California:
Hotel California Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| Bm | F#7 | A | E | G | D | Em | F#7 | x2
| Bm | F#7 | A | E | G | D | Em | F#7 | x2
[Verse]
Bm F#7
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
A E
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
G D
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Em
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
F#7
I had to stop for the night
Bm
There she stood in the doorway
There she stood in the doorway
F#7
I heard the mission bell
A
And I was thinking to myself
E
And I was thinking to myself
E
This could be heaven or this could be hell
G
Then she lit up a candle
G
Then she lit up a candle
D
And she showed me the way
Em
There were voices down the corridor
There were voices down the corridor
F#7
I thought I heard them say...
I thought I heard them say...
[Chorus]
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California
F#7
Such a lovely place, (such a lovely place)
Bm
Such a lovely face
G D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em
Any time of year, (any time of year)
G D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em
Any time of year, (any time of year)
F#7
You can find it here
[Verse]
Bm
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
F#7
She got the Mercedes Benz
A
She got a lot of pretty pretty boys
A
She got a lot of pretty pretty boys
E
She calls friends
G
How they danced in the courtyard
G
How they danced in the courtyard
D
Sweet summer sweat
Em F#7
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Em F#7
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Bm
So I called up the captain
So I called up the captain
F#7
Please bring me my wine (he said)
A E
We haven't had that spirit here since, 1969
G D
And still those voices are calling from far away
Em
Wake you up in the middle of the night
We haven't had that spirit here since, 1969
G D
And still those voices are calling from far away
Em
Wake you up in the middle of the night
F#7
Just to hear them say...
Just to hear them say...
[Chorus]
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California
F#7
Such a lovely place, (such a lovely place)
Bm
Such a lovely face
G D
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
Em
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
G D
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
Em
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
F#7
Bring your alibis
[Verse]
Bm
Mirrors on the ceiling
F#7
The pink champagne on ice (and she said)
A E
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
G
And in the master's chambers
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
G
And in the master's chambers
D
They gathered for the feast
Em
They stab it with their steely knives
They stab it with their steely knives
F#7
But they just can't kill the beast
Bm F#7
Last thing I remember, I was, running for the door
A E
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
G
"Relax" said the night man
Bm F#7
Last thing I remember, I was, running for the door
A E
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
G
"Relax" said the night man
D
We are programmed to receive
Em
You can check out any time you like
Em
You can check out any time you like
F#7
But you can never leave...
[Outro/Solo]
| Bm | F#7 | A | E | G | D | Em | F#7 | x5
This document is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.
This chord chart is here only to support online learning. We recommend buying official transcripts from a licensed and reputable publisher.
Hotel California Piano Tips
1. Take It Slow: It's counterintuitive, but the quickest way to get comfortable and sound great playing a song is to practice it very slowly at first. Steady rhythm and counting are crucial to sounding like a pro, so let yourself get used to feeling the beat at a slow, easy tempo. Once you can nail "Hotel California" slowly, *gradually* speed it up. You'll sound much better than if you jumped in at full speed!
2. Use The Pedal Wisely: Utilize the sustain pedal to connect the chords smoothly, timing your lifts with the arrival of a new chord. For help with sustain pedal timing, check out this video.
3. Simplify if need be: "Hotel California" still sounds great even if you simply hold out the chords and ignore most of the rhythm patterns and extra details in the tutorial video. Feel free to keep it simple, especially if you sing while playing. As you get comfortable, you can always add the fancy stuff later.
