Table Of ContentPAUL SIMON
+++ Transcribed ++:
Complete
Note-For-Note Transcriptions
From Simon’s Actual Recordings
& INSTRUCTION
BY Mark HANSON
Includes
Vv
‘SCARBOROUGH FAIR
v
59TH Street BRIDGE SONG
v
For Emily, WHENEVER | May FiND Hei
Vv
Late GREAT JOHNNY ACE
v
Hearts AND BONES
v
PEACE Like A RIVER
v
AMERICAN TUNE
KatHy’s SONG
Vv
BookeNps
wv
Overs
Table Of Contents
4
Introduction/The Anist/Simon's Technique
5
"Bookends" Instruction
6
"Bookends"
10
“American Tune! Instruction
u
"American Tune’
18
"Scarborough Fait" Instruction
19
"Scarborough Fair"
29
"The Late Great Johnny Ace" Instruction
0
“The Late Great Johnny Ace”
36
"Kathy's Song” Instruction
37
“Kathy's Song”
30
"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feeln’ Groovy)" Instruction
31
"The 5th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)”
37
"Peace Like A River" Instruction
58
"Peace Like A River
a
“Overs Instruction
6
“Overs"
m
“For Fmily, Whenever I May Find Her" Instruction
n
"For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her"
0
‘Hears And Bones" Instruction
a1
“Hearts And Bones
2
Tablature Guide
4
Other Books By Mark TTanson
96
Pav Simon Discography /Acknowledgments/The Author
Introduction
‘Welcome to Pa! Simo Trunscrite!. La this book, we at Accel On Music have worked hard to give you the
finest transcriptions possible for ten of Simon's best-loved tures. The trenscriptions are aotefor-note from Simon's
‘actual reconings. What i written here is what you hear ot Simon's albums
Vie have designed this book to accommodate al levels of guitarists, from relatively unskilled fingespickers to
professional players wishing to expand thei repertoire. The songsare annotated as thoroughly as possible, s0 that
‘you, the gitarst, wil gain a fll understanding of the guitar style of one of the greatest singer/songyites of eur
time, The songs we have chosen are arong Simon's best, and feature some of his most distine!ive guitar work.
The Tablature
Wie have presented each song in bath siandand notation and tablature, so that you can choose whichever sys
tem serves you better. The tablatuse that we have developed we fee s the best and most accessible availabe. Not
only do the numbers an the lines indicate your left-haadl position an the fretboard, but the bold-print numbers ind
tate notes that ae to be phicked by the thumb, With Simon's predilection for the Travis Pick (alternating boss style,
this eature is very handy. Also, the shythm markings under eaca tabiature stat irdicate the timing ofeach measure,
Fora full explanation of tablature, see the Teblature Guide in the back ofthis book.
The Artist
Paul Sion, of course, needs litle introduction, Hehas been a world-renowned a:tis since the mid'62s,
swheras part of Simon and Carfunkel-he broke into the pop music scene with the stunning hit "Sounds Of Silence.”
[A string of ats and highly refined alums followed, calminating with the Grammy Award-winning "Bridge Over
‘Troubled Water" in 1970
chrome!
sophisti
His solo career began in earnest inthe early 70s, with his like "Mother And Child Reunion," "Ke
and 5) Ways To Leave Your Loves” It continues today with Sion searching out and recording increasing
ated music with some ofthe greatest miusicans fron around the world
Simon's Guitar Technique
Paul Simon ig highly skilled acoustic guitarist, He isnot flashy, although you might argue with that state-
_mert efter working through the instrumental sections of "Peace Like A siver” Heisa superb accompanist, whose
Strengths are superb fone, and an ability to compose distinctive guitar parts, ones that ae imeciatly recognizable
lo the listener.
Simon's technique covers a variety of styles, from the thumab-and-one-finger Travis Picking styl of Merle
‘avis and Doc Watson "The Boxer", to Brazilian bossa nova ('So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright). His right-hand posi=
tion is largely classic, with his palm arched fairly high above the strings. He picks with nis flesh and fingernails, but
‘a times wears a thambpick. On occasion he rests several fingertips on the guitar top as he picks with his thumb, or
thumb and inde.
