Hotel California
by Eagles
🌟 Must-Learn Songs
Difficulty
★★★★☆
Tuning
Standard
Capo
None
The Eagles' magnum opus featuring one of rock's most iconic 12-string arpeggiated intros and a legendary dual-guitar harmony solo. The song moves through Bm, F#7, A, E, G, D, Em, and F#7 with lush fingerpicked patterns. The closing solo, performed by Don Felder and Joe Walsh, is consistently voted among the greatest guitar solos of all time.
[Intro - 12-String Arpeggio Pattern]
Bm F#7
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-4-----4-----4-----4-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
A E
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|
G|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|-1-----1-----1-----1-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-0-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-0-------------------------|
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-0-------------------------|-2-------------------------|
[Verse 1]
Bm
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3--------|
G|-4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|-2----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
"On a dark desert highway..."
F#7
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2--------|
G|-3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|-2----------------------------------------------------|
"cool wind in my hair..."
A
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2--------|
G|-2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|-0----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
"Warm smell of colitas..."
E
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0------|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------|
G|-1-----1-----1-----1-----1-----1-----1-----1----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|-0----------------------------------------------------|
"rising up through the air..."
G
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3------|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3--------|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|-3----------------------------------------------------|
"Up ahead in the distance..."
D
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3--------|
G|-2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2----------|
D|-0----------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
"I saw a shimmering light..."
Em
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0------|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--------|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|-2----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
"My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim..."
F#7
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2--------|
G|-3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|-2----------------------------------------------------|
"I had to stop for the night..."
[Chorus]
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
"Welcome to the Hotel California..."
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
"Such a lovely place..."
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
"Plenty of room at the Hotel California..."
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
"Any time of year... you can find it here"
[Verse 2]
Bm
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3--------|
G|-4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|-2----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
"Her mind is Tiffany-twisted..."
F#7
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2--------|
G|-3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|-2----------------------------------------------------|
"she got the Mercedes Benz..."
A E
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|
G|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|-1-----1-----1-----1-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-0-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-0-------------------------|
"She got a lot of pretty pretty boys... that she calls friends"
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
"How they dance in the courtyard..."
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
"sweet summer sweat... some dance to remember, some dance to forget"
[Chorus 2]
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
"So I called up the Captain..."
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
"Please bring me my wine... We haven\'t had that spirit here since 1969"
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
[Verse 3]
Bm
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3--------|
G|-4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4-----4----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|-2----------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
"Mirrors on the ceiling..."
F#7
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2------|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2-----2--------|
G|-3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3-----3----------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|-2----------------------------------------------------|
"the pink champagne on ice..."
A E
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|
B|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|
G|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|-1-----1-----1-----1-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-0-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-0-------------------------|
"And she said, we are all just prisoners here of our own device"
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
"And in the master\'s chambers..."
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
"they gathered for the feast... stab it with their steely knives"
"but they just can\'t kill the beast"
[Chorus 3]
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
"Last thing I remember..."
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
"I was running for the door..."
G D
e|-----3-----3-----3-----3---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-2-----2-----2-----2-------|
D|---------------------------|--0-----------------------|
A|---------------------------|--------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------|--------------------------|
"Relax said the night man... we are programmed to receive"
Em F#7
e|-----0-----0-----0-----0---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---0-----0-----0-----0-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-0-----0-----0-----0-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
"You can check out any time you like... but you can never leave"
[Guitar Solo - Simplified Single Guitar Version]
Bm
e|--7--10--7-----7--10--7-----7--10--12--10--7-----------|
B|-----------10-----------10------------------10--7------|
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
F#7
e|--7h9--9p7-----7--9--12--9--7--------------------------|
B|--------------10--------------10--9--7-----------------|
G|-------------------------------------------9--7--------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
A
e|--10--12--10-----10--12--14--12--10--------------------|
B|---------------12-----------------------12--10---------|
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
E
e|--12--15--12-----12--15--12----------------------------|
B|---------------14--------------14--12--10--12----------|
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
G D
e|--15b17--15--12-----15--12----|--10--12--10--7----------|
B|------------------15---------|------------------10--7---|
G|------------------------------|-----------------------|
D|------------------------------|-----------------------|
A|------------------------------|-----------------------|
E|------------------------------|-----------------------|
Em
e|--7--10--7-----7--10--12--10--7------------------------|
B|-----------10------------------10--7-------------------|
G|------------------------------------------9--7---------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
F#7
e|--7--9--12--9--7---7h9p7-------------------------------|
B|--------------------10--9--7---------------------------|
G|------------------------------9--7---------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------------------------------------|
[Solo - Harmony Section]
Bm F#7
e|--12--14--15--14--12-----12--|--11--12--14--12--11------|
B|------------------------15--|-------------------------14|
G|---------------------------|---------------------------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A E
e|--12--14--15--17--15--14--12-|--12--15--12--------------|
B|------------------------------|-------------15--12------|
G|------------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------------|------------------------|
E|------------------------------|------------------------|
G D
e|--15--17--15--12-----12--15--|--14--12--10--12--10------|
B|--------------------15------|---------------------------|
G|---------------------------|---------------------------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|---------------------------|
Em F#7
e|--12--10--7--10--7-----------|--7--9--11--9--7----------|
B|-------------------10--7-----|-------------------------|
G|------------------------9----|-------------------------|
D|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
[Solo - Climax]
Bm F#7
e|--15b17--15--12--15--12------|--14b16--14--11--14--11---|
B|------------------------15--|---------------------------|
G|---------------------------|---------------------------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A E
e|--12--14--15--17--19--17--15-|--15--12--15b17--15--12---|
B|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
G|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
D|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
G D
e|--15--17--19--17--15---------|--14--15--14--12--10------|
B|-------------------------17--|-------------------------|
G|---------------------------|---------------------------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|---------------------------|---------------------------|
E|---------------------------|---------------------------|
[Outro - Repeat and Fade]
Em F#7
e|--12--10--7--10--7-----------|--7--9--7-----------------|
B|-------------------10--7-----|----------10--9--7--------|
G|-----------------------------|---------------------9----|
D|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|-------------------------|
Bm F#7
e|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|-----2-----2-----2-----2---|
B|---3-----3-----3-----3-----|---2-----2-----2-----2-----|
G|-4-----4-----4-----4-------|-3-----3-----3-----3-------|
D|---------------------------|---------------------------|
A|-2-------------------------|--------------------------|
E|---------------------------|-2-------------------------|
(Repeat intro arpeggio pattern, fade out)