Piano Diana Blog: Paul Simon

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How To Play Bridge Over Troubled Water

Bridge Over Troubled Water: Paul Simon l Piano Diana

Major and Minor Chords

We've learned how to construct the major Interval and how to construct the perfect Interval.

Major Third: Distance between the root and (3) degree.
Perfect Fifth Interval: Distance between the root and 5th.

The Major Chord

The major chord is created by combining the major third and perfect intervals.
For example, in C major, a major third interval is from C to E. A perfect interval is from C to G.

Combining these two intervals looks like the following:

C to E and C to G.
Since the root is used in both intervals and can only be played once, the C major chord is:

C + E + G.

The Minor Chord

The minor chord is created just like the major chord. the only difference is that it utilizes a "minor third" interval instead of a "major third" interval (the perfect fifth remains the same).

The minor third is a major third interval squeezed in by a half step. For example, in C major, the major third interval is from C to E.

The minor third simply lowers the E a half step to E flat. a minor third is C to E flat.

Major Third = C - E
Minor Third = C - Eb
Perfect Fifth = C - G

Combining a Minor third and a Perfect fifth creates a minor chord: C + Eb + G

Take the 1-3-5 of the major scale and play them together. Take the 1-3-5 of the minor scale and play them all together. Try learning the major and minor chords in all 12 keys. Just use the same exact pattern.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Words and Music by Paul Simon

Key: C

Time: 4/4

Moderato, not too fast, like a spiritual

C F C

When you're weary, feeling small

F C F C F C F
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)

C G G C
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough

C7 F D7/F# G
And friends just can't be found

C F F#dim CsusA/G A7sus
Like a bridge over troubled water

F E7 Am
I will lay me down

C F F#dim CsusA/G
Like a bridge over troubled water

F G C
I will lay me down

F/C C F/C C F/C

When you're down and out

F C
When you're on the street

F C F
When evening falls so hard

C F C F
I will comfort you (ooh)

C G G C
I'll take your part, oh when darkness comes

C7 F D7/F# G
And pain is all around

C F F#dim CsusA/G A7sus
Like a bridge over troubled water
F E7 Am

I will lay me down

C F F#dim Am
Like a bridge over troubled water

F Am/E E Am D7
I will lay me down

C/G F Am F Fm C

F C F C F/C

C F

Sail on silver girl
C

Sail on by

F C F
Your time has come to shine

C F C F
All your dreams are on their way

C G
See how they shine

C
Oh, if you need a friend

C7 F D/F# G
I'm sailing right behind

C F F#dim C/G Am
Like a bridge over troubled water

F Am E Am
I will ease your mind

C C9 F D C/G Am
Like a bridge over troubled water

F E7 Am D9 C/G
I will ease your mind

Here's an advanced chord chart to the song, Bridge Over Troubled Water

Play Piano By Ear Course Book: Piano Diana

If you would like to look into the formation of chords with a music theory resource in your hands, then look into 300pg Piano By Ear Home Study Course

All the best,

"Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." -- Art Blakey

Chords to Bridge Over Troubled Water

English: The first chord to Bridge Over Troubled Water on Piano. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This moving, modern day spiritual was introduced in February 1970. By March of that year it sold a million copies, by April two million copies had been sold by the year's end, sales had reached five million. It won an unprecedented six Grammy awards in 1970 and the album is still one of the best-sellers in music history... Words and music by Paul Simon, 1969.

Bridge Over Troubled Water is the fifth and final studio album by Simon & Garfunkel. Following the duo's soundtrack for The Graduate, Art Garfunkel took an acting role in the film Catch-22, while Paul Simon worked on the songs, writing all tracks except one. http://en.wikipedia.org

This is one of my favorite songs by Paul Simon. I can think of tons more... how about you?

Paul Simon wrote this about providing comfort to a person in need. It started as a modest Gospel hymn but became more dramatic as he put it together. Speaking in the documentary The Making of Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon said, "I have no idea where it came from. It came all of the sudden. It was one of the most shocking moments in my songwriting career. I remember thinking, 'This is considerably better than I usually write." For more information, visit http://www.songfacts.com

4/4 Time Signature
Moderato, not too fast, like a spiritual

             C       F           C
 When you're weary,        feeling small,
F      Bb    F   C          F             C         F    C     F
 When tears are in your eyes,     i will dry them all;
C     G   Am      G              F    C
 I'm on your side.    when times get rough
C7                  F    D   G
 And friends just can't be found,
C7        F      F#dim  C    A7sus4 A7   F
 Like a bridge over troubled wa-ter
         E7      Am
 I will lay me down.
C7        F      F#dim  C   A7sus4 A7   F
 Like a bridge over troubled wa-ter
         G9  G7  C
 I will lay me down.


