HOTEL CALIFORNIA
Music by Don Felder & Joe Walsh
Words by Don Henley & Glenn Frey
Eagles
Hotel California
1976
Roberto Luna sent this one my way a couple of months back. I rewrote it to
make it easier to read, so I hope it helps. Good luck, and I hope everyone
is able to play it by the end of the year!
"I had just leased this house out on the beach at Malibu,
I guess it was around '74 or '75. I remember sitting in the living
room, with all the doors wide open on a spectacular July day.
I had this acoustic 12-string and I started tinkling around with
it, and those "Hotel California" chords just kind of oozed out.
Every once in a while it seems like the cosmos parts and something
great just plops in your lap."
-- Don Felder
This first part is the intro. It is repeated throughout the song
(except during the chorus).
GUITAR 1 (12-string electric, capo on 7th fret)
A 7 means open string, so it is easier to read.
These are easier if you realize that the chords they outline are:
Em B7 Dsus2 A9 C G Am7 B7
+ + + + + + + +
e:-7---------------7---------------|-----------9---------------------|
B:-7---------7-------------7---7---|-------7-------7-----------------|
G:-7-----7-------7---------7---9---|-----9-------9-------------------|
D:-9---9---9---9-------------------|-8---------------8---------------|
A:-9-------------------------------|---------9-----------------------|
E:-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
+ + + + + + + +
e:-------------7----------------------|------7---7--------7--------------|
B:-------10-10----10-------10-------7-|------------7---------------------|
G:-----9-----------------9--------9---|--------7-----7-------------------|
D:-7-----------------7----------------|----------------12----------------|
A:----------------------------7-------|-11-------------------------------|
E:------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
+ + + + + + + +
e:------------------7----------------|-----10-----7----------------------|
B:------------8------------8---------|--------7-------7-------7--------7-|
G:--------7-------7--------------7---|----------7-----------7------------|
D:------9---9---9------------7h9-----|-7------------7----------------7---|
A:-10-------------------10-----------|------------------9----------------|
E:-----------------------------------|--------------------------10-------|
+ + + + + + + +
e:-----------------7-------------7-|-----------------9---------------|
B:-----------8---8-----------------|-----------7---------------------|
G:-------7---------------7---------|-------9-9-----9-----------------|
D:-----9---9---9-------9-------9---|-----8-------8-------------------|
A:-7-------------------------------|-9-------------------------------|
E:-------------------------7-------|---------------------------------|
This next part joins the intro on its first repeat.
GUITAR 2 (six-string acoustic)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D:-0-------2---4---|-2-----0---------|---------0---2---|-----------------|
A:-----------------|---------4-------|-4---------------|-2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D:-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A:-2-------4-------|-0-------7/9-----|-7-------9---10--|-9~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-|
E:-----------------|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
In all, Don Felder, Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey managed to fit eight different
guitars in for this song. GUITAR 3 plays the cool "chicka" chords you hear
during the verses. Listen closely and you can pick this part out. Use
fret-hand muting on the following chords to get the percussive sound. In
other words, don't push the strings down on the fretboard, just touch the
strings so they can't vibrate much. In addition, palm-mute them to give a
sharper sound.
GUITAR 3 (slightly distorted electric, palm-muted)
On a dark desert high-way cool wind in my hair
E---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--2--2----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--|
B---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--2--2----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--|
G---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--3--3----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--|
D---9--9-----9--9-----9--9----9--9--|--4--4----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--|
A-----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
warm smell of co-li- tas rising up in the air.
E---5--5-----5--5-----5--5----5--5--|--7--7----7--7-----7--7-----7--7--|
B---5--5-----5--5-----5--5----5--5--|--7--7----7--7-----7--7-----7--7--|
G---6--6-----6--6-----6--6----6--6--|--7--7----7--7-----7--7-----7--7--|
D---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--6--6----6--6-----6--6-----6--6--|
A-----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
Up ahead in the dis-tance, I saw a shimmering light.
E---3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--|--2--2-----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--|
B---3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--|--3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--|
G---4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--|--2--2-----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--|
D---5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5--|--4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--|
A------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
E------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
E---3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--|
B---5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5--|
G---4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--|
D---5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5--|
A---------------------------------------------|
E---------------------------------------------|
I had to stop for the night.
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---4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--|
A------------------------------------|
E------------------------------------|
GUITARS 4 and 5 (distorted electrics) play chord tones in 3rds
during the verses. GUITAR 4 plays upper voicing, GUITAR 5 plays
the lower voicing. All the while, the 12-string continues
playing the intro chords.
