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

Chariots ofFire is a classic film, made in 1981, telling the story of twoBritish athletes working towards the 1924 Olympic Games. The theme music, byVangelis, is as iconic as the movie itself.

As a guitarteacher, I am often looking for melodies which can be played by plectrum(electric) guitar, rather than chords or riffs. This arrangement serves thatpurpose. It can, of course, be played by classical or acoustic players as well.

The arrangement also features chord symbols. These could be played by a teacher, or another pupil. I have provided aversion in notes and TAB and a separate page with just the notes, for teachersor players who wish to avoid TAB.

Theoriginal music is in the key of D flat major. I have transposed this to D major,which is far more suitable for guitar.

For awealth of other arrangements, please see www.danjonesguitarist.com and also,check out my writings at www.danjonesauthor.com.

I will upload a YouTube video and lesson in the coming weeks.



Thank you,and I hope that you enjoy the music.

Complete solo arrangement for fingerstyle guitar, by Daryl Shawn.

Video for this arrangement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9cGlkkitK8