'The Needle And The Damage Done' by Neil Young - Guitar Tutorial
Song lyrics:
#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: [email protected]
To get a new song name search for ++++++++
I put my comments in {}
+++++++++
First several Needle tabs {choose the one you perfer. I mixed them}
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THE NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE (1)
Neil Young
transcription by Jesse Gress,
Guitar School magazine
Intro:
|---2---0---------|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0---------|
|-----------3---3-|---3-3-----3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3-3-3---3---0-|
|-----2-------2-2-|-----2-------2---|---0-0-------0-0-|---0-0-----0-----|
|-0---0---0---0---|-----0-------0---|-0---0---0---0-0-|-0---0---0---0---|
|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-2-------2-------|-1-------1---1---|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|---------0---0-----0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0----0-|---0---0---0---0-|
|---1-----1---1-----1-|-1-1---1---1---0-|---0-----------(0)|---0----------(0)|
|-----------0---0h2---|-3---2---0-------|-2---2------------|-1---------------|
|-2---0h2-------------|-------------3---|-----2---2---2----|-2---2-----------|
|-3-------------------|-----------------|---------2--(2)---|-----2---2---0---|
|---------------------|-----------------|-------------0-(0)|---------0-------|
A:First verse
I caught you knockin' at my cellar door. I love you baby can I have some
|----2-----2-----2-----0-|--------0---------0-|-------0-------0---|-------0-----|
|----3-----3-----3-----3-|---3--------3-------|---3---3---3---3---|-----3-3---3-|
|-2-----2-----2-----2----|------2--------2----|---0-0-----0-0-0---|-----0-0---0-|
|-0-----0-----0-----0----|------0--------0----|-0-0-0---0-0-0-----|-0-0-0-----0-|
|------------------------|-3--------3---------|-2---2---2---2-----|-1-------1---|
|------------------------|--------------------|-------------------|-------------|
Oh, oh, the damage done
|-----------0-----|-----1-1-------0-|-------0-------0-|---0----0----0--(0)-|
|---1-1-1---1---1-|---1-1-1---1---0-|---0-0-0---0---0-|---0----0----0---0--|
|-0---0---0---0-0-|-2-------2---2---|---2-2-----2-2---|--------------------|
|-2---2---2---2---|-3-------3---3---|-2-------2---2---|-2--0h2--2/4---2----|
|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|-2-------2---2---|-2------------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0------------------|
B:Second Verse
I hit the city and I lost my band. I watched the needle take another man.
|---2---2---2---0-|---------0-------0--0-|-------0---0-----|-------0-0-0---0-|
|---3---3---3---3-|---3-----------3-3--3-|---3-3-3---3---0-|-----3-3-3-3-3-0-|
|-2---2-------2---|------2---------(2)---|---0-0-0-0-0---3-|---0-0-0-0-0-0---|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0--------------------|-0---0---0-0-----|-0-------0-------|
|---------0-------|-3----0-----3---------|-2-------2-2-2---|-1---------------|
|-----------------|----------------------|-----3-----3-3---|-------------3---|
Gone, gone, the damage done.
|--------0-------0-0-|-----1-1-------1-0-|------0-0-------(0)|-------------------|
|----1---1-----1-1-1-|---1-1-1-----1-1-0-|------0-0---0--0-0-|---0----0----0---0-|
|------0-----0---0---|-2---------2---2---|---2-2--------2----|---1----1----0--(0-|
|----------2-----2---|-3-------3-----3---|-2---2----2---2----|-2--------2h4--2---|
|-3--------3---------|-3-------3-----3---|-2---2----2---2----|-2---0h2-----------|
|--------------------|-------------------|-0--------0--------|-0-----------------|
C:Interlude
|----2-----0-------------|---------0----------|---------0-----------|--------0---|
|----------------3-----3-|----3-------------3-|----3----3----3----3-|---3----3---|
|-2-----2-----2----------|------2-------2-2-0-|----0---------0----0-|---0---(0)--|
|-0-----0-----0-----0----|------0-----0---0---|------0-----0----0---|-0---0----0-|
|-------------------0----|-3----3-----3---3---|-2----2-----2----2---|-1---1----1-|
|------------------------|--------------------|---------------------|------------|
|--------------0-----0-|---0---0---0----0---|---0----------------|--------------|
|---1----------1-----1-|---1---1---1------0-|---0---0----------0-|---0--------0-|
|---0-----1------0h2---|-3---2---0---0------|-2---2------(2)-----|-1-----1----1-|
|-2---0h2---0----------|-------------3------|-----2----2--2------|-----2--(2)---|
|-3--------------------|--------------------|---------------2----|---------2----|
|----------------------|--------------------|---------------0----|--------------|
D:Third Verse:
I sing the song because I love the man I know that some of you don't understand
|---2---2---2---0-|--------0---------0-|--------------------|------------------0-|
|---3---3---3---3-|----3---3-----3---3-|----3---3---3-----3-|-----3---3--3--3--0-|
|-----2---2---2---|------2---------2---|------0-0---0-----0-|---0-0---0--0--0----|
|-0---0---0---0---|-0---------0--------|-0----0---0---------|-0---0---0-----0----|
|-----------------|-3----3----3----3---|-2----2---2----2----|-1---1---1-----1----|
|-----------------|--------------------|------3--------3----|--------------------|
milk blood to keep from runnin' out
|-------0---------|-------1---------|-----------------|----------------------|
|---1---1---1---1-|---x-1-1---1---0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0-----0-----0----0-|
|-0---0-----0---0-|-2-------2---2-0-|---2---2---2---2-|---1----(1)----0---(0)|
|-2---2---2---2---|-3-------3---3---|-----2-----------|-----------2h4---2--0-|
|-3---3---3---3---|-----------------|-2---2---2---2---|-2---0h2--------------|
|-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0---0---|-0--------------------|
E:Fourth Verse:
I've seen the needle and the damage done. A little part of it in ev'ryon
|----2-----------2-------|---------0-----0-----0-|---------0-----------|--------|
|----3-----3-----3-----3-|---------3-----3-----3-|---3-----3-----3-----|--------|
|-2-----2-----2-----2----|---2---2-2-----2-----2-|-0-------------0-----|--------|
|-0-----0-----0-----0----|---0---0---------------|-0-------------------|--------|
|------------------------|-3---3------3-----3----|-2----2-----2----2---|--------|
|------------------------|-----------------------|------3----------3---|--------|
But ev'ry junkie's like a setting sun.
|---------0-----------0-|--------1-------0-|-------0----0---0-|----0-----------0-|
|----1----------1-----1-|----1---1---1---0-|---0---0----0---0-|----0-----0-----0-|
|------0-----------0----|------2---2---2---|---2---2----2---2-|----------1-----0-|
|------2-----2-----2----|-3----3---3---3---|-2---2---(2)--2---|-2----------2h4---|
|-3----3-----3-----3----|-3----------------|-2--(2)---2---2---|-2----0h2---------|
|-----------------------|------------------|-0------------0---|-0----------------|
F.Outro
|----2-----0--------2--0-|----------0-----0--0--0-|-------0--------0-|----0-----|
|----3--3--3-----3--3--3-|----3--3--3-----3--3--3-|---3-3-3----3-3-3-|----3-----|
|-2-----2-----2--2--2--2-|----2--2--2-----2--2--2-|---0-0-0----0-0-0-|----0-----|
|-0-----0-----0--0--0--0-|-------0-----------0----|-0---0----0---0---|-0-----0--|
|------------------------|-3-----3-----3-----3----|-2---2----2---2---|-1-----1--|
|------------------------|------------------------|------------------|----------|
Needle and the damage done (2)
------------------------------
One of the first songs I ever learned on guitar!
This is not identical to what Neil plays on the record (his C/F
section is very slightly different) but your audience won't pick it.
Especially with your wailing emotional vocal over the top (so to speak).
(^H means hammer-on where indicated)
--------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|
----3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|
----2-------2---2-|---2-------2---2-|---0-------0---0-|---0-------0---0-|
--0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
------------------|-3---3---3---3---|-2---2---2---2---|-1---1---1---1---|
------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
----0----0---0----0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|
----1----1---1----1-|---1---1---1---1-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0---0-|
-----------0---02---|-3---2---0-------|-2---------------|-1---------------|
------02------------|-------------3---|-----2-----------|-----2-----------|
--3-----------------|-----------------|---------2-------|---------2-------|
--------------------|-----------------|-------------0---|-------------0---|
^H ^H
--------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|
----3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|---3---3---3---3-|
----2-------2---2-|---2-------2---2-|---0-------0---0-|---0-------0---0-|
--0---0---0---0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
------------------|-3---3---3---3---|-2---2---2---2---|-1---1---1---1---|
------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
----0----0---0----0-|---1----1---1-----1-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0----0-|
----1----1---1----1-|---1----1---1-----1-|---0---0---0---0-|---0---0---0----0-|
--------------------|-----02--------02---|-2---------------|-1----------------|
------02-------02---|-3--------3---------|-----2-----------|-----2------------|
--3--------3--------|--------------------|---------2-------|---------2---02---|
--------------------|--------------------|-------------0---|------------------|
^H ^H ^H ^H ^H
The Needle and the Damage Done
by Neil Young, on Harvest (1972)
Intro and half-way interlude without vocals:
[I play this as an extremely regular alternate bass/high picking with
either a flat pick or two fingers; all notes (or pairs of notes in the
hammer-ons and slides) in what I outline here should have the same
duration]
D D/C D/B D/Bb
e---2---0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|
b-----------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---0-------|
g-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
d-0---0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0-------------|
a-----------------3---------------2---------------1-----------0---------|
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C F Esus4 E
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
b---1---1---1---1---1---1---1---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------|
g---------0--0h2--3---2---0-------2---------------1---------------------|
d----0h2----------------------3-------2-------2-------2-----------------|
a-3---------------------------------------2---------------2---0---------|
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
Verses:
[Note how the first strip of tab is identical; what changes is the way
the C and F chords are played (simplified) and the passage from the
concluding E chord to the D chord that starts off the next verse.]
D D/C D/B D/Bb
e---2---0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|
b-----------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---0-------|
g-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
d-0---0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0-------------|
a-----------------3---------------2---------------1-----------0---------|
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
C F Esus4 E
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
b---1---1---1---1---1---1---1---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0-------|
g---------0---------------2------0h2--------------1---------------------|
d----0h2------2-------3-------3-------2-------2----------24--2---------|
a-3---------------3-----------------------2----------0h2----------------|
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
Conclusion:
[This is just the intro but truncated early]
D D/C D/B D/Bb
e---2---0---------------0---------------0---------------0---------------|
b-----------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------3---3---3-------------------|
g-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
d-0---0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0---0---0-------0-----------------|
a-----------------3----------------2--------------1---------------------|
e-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
Lyrics:
[I couldn't fit these too well under the tab, but knowing how to play
the tab and knowing the song well should allow you to sing while
playing. To synchronize the lyrics and tab I have placed the approximate
chords on the text. But DO NOT try to just strum these chords; that
idea just does not work with this song: you must pick it!]
D D/C
I caught you knocking at my cellar door
D/B D/Bb
I love you baby, can I have some more
C F Esus4 E
Ooo ooo the damage done
D D/C
I hit the city and I lost my band
D/B D/Bb
I watched the needle take another man
C F Esus4 E
Gone, gone, the damage done
[repeat the intro without words]
D D/C
I sing the song because I loved the man
D/B D/Bb
I know that some of you won't understand
C F Esus4 E
Milk, blood to keep from running out
D D/C
I've seen the needle and the damage done
D/B D/Bb
A little part of it in everyone
C F Esus4 E
But every junkie's like a setting sun
+++++++++
lyrics: audio
chords: audio
corrections/additions welcome
rcwoods|[email protected]
-----------------
The Needle and the Damage Done : Harvest
E --- -2- --- -0- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -0- --- --- --- ---
B --- --- --- --- --- -3- --- -3- --- -3- --- --- --- -3- --- -3-
G --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
D -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -3- --- -3- --- -3- --- -3- ---
E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
E --- --- --- -0- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -0- --- --- --- ---
B --- -3- --- --- --- -3- --- -3- --- -3- --- --- --- -3- --- -0-
G --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
D --- --- -0- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -0- --- --- --- --- ---
A -2- --- --- --- -2- --- -2- --- -1- --- --- --- -1- --- -1- ---
E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
note: the very last note is an open b, as the chord changes to a C.
E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
B --- -1- --- -1- --- -1- --- -1- --- -1- --- -1- --- -1- --- -1-
G --- --- --- --- -0- --- -2- --- 2H3 --- -2- --- -0- --- --- ---
D --- --- 0H2 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -3- ---
A -3- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
B --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- -0- --- ---
G -2- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -1- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A --- --- -2- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -2- --- --- --- --- ---
D --- --- --- --- -2- --- -0- --- --- --- --- --- -2- --- -0- ---
E --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I caught you knocking at my cellar door,
I love you baby can i have some more
Oh-oh the damage done
I hit the city and i lost my van
I watched the needle take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done
I sing the song because i love the man
I know that some of you don't understand
Milk blood to keep from running out
I've seen the needle and the damage down
A little part of it in everyone
Every junky's like a setting sun
notes: this is only a basic outlay - there are lots of variations you can do:
hammering on or not, using the 5th string (the root of the chord) or the
open 4th string (D) as the bass note, or to alternate.
eg (4th)0,0,0,0;(5th)3,(4th)0,0,0;(5th)2,(4th)0,0,0;(5th)1,(4th)0,0,0.
experiment! enjoy!
tabbed by rcwoods and [email protected], with additional corrections
by [email protected]. (Spring 1992)
How to play other songs of the artist "Neil Young"?
- A Dream That Can Last
- A Man Needs A Maid
- Act Of Love
- Keep On Rockin In The Free World
- The Needle And The Damage Done
- After The Goldrush
- Are You Passionate
- Inca Queen
- Interstate
- Keep on Rockin' the Free World
- Tell Me Why
- The Campaigner
- The Loner
- Too Lonely
- Cinnamon Girl
- Going Back
- Needle And The Damage Done
- Alabama
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