Learning To Be Silent

by Dean Pitchford
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Lyrics

(Ab6/9)Swal low ing my words,

(Ab6/9)star ing at the floor,

(Fm11)count ing lit tle cracks in the (Cm11)tile,

(Bbm7)strug gl ing to smile with out (Ebsus)chok ing, (Eb)learn ing to be (Ab6/9)si lent.

(Ab6/9)Watch ing how the dust

(Ab6/9)danc es out the door,

(Fm11)no tic ing my hands start to (Cm11)shake,

(Bbm7)con tem plat ing tak ing up (Eb9sus)smok ing, (Eb)learn ing to be (Ab6/9)si lent.

Al ways hear ing, “Hush, Eth el!” “Please, Vi!” (Eb)“Let’s not have this con ver (Abmaj7)sa tion.”

And so I stand by while my mind takes a (Db)small va ca (Eb)tion.

La la la la la (Ab)la la (Bbm)la.

(Ab6/9)Mak ing lit tle sounds

(Ab6/9)oth er folks ig nore,

(Fm11)Qui et ing the beat of my (Cm11)heart,

(Bbm7)nev er be ing part of the (Eb9sus)mo ment, (Eb)learn ing to be (Ab6/9)si lent.

Learn ing there are some top ics that we (Eb)don’t e ven (Ab)men tion, and (Bbm7)if they come (Cm7)up, then we (D)try to be (G)vague.

There are (C)sub jects from which we di (Gm7)vert all at ten tion, and (Bbsus2)some we a (Csus2)void like the (Fsus)plague.

(Dbmaj7)I’m

be com ing a (Cm7)mime,

bit ing my (Bbm7)tongue,

bid ing my (Bbm7)time.

Try ing not to (Ab6/9)scream; ing not to scream;

(Ab6/9)man aged it be fore.

aged it be fore.

(Edim7)Know ing if I’m going to sur vive, then, (Fm)dam mit,

I’ve got to prac tice.

Prac tice.

Learn ing, hmm hmm (Ab6/9)hmm

hmm.

Learning To Be Silent — Classic Piano Sheet Music

1 person has learned this song

Read "Learning To Be Silent" by Dean Pitchford in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of Db. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 80 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Learning To Be Silent

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Learning To Be Silent"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature Db. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Learning To Be Silent" by Dean Pitchford played in?
Learning To Be Silent is arranged in the key of Db on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Learning To Be Silent"?
The arrangement plays at 80 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Learning To Be Silent" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Learning To Be Silent"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Learning To Be Silent"?
"Learning To Be Silent" was originally performed by Dean Pitchford. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Learning To Be Silent"?
This arrangement uses 24 chords: Ab, Ab6, Abmaj7, Bbm, Bbm7, Bbsus2, C, Cm7, +16 more.
What other songs by Dean Pitchford can I play here?
Try "MAMA SAYS", "HEAVEN HELP ME", "THE GIRL GETS AROUND". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Learning To Be Silent" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature Db, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 80 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

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