On A Quiet Night
View chords used in this chart
Intro:
(harpsichord arr. for guitar):
A/B
v v v v v v v v v v v v
---7-----7-----7-|-----7-----7-----|-7-----7-----7---
-----10----10----|-10----10----10--|---10----10----10
-9-----9-----9---|---9-----9-----9-|-----9-----9-----
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------
-----------------|-----------------|-----------------
Verse 1:
Emaj7 F#m7 Emaj7/G# Amaj7
On a quiet night
Gmaj7 Amaj7 Emaj7 Bsus4
You can hear the rustling of the leaves
Emaj7 F#m7 Emaj7/G# Amaj7
On a quiet night
Gmaj7 Amaj7 Emaj7 Bsus4
Distant voices carry softly in the breeze
Chorus 1:
C#m
And I'm inside my room
G#m
Captured in a moment's thought
Gmaj7 F#m7
Strumming on a chord from my guitar
A/B [N.C.; harpsichord as per intro]
Silently, silently (silently)
So silently (so silently)
Verse 2:
On a quiet night
Time hangs heavy in the air just like a cloud
I'm lying on my bed
Scratching my head, wondering what it's about
Chorus 2:
Are we all minstrels
Playing in a three-ring circus
Searching for a purpose that's not there
Silently, silently (silently)
So silently (so silently, so silently, so silently)
Bridge:
bass:
v v v v
-----------------
-------------9\--
-----------------
-----------------
D#7 G#m
Everybody's thinking
F# B
Gotta get ahead, gotta get ahead
D#7 G#m
Everybody's drinking
F# A
Hurrying, worrying, playing the game
G#m
All acting the same
B A G#m F#m
As I look out through my windowpane
Verse 3:
On a quiet night
The wind, it can play tricks on your ear
Like some unsolved mystery
We all guess at the ending, but nobody comes near
[repeat chorus 2]
Coda:
A/B (harpsichord, recorder, drums, backward tambourine to fade)
-- another ace 60's tab from Andrew Rogers
How to play On A Quiet Night
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is A/B. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.