Video lesson
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Editorβs notes
In this lesson Iβll teach you how to play Neil Youngβs classic song βOld Manβ from his 1972 album Harvest. From start to finish, Iβll 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, itβs 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 β 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
Hereβs the chords youβll need for this song. Iβm 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 youβll need for the verse and chorus. Fortunately, nothing too crazy here β 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 ββ2ββββ0βββ βββ2ββββ0ββββxββββ3ββββ0βββ0ββββ
B ββ3ββββ6βββ βββ3ββββ1ββββ1ββββ0ββββ1βββ0ββββ
G ββ2ββββ5βββ βββ2ββββ0ββββ2ββββ0ββββ0βββ0ββββ
D ββ0ββββ0βββ βββ0ββββ2ββββ3ββββ0ββββ2βββ2ββββ
A βββββββββββ ββββββββ3ββββ3ββββ2ββββ0βββ2ββββ
E βββββββββββ βββββββββββββxββββ3ββββββββ0ββββ
D Dm9 D C F G Am7 Em
Chord progressions
Intro
Play 2x before singing, then 2x with βOld man, look at my lifeβ 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 sameβ¦ itβs 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 βEmβ and βGβ chord changes donβt happen on the β1β 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 βEmβ and βGβ 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
Hereβs a very basic version to get started withβ¦ add strumming only if you feel comfortable.
"...Old man...... look at my life...I'm a lot like you were..............."
E ||β0βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββββββ|β2βββββββββββββββ|β2βββββββββββββββ|β
B ||β6βββββββββββββββ|β6βββββββββββββββ|β6βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β
G ||β5βββββββββββββββ|β5βββββββββββββββ|β5βββββββββββββββ|β2βββββββββββββββ|β2βββββββββββββββ|β
D ||β0βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββββββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
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
Hereβs the βexactβ 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 ||βββββββββββ0βββ0β|βββββββββββ0β0β0β|βββββββββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0h2βββββββββ|β3β2βββββββ0βββββ|β
B ||βββββββββ6β6βββ6β|βββββββ6βββ6β6β6β|βββββββ6βββ6β6β6β|βββββ3βββββ3βββββ|β3βββββ3ββββββ/6β|β
G ||βββββ0h5β5β5βββ5β|β0h5β5β5βββ5β5β5β|β0h5β5β5βββ5β5β5β|β2βββ2βββ2βββ2βββ|β2βββ2βββ2βββxβββ|β
D ||β0βββ0βββ0βββββββ|β0βββ0β0βββββββββ|β0βββ0β0βββββββββ|β0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ|β0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
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
Hereβs how I recommend playing the first two lines of the verse, complete with the hammer-ons that imitate what Neil is playing.
E ||β2βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ3βββββββ|β
B ||β3βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ0βββββββ|β
G ||β2βββββββ0h2βββββ|β2βββ0βββ0h2βββββ|β0βββββββ0h2β0βββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β
D ||β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β3βββ3βββ3βββββββ|β2βββ0h2βββββββββ|βββββ0βββ0βββββββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ2βββββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ3βββββββ|β
D F C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ||β2βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
B ||β3βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β
G ||β2βββββββ0h2βββββ|β2βββ0βββ0h2βββββ|β0βββββββ0h2β0βββ|β2βββ0βββ0h2βββββ|β
D ||β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β3βββ3βββ3βββββββ|β2βββ0h2βββββββββ|β3βββ3βββ3βββββββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
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 β in particular the switch to the Em and G do not happen on the β1β count as you might expect. For the G chord, I recommend starting with an up-strum (so that you do an βup down upβ on the β+4+β counts).
"...Old man take a look... ...I'm a lot like you.................."
E ||β2βββββββββββββββ|β2βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββ3βββββ|β
B ||β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
G ||β2βββββββββββββββ|β2βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
D ||β0βββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββββββ|β2βββββββββββ2βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β0βββββββββββ2βββ|βββββββββββ2βββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββ3βββββ|β
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, youβll 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 βGβ chord that ends the chorusβ¦ specifically, youβll be walking up from the G immediately into the D chord that begins the chorus. In this tab, Iβm showing the βmainβ notes & strumsβ¦ you can freely add additional filler strumming, but just be sure you emphasize everything shown below.
