TheSound of Silence isPaul Simon?s masterpiece. Released in 1965, Simon had written the track duringthe two previous years. It was well worth the wait.

Itis an obvious choice as a piece of repertoire to arrange for the intermediateguitarist, yet I have found that many arrangements include real technicaldifficulties for the learner. This is often because of the choice of key. Ifset in A minor, an F barre chord is encountered. Similarly, in D minor, a Bflat barre chord crops up. After much trial and error, I have created a versionin F sharp minor which is playable for younger and less experienced hands,without, I believe, losing any musical effect.



Ihave tried to make this arrangement flexible. Therefore, it is set in 2sections. A grade 1-2 guitarist can play just the first half, twice for acomplete performance. The second half has a thicker texture, with a ?flatpicking? technique applied to the thumb. Here, the thumb plays the lower notes onall four beats of the bar.



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

Professionalplayers looking for light repertoire ? perhaps for restaurant or wedding work ?can fill out the parts spontaneously. The chord sequence is obvious to those withmore 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 muchthat you enjoy playing this version of The Sound of Silence. To see andhear 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. Pleasesee www.danjonesauthor.com.

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

THANK YOU! DanJones, Perthshire, Scotland, February 2021

Having learned to play guitar listening to Beach Boys' records, I have to admit they remain a guilty pleasure. This has been a perennial favorite and is a great tune to have under the fingers for Christmas gigs. My recordings are slightly different from the print copy which is probably more true to the original recording but I hope they're helpful.
Please check out my other Christmas arrangements: The Holly and the Ivy, The Carol of the Bells (Ukrainian Carol), In the Bleak Mid Winter Gesu Bambino, See Amid the Winter's Snow, Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming, Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella, Hear We Come a'Wassailing, Ding Dong Merrily on High, While By My Sheep, and more to come. Send questions, comments and suggestions to ewrightguitar@aol.com. Thanks. .