 Moment of Surrender  is played in common time at a tempo of 87 beats per minute in a key of A minor . The song make use of the conventional verse @-@ chorus form . The song begin with an uneven percussion loop , before an ambient synthesiser fades in and the drums enter at 0 : 08 . A cello part join and the synthesiser play the chord progression C – Am – F – C – G – E – D7 . At the end of the progression , 47 seconds into the song , the intensity of the synthesier rise before an organ , bass guitar , and piano subsequently enter . At 1 : 16 , Bono 's vocals enter and the first verse begin , lasting three stanzas . After the first chorus conclude and the second verse begin at 2 : 59 , the Edge begin playing a guitar riff . The second verse last two stanzas . After the second chorus , a piano interlude begin , with Lanois contributing pedal steel . The Edge begin a slide guitar solo at 4 : 59 that many critics compared to the playing style of Pink Floyd 's David Gilmour . After the third chorus end at 6 : 11 , " Oh @-@ oh @-@ ohhh " vocals and a guitar figure bring the song to its conclusion .