“Heart of Gold” by Neil Young is a timeless classic, and learning to play it on guitar is a rewarding experience for any beginner. This guide will break down the essential guitar chords you need and offer practice tips to get you strumming this iconic song.
At its heart, “Heart of Gold” relies on a simple yet beautiful chord progression. The main chords you’ll need to master are Em (E minor), C major, G major, and D major. These are fundamental chords in guitar playing and are frequently used in countless songs, making them excellent chords to learn early on.
Let’s look at each chord individually:
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Em (E minor): Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string (5th string) and your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the D string (4th string). Strum all six strings.
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C (C major): Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the B string (2nd string), your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string (4th string), and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string (5th string). Strum strings starting from the A string (5th string).
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G (G major): Place your middle finger on the 6th fret of the low E string (6th string), index finger on the 5th fret of the A string (5th string), and ring finger on the 5th fret of the high E string (1st string). Strum all six strings. [Actually, standard G major is simpler: Index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string (5th string), middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string (6th string), and ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string (2nd string). Strum all six strings.] [Correction: Standard G is index on 2nd fret of A, middle on 3rd fret of low E, ring on 3rd fret of high E. But an easier beginner version is often used: Index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string, middle finger on the 3rd fret of the high E string, and ring finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string.] Let’s go with the simplified beginner G for ease. [Correction again: Simplified G is actually index on 2nd fret of A, middle on 3rd fret of high E, ring on 3rd fret of low E. Standard G is index on 2nd fret of A, middle on 3rd fret of low E, ring on 3rd fret of B. Even simpler beginner G could be just 3rd fret of low E with middle finger and 2nd fret of A with index finger. Let’s just describe the standard G and advise beginners to look up simplified versions if needed.]
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G (G major – Standard): Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the A string (5th string), your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string (6th string), and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string (2nd string). Strum all six strings.
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D (D major): Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string (3rd string), your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the high E string (1st string), and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string (2nd string). Strum the top four strings (D, G, B, e).
To effectively learn “Heart of Gold”, focus on smooth transitions between these chords. A great practice technique is One-Minute Changes (OMC). Choose two chords, for example, Em and C. Strum Em four times, then quickly switch to C and strum it four times. Repeat this for one minute, focusing on clean and fast chord changes. You can apply this to all chord pairs in the song: Em-C, C-G, G-D, and D-Em.
To further enhance your timing and rhythm, practice with a metronome. Start at a slow tempo, perhaps 60 BPM (beats per minute), and gradually increase the speed as your chord changes become more fluid. “Heart of Gold” is played around 86 BPM, so aim to reach that tempo as you improve.
Initially, you might find it easier to change chords every four strums. As you progress, challenge yourself to change every two strums, and eventually, on every strum, mimicking the rhythm of the song more closely. This method, inspired by the concept of OMC, will significantly boost your chord changing speed and accuracy.
Learning “Heart of Gold” guitar chords is a fantastic stepping stone for any aspiring guitarist. By mastering these chords and practicing chord transitions diligently with techniques like OMC and a metronome, you’ll be well on your way to playing this beloved song and many more. Keep practicing, and enjoy the journey of learning guitar!
