Hallelujah Piano Tutorial

Today you are going to discover a fast and fun Hallelujah piano tutorial!

This beginner tutorial of this song is an awesome place to start learning and growing your fundamental piano skills.

In this lesson you’ll  not only learn how to play Hallelujah but you’ll learn how to play 5 different chords.

Because this tune has done nothing but grow in popularity since Jeff Buckley redid this tune in the 90’s, it’s an important piece of music to know. So, let’s get started learning!

Hallelujah Piano: Video Tutorial

Getting started is easy! Take a few minutes and watch this video. Inside I break down the chords and melody notes of Hallelujah.

Make sure that when you finish watching this tutorial that you continue reading. If you scroll down there are some great tips that will cut your learning time in half!

7 Super Starter Tips To Speed Up Your Hallelujah Piano Practice!

Tip #1: What’s The First Step?

A great starting point when  learning any new song is to know the key you’re playing in.

For Hallelujah you’re playing in the key of C major.

Tip #2: What To Do Once You’ve Found Your Key.

Now that you’ve figured out what key you’re going to be playing in, take a second and build your C major scale.

The C major scale is: (C D E F G A B C) – (1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1)

Tip #3: Chord Creation Is Your Pathway To Fun!

So you know your key and your scale, great! From here you can start to build your chords.

There are 5 chords you’re going to have to familiarize yourself with in this Hallelujah piano tutorial.

Chord #1 – (C chord) – Left Hand (C E G)

Chord #2 – (Am chord) – Left Hand (A C E)

Chord #3 – (F chord) – Left Hand (F A C)

Chord #4 – (G chord) – Left Hand (G B D)

Chord #5 – (E7 chord) – Left Hand (E G# B D)

Excellent work! Now you know all of the chords you’re going to be playing through.

Want some help building your chords? Feel free to check out these quick 1 minute tutorials on chord construction, just below.

How to play a C piano chord and also this F piano chord lesson will teach you how to play and build these chords in seconds!

Let’s keep learning shall we?

Tip #4: It’s Time To Initiate Your Hand Independence.

This is important! Being able to separate the melody out in one hand while playing the chords in the other is a vital piece of your piano learning process.

In this tutorial your left hand will be playing the chord progression. This leaves your right hand for playing the melody over top of the chords.

You’ll notice that a lot of the chord structures stay the same throughout the beginning of this version of Hallelujah.

The thing that is changing throughout the chord progression is the melody note(s) you’re playing in your right hand.

Ex. 1 – The first G chord in the first phrase is accompanied by an A melody note in your right hand.

This accompanying melody note changes to a B in the second phrase of this tune.

This G chord later in the second phrase changes it’s melody note again to D.

Same chord the entire time with your left hand. Changing melody notes in your right.

Ex. 2 – Take the Am chord in the first phrase. With this chord you’re initially playing an A melody note on top. In the second phrase you’ll be changing that melody note to a C on top.

Again same chord with different melody notes on top! Pretty easy right?

Tip #5: Are you Making This Classic Practice Mistake?

The stipulation that you’re a good piano player because you can play fast is just nonsense. I have been fighting against this idea for years with my students.

The best way and (fastest way) to learn a new song or riff is to slow down at the starting gate.

Make it easy. Your playing speed will naturally increase the more comfortable you become with the chord progression and melody…

Trying to start out playing a new piece of music at full speed will just lead to early mistakes and bad practice techniques. Save yourself the time and headache!

Learn it slow and clean in the beginning and then you’ll find it so much easier to play fast once you master it slowly.

Tip #6: How To Incorporate Your Ears Into Learning This Song!

Another thing that I am always urging my students to do is listen to a piece before jumping and trying to read a sheet music arrangement.

By doing that you’ll pick up all kinds of additional information on the song outside of what’s on the written page. These are things that just can’t be notated. You have to hear them.

For example, you can hear things like shifts in dynamics, where a musician places their rhythms, and how a performer articulates their notes.

On a simple level, you can also hear where they put the most emotion in their performance. You’ll want to emulate that!  

The more you develop and grow your listening skills the more you’re helping yourself grow as a musician down the road…

This was a lot of fun! Let’s see what’s next in store for you.

Where Your Piano Playing Goes From Here!

My absolute passion is to help you grow into the best piano player you can be! This Hallelujah piano tutorial is just a taste of all the delicious treats this site has to offer you…

If you enjoyed this lesson I know you’ll love learning this The Way It Is Piano lesson as well. Inside you’re going to learn an incredibly famous piano intro.

Or, enjoy taking on this famous country lick! Right here in this country piano lesson. If you like aspirational songs you can also check out this amazing grace piano lesson and this Purple Rain chords tutorial.

Also be sure that you check out this Take On Me tutorial and this Let It Be chords lesson!

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For now, enjoy your practice. Do you have any comments or questions about this Hallelujah piano lesson or the video tutorial? If so, please leave your comments in the comment section below.