Hotel California – Beginner Guitar Chords

HOW TO PLAY HOTEL CALIFORNIA BEGINNERS EDITION

Hotel California has to be one of the most requested songs from all of our students.

However, with the first chord being a barre chord, no beginner really can start with this unless they use a capo.

So, with the Norwich Guitar Academy total beginner method, I have re-written the chords to a far simpler approach to get all students going with such a great song.
The chords provided here are moveable (just like barre chords) but a lot easier shapes.

Over the beginner series, we will look at adjusting these chords to their most common shapes and eventually into barre chords, but for now, enjoy playing such great songs without having to refine so many areas of your technique, but please do focus on your timing with this, as your left hand isn’t doing quite a much as usually required, you should be able to get this song in time within a few hours.

Have fun!
HOTEL CALIFORNIA – CHORDS & LYRICS

Bm                        F#
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#
I had to stop for the night
Bm                               F#
There she stood in the doorway;  I heard the mission bell
A                                          E
And I was thinking to myself this could be heaven or this could be hell
G                        D
Then she lit up a candle, and she showed me the way
Em                                   F#
There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say

Chorus
G                        D
Welcome to the Hotel California.
      F#7                   Bm
Such a lovely place, such a lovely face
G                               D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em                                      F#
Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it here

Verse
Bm                           F#
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
A                        E
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends
G                                D
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Em                        F#
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Bm                           F#
So I called up the Captain, ‘Please bring me my wine’
A                                               E
He said, ‘We haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine’
G                          D
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Em
Wake you up in the middle of the night
F#
Just to hear them say…

Chorus
G                        D
Welcome to the Hotel California
F#7                                               Bm
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place), Such a lovely face
G                                  D
They livin’ it up at the Hotel California
Em                                           F#
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise), Bring your alibis

Verse
Bm                      F#
Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice
A                                             E
And she said ‘We are all just prisoners here, of our own device’
G                             D
And in the master’s chambers, They gathered for the feast
Em
They stab it with their steely knives,
F#
But they just can’t kill the beast
Bm                     F#
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                             D
‘Relax,’ said the night man, ‘We are programmed to receive.
Em
You can check-out any time you like,
F#
But you can never leave!