If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to play “Hallelujah” on piano, you’re in the right place. This timeless classic, originally written by Leonard Cohen and popularized by Jeff Buckley, is one of the most beautiful and haunting songs you can learn—even as a beginner. In this step-by-step lesson, I’ll teach you the chords, the melody, and how to put both hands together to create a simple, yet powerful arrangement.
✅ Summary
Song: Hallelujah
Level: Beginner
Chords Used: C, G, F, A minor, E
Key Focus: Matching lyrics to chords, melody in right hand, combining both hands
🎼 Chords You’ll Need
You only need five basic chords to play “Hallelujah”:
1. C Major
- Notes: C – E – G
- This is your home base chord.
2. G Major
- Notes: G – B – D
- A strong supporting chord that gives the progression direction.
3. F Major
- Notes: F – A – C
- Adds warmth and emotion to the harmony.
4. A Minor
- Notes: A – C – E
- This chord gives that melancholic “minor fall” feeling.
5. E Major
- Notes: E – G# – B
- Don’t be intimidated by the G#—it actually feels very natural under your fingers.
Take a moment to practice these chords in your left hand. Get comfortable switching between them before we add melody.
🎤 How the Lyrics and Chords Align (Musical Wordplay)
There’s a magical moment in “Hallelujah” where the lyrics describe the music:
“It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth / The minor falls, the major lifts…”
And guess what? The chords do exactly that:
- “The fourth” = F major (the fourth chord in the key of C)
- “The fifth” = G major
- “The minor fall” = A minor
- “The major lift” = F major
This clever alignment of music and words is part of what makes “Hallelujah” such a brilliant song—and it helps you memorize the chord progression too!
🎵 Right Hand: Playing the Melody
Now let’s learn the melody in your right hand. We’ll start with your middle finger on G to set your hand in the right position.
Here’s a snippet of how the melody lines up with lyrics:
- “I heard there was” → Start on G
- “A secret chord” → A → E → G
- “That David played and it pleased the Lord” → Continue from A upward
The melody follows a natural contour and uses mostly stepwise motion, making it great for beginners. Be mindful of finger positioning, especially near the end where you’ll need to use your ring finger, thumb, pointer, and middle finger in sequence.
Tricky part? Practice the A – G – E – C – B – C ending slowly and repeat a few times until it feels comfortable.
Here’s the next part of the song:
✋ Putting It All Together: Both Hands
Now comes the fun part—combining the chords and melody!
Left Hand:
Use root position chords:
- C
- G
- F
- A minor
- E major
Right Hand:
Play the melody using the fingering and rhythms we just learned.
Pro Tip:
To avoid hand collisions, play some chords (like A minor) lower in the left hand. Listen carefully to how the melody and harmony interact, and don’t rush. Play slowly and let the beauty of the song shine through.
🎧 Full Playthrough
Once you’ve practiced both hands separately, try playing along with a slow run-through of the full arrangement. Focus on:
- Timing
- Phrasing
- Smooth transitions
You’ll notice that even a simple beginner arrangement of “Hallelujah” can sound incredibly moving.
👍 Final Tips
- Start slow and practice small sections at a time.
- Use the lyrics to help you remember the chord progression.
- Don’t worry if it’s not perfect—enjoy the process!
We hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to play “Hallelujah” on piano. If you found this guide helpful, check out more of our easy piano songs tutorials.
