Eagles - Hotel California (Key of Em)
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. Below you'll find the chords for the key of Em, but you can find the original key here. I teach both versions in the video.
Enjoy!
Hotel California Piano Tutorial
Here's a piano tutorial video for Hotel California:
Hotel California Chords & Lyrics
[Intro]
| Em | B7 | D | A | C | G | Am
| Em | B7 | D | A | C | G | Am
[Verse]
Em B7
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
D A
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
C G
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Am
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
B7
I had to stop for the night
Em
There she stood in the doorway
There she stood in the doorway
B7
I heard the mission bell
D
And I was thinking to myself
A
And I was thinking to myself
A
This could be heaven or this could be hell
C
Then she lit up a candle
C
Then she lit up a candle
G
And she showed me the way
Am
There were voices down the corridor
There were voices down the corridor
B7
I thought I heard them say...
I thought I heard them say...
[Chorus]
C G
Welcome to the Hotel California
B7
Such a lovely place, (such a lovely place)
Em
Such a lovely face
C G
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Am
Any time of year, (any time of year)
C G
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Am
Any time of year, (any time of year)
B7
You can find it here
[Verse]
Em
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
B7
She got the Mercedes Benz
D A
She got a lot of pretty pretty boys, she calls friends
C
How they danced in the courtyard
D A
She got a lot of pretty pretty boys, she calls friends
C
How they danced in the courtyard
G
Sweet summer sweat
Am B7
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Am B7
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Em
So I called up the captain
So I called up the captain
B7
Please bring me my wine (he said)
D A
We haven't had that spirit here since, 1969
G D
And still those voices are calling from far away
Am
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
Am
Wake you up in the middle of the night
B7
Just to hear them say...
Just to hear them say...
[Chorus]
C G
Welcome to the Hotel California
B7
Such a lovely place, (such a lovely place)
Em
Such a lovely face
C G
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
Am
What a nice surprise
C G
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
Am
What a nice surprise
B7
(What a nice surprise) bring your alibis
[Verse]
Em
Mirrors on the ceiling
B7
The pink champagne on ice (and she said)
D A
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
C
And in the master's chambers
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
C
And in the master's chambers
G
They gathered for the feast
Am
They stab it with their steely knives
They stab it with their steely knives
B7
But they just can't kill the beast
Em B7
Last thing I remember, I was, running for the door
D A
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
C
"Relax" said the night man
Em B7
Last thing I remember, I was, running for the door
D A
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
C
"Relax" said the night man
G
We are programmed to receive
Am
You can check out any time you like
Am
You can check out any time you like
B7
But you can never leave...
[Outro/Solo]
| Em | B7 | D | A | C | G | Am | B7 | 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.
