The Sound Of Silence

by Simon & Garfunkel
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of “The Sound Of Silence
Two-handed piano arrangement — color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of The Sound Of Silence

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Also available as a standard piano arrangement
Lyrics

Hel lo dark ness, my old (C)friend,

I’ve come to talk to you a (Dm)gain,

Be cause a (F)vi sion soft ly (Bb)creep (F)ing,

left it’s seeds while I was (Bb)sleep (F)ing,

And the (Bb)vi sion

that was plant ed in my (F)brain

still re (Dm)mains

with in the (C)sound

of (Dm)si lence.

In rest less dreams I walked a (C)lone

nar row streets of cob ble (Dm)stone,

’Neath the (F)ha lo of a (Bb)street lamp,

I turned my col lar to the (Bb)cold and damp

When my (Bb)eyes were stabbed by the flash of a ne on (F)light that split the (Dm)night

and touched the (C)sound

of (Dm)si lence.

And in the na ked light I (C)saw

ten thou sand peo ple, may be (Dm)more.

Peo ple (F)talk ing with out (Bb)speak ing,

peo ple hear ing with out (Bb)lis ten ing

Peo ple (Bb)writ ing songs that voi ces nev er (F)share and no one (Dm)dare

dis turb

“Fools!” said I, “You do not (C)know

si lence like a can cer (Dm)grows.”

“Hear my words that (F)I might (Bb)teach you,

Take my arms that I might (Bb)reach you.”

But my (Bb)words

like si lent rain drops (F)fell,

and (F)ech oed

in the (C)wells

of (Dm)si lence.

And the peo ple bowed and (C)prayed

to the ne on god they (Dm)made.

And the sign flashed (F)out its (Bb)warn ing.

In the words that it was (Bb)form ing,

And the signs said “The (Bb)words of the proph ets are writ ten on the sub way (F)walls

and ten e ment (Dm)halls”

And (F)whis per’d

in the (C)sounds

of (Dm)si lence.

The Sound Of Silence — Piano Accompaniment Track

3 people have learned this song

Free piano accompaniment for "The Sound Of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel. Sing along or play your instrument over the backing piano. Toggle the vocal melody on/off, change key to fit your voice, adjust tempo. Key of Bb, 120 BPM.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (Bb) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “The Sound Of Silence

How do the bar-notation visuals help sing "The Sound Of Silence" with this backing?
Each chord change drops as a colored bar across the staff, scrolling in real time so you can see exactly when the harmony shifts. Helpful for hitting entrances and judging when to breathe — especially on phrases that don't begin on beat 1 of "The Sound Of Silence".
What key is the piano accompaniment for "The Sound Of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel in?
The backing track is in Bb at 120 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "The Sound Of Silence" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "The Sound Of Silence"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "The Sound Of Silence", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "The Sound Of Silence" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "The Sound Of Silence"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "The Sound Of Silence"?
"The Sound Of Silence" was originally performed by Simon & Garfunkel. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Simon & Garfunkel are available?
Other accompaniments by Simon & Garfunkel: "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)", "Homeward Bound". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
How do I use "The Sound Of Silence" as a backing track?
Just press play — the piano accompaniment runs from start to end, no vocals. Sing, hum, or play your own instrument over it. Use the mic icon to add a vocal melody as a pitch reference, and the speed control if you want a slower practice tempo.
Can I change the key of "The Sound Of Silence" to fit my voice?
Yes — the original is in Bb, but the player has a live transpose control so you can shift up or down semitones until the melody sits in your vocal range. The piano accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.

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