Scarborough Fair/Canticle – Simon & Garfunkel

Explore the hauntingly beautiful arrangement of "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" by Simon & Garfunkel with Licklibrary’s in-depth, note-for-note guitar lesson. This timeless classic combines intricate fingerpicking, sophisticated harmonic progressions, and a melancholic melodic structure that’s both challenging and rewarding to learn. Our lesson breaks down every detail of the guitar part, teaching you essential acoustic techniques that not only help you master this piece but also enhance your overall playing ability. Lee Hodgson breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

The Song Breakdown

"Scarborough Fair/Canticle" is a unique composition that blends a traditional English ballad with a counterpoint melody featuring poetic anti-war lyrics. Paul Simon's guitar work on the track is a masterclass in acoustic arrangement, with precise fingerpicking patterns, lush harmonies, and delicate chord voicings. In our lesson, we focus on recreating the exact nuances of Simon's performance, helping players capture the ethereal quality of the original recording.

Finger-Picking Technique

The core of the song lies in finger-picking. This technique allows guitarists to play independent bass lines, inner harmonies, and melodies all at once, emulating a harp-like quality that’s central to the song's character. Our lesson helps you develop control, accuracy, and consistency in your picking hand, making your playing sound smooth and expressive.

Benefit: Learning finger-picking builds fine motor control and improves musical independence between the fingers, ideal for players seeking to tackle folk, classical, or acoustic arrangements.

Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

Simon uses arpeggiated chord progressions to create a flowing, hypnotic atmosphere. Instead of strumming chords, he picks individual notes from each chord in a pattern, adding both motion and emotion to the progression.

Benefit: Mastering this technique boosts your fretboard knowledge and refines your picking accuracy, helping you break out of basic strumming habits and add more dynamic texture to your playing.

Use of Capo

A capo is essential to achieving the right tonal feel of this song. Placed on the seventh fret, it helps shift the key while maintaining familiar open chord shapes, lending the song its bright yet haunting tonality.

Benefit: Learning to play with a capo opens up new keys and voicings, making it easier to accompany vocals and emulate specific tonal moods.

Chord Progressions and Harmonic Layering

The song features rich chord progressions that weave between minor and modal flavours. These transitions give the song its signature melancholic feel. We break down how Simon constructs these harmonies and how to voice them on the guitar.

Benefit: This deepens your understanding of harmony and enables you to apply more creative chord choices in your own songwriting or arranging.

About the Guitarist: Paul Simon

Paul Simon, known primarily as one half of the legendary duo Simon & Garfunkel, is a masterful guitarist, songwriter, and arranger. While Art Garfunkel’s soaring vocals take centre stage in many tracks, it’s Simon’s intricate guitar work that forms the backbone of their sound. Influenced by folk, classical, and world music, Simon often blends traditional techniques with innovative arrangements.

His acoustic work on "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" stands out as a perfect example of how he can craft emotional depth through minimalistic yet complex guitar lines. Learning from Simon’s playing helps guitarists develop sensitivity, attention to detail, and a richer appreciation for acoustic performance.

Techniques Featured in This Lesson

The "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" lesson focuses on a range of acoustic guitar techniques that are essential for intermediate to advanced players looking to enhance their expressive and technical range. Here’s a list of the main techniques featured in this lesson:

• Finger-picking
• Capo
• Chord Progressions
• Arpeggiated Chord Progressions

This lesson is a must for anyone looking to improve their finger-style technique, explore advanced acoustic arrangements, or simply connect more deeply with the artistry of Paul Simon. Whether you're a fan of Simon & Garfunkel or just appreciate well-crafted acoustic guitar work, learning “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” will leave you a more nuanced and expressive player.