← Prev Song Next Song →

Old Man

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

Video lesson

Print-Friendly Song Sheet 5 pages

Follow along with my print-friendly guide for this song! It’s available for purchase at Musicnotes.com, the web’s leading provider of licensed sheet music.

On the fence? Here's a guide I made showing the purchase & print process, including answers to common questions about my song sheets.

Buy at Musicnotes.com

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 +     

Browse Related Lessons

Click any tag below to view other lessons I've made in that category:

About Song Notes

Hey there! My name is David Potsiadlo, and I'm the creator of the 400+ weekly lessons here at Song Notes, going back to 2013. Here’s my guitar story »

Get Free Lessons Each Week!

Join the 20,000+ readers who get my new lessons dropped in their inbox each week. I teach a fun mix of songs, weekly riffs, practice ideas, and more!

Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!

If this and my other lessons have proven helpful to you, please consider making a one-time donation to my tip jar. Contributions of any amount help make this project possible (including the many, many hours I put into it).

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Interactive fretboard map! See the patterns behind every scale in any key.

View

Capo Captain

An easy way to calculate key & chord combinations, for any capo location!

View

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Be sure to never miss a lesson by subscribing on YouTube. I put out 2-3 new videos every week. These include full song lessons, as well as covers, practice tips, behind-the-scenes updates. Thanks!

Recent Lessons

June 3, 2023

Pentatonic Fun with Billy Strings' "Lonely At The Top" Riff

Here's a look at how Billy Strings plays the amazing intro riff in his fantastic cover of "Lonely At The Top" (originally by Jamey Johnson).
June 2, 2023

Major Pentatonic Scales in Open Position

Looking for a handy reference guide showing the major pentatonic scales for the most common major chords, in open position? You're in luck!
May 27, 2023

"Fast Car" Riff, Explained Step-by-Step!

Let's dive into the iconic "Fast Car" riff, from Tracy Chapman's 1988 classic. I'll walk you through a few ways to play it, from beginner to advanced.
May 23, 2023

Uncle John's Band

Learn to play the Grateful Dead classic from 1970! I'll include a simplified approach to strumming & rhythm, allowing you to jump right in & hit the ground running.
May 16, 2023

Learn the Percussive Slap Strum, Step by Step

Here's a step-by-step guide to learning one of my favorite strumming techniques! Use it to get a percussive thwack! on your down-strums - which sounds great.
May 12, 2023

Tips for Writing Guitar Tabs (on Paper and iPad)

Curious how to write guitar tabs, whether on paper or using an iPad? Check this out! I include a free blank tab template for you to download & use yourself.
May 8, 2023

First Steps with the "Amie" Intro Riff

Here's a step-by-step guide to learning the opening riff to Amie by Pure Prairie League (1972) - including some helpful tips to get you going.
May 3, 2023

Easy-Going Fingerstyle Blues! A Step-by-Step Guide.

Learn to fingerpick over the 12 bar blues! I'll walk you through things step-by-step, starting simple and building to a somewhat advanced Travis Picking arrangement.

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

Browse Related Lessons

About Song Notes

Get Free Lessons Each Week!

Enjoy my lessons? Buy me a beer!

Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

Fret Monster

Capo Captain

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons

Browse All My Lessons

By lesson type

By technique

By musical genre

By decade

By musical key

By popular artist