Video lesson
Get the PDF chord sheet (5 pages)
- Support me on Patreon.com to get access to this and 200+ other PDF chord sheets I've made, plus new PDFs I make going forward (1-2 added each week).
- The cost is $3/month (one month minimum, cancel anytime). Here's a free sample if you're on the fence. Thanks for supporting me & this project!
After clicking the button and logging in to Patreon, look for the PDF attached to the bottom of the post.
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 +
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).
You can also support me on Patreon. For only $3/month you'll get access to a print-friendly PDF of my notes for each new lesson (view free sample).
Thanks!
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 video lessons:
📝 Print-friendly PDFs now available for all new lessons I make, including all those listed below. Get a free sample »
- Welcome to Paradise by Tyler Childers / Green Day
Sep 19, 2020 • Lesson #322 - Betty by Taylor Swift
Sep 17, 2020 • Lesson #321 - Rapid-fire Q&A: Up-strums, tricky rhythms, muting with your thumb, and more
Sep 13, 2020 • Lesson #329 - Old Man by Neil Young
Sep 12, 2020 • Lesson #328 - Learning the intro riff to "Old Man" by Neil Young
Sep 5, 2020 • Lesson #326 - 4 new PDFs: Tyler Childers covering Green Day, Colter Wall, Vincent Neil Emerson, and Taylor Swift
Aug 30, 2020 • Lesson #323 - Silencing strings on the 2-count (percussive technique)
Aug 23, 2020 • Lesson #325 - Patience (play-along cover) by Guns n' Roses
Aug 22, 2020 • Lesson #324 - How to access my library of 200+ PDF chord sheets
Aug 16, 2020 • Lesson #319 - El Paso by Marty Robbins
Aug 15, 2020 • Lesson #315 - Sedona by Houndmouth
Aug 9, 2020 • Lesson #313 - 3 ways to strum without a pick
Aug 8, 2020 • Lesson #317 - Summertime by Billy Strings / Doc Watson
Aug 1, 2020 • Lesson #279 - Riffs with Circular Bass Lines
July 25, 2020 • Lesson #314 - Happy Birthday triad exercise (Key of G)
July 23, 2020 • Lesson #312 - 3 ways to silence strings with your left hand
July 18, 2020 • Lesson #311 - Keep the Wolves Away by Uncle Lucius
July 10, 2020 • Lesson #310 - Will You Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles / Carole King
July 4, 2020 • Lesson #309 - Stand By Me by Ben E. King
June 28, 2020 • Lesson #308 - Mr. Bojangles by Jerry Jeff Walker
June 21, 2020 • Lesson #307 - Willin' by Little Feat
June 13, 2020 • Lesson #306 - My Church by Maren Morris
June 7, 2020 • Lesson #305 - Pull-off Exercise (Key of C)
June 6, 2020 • Lesson #304