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Old Man

by Neil Young • Lesson #328 • Sep 12, 2020

Video lesson

Print-Friendly Song Sheet 5 pages

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Editor’s notes

In this lesson I’ll teach you how to play Neil Young’s classic song “Old Man” from his 1972 album Harvest. From start to finish, I’ll teach you each part of the song: the chord shapes, progressions & timing, strumming patterns, and tabs (both beginner-friendly and advanced) for each section. While this is a tricky song, it’s very much possible to simplify each part to make it more accessible without a ton of practice.

A final note, if the intro is giving you trouble – check out the other video lesson I made, which is a 20 minute deep dive on nailing the strumming of the very difficult first chord.

Video timestamps:

0:00 Lesson overview
1:31 Chord shapes needed
3:37 Chord progresssions for intro/verse/chorus
7:36 Strumming patterns
9:05 Deep dive: intro riff
18:28 Deep dive: verse riff
23:15 Deep dive: chorus riff
27:57 Full playthrough w/ lyrics

Lyrics and chords

INTRO
    Dm9             Dm9             Dm9             D               D
    1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   ...play twice

    Dm9        Dm9              Dm9            D          D
    ...Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were
    Dm9        Dm9              Dm9            D         F  C  G  D  F  C  F
    ...Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were

VERSE
        D          F                C                         G
        ...Old man look at my life... twenty four and there's so much more
        D                  F              C                     F
        ...Live alone in a paradise, that makes me think of two
        D             F            C                     G
        ...Love lost, such a cost... give me things that don't get lost
        D                   C                 F                    G (walk up)
        ...Like a coin that won't get tossed, rolling home to you

CHORUS
            D               D               Am7         Em            G  
            1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

            D                 D                      Am7      Em    G
            ...Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you
            D         D                      Am7       Em       G
            ...I need someone to love me the whole day through
            D          D                           Am7         Em    G
            ...Ah, one look in my eyes and you can tell that's true

        [D] [F] [C] [G] [D] [F] [C] [F]  

        [D]...Lullabies, [F] look in your eyes...[C]...run around the [G] same old town
        [D]...Doesn't mean that [F] much to me, to [C] mean that much to you...[F]
        [D]...I've been [F] first and last...[C]...look at how the [G] time goes past
        [D]...But I'm all [C] alone at last, [F] rolling home to you [G, walk up]

            [D] [D] [Am7] [Em] [G]

            [D]...Old man take a [D] look at my life, I'm a [Am7] lot like [Em] you...[G]
            [D]...I need [D] someone to love me the [Am7] whole day [Em] through...[G]
            [D]... Ah, one [D] look in my eyes and you can [Am7] tell that's [Em] true... [G]

    [Dm9] [Dm9] [Dm9] [D] [D]

    [Dm9]...Old man [Dm9] look at my life, [Dm9] I'm a lot like [D] you were... [D]
    [Dm9]...Old man [Dm9] look at my life, [Dm9] I'm a lot like [D] you were [D]

ENDING
        [D] [F] [C] [G] [D]

Chord shapes needed

Here’s the chords you’ll need for this song. I’m showing the two intro chords on the left (as their own group), so you can see how similar the shapes are. Opposite these chords are what you’ll need for the verse and chorus. Fortunately, nothing too crazy here – for the F I usually just only play the middle 4 stings, which is what it looks like Neil does too (but you can use a full F barre chord if you want).

e ––2––––0–––  –––2––––0––––x––––3––––0–––0––––
B ––3––––6–––  –––3––––1––––1––––0––––1–––0––––
G ––2––––5–––  –––2––––0––––2––––0––––0–––0––––
D ––0––––0–––  –––0––––2––––3––––0––––2–––2––––
A –––––––––––  ––––––––3––––3––––2––––0–––2––––
E –––––––––––  –––––––––––––x––––3––––––––0––––
    D   Dm9       D    C    F    G   Am7  Em

Chord progressions

Intro

Play 2x before singing, then 2x with “Old man, look at my life” vocals.

