Live on MTV, 1994 version
Pay attention to h (hammer on) and p (pull off) notation. There are lots of those in the solos. An hp is a hammer on followed immediately by a pull off. Basically, it’s like the start of a trill but you’re hitting the higher note only once.
This live performance is in my top 10 list of best live performances ever. They use several guitars. In this transcription, I try to cover the basic idea so you may hear some higher tones lacking.
Enjoy!
Freeform rhythm (solo + chords)
e|--------------------------0-2-2h3p2-0-h2-----------------------------------|
B|---------0--0h2p0---0-2-3--------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------3--------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
e|---9-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---9-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---9-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------0-/3-2----------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------2--------2-s4-2---------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------p2-0-h2-------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---10----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---9-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---9-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|repeat this lick, graudally speed up|
e|------------0-------0-------0-------0-----7-----10----7-----10-------------|
B|----------0-------0-------0-------0-----8-----8-----8-----8----------------|
G|--------0-------2-------4-------7-----9-----9-----9-----9------------------|
D|------2-------4-------5-------9--------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
e|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---8-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---9-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---7-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
e|-------7-6-7-9-10-9-10-12/14-----------------------------------------------|
B|-----8---------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---9-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
e|------------------------2--------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------2--------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------3--------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------4--------------------------------------------------|
A|------------------------4--------------------------------------------------|
E|------------------------2--------------------------------------------------|
6 measures, percussion only
e|----------2h3-2-0-2-2---0---2--------|----0--------------------------------|
B|--------------------------------3----|--------232-0------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|--------------2--s4------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|--9----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|--9----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|--9----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-------------------------------------|------0-3---2---357-----9-109-10-----|
B|----------0-3-2-0-2-2-------0--------|--2-3--------------------------------|
G|--------2---------------2------------|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|--10---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|--9----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|--9----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|--12------------0-------0-------0----|--------0-7-----10--12--10---7-------|
B|---------------0-------0-------0-----|------0------------------------------|
G|--------------0-------2-------4------|----7-------9------------------------|
D|----------2-------4-------5----------|--9----------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|--8----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|--9----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|--7----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
h p hp
e|------991097-7976-3--2--2-2-3--2-----|--0-2--------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|--------3---2-0-3--------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
e|--2----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|--2----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|--3----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|--4----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|--4----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|--2----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Main verse pattern:
Bm Gb
e|------------------2------------------|------------------2------------------|
B|--3---------3-----------------3------|--2---------2------------------------|
G|--4-----4-------4---------4----------|--3-------------3---------3----------|
D|------4------------------------------|--------4----------------------------|
A|--2----------------------------------|------4------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|--2----------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
A E
e|------------------5------------------|------------------0------------------|
B|--5---------5-----------------5------|--0---------0------------------------|
G|--6-------------6---------6----------|--1-------------1--------------------|
D|--------7----------------------------|--------2----------------------------|
A|------7------------------------------|------2------------------------------|
E|--5----------------------------------|--0-----------------------0---2------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
G D
e|------------------3------------------|------------------2------------------|
B|--3---------3-----------------3------|--3---------3-------------3----------|
G|--0-------------0---------2h4--------|--------2-------2--------------------|
D|--------0----------------------------|--0----------------------------------|
A|------2------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|--3----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Em Gb
e|------------------0------------------|------------------2------------------|
B|--0---------0-----------------0------|--2---------2------------------------|
G|--0-------------0---------0----------|--3-------------3--------------------|
D|--------2----------------------------|--------4----------------------------|
A|------2------------------------------|------4------------------------------|
E|--0----------------------------------|--2----------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Solo over main verse (leading into verse 1):
Bm Gb
e|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|--0---------------2-------3----------|--2---------0h2p0--------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|------------------4------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
A E
e|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|------------------0-------2----------|-------------------------------------|
A|--4----------------------------------|--2----------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
G D
e|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------0----------|-----------------/4------------------|
A|--2---------------4------------------|--0----------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Em Gb
e|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
D|--2---------------4-------5----------|--4h5p4p2h4--------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Verse 1:
Bm Gb
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
A E
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
G D
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Em Gb
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night.
Bm Gb
There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell
A E
And I was thinking to myself - This could be heaven or this could be hell
G D
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
Em Gb
There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say
Chorus:
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California
Em Bm
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place), Such a lovely face.
G D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em Gb
Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it here
Verse 2:
Bm Gb
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
A E
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
G D
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Em Gb
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Bm Gb
So I called up the Captain, 'Please bring me my wine'
A E
He said, 'we haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty-nine'
G D
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Em Gb
Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say"
Chorus:
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California
Em Bm
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place), Such a lovely face.