There she stood... I heard the... And I was thinking..
E---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
B---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
G---7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|
D---9~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--8~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|
A---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
E---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
...heaven and this... Then she lit up... And she showed me...
E---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
B---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
G---4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---|
D---6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---|
A---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
E---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|
There were voices down... thought I heard them say.
1
E--------------------------|------------------------------------|
B--------------------------|------------------------------------|
G--------------------------|------------------------------------|
D---4/5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-----|--8^r-8~~~~~~~~~~~~--8--------------|
A---5/7--------------------|--9^r-9~~~~~~~~~~~~--9--------1-2-4-|
E--------------------------|----------------------------2-------|
This is the chorus. GUITAR 1 strums the following chords
(instead of picking them):
C G B7 Em
C G Am B7
GUITAR 4 & 5 play the following bit:
Welcome to the
Hotel California
E---------------------|---------------------------------------------|
B---------------------|--10-----10--12-----10--12/14-----12-----10--|
G---------------------|--11---------12-----11--12/14-----12-----11--|
D---------------------|---------------------------------------------|
A---5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|---------------------------------------------|
E---------------------|---------------------------------------------|
... such a lovely face
E---|--------------------------------------------------|
B---|--------------------------------------------------|
G---|--------------------------------------------------|
D---|-----------------------------------------2-----4--|
A---|--2~~~~~~~~~--4~~~~~~~~~---5----------------------|
E---|--------------------------------------------------|
Plenty of room...
E------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
B------------------------|-----15--------15--15---------------12--10-|
G------------------------|--14h16-----14h16--14-----------7---12--11-|
D---5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--------------------------16\7-------------|
A------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
E------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
Back to another verse. GUITAR 4 & 5 play
this now (similar to part one with bends):
Her mind is Tiffany... she got the Mercedes bends
E------------------------|--------------------------------|
B------------------------|--------------------------------|
G---7~~~~~~~~~---9---9^--|--6--------------------6--------|
D---9~~~~~~~~~--11--11^--|--8--------------------8--------|
A------------------------|--------------------------------|
E------------------------|--------------------------------|
She got a lot of pretty,... That she calls friends
E------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
B------------------------------------|---------------------------5--5^--|
G---6--------------------------------|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--6--6^--|
D---7--------------------------------|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------|
A------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
E------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
How they dance in ... sweet summer sweat
E------------------------------|--------------------------------
B------------------------------|--------------------------------
G---4--------------------------|--2-----------------------------
D---5--------------------------|--4--------------------------4/-
A------------------------------|-----------------------------5/-
E------------------------------|--------------------------------
Some dance to remember Some dance to forget
E---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
B---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
G---|------------------------------------------|-------------------------6--|
D---|--5--------------------------------8^-----|--8~~~~~-----8----9------8--|
A---|--7--------------------------------9^-----|--9~~~~~-----9----10--------|
E---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------|
Now, here's the reason for so many guitars. On the "So I called up the Captain"
verse, GUITAR 4 & 5 repeat the part from the last verse, while GUITAR 7 & 8
(distorted electrics) introduce this "answer" harmony. The 12-string is (still)
playing the verse chords.
So I called up the Captain
E---|-------------------14p13--14~~~~~~-----|
B---|---------------15--15p14--15~~~~~~-----|
G---|---------------16----------------------|
D---|---------------------------------------|
A---|---------------------------------------|
E---|---------------------------------------|
Please bring me my wine He said
E---------------------14p13--14~~~~~~-----|
B-----------------14--14p13--14~~~~~~-----|
G-----------------15----------------------|
D-----------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------|
We haven't had that spirit here since
E--------------------------12p11--12~~~~~~------|
B----------------------14--14p13--14~~~~~~------|
G----------------------14-----------------------|
D-----------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------|
nine - teen six - ty nine
E------------------------12p11--12~~~~~~-----|
B--------------------12--12p11--12~~~~~~-----|
G--------------------13----------------------|
D--------------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------------|
And still those voices are calling from
E------------------10p9---10~~~~~~-----|
B--------------12--12p10--12~~~~~~-----|
G--------------12----------------------|
D--------------------------------------|
A--------------------------------------|
E--------------------------------------|
far away
E----------------10p9--10~~~~~~--|
B------------10--10p9--10~~~~~~--|
G------------11------------------|
D--------------------------------|
A--------------------------------|
E--------------------------------|
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear...
