Heart of Gold Guitar Lesson - Neil Young - Acoustic

In this Heart of Gold guitar lesson video we will learn Neil Young's biggest hit note-for-note. Appearing on his 1972 album Harvest, "Heart of Gold" shot to number one, becoming Neil Young's only number one hit.

The really cool thing about "Heart of Gold" besides it being a great song, is that it can be played by just about any level of guitarist. Even beginner guitar players that can play a few simple chords shouldn't have much trouble at all learning "Heart of Gold" in it's entirety.

Neil Young uses mostly simple open position chords throughout the song. There is only one chord that uses a barre but you can easily play that very same chord as a basic open position chord if you want. In fact, these days Neil Young usually skips the barre chord version of that chord in his live performances, opting instead for the simple open position chord.

The rhythms are pretty straight forward and easy to grasp here as well. That combined with the simple fret hand chords means you should be playing this great acoustic classic in no time.

Throughout "Heart Of Gold", Neil Young employs lots of dynamics. If you don't know what that means it basically means that there are loud sections and softer sections of the song. The guitar parts follow suit with these dynamics, so you will want to practice playing at a few different volumes levels to really make this song sound authentic.

Practicing dynamics, even while just holding one chord and changing the volume that you are strumming is a great picking hand exercise. It requires a little bit more control than just strumming everything with the same amount of strength. Developing that control will make your overall picking hand technique much more solid.

So I hope this Heart of Gold guitar lesson will have something for just about every player. It can be a nice challenge for the beginning guitarist or just a nice campfire song for the advanced guitarist. Either way I hope you guys enjoy the lesson!

Carl...

[traceyrenon]

This is the first full song I have learned to play (at 53 years old I might add 😊). Thanks so much for the great lesson!!

[carlgphotography]

That is the first song I learned to play on guitar, back in 1972. Great memories.  

[angelicawhite]

Can you do a tutorial on Leader of the Band? I’ve been hooked on these Folk Country Rock lately. I grew up with my uncle listening to this when I was 8 in the Philippines.

[mattj]

Dude!
You’re such a good teacher
👍🦉

[aswtx]

You're like the only person that's pointed out that he plays a C bar chord originally for that one part. If you listen to his 1971 BBC appearance, that C bar chord sounds so much better than a regular C chord everyone else plays. He gets a sound out of that bar chord that I've found really hard to emulate. Then again you could say that about all the chords. He sounds so much better playing basic shit than anyone else, he's got some kind of voodoo magic in his hands back then

[TarantulasGraffiti]

your lessons are so good, I'm struggling to find a song you haven't covered!

[budandbean]

Another nice one Carl, thank-you! -buddy

[nursetom]

Loving these Neil Young lessons.  Any chance of doing some Gordon Lightfoot?  Thanks for posting!  As always a GREAT lesson and much appreciated!

[Tezcalipoca]

Not being English \ American there is one thing I didn't understand.
Should I block only the sixth string or all three lower strings of the guitar with the palm of my right hand?
I can't get the same sound out, the rest of the video is crystal clear.

[tanishgrover]

Can you please do a lesson of Slash's anastasia or you are a lie

[KarthikNair]

Hey carl sorry this is a bit off topic but I can't find the visualizing minor scales in all keys lesson that you keep talking about in your three note per string minor scale lesson.

[MusicsWhore]

It would be great if you could do a Don't Let It Bring You Down Lesson

[mrbaalloo]

A little bit too quick in parts for my little brain. I had to rewatch A LOT.