Hallelujah

How to play Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen on guitar

This song is worth learning because it is slow, emotional, and very beginner-friendly. You get a calm, reflective feel, and the steady pace gives you time to listen for each chord change. It is a great song for building confidence while keeping your playing relaxed and musical.

All of the shapes are open, so you can focus on clean fretting and smooth transitions instead of barre chords. The main change to watch is the move from G to C and then to Am, since that shift needs a little extra care to stay even and unhurried. Keep each chord ringing clearly.

Start by practicing the opening progression slowly: G - C - Am - C. Loop it until your hands feel comfortable, then add the rest of the song in the same steady way. Once the changes feel automatic, bring it up to the song’s slow tempo and aim for smooth, even chords.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.