Quick And Easy Harvest Moon Guitar Lesson

If you’d like a perfect song to delight your audience with this fall…then folk-rock legend Neil Young may just have a solution for you.

There’s something special about this tune that blends beautifully with a cup of coffee, and a chill in the air.

You only need a couple of chords to play it.

So grab your guitar and let’s dive into this “Harvest Moon” guitar lesson!

Who Wrote Harvest Moon?
"Harvest Moon" was written and performed by Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young. It was released as the title track on his 1992 album Harvest Moon.

Harvest Moon is often considered a sequel to Young's earlier album Harvest from 1972. It was recorded at a few different locations, including Young's Broken Arrow Ranch in Redwood City, California.

The recording sessions involved many of the same musicians who played on Young's original Harvest album, including Ben Keith on pedal steel guitar, Tim Drummond on bass, and Kenny Buttrey on drums. Background vocals were provided by Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor.

It was produced by Neil Young and Ben Keith. The song and album received widespread critical acclaim and contributed to a resurgence in Neil Young's popularity in the early 1990s.

Neil Young is known for his love of nature, and "Harvest Moon" reflects this connection. The song's lyrics evoke images of the moon and natural surroundings. This all aligns with Young's environmental advocacy. The music video for "Harvest Moon" features a dance between a couple under a full moon, which shows the song's romantic and nostalgic themes. The video received heavy rotation on music television channels.

“Harvest Moon" has become a staple in Neil Young's live performances, often creating an emotional moment during his concerts. Fans appreciate the song's heartfelt lyrics and soothing melody.

If you want to play “Harvest Moon” on guitar you’ll need to know 5 main chords D, Em7, G5, A7sus4, and A7. Good news, none of these are bar chords. Let’s next take a look at some possible ways these can be played on guitar.

[flouisbailey]

My friend Jon dissecting another great song. Mr Young is is a National treasure. Oh, he is Canadian, I hope Neil Young will remember…. Wrong song. Play FreeBird!!

[jerrypersall]

Always love Dropped D. Never heard this one. Exquisite chords!

[TheBluegrassbilly]

Man so grateful for your input. Love it and I can now play along with you. Thanks a bunch. Forward and onward

[ianrichardson]

Nice song this one..Drop D is your friend. Pesky old bass E string....
I also like the way you use your thumb and fingers..as some others do including myself. I don't mind a pick but you just cannot get all the little inflections you can with your digits.
I strum with me thumb and with the back of me nails..I use my nails for alternate picking..and up strumming..double stops..harmonized 3rds..arpeggios..etc. I use me thumb to create bass melodies while picking one or two treble strings. I like doing that it sounds a little different to just droning a bass string or two. Not that keen on thumb picks although I do sometimes use one..I like to feel the strings, gives me a better connection with the instrument. My preference being nylon strings..like the feel of them more than steel ones.
It only really came about trying to learn to finger pick which I did not find easy..

[charlievance]

Very nice Jon! Great tutorial on this very cool song. Could do a tutorial on the song by Steve Wariner "The Weekend"