Guitar Tricks Insider February/March Digital Edition | Page 41

ACOUSTIC FEATURE

“‘Sounds of Silence’ has
had a greater impact
than ‘Hearts and Bones.’
And I wrote ‘Sounds of
Silence’ when I was 21
and ‘Hearts and Bones’
is, I think, a better song.
But ‘Sounds of Silence’
was a big hit and it’s in
the culture.”

Skies,’ I was reading Yeats. With ‘Graceland’ I
was probably reading Raymond Carver. Actually,
I did read a book called Elvis & Gladys, but I
don’t think it affected me.”
Here is where his knowledge of music theory
came into play. “One of the characteristics
of this music is that it’s all very major key.
It’s usually I-IV-V chord structure and some
variation that’s unusual – using three chords –
but where they fall is not the place you think
they’re going to fall. From that, rather than
trying to follow the exact pattern of chords, I
would say, ‘Look, this is a major scale. So any
major scale that I sing against these tracks is
going to work, because I’m in a major key.’ So
if I want to look for a melody and I’m stuck and
I want to apply technique, I could say, ‘It’s a
major scale, but I’m going to begin on the IX,
or I’m going to begin on the second step of the
scale.’ Or I’ll go from the 6th note in the scale
to the 2nd note in the scale –so I’m creating
a VI chord and I’m creating an IX chord in the
melody when I’m singing. It’s really a matter

Paul Simon – “Hearts and Bones” performed live (featuring Michael Brecker)

FEB/MAR

DIGITAL EDITION

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