Easy Simon And Garfunkel Songs
On The Acoustic
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Learn these easy Simon and Garfunkel songs on the acoustic guitar with the help of my free acoustic guitar demos and chord sheets. Help yourself to the free pdf chord sheets.

I've assembled some of the best Simon and Garfunkel songs for you to easily learn on guitar. Check out my full acoustic lessons from start to finish for a small fee if you need the full lesson.

You'll notice some Simon and Garfunkel album covers next to each song to indicate the album where you can find the song.  

A Hazy Shade Of Winter was released as a Simon & Garfunkel single in 1966, nearly two years before it appeared on their 1968 album Bookends. Driven by a harder, more urgent rhythm than many of the duo’s folk-oriented recordings, the song reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Its changing seasons serve as metaphors for the passage of time, lost opportunities and the realization that youthful ambitions do not always unfold as expected.

The winter imagery gives the lyrics a reflective edge, while the energetic arrangement keeps the song moving forward. Years later, The Bangles introduced the song to a new generation, recording a much heavier rock version for the 1987 film Less Than Zero, which became a major hit in its own right.

America appeared on Simon & Garfunkel’s 1968 album Bookends and was written by Paul Simon after a road trip he took with his girlfriend Kathy Chitty. The song follows a young couple traveling across the United States, searching not only for places and experiences but for a sense of what “America” really means.

Although it was not originally released as a major single, it appeared as the B-side of “For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her” and was later issued as an A-side single in 1972. Its vivid references to buses, highways and ordinary travelers helped make it one of Simon’s most admired compositions. Notable artists who later interpreted the song include Yes, David Bowie and Bert Sommer.

At The Zoo was written by Paul Simon and released as a single in 1967, reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Reportedly written with the film The Graduate in mind, the song ultimately was not used in the movie, although Simon & Garfunkel contributed several other songs to its famous soundtrack.

Instead, “At the Zoo” developed a life of its own, with its playful descriptions assigning human personalities and characteristics to different animals. Zoos around the United States later licensed the song for promotional use. The track was included on Simon & Garfunkel’s 1968 album Bookends and also reflected Simon’s fondness for writing about his New York City surroundings, in this case drawing inspiration from the Central Park Zoo.

Bridge Over Troubled Water was written by Paul Simon and became the title track of Simon & Garfunkel’s final studio album, released in 1970. Simon drew inspiration for the title from the gospel song “Mary Don’t You Weep” as recorded by the Swan Silvertones, particularly a line sung by vocalist Claude Jeter about being a bridge over deep water.

Art Garfunkel delivered the song’s soaring lead vocal, accompanied initially by piano before the arrangement builds dramatically. The single reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the duo’s signature recordings. The hugely successful album sold millions worldwide and dominated the 1971 Grammy Awards, while its sessions featured prominent Los Angeles studio musicians associated with the legendary Wrecking Crew.

Cecilia grew out of an informal late-night jam when Simon & Garfunkel and friends began pounding out a rhythm on a piano bench and other objects, recording the spontaneous percussion for later use.

The resulting track became one of the liveliest songs on the duo’s 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water. Released as the album’s second major U.S. single following the title track, “Cecilia” climbed to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Despite that American success, the single did not chart in the UK, where “Bridge Over Troubled Water” had reached #1. The song’s infectious rhythm and humorous tale of romantic frustration gave it a much lighter character than many of the reflective songs associated with the duo’s final album.

Feelin' Groovy, a.k.a. the 59th Street Bridge Song, takes its name from New York City’s Queensboro Bridge, commonly known as the 59th Street Bridge. Its carefree message of slowing down and enjoying the moment became one of Simon & Garfunkel’s most recognizable songs.

Released on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, the recording featured Dave Brubeck Quartet musicians Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass. An unusual chapter followed when Paul Simon challenged the theme song from the children’s television series H.R. Pufnstuf, claiming it closely resembled “Feelin’ Groovy.” The dispute resulted in Simon receiving a songwriting credit on the television theme. The Simon & Garfunkel track was also used as the B-side of their 1967 single “At the Zoo.”

For Emily Wherever I May Find Her first appeared on Simon & Garfunkel’s 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Sung entirely by Art Garfunkel, the dreamy ballad presents an idealized romantic encounter that unfolds almost like a dream before the narrator awakens beside his lover.

Although never one of the duo’s major singles during the 1960s, the song remained a popular part of their concert repertoire. A live recording was later released as the B-side of “America” in 1972. After receiving increased radio attention, “For Emily” was issued as an A-side and reached #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year. Garfunkel’s delicate vocal performance helped make the song an enduring favorite among fans of the duo’s quieter material.

