Sleepwalk tuning/str guage

Ben Godard · From: Jamesville NC

Does anyone know the actual tuning that Santo and johnny used on his T8 Fender custom in the 1959 broadcast of sleepwalk. Also knowing the string guages would be nice as wll.

Also has anyone had problems getting the harmonics to ring and sustain long enough to play the harmonic lick in the song. I have tried it on my D8 stringmaster but I can't get it to chime like santo/johnny plays it.

Any suggestions

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

Ben wonders about

Derrick Mau · From: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Ben,

C#m7 tuning.

Do a search on youtube. Good video of him doing the chime.

Ron Victoria · From: New Jersey, USA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAk_0N85wNk

Here it is, Ron

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

Our buddy, Herb Steiner, has a whole course out on Sleepwalk alone. He has the tab and CD in several different tunings. Well worth the money.

Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

I always thought it was C6,but I saw somewhere that it was G6.dunno. Confused

PJ

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

Ben, if you look at the video you can see where the chimes are played. Here's a link to the C#m7 tab for it. http://www.jessepearsonguitar.com/sleepwalk.htm

Mike Fried · From: Nashville, TN, USA

Playing Sleepwalk in C#m7 tuning erases all doubt about what tuning was used...
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Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

I agree. I had been noodling around that tune in open G. close, but not accurate.

Ben Godard · From: Jamesville NC

OK It's official. This is the tuning for sleepwalk in the key of C#m7.

It is EC#G#EC#BG#E

1. E
2. C#
3. G#
4. E
5. C#
6. B
7. G#
8. E

Pearson's tab only shows six strings so I added the other two which is definitely right. The original version uses a the low E 8th string for a run in the middle of the song.

NOTE:Edited by Brad to clarify tuning from bass (string Cool

to treble (string 1).

Ben Godard · From: Jamesville NC

Yep. That's it undoubtedly. I just put the right strings on and tuned to this tuning and it sounds just like the real deal

Thanks everyone

Ben

Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

OK Guys,I'm seein the C#m as posted by Ben,no problem.But it also looks like an E6th to me.I need some theory education please.Not tryin to be a smart adz,really need your help to learn a little theory.
Thanks Smile

PJ

Ron Victoria · From: New Jersey, USA

I have the original sheetmusic and it says written in E7th. Hummmm email me for a copy.

Ron

Ben Godard · From: Jamesville NC

C#m is the relative minor of E. That means their scales are actually the same notes. The only difference is that you start the scale with the C# and end with the C# but your still playing the E scale.

Am and C have the same relationship, as well as the other scales. A way to remember this is say in the key of C, C is your root. If you walk down two notes of the C scale,(C-B-A), the third note will always be your minor root note. So in this case would be Am.

Another one most often used is Em and G. Exact same thing. Play a G scale but start with the E and end with the E. There's you Em scale.

This theory is why the E or E6 or E13 looks like the C#m or C#m7. They all have the same notes common in a scale. Just arranged differently.

Now go take some tylenol after you smoke a cigarette or two.

Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

OK Ben, got it.Thanks.One more question,if we sub the lower C# for a B note,would it then be a ligit E6th? Really appreciate this help..
PJ

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

Perhaps this tuning question should be addressed to Johnny Farina.

Frank Welsh · From: Upstate New York, USA

In an interview in the "Unsung Heroes" section of "Guitar Player" magazine in the late '80's, Santo mentioned that he recorded "Sleepwalk" and "Teardrop" with C#m7 tuning. He also happened to have A6th and E7th tunings on the other necks of his triple-neck Stringmaster.

I am convinced that a number of other hits by Santo & Johnny were recorded with C#m7.

I believe he had some help from the engineer or volume pedal/control when the harmonic run is heard on "Teardrop" since I have never been able to get that much relatively high volume with harmonics.

Ben Godard · From: Jamesville NC

Amen.

I have desparately tried getting my harmonic to ring like johnny's and I can't do it. I think you are right. I think someone was behind the curtain cranking the volume up or something when he did those long harmonics. I've never heard anyone who can get a long harmonic like that except johnny. I can get a pretty good one with the overdrive cranked up pretty high but I don't think I want to play the rest of the song like heavy metal.

Just my 2 cents

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

I edited the post above to clarify the tuning for someone who asked. From string 1, the highest string, to string 8, the lowest string, the tuning is:

1. E
2. C#
3. G#
4. E
5. C#
6. B
7. G#
8. E
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Rockne Riddlebarger · From: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Thanks Mike for posting that YouTube site for Santo & Johnny, it's the first time I've ever seen them play. I wonder how many tunings this song has actually been played in over the years? I have been playing it in a six string A6 tuning in the key of C for over a decade and was convinced that was the original tuning but after seeng the video and reading the above analasis I have to agree with the C#m7 tuning. That said, I think I will continue playing it in the A6 though, I'm too old and too lazy to relearn it now! Thanks for all the insights....Rockne

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

1st: You should ask SANTO because he is the one who played the steel on Sleepwalk.
2nd: I've been playing the song using my E9th tuning for years and don't have any problem with getting the sustain on the harmonics. Just my opinion.
Don

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I'm curious about what he played through. There seems to be a little distortion that might help the sustain.

Jay Fagerlie · From: Lotus, California, USA

So what string gauges do you think I should use for this tuning?

I have a T-8 Magnatone waiting.....

Thanks

Jay

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

Jody Carver · From: KNIGHT OF FENDER TWEED

Santo used C#minor7th and Johnny does now as well, trust me. Or you can use A6th as I do. either one will do the job.

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