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Neil Young – HEART OF GOLD Harmonica Lesson

Heart Of Gold Harmonica Lesson

Neil Young’s Heart Of Gold is one of the most recognizable songs on guitar and harmonica. I have demonstrated the guitar part and we jammed through it in an earlier video: Heart Of Gold on Guitar and Harmonica
In this video, I want to concentrate on the three harmonica solos.


Heart of Gold Sheet Music, Harmonica Tabs, Gear and Setup

If you are looking for the sheet music, there are a couple of different versions that I’ve found available that includes Heart Of Gold.
The first one is for piano, vocal and guitar:
Neil Young – Greatest Hits by Neil Young. Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook. Softcover. 88 pages. Published by Hal Leonard

The second is for easy guitar:
Neil Young – Greatest Hits Easy Guitar with Notes and Tab. By Neil Young. Easy Guitar (Simplified arrangements for guitar). Softcover. Guitar tablature. Published by Hal Leonard.


Neil Young – Greatest Hits Sheet Music

Greatest Hits by Neil Young - Sheet Music

You can check out all of Neil Young’s endeavours. In Canada, check out my Neil Young Canada Site.


Musical Instruments and Recording Setup

Hohner Harp Holder

I made my first harmonica holder out of an old wire coat hanger. It wasn’t beautiful but it worked and put me on the road to earning my McGyver certificate at an early age.
For me now, a comfortable and properly fitting harmonica holder is a must for hands free harmonica playing. This
Hohner Harmonica Neck Holder
works great for me.
Another harmonica holder that you may want to try that has gotten great reviews is the
Lee Oskar Harmonica Holder
. You can also check out other harmonica holders on my George’s Harp Shop page.


Neil Young Heart Of Gold – Harmonica Tabs

Below are the harmonica tabs. I hope this helps anyone trying to learn this awesome song. If you enjoyed the video, please tell others.
Heart Of Gold music is property and copyright of its owners and provided for educational purposes and personal use only.
The following is my transcription of my version of the harmonica solos of this awesome song. If you want how the author intended, check out the links above.

First Harmonica Solo

4 5 6 -5 5 -4 4 3
6 7 -6 6 -6 6 5
4 4 4 6 6 6 6 6 -5 5 4

Second Harmonica Solo
4 6 -5 5 -5 5 4
6 7 -6 6 -6 6 -6 6 5
7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 -4 4 -4 5 5 -4 4

Third Harmonica Solo
6 6 7 -6 6 7 -6 6 -6 6 -6 6 5
5 5 5 -5 5 -4 4 -4 4 -4 5 5
7 -6 6 7 -6 6 -6 6 -6 6 5


Music123.com

This Post Has 72 Comments

  1. Peyton Belk

    Love ya George, gonna join for life soon and maybe even buy bend harmonica!

  2. cover music forum

    I believe the past one will be the most significant…if their
    music continues to be admired by following (current) years.

  3. Sysy Morales

    This is the best tutorial I’ve tried for this song-and I’ve tried so many.
    Thanks!

  4. Strange Dean

    Thank you

  5. Sanholomc

    It does not have to be the same that’s what music is about make it your own
    it was damn good George thanks

  6. Ralph Kasarda

    There has to be a better way of just writing out the blows and draws. That
    notation doesn’t capture whether one note is slow or fast, or whether two
    notes are played fast one after the other.

  7. k4wk

    George, this sounds great to me and you are very helpful. I’ve listened to
    various versions of Neil Young performing this song and there are
    variations every time, I believe. Thanks for what you’ve done.

  8. Jean-Baptiste JOLY

    Great video ! I learn both (Harmonica and Guitar) with you.
    Thanks

  9. Samuel SG

    U rulz dude!!!

  10. voicimonprenom voicimonnom

    Harmonica = not the same tune in the song !!!!!!!

  11. Sam_Fisher

    Hey dude the 3rd set of 3 rifts are off. The 1 and 3 line of notes are off
    by 2 notes at the end and mislabeled the blow n draw. The notes you posted
    and notes you read off to viewers is where i caught it. So dont really know
    which notes are the legit ones.

  12. CKGM990

    I mostly never understood how the blow this and suck that part worked so I
    mostly learn to play by ear, and this video is pretty instructional for
    that as well, so I thank you this was helpfull

  13. Honza Marek

    This is wrong, people you dont have musical hearing??

  14. Camille Harp

    Thanks! Great lesson for a super beginner like me.

  15. Couts

    Thanks Mr Goodman ! Such a great song…

  16. Carly Simms

    This is so amazing ty!

