Behold: the Hotel California chords!
This epic rock song can be played by beginners. Just keep to simple strumming in time to the record. (One day my friend, you’ll be rocking the solo).
There are 7 chords in this one, so it’ll be challenging for complete beginners. But I wanted to include a good target to aim for on our list of 100 easy guitar songs.
All the chords are in the open position (with capo at 2nd fret), meaning that there are no barre chords.
To make this possible, I swapped out the F barre chord for an easier version, but feel free to play the full barre chord (and feel a deep pride in your soul).
Hotel California Chords
Capo at the 2nd fret.
Full F barre chord, for the rock gods, among us.
Hotel California Chord Chart with Lyrics by Eagles
Capo at 2nd
[Intro]
Am E7 G D F C Dm E7 x2
[Verse]
Am E7
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
G D
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
F C
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Dm
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
E7
I had to stop for the night
Am E7
There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell
G
And I was thinking to myself
D
This could be heaven or this could be hell
F C
Then she lit up a candle, and she showed me the way
Dm
There were voices down the corridor,
E7
I thought I heard them say...
[Chorus]
F C
Welcome to the Hotel California.
E7 Am
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place), such a lovely face
F C
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Dm E7
Any time of year (any time of year), you can find it here
[Verse]
Am E7
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
G D
She got a lot of pretty pretty boys - she calls friends
F C
How they danced in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Dm E7
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Am E7
So I called up the captain - Please bring me my wine, he said
G D
We haven't had that spirit here since 1969
F C
and still those voices are calling from far away
Dm
Wake you up in the middle of the night
E7
Just to hear them say...
[Chorus]
F C
Welcome to the Hotel California.
E7 Am
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place), such a lovely face
F C
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
Dm E7
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise), bring your alibis
[Verse]
Am E7
Mirrors on the ceiling - the pink champagne on ice (and she said)
G D
We are all just prisoners here, of our own device
F C
and in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast
Dm
They stab it with their steely knives but they
E7
just can't kill the beast
Am E7
Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
G D
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
F C
"Relax" said the night man - we are programmed to receive
Dm
You can check out any time you like
E7
But you can never leave...
[Outro]
Am E7 G D F C Dm E7 (repeat to fade)