The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel

About this piece

The Sound of Silence is a song written by Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel, the American folk duo he formed with Art Garfunkel. It first appeared in an acoustic version in the mid-1960s, and a later release with added electric instruments brought the duo to a much wider audience. The hushed opening, close vocal harmony and slowly building intensity have made it a favourite with pianists who like music that carries a strong mood.

This arrangement runs about 2 minutes 21 seconds and spans C♯2 to C♯7, with the hands on separate parts. It is in 4/4 at 90 bpm. That wide range means the left hand reaches down to low bass notes while the right hand climbs into the high register, and the steady four-beat pulse needs to stay even while the two hands move independently of each other.

On the web this page plays a 30-second preview; the full song, with lessons and fingering, is in the EzPiano app. Use the preview to start in Wait mode with the right hand alone, letting the music pause for every melody note, then try the left hand by itself. Lower the speed to around 60 % before combining the hands, set an A–B loop over the opening phrase until it flows, and add a count-in so you begin in time with the music.