Dm9             Dm9             Dm9             D               D
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Verse

Notice how the 1st and 3rd lines are the exact same… it’s the 2nd and 4th lines that deviate from the norm.

D               F               C               G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D               F               C               F
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D               F               C               G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
D               C               F               G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Chorus

Play 4x. Note how the “Em” and “G” chord changes don’t happen on the “1” count.

D               D               Am7         Em            G  
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

If you want an easier version, move the “Em” and “G” changes to the 1 and 3 count, respectively:

D               D               Am7             Em      G  
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Intro tab

Simplified version

Here’s a very basic version to get started with… add strumming only if you feel comfortable.

    "...Old  man...... look at my life...I'm  a lot  like  you  were..............."
E ||–0–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––––––|–
B ||–6–––––––––––––––|–6–––––––––––––––|–6–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–
G ||–5–––––––––––––––|–5–––––––––––––––|–5–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––––––|–
D ||–0–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
     Dm9               Dm9               Dm9               D                 D
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

My secret stash tab

Here’s the “exact” tab I like to play. I give the highlighted notes below a bit more emphasis, to add some sense of melody to things. But please note, feel free to ignore this if you find an approach that works for you.

    "...Old  man...... look at my life...I'm  a lot  like  you  were..............."
E ||–––––––––––0–––0–|–––––––––––0–0–0–|–––––––––––0–0–0–|–––––0h2–––––––––|–3–2–––––––0–––––|–
B ||–––––––––6–6–––6–|–––––––6–––6–6–6–|–––––––6–––6–6–6–|–––––3–––––3–––––|–3–––––3––––––/6–|–
G ||–––––0h5–5–5–––5–|–0h5–5–5–––5–5–5–|–0h5–5–5–––5–5–5–|–2–––2–––2–––2–––|–2–––2–––2–––x–––|–
D ||–0–––0–––0–––––––|–0–––0–0–––––––––|–0–––0–0–––––––––|–0–––0–––0–––0–––|–0–––0–––0–––0–––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
     Dm9               Dm9               Dm9               D                 D
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Verse tab

Here’s how I recommend playing the first two lines of the verse, complete with the hammer-ons that imitate what Neil is playing.

E ||–2–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––3–––––––|–
B ||–3–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–––––––––0–––––––|–
G ||–2–––––––0h2–––––|–2–––0–––0h2–––––|–0–––––––0h2–0–––|–0–––––––0–––––––|–
D ||–0–––––––0–––––––|–3–––3–––3–––––––|–2–––0h2–––––––––|–––––0–––0–––––––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–––––––––2–––––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––3–––––––|–
     D                 F                 C                 G
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

E ||–2–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
B ||–3–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–
G ||–2–––––––0h2–––––|–2–––0–––0h2–––––|–0–––––––0h2–0–––|–2–––0–––0h2–––––|–
D ||–0–––––––0–––––––|–3–––3–––3–––––––|–2–––0h2–––––––––|–3–––3–––3–––––––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
     D                 F                 C                 F                
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Chorus tab

Basic version

Finally, the chorus. Big picture, the chords and timing in tablature form look like this. A tricky new element here is the timing – in particular the switch to the Em and G do not happen on the “1” count as you might expect. For the G chord, I recommend starting with an up-strum (so that you do an “up down up” on the “+4+” counts).

  "...Old man take a look...   ...I'm a lot  like   you.................."
E ||–2–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––0–––|–––––––––––3–––––|–
B ||–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––0–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
G ||–2–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––0–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
D ||–0–––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––––––|–2–––––––––––2–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–0–––––––––––2–––|–––––––––––2–––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––0–––|–––––––––––3–––––|–
     D                 D                 Am7         Em              G
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Walking up into the chorus

To get the high-score, you’ll want to nail this riff going out of the verse and into the chorus (no vocals are heard during this part). Note that it starts on the “G” chord that ends the chorus… specifically, you’ll be walking up from the G immediately into the D chord that begins the chorus. In this tab, I’m showing the “main” notes & strums… you can freely add additional filler strumming, but just be sure you emphasize everything shown below.

