Let me tell you something, I have wanted to play this song since he released it. And that's been a long time. Thank you for putting this up. I would be pretty damn interested to know, if you or anyone else might speculate (or know), why Neil used this tuning. Surely it wasn't just so I would have to wait 50 years to learn how to actually play it!! Again, thank you so much for putting this up.
Neil often drops the top and bottom strings a full step because the chords sound more open. Furthermore, the vocal melody is right up there in terms of pitch. Dropping the rest of the strings down a whole step makes the vocals come down a full step and make it easier to sing (He does this on My My Hey Hey as well). Then he drops the top and bottom string another step to get the open effect.
You're not lifting your middle finger on the second strum of the C chord on intro then second time around lift index finger on second strum of F chord intro section.Thats how I saw Neil do it on a live video.
This was Great !!! Excellent !! I've been to 8 different RUclips channels on how to play this song. No one sounded just like Neil. Yours did !!!! Thank-you !!!! Well done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
well done! i figured it was in c i needed to make sure, brilliant job, and you said "wonky" part of my grammer as well to describe "wonky chords "! cheers!
Hey DS, nice lesson. I've been working on getting this classic down but have yet to find somebody that tunes down to where Neil really plays this song. If you watch his live version performed at Centerstage in Chicago (VH1) in 1992, you'll see what I mean. I believe the low E string is actually tuned to B flat, but what really bugs me is that the upper (High E etc) strings don't seem to be tuned in the standard drop tuning at drop C or drop D where most of us are used to playing this. I like this version so much, I think it's worth the hassle of tuning it as such. If you can figure this one out, you will be the man! Nice singing by the way.
Yes in that concert, Neil Young tuned down all the strings another full step from the C tuning to Bb tuning. So what's the problem? Chord shapes are exactly the same. Pretty straight forward.
Close, but no cigar. The chord you are playing at 5:23 is wrong. Instead play an F5 chord 5X0035. The F7no3rd chord you are playing sounds too jazzy and not in keeping with the overall tonal quality of this song. Listen and watch the video of Neil Young playing in 1971 at the BBC session and listen out for the F note ringing on the 1st string 5th fret; not the D# note you are playing on the 2nd string 6th fret. A lot of people, including yourself, erroneously refer to the standard tuning Dsus2 shape chord as a D5 chord. It is not a D5 chord unless you mute the 1st string or unless you have detuned the 1st E string down to D. The D5 chord or any fifth chord cannot be a triad, which it would be if you allowed the 1st string to ring. A fifth chord contains only two tones being the root plus the 5th. The Dsus2 shape, in standard tuning, contains three tones. In this particular drop C tuning, the 1st string is a C, so there are only two tones being played when all 6 strings are strumming a Dsus2 shape chord, hence it is a C5 chord. Another tip: when you play the intro chord sequence, strum and then pull off your index and middle fingers from the C shape chord (which is A#/C in this tuning) before returning to the Dsus2 shape chord (which is C5 in this tuning) in order to get the correct rhythmic feel for the intro. This also works when you play the D#6sus2 chord [330010} in the intro - pull off your index finger before returning to the starting C5 chord.
Nice catch;-) I didn't notice the cord at 5:23 but felt the intro felt like it was missing something I never would have figured out but it was the pull off of the index finger... makes all the diff. Thanks!
yes, it was very good, nothing wanting in this lesson. I would like to see a version were you just use your regular vocals, it would be interesting to compare, I don't think any one can get Neils vocals the way he does it, perhaps you need to cross your legs like he is able to do, ha, ha just kidding.
Brilliant tutorial! Clear, easy to follow and delivered with calm authority. Thank you from Liverpool, England!
This is THE best tutorial on this song
great lesson
good work recognising drop standard (whole step) Neil & his crazy tunings thanks again
Well done! Thanks for posting this. Very clear and helpful.
Let me tell you something, I have wanted to play this song since he released it. And that's been a long time. Thank you for putting this up. I would be pretty damn interested to know, if you or anyone else might speculate (or know), why Neil used this tuning. Surely it wasn't just so I would have to wait 50 years to learn how to actually play it!! Again, thank you so much for putting this up.
Neil often drops the top and bottom strings a full step because the chords sound more open. Furthermore, the vocal melody is right up there in terms of pitch. Dropping the rest of the strings down a whole step makes the vocals come down a full step and make it easier to sing (He does this on My My Hey Hey as well). Then he drops the top and bottom string another step to get the open effect.
