The Sound Of Silence
View chords used in this chart
Csus2 : x30013
[Intro]
Em D/A Em
Em D/A Em
[Verse 1]
(Picked)
Em D/A
Hello darkness, my old friend
Em
I've come to talk with you again
C G
Because a vision softly creeping
Em C G
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
Em C Csus2 C G
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Em D/A Em
Still remains within the sound of silence
[Verse 2]
(Picked)
Em D/A
In restless dreams I walked alone
Em (Em - Em7 - Em)
Narrow streets of cobblestone
C G
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
Em C G
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
C Csus2 C G
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
Em G
That split the night
Em D/A Em
And touched the sound of silence
[Verse 3]
(Light strumming)
Em D/A
And in the naked light I saw
Em (Em - Em7 - Em)
Ten thousand people, maybe more
C G
People talking without speaking
Em C G
People hearing without listening
C Csus2 C G
People writing songs that voices never share
Em
And no one dare
D/A Em
Disturb the sound of silence
[Verse 4]
(Strum)
Em D/A
Fools said I, you do not know
Em (Em - Em7 - Em)
Silence like a cancer grows
C G
Hear my words that I might teach you
Em C G
Take my arms that I might reach to you
C Csus2 C G
But my words like silent raindrops fell
Em D/A Em
And echoed in the wells of silence
[Verse 5]
(Strum)
Em D/A
And the people bowed and prayed
Em (Em - Em7 - Em)
To the neon God they made
C G
And the sign flashed out it's warning
Em C G
And the words that it was forming
And the sign said
C Csus2 C G
The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
Em
And tenement halls
D/A Em
And whispered in the sound of silence (Pick the last chord)
[Outro]
Em D/A Em
How to play The Sound Of Silence
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 Csus2. 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.