  17. TheEskimo21

    great video

  18. Samantha Babcock

    Love this tutorial, thank you for posting. I just want to know what kind of
    harmonica you have. I know it’s in key of g, but is it a Hohner? A Lee
    Oscar? Thank you.

  19. Justin Martin

    George,
    Thank you for the quick & detailed response. I had no idea! Always played
    blues, never rock. Now I know. What a help you were. Thanks again.

  20. Justin Martin

    What about cross harp? Always count up 4 keys from song. Song is in G, why
    is harp not in C? Every other song follows this rule.

  21. Henry A. Hibbert

    Thank you. Awesome.

  22. richard george

    I grew up listening to dad jam his lp’s John Mayall , turning point was one
    that hooked me ,I bought a Lee Oscar in the key of F and taught myself to
    play laws must change , Room to move, and a few other self made jams.
    Tonight I took out my new g harp and am well on my way to heart of gold ,
    thanx a lot man for helping me out of a 15 year block , this is great

    1. Luke

      Richard, have you tabbed ‘The Laws Must Change.’ I too grew up listening to that, and wanna learn it next.

  23. jajs283

    George iv been wanting to learn the play harmonica with my guitar for
    years. I bought all the harmonicas and head gear. thanks wish me luck.

  24. nyidentitythief

    Fantastic! Thank You.

  25. Tiger Cheze

    is there a trick for the 3rd line im blowing 5 time but it sound like shit

  26. bangun satria

    thanks guys

  27. jmac3480

    great format to learn this classic.thanks George !!

  28. Dieter Gerscht

    also i wonder if you have any exercise videos for example bending notes and when to plug holes etc etc, this is the first time anyone has been able to teach me anything on the harmonica so naturally im very excited to keep practicing more of your guitar/harp lessons.

  29. Dieter Gerscht

    great lesson, thank you very much. Id like to make a suggestion to help make your videos easier to learn. i like how you charted the numbers, but to add i think it would be alot easier if you could add up and down arrows to imply either draw or blow on each number so one can pause the video and practice each section accordingly. I watch your other video to learn the guitar part too (also a great help)…. thanks again for the great lessons keep up the good work

  30. Chris Howarth

    Discovered George on YouTube. I just followed both the guitar and harmonica instructions for Heart of Gold. The lessons are fantastic! Very accurate and within a week could play both fairly well. I appreciate all the time it’s taken to put the lessons together and would just like to say thank you George!!!!!! Chris. , Lancashire, UK.

  31. rongusta11

    Does a chromatic make a difference? It’s in the g key

  32. TehRebolt

    do you have to tune the harmonica? Because I have a feeling if I took off the top and started messing with the mechanics my harmonica would never work again

  33. BBRocknLow

    try not to take a harp too deep into the mouth.

  34. stephen leicester

    Thanks for the harp tutor for Heart of Gold, great stuff. Any chance of doing one for San Francisco Bay Blues by Jesse Fuller? I first heard it done by Eric Clapton on his Unplugged album. I play this version and would like to learn the harp solo. Alternatively, do you know where I can get the harmonica tab for it? Keep up the good work buddy, much appreciated.

  35. crippledinside92

    Very funny..

  36. kulaza79

    easy .. when he says blow 1 blow 2 blow 3 = means coke

  37. Andrew Croft

    Thanks George!!! I learned Heart of Gold in one week and played it live in front of friends at a bbq last night, surprising my host who plays guitar and sings the song… your lesson is much appreciated, and it *is* possible to learn it quickly, all thanks to you. All the best. Andrew from Toronto, ON, Canada

    1. George

      Right on Andrew, good for you. Glad I could help.
      Cheers, George

  38. Yan Tri

    2:48

  39. Juan Manuel Vázquez Ponce

    why can’t i play a single hole at time?. When i blow it sounds like i am playing the ones at the left and right. I only can play a single one by holding the harmonica in a vertical position, but it turns imposible when i want to play the song in the guitar and the harmonica at the same time. Help

  40. kingshearer2

    Thanks for the lesson, now the hard work has begun trying to learn it. cheers!

  41. Henry Windle

    yeah they do, just breath out or in into the holes according to the number on the top

  42. Brooklynn Loz

    This is actually amazing, thank you so much!

  43. crippledinside92

    You sir, were very helpful. Thank you.