E –––––––––|–––––––––0h2–––––|–––––3–––2–––––––|–0–––––0–x–––0–––|–––––––––––3–––––|–
B –––––––––|–––––––––3–––––––|–––––3–––3–––––––|–1–––––3–x–––0–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
G –––––––––|–2–––2–––2–––––––|–––––2–––2–––––––|–0–––––0–x–––0–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
D –––––––––|–0–––0–––0–––––––|–––––0–––0–––––––|–2–––––2–x–––2–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
A –––0–2–3–|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–0–––––0–x–––2–––|–––––––––––2–––––|–
E –3–––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––0–––|–––––––––––3–––––|–
             D                 D                 Am7         Em              G        
   3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +     

Cheat sheet of all the tabs

Intro

    "...Old  man...... look at my life...I'm  a lot  like  you  were..............."
E ||–––––––––––0–––0–|–––––––––––0–0–0–|–––––––––––0–0–0–|–––––0h2–––––––––|–3–2–––––––0–––––|–
B ||–––––––––6–6–––6–|–––––––6–––6–6–6–|–––––––6–––6–6–6–|–––––3–––––3–––––|–3–––––3––––––/6–|–
G ||–––––0h5–5–5–––5–|–0h5–5–5–––5–5–5–|–0h5–5–5–––5–5–5–|–2–––2–––2–––2–––|–2–––2–––2–––x–––|–
D ||–0–––0–––0–––––––|–0–––0–0–––––––––|–0–––0–0–––––––––|–0–––0–––0–––0–––|–0–––0–––0–––0–––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
     Dm9               Dm9               Dm9               D                 D
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Verse

E ||–2–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––3–––––––|–
B ||–3–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–––––––––0–––––––|–
G ||–2–––––––0h2–––––|–2–––0–––0h2–––––|–0–––––––0h2–0–––|–0–––––––0–––––––|–
D ||–0–––––––0–––––––|–3–––3–––3–––––––|–2–––0h2–––––––––|–––––0–––0–––––––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–––––––––2–––––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––3–––––––|–
     D                 F                 C                 G
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

E ||–2–––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
B ||–3–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–1–––––––––––––––|–
G ||–2–––––––0h2–––––|–2–––0–––0h2–––––|–0–––––––0h2–0–––|–2–––0–––0h2–––––|–
D ||–0–––––––0–––––––|–3–––3–––3–––––––|–2–––0h2–––––––––|–3–––3–––3–––––––|–
A ||–––––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–3–––––––––––––––|–
E ||–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–
     D                 F                 C                 F                
     1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Chorus

E –––––––––|–––––––––0h2–––––|–––––3–––2–––––––|–0–––––0–x–––0–––|–––––––––––3–––––|–
B –––––––––|–––––––––3–––––––|–––––3–––3–––––––|–1–––––3–x–––0–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
G –––––––––|–2–––2–––2–––––––|–––––2–––2–––––––|–0–––––0–x–––0–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
D –––––––––|–0–––0–––0–––––––|–––––0–––0–––––––|–2–––––2–x–––2–––|–––––––––––0–––––|–
A –––0–2–3–|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–0–––––0–x–––2–––|–––––––––––2–––––|–
E –3–––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––––––|–––––––––––––0–––|–––––––––––3–––––|–
             D                 D                 Am7         Em              G        
   3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +     

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Old Man

Video lesson

Print-Friendly Song Sheet 5 pages

Editor’s notes

Lyrics and chords

Chord shapes needed

Chord progressions

Intro

Verse

Chorus

Intro tab

Simplified version

My secret stash tab

Verse tab

Chorus tab

Basic version

Walking up into the chorus

Cheat sheet of all the tabs

Intro

Verse

Chorus

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Capo Captain

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

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