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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel is a song from the folk-rock genre. Built on simplicity with few chords used throughout the whole song, the primary focus of the song is on the hauntingly beautiful melody and the profound lyrics. It is written in the key of Am which gives the song a melancholic and somber tone.

“The Sound Of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel is written in the key of Am and follows the Verse-Chorus form common in pop and rock music. The progression consists of a beachfront of common and borrowed chords, showing the use of modal interchange and diatonic chords in creating a memorable and emotive sound.

Let It Happen’ by Tame Impala employs an accessible and effective chord progression, usual in pop/rock music, yet has unusualness due to the usage of the G#sus4 chord, providing a unique tonal flavor and emotional quality. There is a striking use of harmonic contrast and a continuous return and release of tension throughout the song. This creates an immersive cyclical quality, complementing the song’s theme of embracing inevitable moments and experiences.

“Wild Horses” is a song by the rock band Rolling Stones from their 1971 album “Sticky Fingers”. It is a great example of the band’s adeptness not only at writing catchy rock songs but also at creating complex and interesting chord progressions. The song is in the key of G major. The verse progression is interesting with the use of the B minor chord (Bm), which is the iii chord in the key of G major – a chord that isn’t commonly used in popular music.

“Hey You” by Pink Floyd is a progressive rock song from the concept album “The Wall.” The song is characterized by its atmospheric sound created through a combination of acoustic and electric guitars, haunting vocals, and a variety of effects. The chord progression of Verse 3 is interesting as it features a mix of diatonic chords, borrowed chords, and extensions such as the add9 chords that contribute to the song’s unique sound.

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound Of Silence – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here are the chords for this Verse 3:

G Major (bVII)
A minor (i)
F Major (bVI)
C Major (III)
F Major (bVI)
C Major (III)
F Major (bVI)
C Major (III)
C/B (III)
A minor (i)
C Major (III)
G Major (bVII)
A minor (i)

Here’s the information within a code block:

“`
G Major (bVII), A minor (i), F Major (bVI), C Major (III), F Major (bVI), C Major (III), F Major (bVI), C Major (III), C/B (III), A minor (i), C Major (III), G Major (bVII), A minor (i)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

“Hey Jude” by The Beatles also has a similar progression. In the key of F, the chords go:

F Major (I)
C Major (V)
Bb Major (IV)
F Major (I)

In the key of G, the song “Wonderwall” by Oasis also has a similar progression:

Em7 (vi)
G (I)
Dsus4 (v)
A7sus4 (II)

Both of these songs use diatonic chords with the addition of suspended chords or 7th chords to add more complexity.

Musical Analysis

This chord progression presents with a cyclic repetition of harmonic sequences, providing a unique sense of coherency to the song. Borrowed chords such as bVII (G Major) and the bVI (F Major) from the parallel major (A major) feature prominently in this progression, imparting further color and depth.

Overall Analysis

The chord progression for “The Sound Of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel is in the key of A minor. It makes use of both diatonic and borrowed chords. The song reflects a folk and folk rock style, with its roots in the 1960s. The melody and harmony are interwoven to form an integral part of the song, reflecting the introspective and melancholic mood of the lyrics.

Style Analysis

Simon and Garfunkel’s style is characterized by their use of diatonic and borrowed chords, creating a fluid movement that evokes a varying array of emotions. The regular cycling of these chords, with occasional shifts in rhythmic emphasis, allows the progression to maintain a sense of unpredictability while still being familiar, characteristic of their folk and folk rock style.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of The Sound Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel are:

[‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’]