How to play the boxer by Simon and Garfunkel. by Paul Simon. Lee Dewyze American Idol

[1988nightrider]

The pattern has to be wrong. It has to be: 5-2-4-3-6-3-4-2

[1988nightrider]

So, this pattern repeats itself? so, 5-2-4-3-6-3-5-2 and then it starts over by picking string 5 again? Sounds different by picking string 5 two times so close together

[minksseattle]

Everyone plays this song in C but it was recorded by S&G in A with a capo on the 2nd fret. (A, A/G#, F#m, E, E7, A F#m, E, D, A, E, A) Try it with those chords and you can play along with the recording.

[SimPotts]

Thanks JP.

[papypop1]

From France... In 1970 I was 19 years old, I started to play this wonderfull song and finally I left out... Now I've got time I can play this song easyly.Sure, I'm not a beginner but I'm not a musician. Thank you, you're a very good teacher. Jean Paul.

[giggimax]

please put the intro

[deeboret]

Hi Simon,John here had a mate who used to play all these S/G Songs & still trying to get HomewardBound off,but now having a go at the BOXER as it seems a little easier for the Chord Change as a bit of struggle getting the Bm on H/B,I keep looking for the Tutor that you going to make for H/B but that is no problem,as all what Finger Styles I am developing is an Advantage So THNX for your work Cheers John

[deeboret]

@deeboret Sorry Simon if you thought I had dropped Homeward Bound for the Boxer,there is no way,I just keep a little variation as it gets me frustrated Keep Trying ,cos it may read like that ! This YOUTUBE is a grat Inspiration for I & beginners & you do a 1000000 % Job THXS John

[KbearTones]

If you add the string pattern (52436352) To the top of the information section I think it'd be easier for people to learn... I realize it's in the comments I didn't find that out till I had already written it down myself.

PS. you say you add string 1 occasionally could you tell us when specifically you do use string 1?

[chiefstain]

good video, only thing is you explain the pattern as 5 2 4 3 6 3 5 2, but you can see string 1 move during the video ?

[SimPotts]

@chiefstain Well n oted. I occassionally add string 1, It's optional.

[SimPotts]

@SimPotts Occassionally means every 4th cycle.

[TheFransosen123]

good video thanks it really helped me out. thank you!=)

[SimPotts]

@TheFransosen123 great to hear, thanks.

[TheInkacola]

are the strings standered e,a,d,g,b,e?

[SimPotts]

@TheInkacola Yes standard tuning.

[deeboret]

@TheInkacola Hi Inky,yes Eat A Darned Good Breakfast Everyday as I remember to remember the String Sequence, heard from jeff Isabella Cheers John

[zivlag]

Hi There, How many fingers did you use for flocking the guitar strings including your thumb fingers?

[SimPotts]

Hi Z,

One thumb and 3 fingers.

[MrSeb93]

Good and easy teaching, helped me a lot.

Thank you very much!

[chlorideman]

simply amazing sir helped me a lot

[SimPotts]

Thanks, glad to hear it.

[thepumpdontwork]

LOL at first I thought I stumbled by mistake onto a veterinary vid about plucking chickens but soon realised this is a hen that lay golden eggs. Truly great teaching vid and I can tell you from endless trawling on YouTube, there are not many as good and clearly explained as this. 5 stars.

[SimPotts]

Thanks thepump. Hope it  helps.

[xBeauVx]

It's funny, I stumbled across this video looking for boxer dogs playing

[RadioSixteen]

@thepumpdontwork Since when do veterinarians pluck chickens? What you're thinking of is a poultry mortician.. (which is one of the worst professions to get into by the way).

[striddybee]

That's one mystery solved, thanks alot Simpotts! :o)

[frhanz13]

thank you so much sir...=))

[SimPotts]

You are welcome.

[SimPotts]

I would suggest practicing the guitaring until it is fluent and you can play it without thinking (Like riding a bike or driving).

It may tale several days or weeks of practice. Once you have the guitaring under control, try singing it and the timing should come together more easily.

Hope this helps. Good luck and don't give up trying.

[thurintheelf]

Im having a hard time sincronizing my voice with the guitar part... sorry it`s just that im new on this, any tips?

[raspaglini86]

thank you for your great explanation ..i am italian but i love this song....so i have to do 5-2 4-3 6-2 4-3, i think i can do it in a week, i am a beginner.. have you got something abuot the sound of silence or mrs robinson? bye

[SimPotts]

Hi Ras,

I'll put it on the list of things I have to do.

Grazie.

[slimwhitemike]

The pattern you show does not follow the baseline you playafter (if I am watching it right). The last bit you say is 6-3 then 5-2. would it not be 4-2 to keep the baseline 5-4-6-4? I just wanted clarification... thank you.

[SimPotts]

Hi Mike,

Basic sequence is: 5-2 4-3 6-2 4-3 then repeat the whole sequence from 5...............