Homeward Bound grew from Paul Simon’s experiences traveling around England during the early 1960s, when he was performing in small folk clubs and spending long periods away from home. Simon recalled composing the song while waiting for a train at Widnes railway station, reportedly writing it on a scrap of paper.

Released by Simon & Garfunkel in 1966, the song became a major international success, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 in Canada and #5 in the Netherlands.

Its longing for familiar surroundings and someone waiting at home gave the song an especially personal quality. “Homeward Bound” was included on the duo’s 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme and became one of their enduring concert favorites.

Kathy's Song grew from Paul Simon’s relationship with Kathy Chitty, whom he met while performing in England during the mid-1960s. Chitty worked taking tickets at the Railway Hotel folk club in Essex, and the two began a romantic relationship while Simon was establishing himself on the British folk circuit.

The intimate ballad reflects his separation from Kathy after returning to America and remains one of his most personal compositions. It appeared on Simon & Garfunkel’s 1966 album Sounds of Silence. Art Garfunkel later dedicated performances of the song to his wife Kathryn, although Simon’s original inspiration was Kathy Chitty.

The song has attracted numerous interpretations over the years, including notable recordings by Eva Cassidy and Nancy Wilson of Heart.

Mrs Robinson became closely associated with the 1967 film The Graduate, which featured several Simon & Garfunkel recordings. When director Mike Nichols first heard the song, however, it was still unfinished and known simply as “Mrs. Roosevelt.” Paul Simon adapted it to fit the film’s Mrs. Robinson character, and portions of the developing song were used in the movie.

The familiar full-length recording arrived later on Simon & Garfunkel’s 1968 album Bookends. Released as a single about three months after the film opened, “Mrs. Robinson” climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an international hit.

The recording also earned Simon & Garfunkel the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1969.

Richard Cory takes its inspiration from Edwin Arlington Robinson’s 1897 poem of the same name, which tells of a wealthy and admired man whose outwardly privileged life hides a very different reality.

Paul Simon transformed the story into a modern tale of wealth, power and social inequality, adding his own characters and perspective while retaining the poem’s memorable twist. Simon composed the song in 1965, and Simon & Garfunkel recorded it later that year for their 1966 album Sounds of Silence.

The darker subject matter made “Richard Cory” distinctive among the duo’s early recordings. The song later attracted several notable interpretations, including versions by Van Morrison and Paul McCartney and Wings, who performed it during their 1970s tours.

Scarborough Fair/Canticle has roots stretching back centuries and is based on a traditional English ballad rather than an original Simon & Garfunkel composition.

Numerous versions circulated long before the duo recorded it, with lyrics and melodies changing through generations of folk singers. Paul Simon learned the arrangement from English guitarist and folk musician Martin Carthy while living and performing in Britain in the mid-1960s.

Simon & Garfunkel transformed the traditional song by combining it with “Canticle,” adapted from an earlier Simon composition, creating the distinctive counterpoint heard on their recording. Released on the 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, the track gained an even wider audience after being featured in the 1967 film The Graduate.

The Boxer became one of Simon & Garfunkel’s most ambitious studio productions, with more than 100 hours reportedly devoted to recording the song. Released as a single in 1969, it reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 before appearing on the duo’s 1970 album Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Sessions took place at several locations, and the recording gradually developed its distinctive layered sound. One of its most memorable moments is the enormous drum crash accompanying the repeated “lie-la-lie” refrain, recorded to take advantage of the natural echo inside a Columbia Records building.

The song’s portrait of loneliness, hardship and perseverance helped make “The Boxer” an enduring Simon & Garfunkel classic, later covered by numerous artists including Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris.

The Sound Of Silence began taking shape as Paul Simon worked on the song during 1963 and 1964, eventually becoming Simon & Garfunkel’s first major hit.

An acoustic version originally appeared on their 1964 debut album Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., but producer Tom Wilson later added electric guitar, bass and drums without the duo’s involvement. That electrified version was released as a single in 1965 and climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Early releases sometimes identified the song as “The Sounds of Silence,” while the duo’s 1966 album was titled Sounds of Silence, helping create some lasting confusion over the name. The song became one of Simon & Garfunkel’s defining recordings and helped transform the duo into international stars.

Kirby Swinemar is an acoustic guitar instructor, performer and song arranger who has taught online for 21 years and created more than 4,000 original acoustic guitar lessons. He specialises in song-based acoustic guitar instruction, rhythm guitar techniques, and creating full-sounding solo arrangements that help beginner and intermediate players move beyond basic strumming.

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