“His eft hand position is also classical, although he often will finger an F chord with hs let thumb fretting the
sixth string, [highly recommend watching his two Corcrt In Ceutral Perk videos. Close-up careza shots provide an
‘excellent view o his hand pesifion
“The altemating bass of the Travis Pick styles offen apparent in Simon's playing, The most famous example,
perhaps, is the "Boxer," but he uses it with artful variations throughout his tepertoie, Even the signature opening gu
tar lick to"Hearls And Bones" isa variation ofthe alternating:bass style.
Wisbeyond the scape ofthis book to provide you with a thorough understanding ofthe Travis Picking style
However, f you need help understaading it stady my two books an the sive: Die Ar? Of Contemporary Travis Picking,
and The Art OF Slo Finerpcting. They will provide you with all of te technical essentials and understanding you
‘ill need to play these Paul Simon tunes, They are available in most retail mus stores
For intermediate players, some of these Paul Simon songs will be relatively easy to play, and others willbe a
challenge, The eases tunes are "Bockenes” Scarborough Fait and "The 3th Stet Bdge Song (Feelin Groovy)
‘But ther iso dubs that all of these songs are worthy ofthe efor: expended to play them.
4
Bookends
‘The Song
"Bookends he opening and casing theme to Side 1 ofthe origina! Sian and Garkunke Bokends LP, eles in
1868, Wit the aden’ of Cs, ofcourse, the idea os Side Tand Side 2.on an album hasbecome quaint cuca.
Sima uses "Bookends" as an instrumental theme to open the record, He places his capo athe 7h fret playing
fom measite 1-2) a prosente here. His Ena chor of the introduction aC tingering (eG sound, wth the capo, ets
deze tothe opering chord ofthe folowing tune" Save The Life OF My Cla
‘When he and Garfunkel ing Uookends' Simon places his po at the (re, to secede tai voices, We
have preted the notation for the ent amg here, complete wits both Yoel paris
‘The Technique
Sioen begins witha Dmiwir cho but his fingering ie unlike te one mot guitarists it earn. He pars tho
finger ofthe efthand on the second string el rt and rt the fourth ting a thee et with Ws ring finger, These two
fingers remain in placed it therfore the daratien ofeach Dm chord in te song. Tae indexand mids Fingers
play th nonmal notes for & Dn’ chord on he fst a hid strings, respectively. Tete isone alteration, however: the
Indes inger and midele fingers li lf hestrigs so that you can pice the open stand thd tings inthe pale me
sure2, for ample)
‘To reproduce Simon’ smooth sourd, you must lave the index and middle fingers in place onthe Dn unt you
re about to pek those strings agait as open singe Uuenet cure yo et goo the strings immeditey after you
Dick them the sustain and smoothncss wil be lst Simply It theincex and middle gers away rom the stnge Ae You
Dick them as open tings in the net meseie
‘Masur 5-7 use simple C chord. In measure 8 you mave oan 6 chon. Think of his ea mole threesfingee
withthe lite inger added on she second string, Se fe. Allee He ina: pc’ n moss ke you ile ings 0
leaving you with the tree ingerF Then move you ring fingee fom fhe fotrthstring to ehe ith or the fnal pinch of mes-
suet
At messure9 you have a choice You cn cithe: ssove your tng finger ack to the fourth string for thes nts, oF
you can susan theft stang with your rng finger and ie the fourth string wth your lie niger However you cxoose
to play i by he thi nore of measure your ing finger rust beback on Uh hed ssing so at hele finger ex ply
thesebseyuent ete note on these tinge
“The semaine ef the piece simple repetition of measures 1:12 excep fo: neasutes 23 and SI In measure 24,
Sinn fingers «CAC chor, wih the ing Hinger Feting the sith tring, cn ie Lng sting te i,
In measure 51 Simon hammers on ane pills of with the index and mvdlefagers.on the ist and hid ring,
respeaivels If you have tube with harmmerons ad pull, make sure that you it your lingers far encugh shove the
Steings to gain same momentum before hing the stringa~an ich, pechaps When you pul of, make sure you actualy
pluckthe strings with the le-hand fingers. Don jst pl ara frm the stings, but pl them near the Ro before ye
felease fem. lott ‘puch off inthis kind of crourstarce That mens that lstetch fe strngs slightly foward he eling
before sleaze them. ve that ty
‘Thishanurer-on/palLof combination sa chavactensic nove of Simon's, You can hear a smi technique nT
‘Am A Rock em the Sir Of Sen
“Bookends”
By Paul Simon
FoF FIC
fo = a
Cal
“Bookends”
Foor FIC
FoF FC
"Bookends"
nvr
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American Tune
The Tune
‘Paul Simon bas released performances “American Tune" on four albums: There Gos Rhymin' Simon, Live
ym’ au Sines Hts iar Simon ara Garfee! Cone in Centra Pork. This transcription i from.