G D
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
Em Gb
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise), bring your alibis
Verse 3:
Bm Gb
Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice
A E
And she said, 'we are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
G D
And in the master's chambers, They gathered for the feast
Em Gb
They stab it with their steely knives, But they just can't kill the beast
Bm Gb
Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
A E
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
G D
'Relax' said the night man, 'We are programmed to receive.
Em
You can check out any time you like
Gb (solo start)
e|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------8-9-11-----|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | |
But you can never leave!
Bm Gb
e|-------------------------------------|----------------------------9--10----|
B|-------------------------------------|--12--10--8---7----------------------|
G|--9---------9--9--9-------9----------|-------------------------------------|
D|--------------------12-11---12-11----|--12--11--9---8----------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
A E
e|/12--12--12---12--12109---109--------|-------------------------------------|
B|------------------------12----1210---|--9----------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|--------9---11-----------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|------9-------9----------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-----------------/11-----------------|
E|-------------------------------------|------------------------------0-2----|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
G D
e|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------0------|-/4---2-----4------------------------|
D|------------0-----2-0---4-2-----4----|--------------4----------------------|
A|------0-2-----4----------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|--3----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Em (rasgueado) Gb (rasgueado) hp
e|--0----------------------------------|--2---------------------------0-1----|
B|--0----------------------------------|--2---------------0020--0-2-3--------|
G|--0----------------------------------|--3-------------------3--------------|
D|--2----------------------------------|--4----------------------------------|
A|--2----------------------------------|--4----------------------------------|
E|--0----------------------------------|--2----------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bm hp\ hp\ hp\ Gb
e|--23202------------------------------|----------7--9--7-6---14-------------|
B|---hp---------3-5-7787557533532-0----|-----3--7----------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|--3----------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|------------------------------14\----|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
A E hp hp
e|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
B|-----7--7-7--5--5-5--3--3-2--0-------|------335322320----------------------|
G|-------------------------------2-----|--1-------------2-1---9--------------|
D|-------------------------------------|--------------------------2---3------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
G hp D hh hh hh
e|------------------------------0-3----|--5--5--5/6--5--3/5------------------|
B|---hp-------------0020--0-2-3--------|--7--7--7/8--7--5/7------------------|
G|--020-0-------2-------3--------------|------------------------------467----|
D|-----4-------------------------------|--------------------------457--------|
A|-------------------------------------|----------------------457------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Em Gb hpph
e|--------3-----------10----1210-------|--22320--/2--0-----------------------|
B|--5-------5---12------12------12-----|----hp--3-------3-23202---0---0-2----|
G|----4-------4---12-------------------|----------------------------3--------|
D|------5------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bm Gb
e|--2-----2-----2-----2-----2----------|--2-----2-----2--/6------------------|
B|--3-3---3-3---3-3---3-3---3-3--------|--2-2---2-2---2-2/7------------------|
G|----4-4---4-4---4-4---4-4---4-4------|----3-3---3-3---3--------------------|
D|------4-----4-----4-----4-----4------|------4-----4------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
A E
e|--5-----5-----5-----5-----5----------|--0-----0-----0--/4------------------|
B|--5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5---5-5--------|--0-0---0-0---0-0/5------------------|
G|----6-6---6-6---6-6---6-6---6-6------|----1-1---1-1---1--------------------|
D|------7-----7-----7-----7-----7------|------2-----2------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
G D
e|--3-----3-----3-----3-----3----------|--2-----2-----2---2------------------|
B|--3-3---3-3---3-3---3-3---3-3--------|--3-3---3-3---3-3-3------------------|
G|----0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0------|----2-2---2-2---2--------------------|
D|------0-----0-----0-----0-----0------|------0-----0------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Em Gb
e|--0-----0-----0-----0-----0----------|--------------------------3---3-6----|
B|--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0--------|--------3---3-5-3-5-7-5-7---7--------|
G|----0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---0---3h4--|--6-4-6---6--------------------------|
D|------2-----2-----2-----2------------|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bm
e|--7-7-7-7----------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
| | | | | | | | | |
e|--2-2-2-2----------------------------|
B|--3-3-3-3----------------------------|
G|--4-4-4-4----------------------------|
D|--4-4-4-4----------------------------|
A|--2-2-2-2----------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|
************************************
| / slide up
| ~ vibrato
| b Bend
| h hammer on
| p pull off
************************************