Dec82021

Neil Young – Heading West Chords on Piano & Ukulele

Updated January 8, 2026

ChordsG D C Em

KeyKeyCapo

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[Intro]
G   D   C   G

[Verse 1]
G
When I was a little boy
                    D
Pulled my wagon all through
the town
D
Went fishin' at the mill
C
Got home before the
                     G
streetlights came on

[Verse 2]
G
Out behind my house
I used to go back to
    D
the railroad track
D
Put my ear down on the rail
C
Listen for the train
             G
to come back

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[Verse 3]
G
I was almost in my teens
Mom and Daddy went
      D
their separate ways
D
My brother stayed when
we left that day
C
Heading west to find
                  G
the good old days

[Chorus]
         D     C        G
Good old days, good old days
        D
Headin' West to find
    C        G
the good old days
D           C
Riding with mommy in
    Em     D   N.C.
her little car

Feel free to use our free Chord Shape Generator to see every chord in this song on guitar, ukulele and piano.

[Interlude]
G

[Bridge]
    D        C       G
Sometimes it feels alright
D           C       G
Livin' in a western town
D         C     Em       D
Mommy got me my first guitar

[Guitar Solo]
G   D   C   G

[Chorus]
         D     C        G
Good old days, good old days
        D
Headin' West to find
    C        G
the good old days
D           C
Riding with mommy
       Em     D   N.C.
in her little car

[Outro]
G   D   C   G

How to play Heading West: key, chords and progression

These are the chords for Heading West by Neil Young on Piano, Ukulele, Guitar, and Keyboard

Heading West by Neil Young is in the key of G major (one sharp: F♯). The song uses 4 chords: G, D, C and Em.

Most of the song cycles through G – D – C – G (I – V – IV – I in G major). In solfa, that is doh – soh – fah – doh. Get these 4 changes smooth and the rest comes quickly.

Beginner-friendly: every chord is an open chord on guitar, so you can play it without a capo or barre chords.