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Neil Young - Old Man Ukulele Chords

ChordsF, D, C, G, Am, Em
Strumming↓-↓-↓-↓↑

Before you play, tune your ukulele 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
AlbumHarvest
Year1972
KeyF
DifficultyEasy

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

Neil Young - Old Man on ukulele 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

Here's how to move from F to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 11 times.

F to D

2. F → C chord transition

Switching from F to C:

  1. While playing F, first lift your index finger and middle finger.
  2. Place ring finger on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the section, played 11 times.

F to C

3. C → G chord transition

Here's how to move from C to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 7 times.

C to G

4. G → D chord transition

To move from G to D:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 16 times.

G to D

5. D → C chord transition

Here's how to move from D to C:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

6. F → G chord transition

Here's how to move from F to G:

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

This transition appears in the section, played 2 times.

7. D → Am chord transition

Switching from D to Am:

  1. While playing D, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from C string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

8. Am → Em chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to Em:

  1. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Place index finger on A string fret 2.
  3. Place ring finger on C string fret 4.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

9. Em → G chord transition

Here's how to move from Em to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on C string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to A string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from C string fret 4 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

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 Ukulelearn.
  • Old Man contains 5 of the top 10 transitions across Ukulelearn.
  • These transition patterns show how Old Man connects to the rest of Ukulelearn. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After D, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are G (28%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → C: 14%
    • D → Am: 4%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Ukulelearn are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → C: 40%
    • F → G: 21%