Hallelujah

Jeff Buckley

Key: C majorNo capo6/8~66 BPM

Standard tuning · Two pulses per bar

C: low to high muted, 3, 2, 0, 1, 0IC×Am: low to high muted, 0, 2, 2, 1, 0viAm×F: low to high 1, 3, 3, 2, 1, 1IVFG: low to high 3, 2, 0, 0, 0, 3VGE7: low to high 0, 2, 0, 1, 0, 0III7E7

C → Am · flowing arpeggio, let the strings ring

C → Am · flowing arpeggio, let the strings ringeBGDAEC301010123456Am021012123456

VerseRepeating cycle

Gentle fingerpicking; follow the arpeggio above.

8 bars
Progression bars 1–8ICviAmICviAmIVFVGICVG123456123456123456123456123456123456123456123456

BuildOne-time passage

A little more movement. Brush lightly or keep picking.Light brush · alternate to fingerpicking

8 bars
Progression bars 1–8ICIVFVGviAmIVFVGIII7E7viAmviAm123456123456123456123456123456123456123456123456Light brush · alternate to fingerpickingSTRUMone full bar · repeat as needed123456

RefrainRepeating cycle

Fuller, open chords. Let the two-bar holds breathe.Six downstrokes · accents on 1 and 4

8 bars
Progression bars 1–8IVFIVFviAmviAmIVFIVFICVG123456123456123456123456123456123456123456123456Six downstrokes · accents on 1 and 4STRUMone full bar · repeat as needed123456

Outro / TurnaroundOne-time passage

Soften the picking; resolve the final G to C.

4 bars
Progression bars 1–4ICviAmICVG123456123456123456123456

Additional tips

Performance Feel 6/8 in two groups of three; ~66 counts the big pulses. E7’s G♯ pulls toward Am.

Touch Keep the bass steady and the upper notes soft. Let the refrain grow through touch, not extra speed.

Start improvising C major pentatonic: C–D–E–G–A (same notes as A minor pentatonic). Try two-bar phrases; land on C or E over C, and A or C over Am.

Follow the chords C major adds F and B. Over F, resolve to F or A rather than holding E; over G, aim for G, B or D. Leave a little silence after each phrase.

At E7 → Am Use G♯ instead of G over E7, then resolve G♯ up to A on Am. A harmonic minor (A–B–C–D–E–F–G♯) is a local option for this change, not the whole song.