Disturbed / Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence - Guitar Cover

About The Sound of Silence

Covering a folk classic in a heavy arrangement is no small task, and the 2015 Disturbed version of this song demands a different kind of attention from the guitarist than the original might suggest. Played in D minor at a measured 80 BPM in E Standard tuning, the parts are not technically frantic, but the slow tempo is deceptively unforgiving: every note rings in the open and small inaccuracies in fretting or pick attack are fully exposed. The brooding, arpeggiated guitar work that underpins the verses requires a clean, controlled touch rather than heavy gain, so focus on consistent finger pressure and smooth string transitions. The challenge here is sustaining tension through restraint, keeping the dynamics low and even until the arrangement opens up. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the arpeggiated verse passages slowed down and locked in before bringing them up to tempo. Disturbed / Simon & Garfunkel occupy a broad stylistic range, and this Alternative Rock arrangement is a strong exercise in serving the song rather than showing off.

• The arrangement sits in E Standard tuning in the key of D minor, so no retuning is needed, but the minor tonality calls for careful attention to phrasing and note choice.
• At 80 BPM the tempo is slow enough that any rushing or uneven picking in the arpeggiated sections will be immediately noticeable, making steady right-hand control the main technical challenge.
• The guitar tone here rewards a clean or lightly driven sound rather than heavy distortion, so dial back your gain and let the note clarity carry the dynamics.