E βββββββββ|βββββββββ0h2βββββ|βββββ3βββ2βββββββ|β0βββββ0βxβββ0βββ|βββββββββββ3βββββ|β
B βββββββββ|βββββββββ3βββββββ|βββββ3βββ3βββββββ|β1βββββ3βxβββ0βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
G βββββββββ|β2βββ2βββ2βββββββ|βββββ2βββ2βββββββ|β0βββββ0βxβββ0βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
D βββββββββ|β0βββ0βββ0βββββββ|βββββ0βββ0βββββββ|β2βββββ2βxβββ2βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
A βββ0β2β3β|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β0βββββ0βxβββ2βββ|βββββββββββ2βββββ|β
E β3βββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββ3βββββ|β
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 ||βββββββββββ0βββ0β|βββββββββββ0β0β0β|βββββββββββ0β0β0β|βββββ0h2βββββββββ|β3β2βββββββ0βββββ|β
B ||βββββββββ6β6βββ6β|βββββββ6βββ6β6β6β|βββββββ6βββ6β6β6β|βββββ3βββββ3βββββ|β3βββββ3ββββββ/6β|β
G ||βββββ0h5β5β5βββ5β|β0h5β5β5βββ5β5β5β|β0h5β5β5βββ5β5β5β|β2βββ2βββ2βββ2βββ|β2βββ2βββ2βββxβββ|β
D ||β0βββ0βββ0βββββββ|β0βββ0β0βββββββββ|β0βββ0β0βββββββββ|β0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ|β0βββ0βββ0βββ0βββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
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 ||β2βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ3βββββββ|β
B ||β3βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ0βββββββ|β
G ||β2βββββββ0h2βββββ|β2βββ0βββ0h2βββββ|β0βββββββ0h2β0βββ|β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β
D ||β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β3βββ3βββ3βββββββ|β2βββ0h2βββββββββ|βββββ0βββ0βββββββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ2βββββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββ3βββββββ|β
D F C G
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
E ||β2βββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
B ||β3βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β1βββββββββββββββ|β
G ||β2βββββββ0h2βββββ|β2βββ0βββ0h2βββββ|β0βββββββ0h2β0βββ|β2βββ0βββ0h2βββββ|β
D ||β0βββββββ0βββββββ|β3βββ3βββ3βββββββ|β2βββ0h2βββββββββ|β3βββ3βββ3βββββββ|β
A ||βββββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β3βββββββββββββββ|β
E ||βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β
D F C F
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
Chorus
E βββββββββ|βββββββββ0h2βββββ|βββββ3βββ2βββββββ|β0βββββ0βxβββ0βββ|βββββββββββ3βββββ|β
B βββββββββ|βββββββββ3βββββββ|βββββ3βββ3βββββββ|β1βββββ3βxβββ0βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
G βββββββββ|β2βββ2βββ2βββββββ|βββββ2βββ2βββββββ|β0βββββ0βxβββ0βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
D βββββββββ|β0βββ0βββ0βββββββ|βββββ0βββ0βββββββ|β2βββββ2βxβββ2βββ|βββββββββββ0βββββ|β
A βββ0β2β3β|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|β0βββββ0βxβββ2βββ|βββββββββββ2βββββ|β
E β3βββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββββββ|βββββββββββββ0βββ|βββββββββββ3βββββ|β
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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Simple Twist of Fate
by Bob Dylan
Feb 12, 2021 β’Β Lesson #351
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Tonight, Tonight
by Smashing Pumpkins
Feb 6, 2021 β’Β Lesson #350
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Can't Help Falling in Love
by Elvis Presley
Jan 30, 2021 β’Β Lesson #349
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Harvest Moon
by Neil Young
Jan 27, 2021 β’Β Lesson #92
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Adding Pentatonic Fills over D-Cadd9-G
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 23, 2021 β’Β Lesson #348
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7 Summers
by Morgan Wallen
Jan 16, 2021 β’Β Lesson #347
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Wellerman (Sea Shanty)
by Nathan Evans
Jan 13, 2021 β’Β Lesson #346
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Melody Notes in "Can't Help Falling in Love"
Warm-Up Exercise
Jan 10, 2021 β’Β Lesson #344
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Blank Guitar Tab Templates
Free PDF (7-pages)
Jan 9, 2021 β’Β Lesson #345
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Auld Lang Syne
traditional New Years song
Dec 30, 2020 β’Β Lesson #203
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Sunday Morning Coming Down
by Johnny Cash / K. Kristofferson
Dec 28, 2020 β’Β Lesson #98
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O Holy Night
by Sufjan Stevens
Dec 24, 2020 β’Β Lesson #343
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Nothing Compares 2 U
by Chris Cornell
Dec 12, 2020 β’Β Lesson #339
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Cats in the Cradle
by Harry Chapin
Dec 5, 2020 β’Β Lesson #341
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Sweet Virginia
by The Rolling Stones
Nov 29, 2020 β’Β Lesson #340
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Last Christmas
by Wham!
Nov 28, 2020 β’Β Lesson #200
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You've Got a Friend in Me
Toy Story / Randy Newman
Nov 22, 2020 β’Β Lesson #338
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Enough to Leave
by Billy Strings
Nov 15, 2020 β’Β Lesson #337
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Knockin' on Heaven's Door
by Bob Dylan
Nov 8, 2020 β’Β Lesson #88
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"Starlight" Riff in F#
Warm-Up Exercise
Nov 8, 2020 β’Β Lesson #336
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Thunder Road
by Bruce Springsteen
Nov 1, 2020 β’Β Lesson #335
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G finger position guide
Tips & Technique
Oct 25, 2020 β’Β Lesson #334
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Wish You Were Here
by Pink Floyd
Oct 23, 2020 β’Β Lesson #65
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