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Neil Young - Heart of Gold Chords

ChordsEm, C, D, G, C7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

  • Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
  • Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
  • Guitar C7 chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-3-1-0Guitar C7 chord diagram


[Em]I wanna [C]live, [D]I wanna [G]give
[Em]I’ve been a [C]miner for a [D]heart of [G]gold.
[Em]It’s these [C]expressions [D]I never [G]give
[Em]That keep me searching for a [G]heart of gold


[C]And I’m getting’ old. [C] [C7] [C] [G]
[Em]Keep me searching for a [G]heart of gold
[C]And I’m getting’ old. [C] [C7] [C] [G]


[Em]I’ve been to [C]Hollywood, [D]I’ve been to [G]Redwood
[Em]I crossed the [C]ocean for a [D]heart of [G]gold
[Em]I’ve been in [C]my mind. [D]it’s such a [G]fine line
[Em]That keeps me searching for a [G]heart of gold


[C]And I’m getting’ old. [C] [C7] [C] [G]
[Em]Keep me searching for a [G]heart of gold
[C]And I’m getting’ old. [C] [C7] [C] [G]


[Em]Keep me searching for a [D]heart of [Em]gold
You keep me searching and I’m [D]growing [Em]old
Keep me searching for a [D]heart of [Em]gold
I’ve been a miner for a [G]heart of [C]gold. [C] [C7] [C] [G]

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AlbumHarvest
Year1972
KeyEm

How to play Heart of Gold on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Neil Young - Heart of Gold on guitar requires 5 chords and 7 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Heart of Gold uses these transitions most often: G → Em (10), C → D (6), and D → G (6). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Em - C chord transition.

1. Em → C chord transition

To move from Em to C;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on B string fret 1.
Em to C

2. C → D chord transition

To move from C to D;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
C to D

3. D → G chord transition

To move from D to G;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.
D to G

4. G → Em chord transition

To move from G to Em;

  1. While playing G, lift your index finger from A string fret 2.
  2. Lift your middle finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
G to Em

5. G → C chord transition

To move from G to C;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.

6. C → C7 chord transition

To move from C to C7;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on G string fret 3.

7. Em → D chord transition

To move from Em to D;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 2.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on G string fret 2.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Heart of Gold.

  • Heart of Gold includes 59 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Heart of Gold contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Heart of Gold connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).
    • C → G: 35%
    • C → D: 11%
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Em: 9%