Hotel California Vocals and Guitar

This course is for you if you are a musician and want to learn how to play and sing “Hotel California”, an iconic Eagles song. This song is famous for its deep lyrics and melancholic vibe, as well as its incredible guitar solos and intricate vocals.

In this class, we'll focus primarily on singing, but we'll also go over guitar chords and playing techniques to help you understand and perform this song.

We'll break down the song phrase by phrase and give you tips for improving your vocal and guitar technique throughout the song. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced musician, this course will allow you to master “Hotel California” so that you can play and sing it with confidence and pleasure.

Hotel California Song and Guitar: The Song

To begin the introduction of Hotel California des Eagles is long so if you don't play guitar you need to be able to find your way.
There are 8 measures of chords times two, so 16 measures. If you don't want to count the battery, start a call on the tom on the last measure on the "4 and"

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Mixed voice

Overall the whole song requires a lot of vocal support because we are in mixed vocals throughout.
It's about pushing and relying on your air reserve but without screaming! Lots of respiratory impulse but little vocal volume, that's the difficulty of this song. Pay attention to the rhythm of the song which mixes triplets of eighth notes and sixteenth notes, which gives this ternary binary mixture sometimes on the same phrase.
Always notice the words that fall on beat, they will be your safety beacons in the event of a loss of rhythm to help you hang on to the song. Be careful because Don Henley sing high!

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: The detail of the song by phrase

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Verse 1

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair

The song starts on the eighth note in the air of 1. The intensity decreases until the “hair”, very soft and placed on the beat.

Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air

The song begins on the eighth note in the air of 1. The intensity is decrescendo until the “air”, very soft and placed on the beat. Pay attention to the descent of not on “air”

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light

The song starts on the eighth note in the air of 1. “Up ahead” must be very rhythmic.
The intensity decreases to “light”, very soft and placed on time. Pay attention to the descent of notes on “air”

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night

Start of the song on the 2nd double of beat 1 and “My head grew heavy” must be very rhythmic.
Pay attention to the note on “Dim” because it is high.

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Verse 2

There she stood in the doorway  I heard the mission bell

The song starts on the eighth note in the air of 1. The intensity is decrescendo until the “Bell”, very soft and placed on the 2nd sixteenth note of the beat (as if it were late).

And I was thinking to myself, this could be heaven or this could be hell          

The “and” comes from an “N’” and it is stuck to the “I” (it’s a 4th sixteenth note). Project your voice well on my-“self”. The intensity is decrescendo until the “hell”, very soft and placed on the 2nd sixteenth note of the beat (as if it were late).

Then she reads up a candle,  and she showed me the way

The song starts again on the eighth note in the air of 1.

There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say…

The song starts here again on the eighth note in the air of 1. Project your voice well on the “say” and don't add anything behind it, it's straight! It’s in the 4th verse that we add the “hey”, not here!

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Chorus 1

This chorus is high and has two additional choirs. Chorus 1 is at the fifth an octave below then switches to the 3rd.
Choir 2 is in the third an octave above then switches to the lead

Welcome to the Hotel California.

Chorus 1 is at the fifth an octave below. Choir 2 is in the third an octave higher.

Such a lovely place,(such a lovely place) such a lovely face

On the text in parentheses: Choir 1 is in the third and choir 2 is in the lead.

There's plenty of room at the Hotel California

Chorus 1 is at the fifth an octave below. Choir 2 is in the third an octave higher.

Anytime of year,(anytime of year) you can find us here…

On the text in parentheses: Choir 1 is in the third and choir 2 is in the lead.

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Verse 3

Her mind is Tiffany twisted, She got a Mercedes Benz, Hugh!

The song starts here on the second sixteenth note of beat 1. “Tiffany” is a beautiful eighth note triplet!
The “Hugh!” » or “huh! » is dry and projects onto the 4th beat.

She got a lot of pretty pretty boys, that she calls friends

The song starts here on the second sixteenth note of beat 1. The 2nd pretty starts on the 2nd sixteenth note of beat 3.
Pay attention to the descent of min D notes, if on “Friends”.

How they danced in the court yard sweet summer sweatshirt

The song starts here on the eighth note in the air of 1. Place the eighth note triplet on “Summer” and “sweat” on the beat.

Some dance to remember, some dance to forget

The song also starts here on the eighth note in the air of 1 on the two “some”.

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Verse 4

So I called up the captain  please bring me my wine (he said)

The song starts here on the second sixteenth note of beat 1. The “he said” is not sung, it is spoken.

We haven't had that spirit here since 1969

The song also starts on the second sixteenth note of beat 1.
This phrase is very choppy due to the second sixteenth notes.

And still those voices are calling from far away

This sentence is harmonized. Pay attention to the note on “away” re, si, la.

Wake you up… in the middle of the night, just to hear them say hey

Departure on and of 1 and very rhythmic “wake you up”. This time don’t forget the “hey” at the end!

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Chorus 2

Welcome to the Hotel California.

Chorus 1 is at the fifth an octave below. Choir 2 is in the third an octave higher.

Such a lovely place,(such a lovely place) such a lovely face

On the text in parentheses: Choir 1 is in the third and choir 2 is in the lead.

