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14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?The 100 most repeated chord transitions extracted from thousands of songs. Even the first 10 will transform your guitar practice routine.

Neil Young - Old Man Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsF, D, C, G, Am, Em
Strumming↓-↓-↓-↓↑

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

FDFD
FOldmanlookatmylife,I’malotlikeDyouwere
FOldmanlookatmylife,I’malotlikeDyouwereFCG
DFCF
DOldmanFlookatmylife,Ctwentyfourandthere’sGsomuchmore
DLivealoneinaFparadisethatCmakesmethinkofFtwo
DLovelost,FsuchacostCgivemethingsthatGdon’tgetlost
DLikeacointhatCwon’tgettossed,FrollinghometoGyou
DDAmEmG
DOldmantakealookatmylife,AmI’malotlikeEmyouG
DIneedsomeonetoloveme,AmthewholedayEmthroughG
DAh,onelookinmyeyes,Amandyoucantellthat’sEmtrueG
DFCGDFCF
DLullabies,Flookinyoureyes,CrunaroundtheGsameoldtown
DDoesn’tmeanthatFmuchtome,toCmeanthatmuchtoFyou
DI’vebeenFfirstandlastClookathowtheGtimegoespast
DButI’mallCaloneatlast,FrollinghometoGyou
DDAmEmG
DOldmantakealookatmylife,AmI’malotlikeEmyouG
DIneedsomeonetoloveme,AmthewholedayEmthroughG
DAh,onelookinmyeyes,Amandyoucantellthat’sEmtrueG
FD
FOldmanlookatmylife,I’malotlikeDyouwere
FOldmanlookatmylife,I’malotlikeDyouwereFCGD
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistNeil Young
AlbumHarvest
GenresCountry, Country Rock, Folk, Folk Rock, Rock, Soft Rock, Classic Rock
Year1972
KeyF
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Old Man on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Neil Young - Old Man on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 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.

Old Man uses these transitions most often: D → F (16), G → D (16), and F → C (11). 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 F - D chord transition.

1. F → D chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

Here's how to move from F to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

F to D

2. F → C chord transition

Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

Switching from F to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 11 times.

F to C

3. C → G chord transition

Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

Here's how to move from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 7 times.

C to G

4. G → D chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram

To move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 16 times.

G to D

5. D → C chord transition

Here's how to move from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

6. F → G chord transition

Here's how to move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the verse, played 2 times.

7. D → Am chord transition

To move from D to Am:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

8. Am → Em chord transition

To move from Am to Em:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

9. Em → G chord transition

Switching from Em to G:

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

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

Old Man chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Old Man.

  • Old Man includes 96 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.03% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Old Man contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Old Man connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → C: 14%
    • D → Am: 4%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.