Dreamy Music Theory | "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny (1950s)

Описание: Hey, Josh from Broadcast Guitar here. This is Part 1 of a live deep dive into "Sleepwalk" by Santo & Johnny.

For full lesson, click here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/1441177...
View the full Broadcast Guitar live program:   / broadcastguitar  

0:00 Intro
1:55 Performance
4:07 Whiteboard Theory
7:57 Level One
10:47 Chord Building
15:50 Level Two

In this lesson, we take a deep dive into the classic instrumental “Sleepwalk” by Santo & Johnny — breaking down how to play the iconic melody on standard guitar without a slide, and how to transform it into a expressive solo guitar arrangement. Along the way, we explore the song’s harmony in C major, the emotional power of the minor iv chord, and practical strategies for blending melody, chords, and bass into a single guitar part.

You’ll gain a clearer understanding of chord construction, Roman numeral analysis, and how altering just one note (like A♭ in the minor four chord) can completely change the emotional impact of a progression.

Perfect for players who want to:

Arrange instrumental classics for solo guitar
Understand and use the minor iv chord in a major key
Play melody and harmony together without relying on a slide
Strengthen chord-building and music theory fundamentals

Topics Covered:

Overview of “Sleepwalk” and its original lap steel melody
Analyzing the tune in C major using Roman numerals
Understanding the progression: I – vi – iv – V
Why the minor iv (F minor) is the emotional core of the song
Identifying and using the A♭ color tone over the iv chord
Building major, minor, minor 7, dominant 7, and major 7 chords from scales
Using chord tones to highlight the melody on top
Level-one strategies for solo guitar arranging
Classic 50s-style turnarounds and bridge movement
Transposing the song to other keys using numbers instead of shapes

Want the full lesson, handwritten tabs, and interactive live classes?
Head over to the Broadcast Guitar Patreon and start your free trial today:

  / membership  

-------------------------------------------------------

Broadcast Guitar is a live program. Music theory and improvisation for guitarists.

If you'd like to join our niche community of musicians and work together, start your FREE trial today here:

  / collections  

I offer a 5-minute intro meeting with all new Broadcast Guitar members to meet and chat before jumping into the program. Feel free to reach me at:

[email protected]

Broadcast Guitar includes a deep dive on a Song of the Week. Each live class concludes with an optional Q&A to chat concepts, give practice tips, share performances with fellow members, and the opportunity to attend live Special Guest interviews with professional musicians.