Leonard Cohen of Canada wrote Hallelujah – one of the most beloved songs ever composed – which has become one of the most covered and performed songs ever. It has since been covered and performed by almost everyone you could imagine!
Strumming this song is straightforward and effortless – consisting of six downward strums per measure – plus, you can add arpeggiated chords for added beauty!
1. C Major
C Major is one of the most frequently played scales on guitar, with only one flat or sharp note making it easy to learn and an ideal starting point for learning songs.
Hallelujah is a slow song, making it difficult to keep the beat without overshadowing its lyrics. One solution may be adding downward strums between chords.
Play chords using either fingerpicking or strumming pattern – once you find a rhythm that feels comfortable to you, this method should allow for confident performances of songs with similar chord progressions. Remember to accent both beats per measure to avoid sounding like a metronome!
2. Am
Beginners will find that the Am chord is an excellent starting point. A minor chord, it allows for versatile use across many popular songs while helping develop rhythm.
Strumming all strings except the open sixth string will create this chord; to muffle its sound, simply place your thumb over its string.
Minor chords feature darker and sadder tones than major ones, making them perfect for building calluses on your fingertips and building muscle memory. As soon as enough calluses form on them, pressing down on strings will become less painful, making it easier to create fuller tones from chords played.
3. F
Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen has become increasingly well-known with the rising a cappella group Pentatonix performing it live, so this week we’re exploring a simple strumming pattern for Hallelujah on guitar.
Playing slow songs without becoming bored of playing them can be challenging. To start off right, keep your wrist movement consistent with two pulses per measure for each measure of music being played. Once that is established, add extra strums when they feel right!
David mentions a “secret chord” in this song which is actually an inversion of F major’s subdominant fourth chord; known by musicians but potentially unknown to non-musicians alike. While it might not make much sense outside of musical circles, knowing about such knowledge is still exciting and worthwhile!
4. G
Hallelujah features an unfamiliar meter that may be difficult to grasp for newcomers. Each measure consists of two beats and simply strumming chords (such as G) will sound like two consecutive strums back-to-back. Therefore, it is crucial that beginners practice slowly so they can count each measure and beat individually.
If the rhythm of a song is taking hold but strumming is too difficult for you to keep up with, try arpeggiating chords instead to keep the beat steady without overshadowing its lyrics. Arpeggiating will maintain steady rhythm without drowning out lyrics of song.
Hallelujah is an essential piece for every guitarist to learn, having been covered by numerous artists across multiple genres and decades. Thanks to open chord shapes, it’s also relatively straightforward on acoustic guitar.
5. E
There are probably more versions of Hallelujah out there than anyone could ever count; each variation seems unique and interesting in some way. One striking aspect of this song’s chord progression may be one of its more unique aspects.
E Major, with four sharps (F#, C#, G# and D#). Beginners may benefit from using a capo when learning this song more easily.
Since this song is slow-paced, it is essential that you focus on keeping its rhythm constant. Listening to the beat will aid your efforts here; but strumming patterns specifically designed for slow songs such as this can help strengthen wrist control and timing – the real key to improving your playing.