Lern how to play "From Hank to Hendrix" by Neil Young on the acoustic guitar!

Let’s check out From Hank To Hendrix by Neil Young on the acoustic guitar. The chords and rhythm are pretty easy, though the F and Bm chords might be tricky for beginners. But if you know F, it makes Bm real easy! We'll look at the harmonica parts too. :)

I don't consider myself a very good harmonica player, but I can still teach this part. It's quite simple, so I managed to learn it through trial and error. We’ll get to the harmonica later - first, let's learn how to play this incredible Neil Young song on the acoustic guitar!

From Hank To Hendrix by Neil Young - Guitar Chords

The chords for From Hank to Hendrix aren't particularly difficult, but there are a couple of barre chords. You'll need to be hip with the F Chord and the B Minor chord, which is one of the easier barre chords ever. :) If you're still not confidently playing barre chords, this free Ultimate Guide to Barre Chords will help!

The intro and verse progressions are the same. It’s an eight-bar sequence: G, Bm, C, Am; Em, G, C, Am. For the G chord, use whichever fingering is easiest for you! Other than that, the chords are standard open shapes. For the Bm, remember to mute string 6 with the tip of finger 1.

💡 Check out JustinGuitarTABS to get verified tabs, chords, and lyrics to play along with this and over hundreds of songs!

The chord progression for From Hank to Hendrix might not be the easiest sequence to remember because it doesn’t repeat in bars of four. Still, it's not the too difficult, right? :)

We add two bars of G to the end of the verse, then we head to the chorus. The progression is two repetitions of F, F, C, G, with an extra two bars of G at the end. Easy peasy. :)

From Hank To Hendrix by Neil Young on Guitar - Strumming Pattern

The strumming pattern for From Hank to Hendrix is pretty simple too! See the video for the exact pattern. :) The strumming and chord progressions make this Neil Young song a great option for advancing beginners.

🎸 Perfect Practice: If you've been following my guitar courses, you'll already know that you should be playing these three types of songs at all times. :)

To play the rhythm for this song, strum with the thumb and index finger just like Neil Young does! Make sure your index finger is nice and loose so it doesn’t catch in the strings.

The most important thing is to keep a continuous motion with your strumming hand. Yes, even when you’re not strumming the strings!

I also suggest you lift the volume in the choruses so that there’s interest for the listener. The harmonica also adds variation if you choose to play it. Speaking of which…

How to Play the Harmonica Part

The harmonica part is a great layer to add because it keeps the listener interested in your playing! It works great for acoustic covers. :) Mine has an adapted brace and an extension so that I can sing into the microphone too.

To play From Hank to Hendrix, I'm using a G Harmonica made by a guy called Anthony Danica. It's more expensive than regular harmonicas, but it sounds awesome. Whatever you do, you’ll need one tuned to G.

If you're new to harmonica, the trick is learning how to play one note at a time. Only when you’re comfortable with that should you figure out the melodies. Check out the video tutorial to learn more about the harmonica mechanics and practical tips to get you started.

That's all there is to it! If you have any questions on the harmonica or this song lesson, leave a comment in the discussion section! Laters. :)

💙 Are you a Neil Young fan too? I’ve got loads more Neil Young songs on the site!