 When you're down and out,
                      C     F
 When you're on the street,
        Bb F     C       F
 When eve-ning falls so hard
         C          F    C    F
 I will comfort you.
C       G    Am      G
 I'll take your part.
                 C
 When darkness comes
C7             F  D   G
 And pains is all a-round,

C7        F      F#dim  C    A7sus4 A7   F
 Like a bridge over troubled wa-ter
         E7     Am
 I will lay me down.
C7        F      F#dim  C     Am     F
 Like a bridge over troubled water
         Am  E7  Am   D7
 I will lay me down.

F    Am    F    Fm    C    F

C    F    C    F


            C           F
 Sail on silvergirl,
         C
 Sail on by.
F      Bb   F    C       F
 Your time has come to shine.
            C                  F      C    F
 All your dreams are on their way.
C     G    Am   G
 See how they shine.
          C
 If you need a friend
C7             F    D  G
 I'm sailing right be-hind.
C7        F   Fmaj7 D9  C       Am     F
 Like a bridge over troubled water
         E   E7   Am     D9
 I will ease your mind.
       C     F    Fm    C
 your mind

http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com

*****

             C       F           C
 When you're weary,        feeling small,
F             C          F             C         F    C     F
 When tears are in your eyes,     i will dry them all;
C              G     G                C
 I'm on your side.    when times get rough
C7                  F   D7/F#  G
 And friends just can't be found,
C        F      F#dim  Csus A/G    A7sus   F
 Like a bridge over troubled wa-ter
         E7      Am
 I will lay me down.
C        F      F#dim  Csus   A/G   F
 Like a bridge over troubled wa-ter
         G    C F/C C  F/C C F/C
 I will lay me down.

                 C    F
 When you're down and out,
                      C     F
 When you're on the street,
            C       F
 When eve-ning falls so hard
         C          F    C    F
 I will comfort you.
C             G
 I'll take your part.
                 C
 When darkness comes
C7             F  D7/F#   G
 And pains is all a-round,

C        F      F#dim  Csus A/G    A7sus   F
 Like a bridge over troubled wa-ter
         E7     Am
 I will lay me down.
C        F      F#dim  C/G     Am     F
 Like a bridge over troubled water
         Am/E  E7  Am   D7 C/G
 I will lay me down.

F    Am    F    Fm    C    F

C    F    C    F/C


            C           F
 Sail on silvergirl,
         C
 Sail on by.
F      Bb   F    C       F
 Your time has come to shine.
            C                  F      C    F
 All your dreams are on their way.
C     G    Am   G
 See how they shine.
          C
 If you need a friend
C7             F    D/F#  G
 I'm sailing right be-hind.
C7        F   F#dim C/G       Am     F
 Like a bridge over troubled water
       Am  E      Am     
 I will ease your mind.

 C  C9  F     D/F#  C/G    Am

 Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water

 F  E7  Am  D9  C/G

I will ease your mind

***

Key of D (Bridge Over Troubled Water)

Intro: D D9 G A7 Fdim D G A7 D G D G

        D           G        D            C     G   D       G
   When you're weary. Feeling small. When tears are in your eyes
          D           G  D G D
   I will dry them all.
       A  Bm   A                        D     D/C# D7
   I'm on your side ohhhh when times get rough.
               D9   G     E  A
   And friends just can't be found.
   D7  D9 G      A7 Fdim D       Bsus4 B7  G      F#7    Bm
   Like a bridge over    trouble   water, I will lay me down.
   D7  D9 G      A7 Fdim D       Bsus4 B7  G      A7     D    G D G
   Like a bridge over    trouble   water, I will lay me down.
   D                        G                    D
   When you're down and out.  When you're on the streets yeh.
           C  G    D         G        D            G   D   G  D
   When an evening falls  so hard.  I will comfort you ohhhhh.
        A    Bm   A                        D    D/C# D7
   I'll take your part ohhhh  when darkness comes.
            D9 G    E     A
   And pain is all  around.
   D7  D9 G      A7 Fdim D       Bsus4  Bm G      F#7    Bm
   Like a bridge over    trouble   water, I will lay me down.
   D7  D9 G      A7 Fdim D       Bm     G      Bm F#7 Bm
   Like a bridge over    trouble water, I will lay me down.

   E7 D G G1 Gm D G D G
           D           G         D    G
   Sail on silver girl.  Sail on by.
        C    G   D        G
   Your time has come  to shine.
            D                      G D G
   All your dreams are on their way.
       A   Bm   A                       D             D/C# D7
   See how they shine ohhhhh and if you need a friend.
          D9   G     E    A
   I'm sailing right behind.
   D7  D9 G      A7 Fdim D       Bm     G      Bm   F#7  Bm
   Like a bridge over    trouble water, I will ease your mind.
   D7  D9 G    Gmaj7 E7 D     Bm     G      F#7       Bm
   Like a bridge over trouble water, I will ease your mind.

   E9 E D G G1 Gm D