How to play 'Needle And The Damage Done' by Neil Young

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Here is a top ten classic for sure! The detail starts at 05:12 in this video after outlining the basic chord shapes. Choose an easy 'campfire' version or do it exactly like you hear on the recording - both versions are included in this video.
Songsheets are available - a free download at shanesimpson.com - no hassles and no gimmicks - just go and get them so you can follow along with this video - Cheers!
Shane

[@Michael-xp6jt]

Thank you I lived this song 7 1/2 year's clean.🎸🌅🏝️

[@alanmizell]

The first and only video of this song that didn’t skirt over the details. Thanks for clearly explaining the picking and best learning process. Subscribed.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Alan - really great comment and I appreciate it. Glad to have you here with us! Shane

[@barryosullivan1472]

Nearly have it👍 never thought I’d reach this level ( 6 months in for anyone starting out). Thanks a million Shane. I suffer from depression and anxiety and learning guitar has given me an outlet to express my emotions 👍

[@pablo6305]

You are great teacher. You play alot like neil young. He is a great person as well as great person who plays guitar. Thank you for sharing your talent. I have learned alot from you over last year.

[@kjb8198]

This was one of the best lessons I’ve seen. Thank you!

[@Habdragon11]

Great song and even better lesson, thanks Shane! Keep 'em coming!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Crazy Canuck - much appreciated! Shane

[@mountainrivera]

Thank you Shane. Breaking it down into bite sized pieces is a great technique.

[@martinfascetto3835]

Thanks ! Excelent. Teaching

[@DougWittrock]

NY is always a favorite. Thanks!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Glad to hear it Doug - thank you! Shane

[@dylancolburnmusic6220]

Once again a great job!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Dylbob - hope you had fun with it! Shane

[@adriangarda]

Really like the explanation o the rhythm in the beginning...the soul of the song is right there. Congrats!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Adrian - much appreciated and hope you are having fun with it. Shane

[@bobstark184]

Thank you so much for posting this, you really are an excellent teacher - and so encouraging! I’ve been attempting this song from a tab for some time but could never get it to flow. Now I get it 😊

[@bobrepholz5116]

Awesome teaching technique Shane, making my desire to stick with playing so much more fun

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks Bob - really appreciate that - hope you have fun with it and happy to have you here with us! Shane

[@johnnybx3254]

Thanks for sharing your great lessons 👍👏👏👏✌🏻

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks John - much appreciated! Shane

[@callumlawrence9702]

ive tried to learn this song from at least 5 other videos on youtube and yours helped me understand the most by far and get the most authentic sound! thank you for taking the time to really break down the song

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Callum - really great to hear that - hope you are having fun with it and very happy to have you with us here! Shane

[@thephenom_7231]

Awesome lesson👍👍👍

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you the phenom_7 -very glad you enjoyed it - Cheers! Shane

[@pedenmk]

You've got a lot of patients shane. I'm gonna pick up a new set of strings this afternoon and I'll give it a try this evening. I been wanting to learn this song for years. I can strum it but don't know how to do the picking pary. Thanks.

[@martinfascetto3835]

Excelent teacher

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Martin - I really appreciate that and I hope you have fun with it. Cheers! Shane

[@martinfascetto3835]

Guitar At Work I am from Argentina. I started studying three years ago .I have my personal teacher but I always look improving I play a Epiphone Acustic made in Japan like 30 years ago. Model NY390. Thanks again you are Grate!

[@jajs283]

Love this song. Thanks for the pick advice. I'm a finger picker and for the life of me I can not hang on to a pick. I kinda like do the Toy Caldwell thing. Taught myself to play. So I'm 55 and trying to learn to read some music. Thanks much for the videos.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thanks J - glad you are enjoying - hang onto that pick! Shane

[@mikearnoldus1391]

Use double stick tape at the tip where you hold it you'll never lose it again

[@scott729]

Nice, one of my all time favorites although it is hard to find a NY song that isn't a favorite. Wanted to ask if you would do a lesson featuring Rocky Mtn High John Denver... I like the way you present lessons and I think it would make for a good lesson and your video and audio quality is really good... thoughts? Thanks for all the really good lessons you have uploaded.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Scott - really glad you are enjoying the videos - thank you for the song suggestion - I will add it to the list for sure! Shane

[@Oniweeki]

Have you done Sugar Mountain yet? I love the way he strums and uses the Hammer ons. I look forward to your take on that one also when you get the chance. After the Gold Rush got me playing guitar. I do a halfway decent job of Tell me why, I just can't get it down well enough to sing while I do the picking between strums like he does.

[@unclexeres]

Lost a favorite uncle to the needle, I always wonder how he would be today if he was still with us...

[@josephliptak]

Thank you Shane! What a great tune by Neil Young and your teaching is superb. Do you think you could teach the intro to"I'd love to change the world" by Ten Years After. Keep the classic stuff coming, its great!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Joseph - a great suggestion - I'll put it on the list, Cheers! Shane

[@timothycharlesellis5940]

Shane, is that a 414 or an 814? Great lesson, as always!

[@GuitarAtWork]

Thank you Tim - always good to hear from you! It's an 814 Shane

[@timothycharlesellis5940]

Awesome! l put one on layaway a few weeks ago. When l watch your videos, l know l made a good decision.

[@GuitarAtWork]

An excellent decision Tim - you will never regret it! Let me know when you get it and I'll bet you'll love it. Shane

[@arain9465]

What model Taylor is that?

[@twodogmom]

All the great guitar instructors say to rest your right hand above the strings but when I do that, my palm tends to mute the strings and I can’t seem to reach the strings. Any suggestions? Or perhaps you could dedicate a video to that technique if you find that others have a similar issue? Thank you.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Hi Twodog - sure thing - that's a common problem. If you are muting the strings just move your right hand back a tiny bit until you hear them ring clearly - it's usually just a cm or two - so important! Shane

[@douglasmccannpiano]

you make a huge note error. in the f chord falling note from. c. its the e note d string second fret. not the boring redundant f note. ok. bflat c a c g c e c. not f c. regardless. thanku your clear uploads. wish. u do. cat stevens. if i laugh. in. e tuning. and. alun davies guitar. on. how can i tell you with. cat stevens.

[@jasper_north]

Neil never uses a pick I was told.

[@GuitarAtWork]

Right - but his technique is tricky to imitate. Most use a pick when doing this one. Shane

[@stratshredder]

I can play this but can only horrendously sing this tune...

[@GuitarAtWork]

A great song indeed - hope you have fun with it, Shane

[@douglovestheinternet]

I understand why he does it, but how can you live your everyday life with that gross thumbnail