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Song

Hallelujah Bass Tab

Leonard Cohen · from Various Positions, 1984

Cohen's modern hymn in the key of C — five open chords cycling through the verse and the "Hallelujah" refrain. Played with no capo, so guitar, piano and bass all use the exact same chords. Every diagram is sourced live from the chord library.

GuitarPianoSimple Bass
KeyC Major
DifficultyBeginner
PatternRoot note, one per chord

Verse

GDAE3C0A3C0A1F0G3C0G3C1F0G0A1F0G0E0A

Chorus

GDAE1F0A1F3C0G3C
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Questions about Hallelujah on simple bass

What key is Hallelujah in?

C major. It cycles through C, Am, F, G and an E7 that leans back into Am — the "minor fall, major lift" the lyric describes. There is no capo, so guitar, piano and bass all play these same chords at the same pitch.

What does the bass play in Hallelujah?

The simplest line follows the root of each chord — C, A, F, G, and E under the E7. With no capo these are the true pitches, identical to what the guitar and piano outline.

Chords & variants

CChordAmChordFChordGChordE7Chord GuitarThis songPianoThis song