Hotel California by Eagles





"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	H7	Dsus2	E9	C	G	Am7	H7





------------------------------------------------------------------------

   +       +       +       +         +       +       +       +

e:-7---------------7---------------|-----------9---------------------|

H:-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--------------|

H:-------10-10----10-------10-------7-|------------7---------------------|

G:-----9-----------------9--------9---|--------7-----7-------------------|

D:-7-----------------7----------------|----------------12----------------|

A:----------------------------7-------|-11-------------------------------|

E:------------------------------------|----------------------------------|





   +        +       +        +         +        +       +       +

e:------------------7----------------|-----10-----7----------------------|

H:------------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---------------|

H:-----------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:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

H:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

D:-0-------2---4---|-2-----0---------|---------0---2---|-----------------|

A:-----------------|---------4-------|-4---------------|-2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-|

E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|





   +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +

e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

H:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|

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--|

H---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--|

H---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--|

H---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--|

H---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--|

H---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---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|

H---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|

G---7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|

D---9~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--8~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|

A---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|

E---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|

                                                                                

 ...heaven and this...  Then she lit up...    And she showed me...

E---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

H---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

G---4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---|

D---6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---|

A---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|

E---------------------|--------------------|---------------------|



    There were voices down...  thought I heard them say.

			       1

E--------------------------|------------------------------------|

H--------------------------|------------------------------------|

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	H7	Em

C	G	Am	H7

GUITAR 4 & 5 play the following bit:



Welcome to the

     Hotel California

E---------------------|---------------------------------------------|

H---------------------|--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---|--------------------------------------------------|

H---|--------------------------------------------------|

G---|--------------------------------------------------|

D---|-----------------------------------------2-----4--|

A---|--2~~~~~~~~~--4~~~~~~~~~---5----------------------|

E---|--------------------------------------------------|



    Plenty of room...

E------------------------|-------------------------------------------|

H------------------------|-----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------------------------|--------------------------------|

H------------------------|--------------------------------|

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------------------------------------|----------------------------------|

H------------------------------------|---------------------------5--5^--|

G---6--------------------------------|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--6--6^--|

D---7--------------------------------|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------|

A------------------------------------|----------------------------------|

E------------------------------------|----------------------------------|



     How they dance in ...      sweet summer sweat

E------------------------------|--------------------------------

H------------------------------|--------------------------------

G---4--------------------------|--2-----------------------------

D---5--------------------------|--4--------------------------4/-

A------------------------------|-----------------------------5/-

E------------------------------|--------------------------------



      Some dance to remember                     Some dance to forget

E---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------|

H---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------|

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~~~~~~-----|

H---|---------------15--15p14--15~~~~~~-----|

G---|---------------16----------------------|

D---|---------------------------------------|

A---|---------------------------------------|

E---|---------------------------------------|



   Please bring me my wine           He said

E---------------------14p13--14~~~~~~-----|

H-----------------14--14p13--14~~~~~~-----|

G-----------------15----------------------|

D-----------------------------------------|

A-----------------------------------------|

E-----------------------------------------|



   We haven't had that spirit here since

E--------------------------12p11--12~~~~~~------|

H----------------------14--14p13--14~~~~~~------|

G----------------------14-----------------------|

D-----------------------------------------------|

A-----------------------------------------------|

E-----------------------------------------------|



    nine - teen six - ty nine

E------------------------12p11--12~~~~~~-----|

H--------------------12--12p11--12~~~~~~-----|

G--------------------13----------------------|

D--------------------------------------------|

A--------------------------------------------|

E--------------------------------------------|



   And still those voices are calling from

E------------------10p9---10~~~~~~-----|

H--------------12--12p10--12~~~~~~-----|

G--------------12----------------------|

D--------------------------------------|

A--------------------------------------|

E--------------------------------------|



   far   away

E----------------10p9--10~~~~~~--|

H------------10--10p9--10~~~~~~--|

G------------11------------------|

D--------------------------------|

A--------------------------------|

E--------------------------------|





 Wake you up in the middle of the night                just to hear...

E-----------------------------------------------|---------

H-----------------------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--------------|

H----------------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----------------------|-----------------

H----------------------|-----------------

G----------------------|-----------------

D----------------2--4--|-5~~~~~~~~~------

A---2----4----5--------|-----------------

E----------------------|-----------------



                                 pinch harmonics

	    1		 1	   1

E--------------22--22---------------------------------|

H---------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:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|

H:--------------------10h12---|-12^---------10-12-------------7---|

G:----------3//11-------------|-------------------9-------7-9---7-|

D:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|

A:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|

E:----------------------------|-----------------------------------|





                  slow bend and release

                    1/2

   +        +         +       +         +       +       +       +

e:------------------------------------|---------------------------------|

H:------------------------------------|-----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--------------|

H:-10^~~~~~~~~r-7-10-8^~~~~~~~---7--------|-----------------10^----10^r8---10-0-|

G:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

D:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

A:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

E:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|





    1       1                         all 1/2 step > > > > > > >

   +       +       +       +         +       +        +       +

e:-----10--------------------------|-----------------------------------|

H:---------------------------------|-----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:-----------------------------------|

H:-----------------------------------|

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----------|---------------------------------|

H:----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-------------------------------|

H:------------------------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---------------|

H:-------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------------------------|

H:-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^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-------------------|

H:-17^-----------17r-17^-----17^r-15-15-|--------------------------------------------|

G:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|

D:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|

A:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|

E:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|



GUITAR 7:

                               1        all 1 1/2 >> > > > > > > > >

   +       +         +       +            +       +        +          +

e:--------------------------------------|---------------------10---10----------------|

H:---------------------------12^r-12-12-|-12^~~~~~~~~~~----12^--12^------------------|

G:--------------------------------------|-----------------------------11\9\7---------|

D:--------------------------------------|------------------------------------9---8---|

A:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|

E:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|





------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUITAR 7:



	   +       +       +        +

	e:-6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------|

	H:----------------------------------|

	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-|----------------------------------------|

H:--------------------------------------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--------------------------------------------|

H:----10-14----12----10--------------------------|

G:----------12----11-------12--------------------|

D:----------------------12----9-12---------------|

A:---------------------------------12\10\9-10/12-|

E:-----------------------------------------------|



GUITAR 7:

   +           +           +          +

e:-7---------------------------------------------|

H:----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--------------------------|--------------------------|

H:--------------------------------------------|--------------10----12----|

G:-------------------12^r--11------------11---|--12-------12-------------|

D:-12-----------------------------------------|--------------------------|

A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|

E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|



GUITAR 7:

e:-------7------------------------------------|--------------------------|

H:----------7--10-7---------------------------|--5--------5--7-----8-----|

G:-------------------9^r---7-------------7----|--------------------------|

D:-7------------------------------------------|--------------------------|

A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|

E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------|





------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUITAR 8:

   +     +    +     +

e:----------9-10----12----|

H:-11---------------------|

G:------------------------|

D:------------------------|

A:------------------------|

E:------------------------|



GUITAR 7:

e:----------6-7-----9-----|

H:-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------

H---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------

H---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------

H---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------

H---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-----

H----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------

H---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------

H----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------

H----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)