E-----------------------------------------------|---------
B-----------------------12p10--12-------14^p12--|--14-----
G-------------------12--12p11--12-------14^p12--|--15-----
D-------------------14--------------------------|---------
A-----------------------------------------------|---------
E-----------------------------------------------|---------
GUITAR 4 & 5 have a new chorus thing,
GUITAR 1 plays chorus chords.
Welcome to the
Hotel California such a ...
rake----| pinch harmonics
E------------------10--------------------10--9--------------|
B----------------x--------------------10--------------------|
G--------------x--------9^r7-------9^-----------------------|
D------------x----------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------------|
Such a
lovely face They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
E----------------------|-----------------
B----------------------|-----------------
G----------------------|-----------------
D----------------2--4--|-5~~~~~~~~~------
A---2----4----5--------|-----------------
E----------------------|-----------------
pinch harmonics
1 1 1
E--------------22--22---------------------------------|
B---------22^----------22^r19-------------------------|
G--------------------------------21^-----21~~~~~~~~~--|
D-----------------------------------------------------|
A-----------------------------------------------------|
E-----------------------------------------------------|
The rest of the song repeats parts I've already tabbed. If you've
got the tape or CD, I suggest you listen to it while looking
at the tab to find these parts. Now the solos. These are tough,
so practice a lot and look at the rhythm I have laid out so you
can get a feel for how it's supposed to sound.
GUITAR 7
never leave. 1 1/2
+ + + + + + + +
e:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B:--------------------10h12---|-12^---------10-12-------------7---|
G:----------3//11-------------|-------------------9-------7-9---7-|
D:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|
A:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|
E:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|
slow bend and release
1/2
+ + + + + + + +
e:------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
B:------------------------------------|-----7---------------7-----------|
G:------------------------------------|-7h9---7---------7h9---7---------|
D:-8--------9h12p9-7^~~~~~~~~~r\\\----|---------9p8-9-----------9p8-9p8-|
A:------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E:------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 hold.... 1/2 1 hold.... 1 1 1
+ + + + + + + +
e:--------10-------------------7---10^~~~~|~~~~-10--10^r~p7-----10--------------|
B:-10^~~~~~~~~r-7-10-8^~~~~~~~---7--------|-----------------10^----10^r8---10-0-|
G:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
1 1 all 1/2 step > > > > > > >
+ + + + + + + +
e:-----10--------------------------|-----------------------------------|
B:---------------------------------|-----7^--7^~r-------7^-7^-7^~r-----|
G:-9^------9^r-7---7p6-7~~~~~~~~~--|-7h9----------9-7-9------------9p7-|
D:---------------7-----------------|-----------------------------------|
A:---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
E:---------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
1 1 1 1
+ + + +
e:-----------------------------------|
B:-----------------------------------|
G:-9^----9^-----9^r7-9^~~~~~~~~~~----|
D:-----------------------------------|
A:-----------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------|
Enter GUITAR 8, second soloist:
slow bend
1 1 1 1 1 1 hold.........slide up
+ + + + + + + +
e:--------------7-------------7----------|---------------------------------|
B:----7-10----7-7----7-7----7-7----------|---------------------------------|
G:-9^------9^-----9^-----9^-----9^r7-9-7-|-9^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~////------------|
D:---------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A:---------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E:---------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 1/2 1
+ + + + + + + +
e:------------------------------7--------|-------10-------------------------------|
B:------------------------10^-------10-7-|-10h12----10-12-11-10-9~~~~~~~~~~~////--|
G:-11^~~~~r-9-11-7-----------------------|----------------------------------------|
D:--------------------9-0----------------|----------------------------------------|
A:---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E:---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
slow bend
1 1/2 1 hold...
+ + + +
e:----------------12----------17---------------|
B:-------12-15^------15-17^-------17r-15-17-15-|
G:-14^-----------------------------------------|
D:---------------------------------------------|
A:---------------------------------------------|
E:---------------------------------------------|
1 1 1 1 hold........ 1 1
+ + + + + + + +
e:-----15-16-17-17^---------------------------|-------17---17------------------------|
B:-17^--------------17^r---15~~~~~-17---17p15-|-17^-----------17r-17^-----17^r-15----|
G:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
D:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
First soloist returns here.
