Old Man
Neil Young's iconic song 'Old Man' is a harmonica player's dream with its haunting melody and soulful lyrics. The harmonica adds a bluesy touch to this folk-rock classic, making it a must-learn for harmonica enthusiasts.
How to play the first line of Old Man on harmonica
Get a Em diatonic harmonica
This Old Man tab is written for a Em diatonic harmonica.
Read the hole numbers
Each number is a hole. A plain number (6) means blow out, a number with a minus sign (-5) means draw in, and an apostrophe (-4') is a bend.
Play the first line slowly
The first line is -5 -5 6 -5 -4 -4: 1 blow and 5 draw notes. Play it slowly, one clean note at a time, then match the rhythm of the recording.
Carry on line by line
Once the first line sounds clean, learn the rest of the tab one line at a time.
Questions about this tab
- What harmonica do I need for Old Man?
- A Em diatonic harmonica. The Old Man harmonica tab on this page is written for that harp.
- Is Old Man easy to play on harmonica?
- This song is marked beginner level. Its tab uses bends.
- What are the first notes of Old Man on harmonica?
- The first line is -5 -5 6 -5 -4 -4. Plain numbers are blow notes, numbers with a minus sign are draw notes.
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Looking for more harmonica tabs? Check out our collection of Folk songs or browse all harmonica tabs.




