The Sound Of Silence
Digital Sheet Music
By Simon And Garfunkel

Item Number: A0.851184

The Sound of Silence is Paul Simon’s masterpiece. Released in 1965, Simon had written the track during the two previous years. It was well worth the wait.

It is an obvious choice as a piece of repertoire to arrange for the intermediate guitarist, yet I have found that many arrangements include real technical difficulties for the learner. This is often because of the choice of key. If set in A minor, an F barre chord is encountered. Similarly, in D minor, a B flat barre chord crops up. After much trial and error, I have created a version in F sharp minor which is playable for younger and less experienced hands, without, I believe, losing any musical effect.

I have tried to make this arrangement flexible. Therefore, it is set in 2 sections. A grade 1-2 guitarist can play just the first half, twice for a complete performance. The second half has a thicker texture, with a ‘flat picking’ technique applied to the thumb. Here, the thumb plays the lower notes on all four beats of the bar.

This download provides one version with only notes, and a second in notes and TAB (in this single download). I am aware that many teachers dislike TAB, so you are given the choice.

Professional players looking for light repertoire – perhaps for restaurant or wedding work – can fill out the parts spontaneously. The chord sequence is obvious to those with more experience.

 Personally speaking, I sometimes play the arrangement with a capo at fret 3 or 4 to vary the timbres heard in a concert programme.

I hope very much that you enjoy playing this version of The Sound of Silence. To see and hear my arrangements for learners, professionals, and ensembles, please visit www.danjonesguitarist.com. I have also written a memoir of working as a guitarist in rural France. Please see www.danjonesauthor.com.

I will upload a YouTube video and lesson before the end of February 2021.

THANK YOU! Dan Jones, Perthshire, Scotland, February 2021

This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard’s global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.

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