Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen Ukulele Tutorial

by | Apr 5, 2018 | Video lessons

Download Free Sheet Music for Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen

Before we proceed to the Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen ukulele tutorial, it’s important to have a great start. So let’s first get you a copy of the sheet music. Unlock a copy of the lyrics and chords by signing up for our email list.

HALLELUJAH UKULELE TUTORIAL

So let’s begin with the Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen ukulele tutorial starting with the chords. The song has only five chords – C, A minor, F, G and E minor. And it also has a fairly simple strumming pattern: down-up, down-up, down-up, down-up flow. But in the third verse, you play the chords in an arpeggiated style.  That is, playing each note of a chord – one at a time. See how Jenny illustrates this style in the video. In addition, Jenny also does a very cool solo ukulele that you don’t want to miss.

 

COHEN’S INGENIOUS LYRICS

While Leonard Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was mostly known as a singer and songwriter, he actually started as a writer in the 1950s. He worked as a poet and a novelist until the late 1960s when he also started his music career. Hallelujah is an ingeniously written composition widely thought of as an archetypal secular hymn.

Cohen started with an astonishing eighty verses of lyrics for Hallelujah. He cut this to a final four-verse recording which was released in 1984. But the alternate verses and lyrics sometimes come up not only in Cohen’s shows but in the hundreds of later cover versions.

RELIGIOUS CONNOTATIONS

Cohen wrote brilliant lyrical narratives about Biblical characters. These include King David and Bathsheba, and the tragic love affair of Samson and Delilah. These narratives coupled with thoughtful lines about love, despair, dejection and redemption make “Hallelujah” an interesting and thought-provoking song.

EARLY RENDITIONS OF “HALLELUJAH” BY LEONARD COHEN

While “Hallelujah” was not a commercial hit initially, famous musicians such as Bob Dylan and Velvet Underground’s John Cale recognized the beauty of this Cohen composition. Bob Dylan performed the song in some of his shows in the late 1980s. John Cale, on the other hand, recorded a version of it in 1991 in a Leonard Cohen tribute album. Cale’s version included lyrics which were different from Cohen’s earlier version. Cale requested the lyrics of the song from Cohen. Cohen then sent him several pages of the song’s original verses. Consequently, Cale got to pick which verses suited him.

Jeff Buckley, influenced by Cale’s version, released a cover recording in 1991. Songwriters and critics alike regard Buckley’s soulfully sung version as one of the greatest songs of our time. Buckley’s “as near perfect as you can get” rendition contributed to the song finally getting worldwide recognition.

VARIOUS COVERS AND INTERPRETATIONS

In fact, more than 300 singers from various countries have covered “Hallelujah” to date. What’s interesting is that these different covers convey different interpretations and moods depending on the performer. These range from sorrowful to joyous, fragile to uplifting, and religious to sexual. Also, many movies and TV programs have now featured “Hallelujah”, the most notable of which is the first Shrek film in 2001.

Finally, let’s not forget to mention that the famous ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro also included a solo ukulele cover of “Hallelujah” in his 2011 “Peace, Love, Ukulele” album. Even though the song’s lyrics are definitely unforgettable, its melody and chord progression are also most noteworthy.

If you enjoyed this post, you’ll enjoy these related posts:

These posts will show you how to play other hymns on the ukulele.

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In our Hymn Kits you'll find something for varied learners, from beginners to a little more advanced.

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  1. Teach a Rest Position

Create a standard position players use whenever they are listening:

  • Place the ukulele flat against the body.
  • Rest the strumming hand gently on the strings.
  • Keep both hands still.
  • Look toward the leader.

Call it “rest position” and demonstrate it at the group’s first meeting. Use the same phrase consistently: “Ukuleles in rest position, please.”

This physically mutes the strings and gives everyone a clear visual signal that playing has stopped.

  1. Use One Attention Signal

Choose a signal that can be seen or heard across the room. Possibilities include:

  • Raising one hand
  • Playing a short, distinctive chord
  • Saying, “Rest position”

Explain the signal before rehearsal begins: “When you see my hand raised, finish the chord you are playing, mute your strings, and look up.”

Avoid competing with the group by repeatedly talking over the instruments. Give the signal, pause, and wait until everyone is ready.

  1. Set a Clear “No Noodling” Expectation

Many players noodle because they are excited, nervous, practicing a difficult chord, or unaware that it is distracting. Address the behavior without embarrassing anyone.

Try saying:

“Between songs, please mute your strings so everyone can hear the instructions. We’ll always give you a moment to check chords before we begin.”

Then build short, intentional practice windows into the session:

  • “Take 20 seconds to find the opening chord.”
  • “Quietly check the change from C to G7.”
  • “Let’s try that strum together once.”

Players are more likely to stop playing at random when they know when practice is welcome.

  1. Amplify the Leader, Not the Entire Room

In larger groups, a small microphone, portable speaker, or amplified ukulele can save the leader’s voice and make directions easier to follow. Amplification should provide clarity—not to overpower the players.

Test the equipment before the session, position the speaker where everyone can hear it, and keep spoken instructions short. A microphone cannot replace an attention routine, but it makes a good routine much more effective.

  1. Create Predictable Transitions

Noodling often fills uncertainty. Tell players exactly what is happening next:

    1. “Finish the final chord.”
    2. “Rest position.”
    3. “Turn to page 14.”
    4. “Find a C chord.”
    5. “Watch for my count-in.”

Use a visible or audible count-in before every song. Once players learn that nothing begins until the leader counts them in, spontaneous starts become less common.

6. Operate iPads for music.

Many ukulele groups read off iPads, and everyone buys the same app. forScore is one of the common ones, but don’t get anything until the group leader tells you which one they use. From there, the leader or the singer/songwriter shares the music by AirDrop, so everyone is reading off the same page. Corrections land with the whole group at once, and nobody is working from an outdated copy.

 

A Simple Group Agreement

At the beginning of a session, say:

“To help everyone hear and learn, we use rest position whenever someone is speaking. When I raise my hand, please mute your strings and look up. You’ll have time to check chords before each song, and we’ll always start together on the count-in.”

The goal is not silence for its own sake. It is to create a group in which instructions are brief, rehearsals move smoothly, and everyone gets more time to make music together.

 

Here’s a list of etiquette expectations from ukulele group members to make the group learning more effective and fruitful for everyone. 

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