Hotel California

How to play Hotel California by Eagles on guitar

These are the sounding chords. With a capo on fret 2 you play Am, E, G, D, Dm, F and more, the shapes the player above shows.

“Hotel California” is a great song to learn because it sounds rich and familiar while staying at a steady, playable pace. You get a classic, moody feel under your fingers, and the progression gives you a strong sense of movement without needing to rush.

You can lean on the open shapes A, E, and D, with G and Em available if your chart calls for them, while Bm and F# are the tougher barre shapes. The main thing to watch is the shift between Bm and F# at the start of the progression, since that change can slow you down if you do not prepare it early.

Start by looping Bm - F# - A - E slowly until the changes feel smooth, then add the rest of the chart in small sections. Once your hands know the shapes, keep the pulse steady and build speed only when each change lands cleanly.

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.