There are numerous variations throughout the song, but this is the naseline. Once you have this ingrained in your subconcious and it is automatic, you can slip in other notes to suite your style and the original song.

[Defector5]

THANK YOU!!!!

[SimPotts]

Thanks for listening. You are Welcome . hope it helps.

[jabba987654321]

ty! I love this song.. i wanted a turtorial and i found one...

[rphilli9]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. This will be the first song I'll pluck and you explain it so well. This was a childhood favorite

[SimPotts]

You are welcome Rphil.

[moana314]

Thank you! This is my favorite song by Simon and Garfunkel. The video is very helpful, and I'm really excited to learn how to play it.

[SimPotts]

Glad to hear it Moana. Thank you and I hope you get it. It'll take some practice.

[countryfan5]

Is the guitar a Dean Jumbo???

Good picking by the way..

[SimPotts]

Yes. Dean Exotica.

Thanks

[cutywww]

thanks alot !! clear enough ,  i am start to learn ...:))

[SimPotts]

Good luck.

[proflight2000]

Thanks Sim, I have real problems trying to read tab from sheets as basically I cannot read music, this really help. Anytime you ever fancy doing April come she will, let me know. Cheers mate and all the best.

[SimPotts]

You are welcome Terry. I am also challenged when reading tabs. Can't make head or tail of them.

I'd be glad to hear it when you have mastered it and ready to go on Youtube!

I can play April come she will, but haven't done that one yet same applies to Feeling Groovy.

Good luck.

[OreKnob]

Thanks for putting this up. It's great!

I learned it a bit differently: 5-2-4-3-6-2-4-3 on the intro bars and 5-2-4-3 repeating afterwards. Your pattern sounds closer to the original song to me though.

Does the pattern that you demonstrated repeat plucks on strings 5 & 2 so that it would go 5-2-4-3-6-3-5-2-5-2-4-3-6-3-5-­2? I'm used to hearing it with the 3rd fret of the 6 string depressed when it's played with the C chord. Is that how you were doing it? Or were you playing it open?

[SimPotts]

You are welcome Oreknob.

Yes to the pattern and yes to the full C chord 3rd fret 6th string. Open may not sound right.

Regards

[SimPotts]

The other thing to consider is that trying to replicate exactly what the original guitarist naturally played can sometimes be almost impossible, since each person has their own style that results in certain notes being thrown in that may sound just as good.

[azzack69]

Im a bit confused, at the start you said the order was, 5-2-4-3-6-3-5-2 but then you said the bass would go 5 - 4 - 6 - 4 ? im a bit confused was this a mistake?

Anyways i love your videos was just a bit confused thats all :)

[SimPotts]

Hello Azzack,

The bass is as shown, but the plucking is one bass followed by one treble string in the order shown.

Sorry if it is s bit confusing. there may be a mistake as well. It is a complicated thing to try to demonstrate.

I hope that makes it clearer. If I manage to figure out a mistake I will email you.

Regards,

Simon P.

[avalvira]

Thanks Simon, that was a perfect demo. I was racking my brains out trying to figure it out myself. And Thank you YouTube =)

[SimPotts]

You are welcome Alvavira. Glad it helped.

[francoisseguin]

perfect demonstrasion simon,tank you so much,,byby

[SimPotts]

You are welcome. Francois.

[3milesong]

Many thanks for teaching us how to play this song. Good man.

[SimPotts]

Glad to hear I helped someone.

regards,

SimonP.

[dazthemiller]

Thanks for the help with this song. Just one question. If the pluck pattern remains the same throughout why is the G7 chord thereas with this pattern there is no pluck on the 1st string although watching you play i see that it is played sometimes. Can you tell me which string this replaces and if the 1st string is only played on the G7 chord?

Thanks again

[SimPotts]

When you get the hand of the sequence you can always add the occasional 1st string. Just conentrate on getting the demo'd sequence correct first.

[SimPotts]

Good question daz.

[dazthemiller]

Thanks Simon. I have tried playing the 1st string when i get to the G7 chord and until I move back to C and it sounds good. After watching you again I see that you just play it when you first move to G7. I suppose it is all about trying different things but the main thing is we have the pluck pattern which is the heart of the song. Thanks again

[rupstrellen92]

i have a question?? is it a standard tuning??

[SimPotts]

Yes.

[francoisseguin]

you r demonsration is absolutely verry nice simon,,,,,how are you?

[SimPotts]

Doing fine. Glad it helped.

[phishfan1991]

oooooo clever thanks

[phishfan1991]

ya could i maybe get a bit of help?

[SimPotts]

Sure, what do you need?

[phishfan1991]

maybe tabs to go with the video?

[SimPotts]

click on the more button above and right "About this video"

[SimPotts]

see email

[francoisseguin]

hi simon,today i practice the boxer and i have a litlebit trouble whit swiching chord,you r video is very good,dou you have another video or idee for me please,beacuse i have a litlebit problem for learning..tank you simon

[SimPotts]

Francoise did you try it?