 Silbermann was born on 16 May 1678 in Kleinbobritzsch, near Frauenstein, Saxony, the son of a joiner.He himself trained as a joiner in Freiberg under George Lampertius, but soon afterwards learnt the art of organ building, moving to Alsace in 1699.The exact timing and source of his training is unknown, with proposed names of his mentor including Friederich Ring and Daniel Übermann.