You're not lifting your middle finger on the second strum of the C chord on intro then second time around lift index finger on second strum of F chord intro section.Thats how I saw Neil do it on a live video.
Tx for lesson! Excellent job and patience explaining the chord shapes. Very helpful. Tx again!
This was Great !!! Excellent !! I've been to 8 different RUclips channels on how to play this song. No one sounded just like Neil. Yours did !!!! Thank-you !!!! Well done !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for teaching me this great song ,you 're good at teaching put everything across well
Thanks for posting. This saved me a ton of time. And extremely accurate. Much appreciated!
That sounds so good.
Unfortunately I'm a no talent nobody.
Can barely play normal chords.
No idea what you're doing, but it sounds glorious
Great vocal coming from such a big guy.!!!
3 time i replayed this and just end up jamming with some legit messy beginner finger style cuz this tuning is sick
Thanks a LOT! Very friendly tutorial
Great job! Thanks
Lovely singing.
well done! i figured it was in c i needed to make sure, brilliant job, and you said "wonky" part of my grammer as well to describe "wonky chords "! cheers!
Thank you for a great lesson of a great song!
Thanks for this. Very well and clearly explained.
Great job explaining. love the song!
Excellent, bien expliqué....(from Paris)
Nicely done sir
excellent
Very helpful. Thanks so much.
Nice job!!!
Hey DS, nice lesson. I've been working on getting this classic down but have yet to find somebody that tunes down to where Neil really plays this song. If you watch his live version performed at Centerstage in Chicago (VH1) in 1992, you'll see what I mean. I believe the low E string is actually tuned to B flat, but what really bugs me is that the upper (High E etc) strings don't seem to be tuned in the standard drop tuning at drop C or drop D where most of us are used to playing this. I like this version so much, I think it's worth the hassle of tuning it as such. If you can figure this one out, you will be the man! Nice singing by the way.
Yes in that concert, Neil Young tuned down all the strings another full step from the C tuning to Bb tuning. So what's the problem? Chord shapes are exactly the same. Pretty straight forward.
great and THANKS!!!!!...can you please "spell out" the strum of the verse?
You should do a lot more as you make a great tutor. Thank you.
I like ur lesson on this best i had to come back and remember the arrangement *wonky chord ) i just thought id tell ya lol
Excellent this. What gauge strings are you using ?
Im trying, but im confused at the chord shape.
Close, but no cigar. The chord you are playing at 5:23 is wrong. Instead play an F5 chord 5X0035. The F7no3rd chord you are playing sounds too jazzy and not in keeping with the overall tonal quality of this song.
Listen and watch the video of Neil Young playing in 1971 at the BBC session and listen out for the F note ringing on the 1st string 5th fret; not the D# note you are playing on the 2nd string 6th fret.
A lot of people, including yourself, erroneously refer to the standard tuning Dsus2 shape chord as a D5 chord.
It is not a D5 chord unless you mute the 1st string or unless you have detuned the 1st E string down to D.
The D5 chord or any fifth chord cannot be a triad, which it would be if you allowed the 1st string to ring.
A fifth chord contains only two tones being the root plus the 5th. The Dsus2 shape, in standard tuning, contains three tones.
In this particular drop C tuning, the 1st string is a C, so there are only two tones being played when all 6 strings are strumming a Dsus2 shape chord, hence it is a C5 chord.
Another tip: when you play the intro chord sequence, strum and then pull off your index and middle fingers from the C shape chord (which is A#/C in this tuning) before returning to the Dsus2 shape chord (which is C5 in this tuning) in order to get the correct rhythmic feel for the intro. This also works when you play the D#6sus2 chord [330010} in the intro - pull off your index finger before returning to the starting C5 chord.
Nice catch;-) I didn't notice the cord at 5:23 but felt the intro felt like it was missing something I never would have figured out but it was the pull off of the index finger... makes all the diff. Thanks!
Why are u here then if u already know man😭
@@nathanadnitt So that he & everyone else can get it right. It's called sharing knowledge.😉
@@nathanadnitt 😂 I know! It’s is good he’s sharing but woah man 🤯 as a beginner this definitely exploded my head!
thank you sir
Thank you...
3:08 still not sure if he sped up the video or not
yes, it was very good, nothing wanting in this lesson. I would like to see a version were you just use your regular vocals, it would be interesting to compare, I don't think any one can get Neils vocals the way he does it, perhaps you need to cross your legs like he is able to do, ha, ha just kidding.
How about play it through first.
please dont sing this powerful, deeply emotional song in that cheesy falsetto voice. good lesson tho.
Neil sings in a falsetto voice as well