Something else to consider is the song’s harmonic rhythm-the rate at which the chords change. For rhythmic value, add the occasional upstroke, as shown in the song’s notation. Strum gently, so as not to overpower the lyrics. If you’d prefer to strum-whether with your index finger or a plectrum-try doing so in steady eighth-note downstrokes, with a lilting feel. Letting all of the notes ring throughout, pinch strings 1 and 4 together on each downbeat, followed by single notes on the inner strings. Or, if it feels more natural, pick the notes on strings 4 and 3 with your thumb and those on 2 and 1 with your index and middle fingers. To play the fingerpicking pattern, pick the notes on string 4 with your thumb and those on strings 3, 2, and 1 with your index, middle, and ring fingers, respectively.
I’ve provided two different basic accompaniment patterns that will work well for the song. “Hallelujah” is in 12/8 time-that’s four dotted quarter/12 eighth notes per bar-a meter used regularly in classic soul and blues. Note that the Cale and Wainwright arrangements swap out the E7 chord for Em, a common voicing which is included here in the notation. You can use this chord chart to play along with Cohen’s recording or any of the versions mentioned in this piece. (In the first verse, notice how the F, G, and Am chords neatly coincide with the lyrics “fourth,” and “fifth,” and “minor,” respectively.)
It’s built from a handful of chords-in order of appearance, C (I), Am (vi), F (IV), G (V), and E7 (III)-that are friendly to beginning ukulele players, making it easy for anyone to learn. Following Jeff Buckley’s emotional interpretation on his 1994 album Grace, “Hallelujah” became a secular standard, recorded by Willie Nelson, Rufus Wainwright, and many others, and often repurposed for church and synagogue services as well.Ĭohen’s original version of “Hallelujah,” the basis of this arrangement, is in the key of C major. But the song gained traction after Bob Dylan started playing it live and founding Velvet Underground member John Cale recorded a version for the 1991 collection I’m Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen. When the late singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen released the hymn-like “Hallelujah” on the B side of his 1984 album Various Positions, it was barely noticed. Subscribe to Ukulele on FROM THE FALL 2020 ISSUE OF UKULELE | BY ADAM PERLMUTTER
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