They're livin' in up at the Hotel California

Chorus 1 is at the fifth an octave below. Choir 2 is in the third an octave higher.

What a nice surprise, (what a nice surprise) bring your alibis

On the text in parentheses: Choir 1 is in the third and choir 2 is in the lead. Attention “Bring your alibis” is held until almost the end of the measure.

Hotel California Singing and Guitar: Verse 5:

Very light placement at the edge of the head voice until “And in the master…” where we return to a sustained mixer.

Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice (and she said)

Pay attention to the eighth note triplet at the beginning of the phrase. The “she said” is spoken and not sung.

We are all just pri-so-ners here,  of our own device.

Here we have an eighth note triplet on the “Prisoners”. 

And in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast

Think that from this sentence we return to sustained mixed. Pay attention to the articulation of “gathered”.

They stabilize it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast

Starts on the 2nd sixteenth note of 1 and very staccato phrase! Like a stab 🙂
Supports “just” “can’t” “kill” and “beast”

Last thing I remember, I was running for the door

The song begins on the eighth note in the air of 1. “I was” is spoken, not sung.

I had to find the passage back to the place I was before

“I” is on the 4th sixteenth note of beat 1 and “bad” is on the 2nd beat. Pay attention to the descent of the “before” mi, re, si.

“Relax” said the night man we are programmed to receive

This sentence is spoken, you have to imagine the night watchman saying it.

You can check out any-time you like, but you can never leave…

Start of the phrase on the and of the 2 with “you can check” very rhythmic. The “never” that goes up to Sib must be heartbreaking.
Pay attention to the notes of “leave” Fa Mi Fa.

Hotel California Singing and Guitar chords at the same time

If you are a guitarist, you probably know the timeless song “Hotel California” by the group Eagles, appreciated for its poetic lyrics and its complex musical arrangement. If you want to learn how to play this song and sing at the same time, this article will give you the chords you need to play the guitar, as well as tips for coordinating your guitar movements with your voice.

Hotel California Vocals and chords Guitar: Many chords

There are many chords in this song, with two different chord progressions for the verses and choruses. Here we will use a capo in fret 2. The chords are relatively simple, with the exception of the F barre which can be difficult for beginners. If you have trouble with this strikethrough, you can find an easier version on the Yooplay website.

To play the chords, you will play notes for each chord, four beats per note. The chords are Am, E, G, D, F, C, Dm.

Hotel California Vocals and Guitar Chords: Cue the Vocals

Once you've mastered the chords, it's time to work on the vocals. To sing this song, you need to know the lyrics and melody well. If you're not sure of the melody, you can listen to the song several times to become familiar with it.

Then you can start singing while playing the chords. It may be difficult at first, but with practice you will be able to coordinate your guitar movements with your voice. Don't be discouraged if it takes time for everything to fall into place.

Hotel California Vocals and guitar chords: To go further

Finally, once you are comfortable with the chords and singing, you can work on the rhythm version of the song. This version is a little more complex than the version with the simple chords, but it adds an interesting dimension to the song.

Hotel California Vocals and Guitar

I invite you to refer to the previous course for more details on singing and its work. In the previous lesson you were able to learn to sing in tune with guitar chords.

But now we are going to go further. In fact, you will be able to work on the rhythm of the guitar while singing, which will allow you to better synchronize your vocal movements with those of the instrument.

Hotel California Vocals and guitar rhythm

Be careful, because “Hotel California” is a song that requires playing many different chords. It is therefore important to know them well in order to successfully play it correctly.

Hotel California Vocals and guitar rhythm: Chords

Most chords are relatively easy to play, but the F barre chord can be a little more difficult for beginners to master. If you have difficulty with this chord, you can use the easy version that you will find on the Yooplay website to replace the F barre chord. This will allow you to play the song more easily. The chords are always played in fret 2 and are always A minor, E major, G major, D major, F major, C major and D minor.

Hotel California Singing and guitar rhythm: the repetitive Guitar rhythm

The rhythm is always the same from the beginning to the end of the song. For you it will be a matter of being endurance and being consistent throughout.
We will play rounds and rhythm below:

Low-Low Low-Low-High Low-High-Low Low-Low-High  

Hotel California Vocals and guitar rhythm: the Guitar rhythm at the end of Verse 6

The final part of verse 6 of “Hotel California” includes a rather particular rhythm section. On the third beat, you will have to play three sixteenth notes, which are followed by stopping the sound with the palm of your hand. This playing technique is often called “palm mute,” and it creates a clean break in the music, which serves to introduce the guitar solo that follows.

Hotel California Vocals and guitar rhythm: the Guitar rhythm of the End Setup

As for the ending of the song, there are two ways to play it. The first option is to end the song on an Am chord, which is the last chord in the song's chord progression sequence. This will give the song a clean ending.

However, if you want to finish the song a little more elaborately, you can play a little setup on the Am chord using your pinky finger to add a G note in the bass on the third sixteenth note of the beat. This little setup is very quick, and it allows you to create a transition effect for the end of the song. To play it correctly, you must immediately stop the sound with the palm of your hand, just after playing this G note in bass.

You want more ? Check out our course Hotel California Guitar which includes all the guitars of the song and especially the intro!