GUITAR 8:
1 hold........ 1 1 1
+ + + + + + + +
e:-------17---17------------------------|-17^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-------------------|
B:-17^-----------17r-17^-----17^r-15-15-|--------------------------------------------|
G:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
D:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
A:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
GUITAR 7:
1 all 1 1/2 >> > > > > > > > >
+ + + + + + + +
e:--------------------------------------|---------------------10---10----------------|
B:---------------------------12^r-12-12-|-12^~~~~~~~~~~----12^--12^------------------|
G:--------------------------------------|-----------------------------11\9\7---------|
D:--------------------------------------|------------------------------------9---8---|
A:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
E:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
GUITAR 7:
+ + + +
e:-6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------|
B:----------------------------------|
G:----------------------------------|
D:----------------------------------|
A:----------------------------------|
E:----------------------------------|
back to GUITAR 8
1 grad. release................ 1
+ + + + + + + +
e:-12^-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12p10----12-10-|----------------------------------------|
B:--------------------------------------12-------|-12------10-------------10--------------|
G:-----------------------------------------------|------------11\9\7-9-11---------7-9^----|
D:-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
A:-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
E:-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
Now, both play at the same time until end.
GUITAR 8:
+ + + +
e:-10--------------------------------------------|
B:----10-14----12----10--------------------------|
G:----------12----11-------12--------------------|
D:----------------------12----9-12---------------|
A:---------------------------------12\10\9-10/12-|
E:-----------------------------------------------|
GUITAR 7:
+ + + +
e:-7---------------------------------------------|
B:----7--10----7---------------------------------|
G:----------------7--9-----7---------------------|
D:----------7-----------9--------7---------------|
A:----------------------------9----9\\7\5--7//9--|
E:-----------------------------------------------|
GUITAR 8:
1
+ + + + + + + +
e:-------14-10-12-10--------------------------|--------------------------|
B:--------------------------------------------|--------------10----12----|
G:-------------------12^r--11------------11---|--12-------12-------------|
D:-12-----------------------------------------|--------------------------|
A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
GUITAR 7:
e:-------7------------------------------------|--------------------------|
B:----------7--10-7---------------------------|--5--------5--7-----8-----|
G:-------------------9^r---7-------------7----|--------------------------|
D:-7------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|
GUITAR 8:
+ + + +
e:----------9-10----12----|
B:-11---------------------|
G:------------------------|
D:------------------------|
A:------------------------|
E:------------------------|
GUITAR 7:
e:----------6-7-----9-----|
B:-7----------------------|
G:------------------------|
D:------------------------|
A:------------------------|
E:------------------------|
Since the top 3 strings are the only ones used for the final riff,
that's all I'll show in the tab. Both parts will be shown, GUITAR 8
plays high, GUITAR 7 plays low.
GUITAR 7
e-10----10----10----10----10------9-----9-----9----9/14------
B---12----12----12----12----12-----11----11----11------------
G-----11----11----11----11----11-----11----11----------------
GUITAR 8
e-14----14----14----14-----14-----12----12----12--12/18------
B---15----15----15----15-----15-----14----14----14-----------
G-----16----16----16----16-----16-----15----15---------------
GUITAR 7
E--9-----9-----9-----9-----9------7-----7-----7----7/12------
B---10----10----10----10----10------9-----9-----9------------
G------9-----9-----9-----9-----9------9-----9----------------
GUITAR 8
E-12----12----12----12-----12-----10----10----10--10/15------
B---14----14----14----14-----14-----12----12----12-----------
G-----14----14----14----14-----14-----13----13---------------
GUITAR 7
E-7------7------7-----7-----7-----5------5----5-----5/10-----
B----8------8-----8-----8-----8------7-----7-----7-----------
G------7------7-----7-----7-----7------7-----7---------------
GUITAR 8
E-10----10----10----10-----10-----10----10----10--10/14------
B---12----12----12----12-----12-----10----10----10-----------
G-----12----12----12----12-----12-----11----11---------------
GUITAR 7
E--3-----3-----3-----3-----3------6-----6-----6----6/9------
B----5-----5-----5-----5-----5------7-----7-----7------------
G------4-----4-----4-----4-----4------8-----8----------------
GUITAR 8
E--7-----7-----7-----7------7------9-----9-----9---9/14------
B----8-----8-----8-----8------8-----11----11----11-----------
G------9-----9-----9-----9------9-----11----11---------------
Repeat and fade...
Thanks to Robert Luna (rluna@eden.com)
Here are the lyrics:
On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy, and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself
This could be Heaven or this could be Hell
Then she lit up a candle
And she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (any time of year)
You can find it here
You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany twisted
She's got the Mercedes bends
She's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
That she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard
Sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember
Some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain
Please bring me my wine
He said
We haven't had that spirit here since 1969
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely Place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibies
Mirrors on the ceiling
Pink champagne on ice
And she said
We are all just prisoners here
Of our own device
And in the master's chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember
I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
Relax said the nightman
We are programed to recieve
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave