Like A Hurricane | TAB
Here’s the verse progression which is also the intro, instrumental, and solo:
||: Am | Am | G | G |
| Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 | Em7 | G :||
That’s VI – V – IV – III – V, using Roman Numerals. You could target chord notes, just like the melody does so well but really, you want to use just a blanket scale here with A Aeolian.
Speaking of that melody, let’s look at how the verse targets all those perfect intervals, after all, this is why Like A Hurricane is so memorable and therefore a hit!
As shown below the TAB, the strong notes (Root, 3rds, 5ths) are the most prominent.
- In bar 1, the 4th is a passing note, the 2 is tension. Everything else is release notes and therefore melodic.
- Bar 3 uses the 4th as a tension note, 5 and 3 are release notes.
- Bar 5 uses the 7th as a tension note although it is part of the chord. 6 is tension, and 5 and 3 are release notes.
- For bar 6, #4 is tension, and 5 is the release.
- The last three notes are the most interesting. Starting on maj7 on the last beat of bar 6, this is Em‘s root. But we move down to the tension of b7, release it to the m3rd of Em, and then finally, release that to the root of G as the chord changes but the note stays.
Neil Young – What a songwriter!
Like A Hurricane chorus chords
The chorus feels a bit throwaway, compared to that perfectly crafted verse. It goes I – V – IV – V on repeat, like this:
||: C G | F G :||
The lyrics are great and the halftime feel over the upcoming four bars of F is amazing, and then we’re back to that fabulous verse progression again and it’s time to solo so I guess all is forgiven.
Although, maybe I’m missing a final trick here. That I – V – IV – V, the happy-clappy sounding chorus may be just what’s needed to set up the impact of the halftime F, and the meditative verse.
At the end of the day, I think we can all agree that Neil probably knows what’s best. Every time I transcribe one of his tunes I’m left feeling like I’ve just been around true greatness.
Like A Hurricane TAB | Related Pages
Like A Hurricane | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Like A Hurricane by Neil Young using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Am | Am | G | G |
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Five similar tunes | Chords + Lyrics
Neil Young tunes
Neil Young started out with Buffalo Springfield, briefly joined Crosby, Stills & Nash, and collaborated with Pearl Jam but is best known for his solo career.
His best tunes include Harvest Moon, Heart Of Gold, Old Man, The Needle And The Damage Done, My My, Hey Hey, and Like A Hurricane.
Neil Young on the web
About me | Dan Lundholm
This guitar lesson by Dan Lundholm features TAB and covers Like A Hurricane. Discover more about him and how you can learn guitar with Spytunes.
Most importantly, find out why you should learn guitar through playing tunes, not practising scales, and studying theory in isolation.