Neil Young - Heart Of Gold
This is the guitar and harmonica classic.
Neil Young Heart of Gold Lesson on Guitar and Harmonica
Heart of Gold is the song that made me say "I want to be able to play that".
So let me show you how you can play it.
Lesson Info
Difficulty: Medium. Guitar and harmonica separately are fairly easy.
Lesson Length: 8:43
Instructor: George Goodman
The guitar and harmonica song. The guitar riff is unmistakable and the harmonica is all Neil.
Help File: The following link supplies the chords, lyrics and the harmonica tabs for Heart of Gold.
Heart of Gold Chords, Lyrics and Harmonica Tabs download pdf link - for educational purposes only.
Commercial-Free Video Download: Want to watch this video commercial-free and be able to download for off-line viewing? That's just a small part of what a HarpNGuitar paid membership provides.
Gear Used
Takamine EG541SC
I am playing my black tak in this one.
This is a Takamine G Series EG541SC bought in North Carolina when I was playing in a band called Double Take.
Specs:
Top - Solid Spruce
Back - Nato
Sides - Nato
Finger Board - Rosewood
Electronics - TK40
Finish - Gloss Black
Check out more Takamine G Series Guitars
The Hohner Harmonica Neck Holder fits harmonicas up to 7-1/2" long. With a long-lasting nickel-plated finish, this harmonica rack is adjustable and fits any neck shape.
Get a Harp Rack Of Your Own Here
Hohner Special 20 Diatonic Harmonica in G
A G harmonica played in first position works great on this.
I am playing a Hohner Special 20 in this one.
On Sale Here
Musical Challenges
The guitar part and the harmonica parts taken separately are not too difficult.
The difficulty comes in trying to put the two together. Take it slow and you'll get it.
For Harmonica - Single Notes: The tabs are written out as single notes but really they are just a guideline for the melody notes. Neil is not playing many single notes in this so that is not enforced.
Everything you need to get up to speed including single notes is covered in the membership video series Harp N Guitar Harmonica Essentials
Guitar - Chords: Nothing too tricky here. The chords are common. Rhythm and strumming: Other than the signature lick a simple quarter note strum is very effective.
If you need help here, check out the membership video series Harp N Guitar Guitar Essentials, Guitar Chords and Rhythm Guitar and Strumming.
Video Timeline
Introduction
Heart of Gold is in the key of G and we will use a G harmonica for this one.
0:34 - The Riff
The signature riff that everybody's heard is accomplished by hammering on an E minor chord.
2:29 - Guitar Chords
Start off by learning the progression for the harmonica solos.
There are slight changes for verses but the progression is very similar.
And then there's the chorus followed by the ending.
Things I Would Change
In the chorus section, right at the end where it includes the Bm, this is a different interpretation from the original and I don't play it like that now either.
Instead of going from C Bm Am G, you can pretty much throw out the Bm and Am if you want to sound like the original.
5:41 - Song Demonstration / Play-Along
The harmonica tabs are demonstrated in a separate video lesson.
Here is a demonstration complete with muck-ups (7:40) and probably too much reverb.
That's Neil Young's Heart Of Gold. Let me know how that goes.
Peace. Stay in tune.
George
Things To Note
This was my very first lesson and is still by far my most popular, most-viewed, best performing by all metrics lesson.
I play it a bit different nowadays but everything you need is there to create your own version of the classic HarpNGuitar song ever recorded, in my humble opinion.
Anyone with me on that?
This was recorded in my studio in Nanaimo, British Columbia in October, 2010. The color is not so good. Sorry about that. The audio is good though.
That's Neil Young's Heart Of Gold. Let me know how that goes.
Stay in tune my friend.
George
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The Hohner Special Case consists of 5 Special 20 harmonicas in the most popular keys: G, A, C, D, and E.
What do I like about the Special 20s?
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Hohner Harmonica Holder
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YouTube Comments
I've looked at others, but I keep coming back to yours, George. Just what I need. Thanks.
My man, excellent playing and singing. The kick in the harmonica part, I am sent to a different space 🙂 so now I have to learn this song. Thanks for the tabs
son of a bitch.....you're very good!!! congratulations!!!!!
Awesome , very detailed and also it is good to see you sing after you have taught...thanks a ton Sir!
Plenty of pretenders on here your the real deal well done I'd love to get a G harmonica now.
you have a heart of gold for sharing this, thanks <3
7 responses to “Neil Young – Heart Of Gold – G Harp”
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Hey George,
First of all Happy New Year! May you and your family always have a happy song in your heart.
I was studying your tutorial on Heart of Gold by Neil Young, and noticed what looks like a wrap-a-round cut-n-paste typo on the listed chords to your second verse as noted in your help files. The Em, C, D, G progression is listed as Em, G, C, D.
I made the corrections on my song notes but wanted to alert you to this issue.
While I have the opportunity, I recommended your web site to a friend of mine only to find out he is already a fan of yours! Also, I really liked the Em hammer-on intro explanation.
Cheers,
Dennis Pashoukos
Hi George,
I,m enjoying your instructions. They are helping me refresh my skills. You are very good at presenting the information in an easy low key way. Thank you!
Norm
Hey Norm. Glad you’re enjoying the lessons.
Tell others.
Cheers, George
This is a fun song! Thank you again George! Getting my harmonica out tomorrow! I haven’t played it in a long time – it is time!!! 🙂
Hi Mary Beth. I love the enthusiasm.
I like your teaching style and make it easy for a first timer.
I have noticed the harmonica tabs on video and pdf are quite a bit different.
Since I’m new at harmonica just wondering which to use.
Thanks
Alan
Hi Alan. I’ll have to look at those and get them sorted. In the meantime, use your ear and decide what sounds best to you. The way Neil played it in the studio is not necessarily the way he played it live.
The tabs are also displayed as single notes but playing a couple of notes at the same time is okay here.
Thanks, George