The Sound Of Silence
View chords used in this chart
Dm C
Hello darkness, my old friend
Dm
I've come to talk with you again
F Bb F
Because a vision softly creeping
Bb F
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
Bb F
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Dm
Still remains
F C Dm
Within the sounds of silence
Dm C
In restless dreams I walked alone
Dm
Through narrow streets of cobblestone
F Bb F
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
Bb F
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
Bb F
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
Dm
That split the night
F C Dm
And touched the sounds of silence
Dm C
And in the naked light I saw
Dm
Ten thousand people, maybe more
F Bb F
People talking without speaking
Bb F
People hearing without listening
Bb F
People writing songs that voices never shared
Dm
And no one dared
F C Dm
Disturb the sounds of silence
Dm C
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
Dm
Silence like a cancer grows
F Bb F
Hear my words that I might teach you
Bb F
Take my arms that I might reach you"
Bb F
But my words like silent raindrops fell
Dm F
And echoed
C Dm
In the wells of silence
C
And the people bowed and prayed
Dm
To the neon god they made
F Bb F
And the sign flashed out its warning
Bb F
In the words that it was forming
Bb
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
F
Are written on the subway walls
Dm
And tenement halls"
F C Dm
And whispered in the sounds of silence
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 Dm. 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.