  44. George Goodman

    The song is in the key of G and so a G harmonica is used. If this were played on a C harmonica it would be out of key with the song.
    So if your boyfriend wants to play along with the CD or mp3 or whatever and have it sound right, he needs a G harmonica. If it’s just to play solo then playing on the C harmonica by itself would sound fine.
    I hope that helps.
    Cheers, George

  45. crippledinside92

    Yay! Thank you so much for replying! Actually I didn’t know that the harmonica had numbers on it because I hadn’t looked at it up close, you see my boyfriend asked me to find him a good video on how to play this song on harmonica and I happened to think yours was the best.. one last thing, I think he mentioned his harmonica being a C harmonica. Can he still play this? I imagine he can but it just wont sound the same, right?

  46. George Goodman

    It doesn’t sound like your lost at all. That is exactly what I mean. The numbers I reference are the numbers on the harmonica. With the tabs, if I show a number with a minus sign in front, -2, that means draw on the 2 hole. If there isn’t a minus sign in front of a number, then blow. Make sure you’re playing a G harmonica for this song.

  47. crippledinside92

    ok can someone help me? when he says blow 4 blow 5 blow six do the numbers stand for the little holes in the harmonica? im so lost :/

  48. Mark Gundert

    Hi George great lesson thanks! I just have one question… It sounds in the third solo as if Neil actually plays up to blow 8… Is this correct? I want to learn the solos as close to the original as possible. Thanks! Great video once again

  49. navegente

    New & Easy Way to Play the Harmonica, visit my Channel & Suscribe… More than 1000 actual Subscribers are enjoing it! 😉 Nueva y Fácil forma de Aprender a Tocar la Armónica. Visita mi Canal y Suscríbete… ¡Más de 1000 actuales Suscriptores ya lo están disfrutando! 🙂

  50. MrBrodernafluff

    something feels wrong about the last part, 44466666… anyone got any suggestions for this?

  51. George Goodman

    Much appreciated.

  52. joel pablo

    great tutor,for beginners and pro.thumbs up!!!

  53. Philipp

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts on how to play harmonica.
    Regards

  54. rakeremis6730

    Dude ur sick

  55. George Goodman

    That’s what I strive for. Thanks very much.
    Cheers, George

  56. sakutasu

    after watching many youtube videos of heart of gold harmonica lessons, in my opinion you’re lessons are the best !!

    Thanks !

  57. George Goodman

    Hi Sriram. I think distinguishing between draw and blow by using a ‘-‘ sign to indicate draw otherwise blow is as far as I’m going to go. These videos take enough time as it is.
    Thanks for the suggestion, though. I appreciate it.
    Cheers, George

  58. Sriram M.K.

    thanks George, if you color “blow” in one color and ” draw” in another color will be easier to figure out …..

  59. George Goodman

    Hi Doug. Thanks.
    I haven’t been jamming anywhere locally lately. Are there any regular local jams?

  60. Doug Long

    Great Lessons George. Thanks much. Maybe I’ll catch you busking in Nanaimo one day. Are then any local Jams you attend regularly?

  61. scoobyfckndoo

    blow 4 like 4 times… this technical lingo is far beyond me… jk, very helpful video, thanks!

  62. Greger

    Hi, In response to what would help me most on a lesson , I seem to be having trouble with running out of breath it must be a timing thing I’m not getting or what! Just a thought .Thanks for your great lessons. It is so much more of a challenge to play the harp and guitar.I seriously dig it.

    Peace, Greger

    1. George

      Hi Greger,
      Thanks for the response. Got it. Breathing is such a large part of harmonica playing. There really is no other instrument like it where you also breath in or draw to make a sound. First of all, ensure that you are stomach breathing and not chest breathing. You need to be using your stomach muscles and diaphragm to get a controlled flow of air. Practice playing long notes, both blow and draw, breathing from deep down. Also, leave room for some air. Don’t take such a large breath of air that there isn’t any room for more. Chances are you are going to need to draw but you won’t have room to do it.
      Supporting your breath from your stomach makes most techniques on harmonica easier. It is much easier to bend notes for instance, if you have proper breath support.
      I’m glad you are enjoying the lessons. Lots more to come. Including breathing.
      Cheers, George

  63. Roland Brown

    Hiya George,
    Awesome video as always. This one and the “The River” are my favourite two of your videos. For a beginner like me, these are such an inspiration and we can play along with you till it sounds right.
    Thank you again for all your work.
    Regards
    Roland Brown (Australia)

  64. walkerhjones

    Thank u george, helpful. Sld u be taking suggestions. Shanty harmonica tutorial. Jonathon edwards

  65. tony fontane

    Great mastery as usual George.

  66. Steve F

    Excellent as usual

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