“Sleepwalk” by Johnny and Santo is a classic instrumental track covered by countless musicians. It was initially released in 1959 and became an instant hit, largely thanks to its beautiful melody and unique instrumentation. Sleepwalk featured Santo Farina on lead steel guitar and Johnny Farina on rhythm guitar. In this lesson, we’ll explore the harmonic and melodic structure of “Sleepwalk” and how it can be played on a 3-string cigar box guitar tuned to GDG.

Watch the video and read the Top 10 tips for playing slide on the cigar box guitar below. To buy a copy of the music ($4.99) with tabs, notes, and chords, visit either:

Sheet Music Plus

Sheet Music Direct

For more cigar box guitar lessons, go here. For books, go here. If you are a newbie to CBG, then start here.

The Sleepwalk Chord Progression on Cigar Box Guitar

The Sleepwalk chord progression has a dreamy, floating quality that perfectly matches the title and mood of the song. It’s a standard popular progression, except the IV chord is substituted from the tonic minor key. Normally, the IV chord in the key of C major is F major, but they use F minor borrowed from C minor in this tune. This iv minor chord still acts like a subdominant functioning chord, so there is no real change harmonically.

So, the main part of the chord progression is I (C), vim (Am), ivm (Fm) and V7 (G7).

This chord progression helps create a sense of nostalgia and longing and works perfectly on the slide cigar box guitar. The harmonic structure of “Sleepwalk” is just as important as the melody, and together they create a timeless instrumental classic.

I have used a few different chord voicings for variety but chose the chords that work for you. Some chords, like the Fm, are hard to reach, so you may prefer an alternative Fm. Here’s the entire chord progression:

Want to learn more chords on your cigar box guitar? Check out my extensive 3-string chord book here or the 4-string book here.
Now let’s look at the melodic structure and learn a few tricks to play it on your CBG.

The Form of Sleepwalk

“Sleepwalk” uses a straightforward AABA form. This means that the song consists of four sections, with the first and second sections being identical (A), the third section being different (B), and the fourth section being a return to the first two sections (A).

The A sections feature the iconic melody played by Santo on his steel guitar, accompanied by Johnny’s rhythm guitar. The melody is repeated in the second A section, creating a sense of familiarity and comfort for the listener. The B section, in contrast, is a bridge that provides a contrast to the A sections. It features a descending bass line and a more chromatic melody, creating a sense of tension and release.

Before we move on to the melody, let’s review 10 essential tips for playing slide on the cigar box guitar.

10 Tips for Playing Slide Cigar Box Guitar. 

Here are ten tips for mastering slide on the cigar box guitar:

1. Make sure your cigar box guitar is perfectly in tune. Use an electronic tuner if needed.
2. Keep the slide directly over the top of the fret to play in tune. Playing above or below the fret adds a nice vibe but keep the slide in line with the fret.
3. Memorize the tune or at least the notes that are further apart or on different strings. I like keeping my eyes on the slide and frets to stay in tune.
4. Use vibrato to help with the imperfections of moving the slide note to note.
5. Add vibrato to emulate the sound of a voice but don’t overuse vibrato.
6. Learn how to mute with your left and right hand. This is probably the most essential technique to master the slide. When you move between notes, you will want to hide the sound of the slide rattling against the strings. This is the time to mute! For more slide tips, check out this article
7. Experiment with different sizes and materials for slides. I like the 2-inch ceramic or glass, but many manufacturers are out there.
8. Turn your tone or treble down on your amp for a warmer round tone.
9. Play with your right-hand fingers, or use a heavier gauge pick for a better tone.
10. Make sure the action on your CBG is high enough (distance of strings to the neck) to avoid any slide rattles or knocking.

The Sleepwalk Melody

Now let’s talk about the melodic structure of “Sleepwalk.” The original melody is played on a steel guitar, and it’s a perfect example of how a simple melody can be incredibly effective. The melody is based on the C major scale, but it uses a lot of chromatic notes and bends to give it a unique character. The melody is played in a way that sounds almost like a vocal line, with long, sustained notes and subtle vibrato.

This melody uses the notes of the C major scale, but it also uses some chromatic notes. We will also have to alter the melody by transposing up and down an octave to fit the range of the 3-string cigar box guitar.

Alright, so grab your slide and give her a try. If you go to the settings on YouTube, you can change the playback speed if needed. Just go to the settings wheel and playback speed. 

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I guess that does it for today’s lesson. Please leave any comments or suggestions for more cigar box guitar lessons. For more popular arrangements (Tabs) go here.