Guitar Tricks Insider February/March Digital Edition | Page 42

ACOUSTIC FEATURE

of passing tones and suspensions. I could do
that as a matter of technique because I know
that much about technique – to apply the
information if nothing came naturally or to make
an idea more interesting. It’s not like I begin my
day with that. Technique and theory will help
you when you’re stuck; but it’s by no means a
cure to the illness.”
By then, Simon had honed his approach to
success and failure, music and fame to a fine
edge. “When you do a piece of work that’s
good and it becomes a hit, it gets into the
mainstream of the culture and has a great
impact. ‘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. When you talk about a popular art,
as the writing gets more complex and more
layered, it’s harder to have a lot of people who
really like it. It is easier to have a smaller group
of people who are more intensely devoted to

Simon & Garfunkel – “The Sound of Silence” at the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall o bf