Heart of Gold

How to play Heart of Gold by Neil Young on guitar

Heart of Gold is a great song to learn because it feels relaxed, steady, and instantly recognizable. You get to focus on clean changes and a calm groove, which makes it a strong beginner pick and a satisfying one to play along with.

All of the shapes are open, so you do not need any barre chords here. The main change to watch is the opening move from Em to G, then C to D, since that sequence sets the feel and can trip you up if you rush it.

Start by practicing Em - G - C - D slowly until each change feels smooth. Then loop the progression with a steady pulse, keeping your hand relaxed and your changes even. Once that feels solid, bring it up toward the song's tempo and aim for consistency over speed.

Use the play-along above to follow each chord change in time with the music, or learn the shapes first with the chord diagrams below.