The Sound Of Silence Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn The Sound Of Silence in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: Dm – C – C – Dm
How it goes
The Sound Of Silence sits in D minor: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Dm is D, F and A; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmiCVIICVIIDmi
- DmD · F · A
- CC · E · G
782 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
How it goes
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
Ping-pong bounceBroken chord · BalladLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
How it goes
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Late-knock chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 56 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
5
Ending: Bb – C – Dm
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCDm
- BbBb · D · F

What chords are in The Sound Of Silence?

The loop is Dm – C – C – Dm (i – VII – i – VII) in D minor, and the song ends on Bb – C – Dm.

What key is The Sound Of Silence in?

D minor, at about 56 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in The Sound Of Silence?

Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is The Sound Of Silence easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of The Sound Of Silence?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the opening of the song from a score, with both hands.