Hotel California Ukulele Tutorial Including Fingerpicking Instrumental Coda

by | Jul 8, 2019 | Video lessons | 23 comments

Let’s try a 70’s hit song with our new video, “Hotel California” ukulele tutorial.  The video includes a ukulele rendition of the famous guitar coda. So be sure to stick to the end to check out the cool ukulele fingerpicking part.

Before we proceed to the Hotel California 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 by signing up for our email list now.

If you’re part of our mailing list, you would have already received the sheet music. The sheet music includes lyrics and chords plus the fingerpicking tab of the instrumental solo. If you’re not part of our mailing list, don’t forget to subscribe here. You’ll receive sheet music for three great songs. And you’ll get bi-weekly emails of each new video tutorial including the sheet music.

Also, visit our blog main page for more easy ukulele tutorials.

HOTEL CALIFORNIA UKULELE TUTORIAL

We will need a total of seven chords for “Hotel California” ukulele tutorial:  Am, E7, G, D, F, C, Dm. These are fairly easy chords, all open chords with no bars needed. A couple are easy one-finger chords (Am and C).

Ukulele Chords for “Hotel California”

Jenny transposed the song to A minor because it’s easier on the ukulele. Strumming pattern follows a D-DU-UDU (D-down, U-up) arrangement.

Ukulele Strumming Pattern for “Hotel California”

As previously mentioned, Jenny also plays a ukulele version of the legendary guitar solo. Indeed, fingerpicking enthusiasts will surely love this part. In 1988, readers of the British magazine “Guitarist” voted the guitar coda of “Hotel California” the best guitar solo of all time.

 

 

MOST FAMOUS SONG BY THE EAGLES

The Eagles started in 1971 and became one of the best-selling bands in the world. In 2018, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) declared the Eagles’ “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975” album the best-selling album of all time in the US. Not only that, the band also holds the third best-selling album record with their “Hotel California” album. Although the band has a lot of popular and long-standing songs including five chart-topping singles, many consider their single “Hotel California” as their most famous song.

Asylum Records released “Hotel California,” the Eagles’ sixth album, in 1976. The recording label also distributed three singles from the album. Aside from the title track “Hotel California,” “The New Kid in Town” and “Life in the Fast Lane” were also released. “Hotel California” and “The New Kid in Town” both reached number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100. Both recordings also won on the 1978 Grammy Awards. “Hotel California” won “Record of the Year” while “New Kid in Town” got “Best Arrangement for Voices”.

If you want to play the latest hits, you need to learn essential skills first. 21 MORE Songs in 6 Days will teach you these skills.

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23 Comments

  1. B Stemper

    Thanks for this. I loved this song when I was young. Do you have sheet music for this so I can practice without the computer? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Lala

      Thanks for visiting our blog. We have sent the sheet music to you. Happy strumming!

      Reply
  2. Mrinmoy Chatterjee

    Hi, I just watched the video and really loved it. It’s really easy. Will it be possible to send the song sheet? I am already in your mailing list.

    Reply
    • Lala

      We’re glad you like the song and tutorial! I’ve just emailed you the sheet music. Happy strumming!

      Reply
  3. kw

    Great video! Love the fingerpicking. Will you send me the sheet music too? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Bogart

      Hi KW,

      Jenny will be emailing you the sheet music to this song. And, you can sign up for our email list to automatically receive free printable ukulele sheet music every two weeks.

      Reply
    • Rebecca Bogart

      P.S. thanks for leaving a comment on our blog.

      Reply
      • Steven Prendergast

        Enjoyed your video,Could you send us the sheet music for this song.thanks,steve!

        Reply
        • Rebecca Bogart

          Hi Steve,

          Thanks for your comment. I’ll be emailing you the music shortly.

          Going forward you’ll be able to access our entire sheet music library by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ukulelesisters

          And if you haven’t already, it would be great if you could give the video a ‘like’ on Youtube. Happy Strumming!

          Reply
  4. Nicole Al Aswad

    Absolutely love the video!
    Will you please send me the sheet music as well?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Rebecca Bogart

      Hi Nicole,

      Thanks for your comment! You should be receiving the sheet music via email in about 24 hours. Going forward, we will be making a whole bunch of songs available through our brand new Patreon page which you can visit here: https://www.patreon.com/ukulelesisters.

      Reply
  5. Bukko@pm.me

    Hi Jenny, I loved this video. Could you send me the sheet music too please?

    Reply
    • Rebecca Bogart

      Thanks for your comment. I’ve emailed you the music.

      Reply
  6. Caridad Rapier

    Thanks for the post. I was wondering if you could answer a question for me. Do you have a particular type of guitar tuner you prefer? I’ve seen clip on types and they seem pretty good. I’d be using it on my acoustic, but the guitar has a pickup too. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jenny Peters

      No, I don’t have a particular type of tuner. I will use a clip-on tuner at times, but I also have a built-in tuner for one of my ukes. I’ve also been known to tune to my piano or the tuner app I have on my phone. When I’m in a hurry and have 25 ukes to quickly tune, I use my ear and memory of what the pitches sound like to tune.

      Reply
  7. Elaine

    Hi, i would to get the sheet music for the plucking of the solo part. I am beginning to play the ukulele, originally played piano years and years ago. I still dont know which note is whitch so i would like to get the solo notes for hotel california and their position. Its my most favorite song of all times. Thanks for teaching it

    Reply
    • Lala - Customer Support

      Hi Elaine,

      I’ll send the sheet music to your email address. Happy strumming!

      Reply
  8. Debbie Feder

    I would love to get the sheet music and tabs for Hotel California. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jenny Peters

      You need to click on the link in the blog post. Then you will get the sheet music in an email. Enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Emma

    Hi. I picked up a ukulele a few weeks ago. Love it and love this but struggling with fat fingers!!!! Also trying to remember the strum pattern. I don’t read music but can follow chord tabs. Can you help?

    Reply
    • Lala - Customer Support

      Hi Emma,

      We’re glad you like this song and we hope you’ve entered your email address to the link above so you get the sheet music that’ll help you learn the song. Finally, aside from the YouTube video featured on the blog, here’s a Facebook Live recording teaching “Hotel California” that you can watch for more lessons on this song. https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=320793512140563&ref=watch_permalink

      Reply
  10. vijaya jayaraman

    I greatly appreciate your assistance on the Uke.The song is a favourite also by Shobit on harmonica and Indian instruments

    Reply
    • Lala - Customer Support

      We’re glad you liked the lesson! Happy strumming!

      Reply

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