The Last Resort by The Eagles – Guitar Lesson

Delve into the rich textures and emotional storytelling of one of The Eagles’ most profound compositions with our note-for-note guitar lesson of “The Last Resort.” Featured as the closing track on their landmark 1976 album Hotel California, this powerful ballad combines intricate guitar work, poetic lyricism, and elegant musical arrangements that showcase the band’s songwriting mastery. With themes of environmental and societal decay wrapped in a hauntingly beautiful sonic landscape, “The Last Resort” is both a musical and lyrical masterpiece.

Our LickLibrary lesson takes you deep into the song’s nuanced guitar parts, focusing on the key techniques that give this track its iconic sound: barre chords, chord progressions, hammer-ons, and arpeggios. You'll not only learn how to recreate every part of the song with precision, but you’ll also gain the skills and insight to apply these timeless techniques in your own playing. This lesson is taught by Danny Gill.

Technique Focus

Barre Chords

Throughout the song, barre chords are used to navigate key changes and add a consistent harmonic foundation. Felder and Frey rely on these moveable shapes to maintain smooth transitions across the neck, allowing for expressive voicings and seamless modulation.

Learning benefit: Mastering barre chords improves finger strength, stamina, and fretboard fluency. These chords are essential for expanding your chord vocabulary and playing in any key without the need for a capo.

Chord Progressions

“The Last Resort” is built on lush, evolving chord progressions that mirror the song’s emotional narrative. These progressions often include subtle substitutions and inversions that add richness and depth without becoming overly complex.

Learning benefit: Understanding chord progressions gives you a stronger grasp of musical structure and harmony. It allows you to write more expressive songs, improvise with confidence, and play pieces that go beyond basic I-IV-V changes.

Hammer-Ons

Hammer-ons are used throughout the track to ornament chords and melodic lines, adding subtle movement and fluidity. These grace notes enhance the phrasing and bring a human, expressive quality to the rhythm and lead parts.

Learning benefit: Practicing hammer-ons develops finger independence and helps you create smoother, more connected phrases. It’s a great technique for enhancing acoustic and electric rhythm playing alike.

Arpeggios

The song opens with beautiful arpeggios that define its delicate mood. Rather than strumming full chords, the picking of individual notes allows for greater clarity and a more expressive, piano-like texture.

Learning benefit: Working on arpeggios sharpens your picking accuracy, timing, and hand coordination. It also teaches you to think melodically within a chord structure—ideal for both accompaniment and lead work.

Why Learn This Song?

Learning “The Last Resort” offers more than just a chance to play a beautiful piece of music—it’s an opportunity to deepen your musical understanding. The song’s arrangement teaches valuable lessons in voice leading, dynamic playing, and musical storytelling. It’s also an excellent workout for refining chord transitions, adding embellishments, and developing phrasing on both acoustic and electric guitars.

Whether you're a fan of The Eagles, a singer-songwriter honing your accompaniment skills, or a guitarist looking to improve your harmonic depth and tone control, this lesson offers a comprehensive, rewarding study of one of the band’s finest compositions.

About the Guitarists and Their Influence

The Eagles’ guitar work on “The Last Resort” is led primarily by Don Felder and Glenn Frey, with additional textures contributed by Joe Walsh. These musicians are known for their seamless blend of rock, country, and folk influences, creating a signature sound built on harmonic richness, melodic phrasing, and tasteful technique.

Don Felder’s contributions to The Eagles’ catalogue, especially on Hotel California, helped shape the sound of 70s rock. His ability to blend subtle fingerstyle, emotive leads, and layered arrangements is on full display in “The Last Resort.” Studying this track provides insight into the art of dynamic, emotionally expressive guitar playing that prioritizes melody and storytelling over speed or flash.

What You’ll Learn in This Lesson

This LickLibrary lesson breaks down each section of “The Last Resort,” from the arpeggiated intro and verse parts to the melodic embellishments and carefully crafted progressions that flow beneath the vocal lines. You’ll learn how to create texture through fingerwork, enhance chord transitions with hammer-ons, and develop control in your barre chord shapes.

With a song structure that’s as sprawling and dynamic as the story it tells, this lesson is ideal for intermediate and advanced players seeking to improve their musical phrasing, fretboard navigation, and acoustic-electric tone shaping.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Barre Chords
• Chord Progressions
• Hammer-Ons
• Arpeggios

Master the emotive guitar work of The Last Resort and elevate your technique with LickLibrary’s detailed lesson—crafted to help you play with finesse, depth, and storytelling at your fingertips.