Prat Simon-Crontst Hits, te
‘Simon first recorded"American Tune" in he key of , without a capo, Later he recorded it with his capo on
the 2nd tret and sang in the key of D, although his guitar part maintained the key-of C chord fingerings.
‘The opening ines ofthe melody of “American Tune” echo the hymn "0 Suered Heas, Now Wounded” by
1th-century German composer Hans Leo Hassler.
‘The Technique
Lon uses several diferent picking pattern in “American Tune picking extensively with his thomb and
thre fingers Inthe opening pkrase for instance, Paul ses a technique common ‘othe bossa neva guitar syle the
fingers sick simultaneously, oppeste the thumb, in measure 5, he pinches with the thumo and three fingers stmulta-
nesacly, Peon if you ate not comfortable picking with your ring finger, give ita try. It ill be dificult wo imitate his
style without it
In mensure 6, Simon starts an altemating-bass pattem with pinches on beats ane and thre. You inthis
same type af pattern in measures 13-14, 16-7 and 33-34 as wel as ater on inthe tune. fuller Travis Pick pattem
‘with eighth notes picked by the lagers appears in the bridge section in measures 57-58 and 70.
‘Anarther patter that he uses could called a double hums arpoggio. Measures 7 and 11 are good exam
ples Hore te fr: fe beats start out lke the alternating bas, ut onthe final two bess ofthe measure he completes
eee sccnding arpeggio with wotes picked by the Figers. Measures 2-24 also provide good examples of this arpeggi.
Ie measure & Pal moves froma standard Fchord fingering tea frstinversion F: an EG. Finger the £(GH
with your middle finger onthe sth (oss) string and your ving finger onthe hid string, You.see this chord progres
Tlongrin in sneasne 7, dis ime with an altematebass nete on the second and fourth bats.
{ive minor fingering in measure 9 is nthe logical position fllowing an Fk From the £/GA, side your
imide and ing agers up ae fet on thcirrespestve tings. Add your litle firgar en the Sth fet ofthe second
String. o play bal high-t notes a open frst ring notes. Think ofthe E7 in measure 10s normal D7 fingering
two frets Aigher
‘A characteristic Paul Simon passge oocursin measure 15. He moves in parallel teh fem a G up toa C
(varalle tensheaze notes ter steps apact in sale, moring the same direction) You only need finger ene mnt for
te and Aminorchonds, as longs you pick the correc tringst
Finger the G/B (aG chord with Bas the lowest bass noe) in measure 15 with your middle finger on se ith
stringand ite inger onthe second. This is very portant. Dort succumb tothe temptation of fretting the fth
‘ring with your incex ingeron the G/B. wil be a much seneother sounding progression if you can ep your
[ivdoe finger near the second string thoughout messute 15. Sustain the G/B as you add your index finger onthe fst
Sting forthe 67/3. You'l ind that this 5 nearly she same chord progsesson as "ecln’ Groovy," but ascending rather
than descending
‘The Gain? in measure 16 shou be fingered like an £7 chord with the lite finger added onthe second
string 3nd fee Your ring finger then must fe the 3d fret ofthe fourth string, I stvetching the ing finger tothe Se
fret dificult you may leave the fourth string open. D note isa member of Gin? chord,
1k you dot know the C9 chon in measure 20, think et ths way: Play anormal 87 chord the end of the
‘neck Side i yp ame et toward the body ofthe guar. Then move your litle irger to the ere ofthe sevond
Thing Vala, C2, The D7 in measure 27 Fingered exictly like afrstpositio D chord, moved to the 3th (el
‘A final note: Measures 9 and 23 ate transcribed from verse? of the tune, as they were a bt more nee
tive of what Paul mormally plays Also in verse 2, measure 8 is payed lke mensure 7.
“American Tune”
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