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The Sound Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, released in 1964, is a solid example of folk rock genre transitioning into what we now know as classic rock. The chord progression is straightforward yet powerful, and it perfectly complements the beautifully written lyrics and evocative vocal harmonies. Furthermore, the song is written in A minor, a key that is often associated with sadness, which enhances the melancholic and introspective feelings conveyed by the lyrics.

“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.

“Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones is a masterful example of the band’s ability to incorporate a variety of musical elements into a rock setting. This song, in particular, unites a classic rock ‘n roll backbone with an exotic influence, likely derived from Eastern music, especially with the use of the sitar.

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” by The Beatles features a popular song structure and a mix of common chord progression techniques. The distinct progressions within the verse repeat throughout the song, but the chords and structures themselves are fairly common within rock and pop music. It mixes the standard I-IV-V (in this case, D-A-G) progression with the ii-V-I progression (in this case, Em-A-D), both of which are staples of songwriting in a variety of genres.

This song, “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams”, is arguably one of Green Day’s most iconic hits off their album “American Idiot”. Musically, it is set in the key of E minor, with an intermediate tempo. Its chord progression is simple but effective, proven by the song’s tremendous success.

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound Of Silence – Verse 5

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Chord Progression

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

Chord Progression Analysis

G Major (I), A minor (ii), F Major (bVI), C Major (IV), F Major (bVI), C Major (IV), F Major (bVI), C Major (IV), C Major (IV), C Major/B (IV), A minor (ii), C Major (IV), G Major (I), A minor (ii)

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Borrowed Chord Analysis:
The chord F Major is a borrowed chord in the key of G. In the context of a G Major Key, F Major is a borrowed chord because it’s formed from the parallel minor key.
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Similar Chord Progressions

This is similar to many folk and pop songs that primarily use the I, IV, and vi chords. A popular song with a similar progression is “Let it Be” by The Beatles, which uses the progression C-G-Am-F.

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Let it Be by The Beatles:
C Major (I), G Major (V), A minor (vi), F Major (IV)
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Musical Analysis

Aurally, the song starts with a melancholic minor melody, which is carried by the predominantly minor chords in the progression. The use of the F Major chord as a borrowed chord in this context adds certain tonal tension and resolution to the progression which creates an interesting sense of structure and mood.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

As for style, the song expresses a deeply haunting sound. The use of simple, repeated chords is typical for the folk genre, as it tends to highlight the lyrical and storytelling nature of the songs. Simon & Garfunkel’s use of traditional chord progressions with a borrowed chord adds a subtle level of complexity and emotional depth to the song.

Chords in the Verse 5 section of The Sound Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel are:

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