[bobframe]

Sleepwalk might just be the quintessential "Gretsch song". And I want to play it. Somebody help me. I know the chords are pretty simple, but I want a version that sounds good, that I can play solo. Any suggestions?

BTW, I find that I am most attracted to a guitar style that I think is referred to as "Chord-Melody"- that's what I'm after here.

Thanks.

[donwood]

Bob, guess you know the chords I, vii, IV, V .. I was ckecking out one of the GDPer's CD's to buy on CD Baby.com and on the opening page, which showed said persons CD I saw Sleepwalk and thinking it was on his CD clicked to buy. Well it wasnt on his CD and I could never find that version again but it sure got my attention because it was played like a Blues rendition. Sure would like to find it but a search by me and the CDbaby people could not find it. ( they dont have a good search feature tho ) Anyway, wish I could help more. Good luck. Don

[Chetfan]

Chet did a nice version of Sleepwalk with a lot of chord work. Bill Kirchen also did a version I like, but it's not a lot of chord medley.

[wenzel]

The chords are C, Am7, Fm7, G7. The change is 5th fret all higher 4 strings and then slide up to the 12th and 10th fret on the high E and B strings. Then I'd have to show you from there. I'm going off of my memory. If you need to call me this Friday or Saturday, I'll spend hours with you on the phone teaching it to you. Just PM me if you're interested...

Chris

Or, just stop by my house in Cherry Hill, NJ.

[donwood]

You are correct Chris, I should have noted IVm7 ( did I do that right? ). Been too long for me. Don

[bobframe]

Originally Posted by wenzel

The chords are C, Am7, Fm7, G7. The change is 5th fret all higher 4 strings and then slide up to the 12th and 10th fret on the high E and B strings. Then I'd have to show you from there. I'm going off of my memory. If you need to call me this Friday or Saturday, I'll spend hours with you on the phone teaching it to you. Just PM me if you're interested...

Chris

Or, just stop by my house in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Did you ever see your version written in tab?

[noelweller]

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/...epwalk_tab.htm

I am not sure if this is correct key etc.. But here is the original version tabbed out. this is not the Brian Setzer version. This is Santo and Johnny

[noelweller]

after thought. that link has lots of tabs for the song. that was just the first and highest rated

[brian blaut]

I like Kirchen and Chet's fur sure, but this is the best SOLO version I've ever heard. Gatton, while I love his playing, loses me on his more hectic rendition.

If you take out the fancy jazz runs and keep it on the more conservative side, this one is fairly easy. Stuff like this:



8-----5--------------1--3--4--3--1--/8-----5\--------1--3--4--4/6\4---3---0--0--------1-1-1---------
8-----8--------------1--3--4---------/8-----8\--------1--3--4--4/6\4---3---1----1------1-1-1--5-5--5
9-----5--------------1--3--4---------/9-----5\--------1--3--4-----------2---0------0----1-1-1--4-4--5
10----5-------------1---1--3----------------5\-----------1--3-----------3---2---------3-3-3-3--5-5--5
10----7--------------------------------------7\--------------------------------3--------------------------
8-----5----5\--0-1--------------------------5\---0-1-----------------------------------------------------

[Raggy]

Originally Posted by bobframe

Sleepwalk might just be the quintessential "Gretsch song". And I want to play it. Somebody help me. I know the chords are pretty simple, but I want a version that sounds good, that I can play solo. Any suggestions?

BTW, I find that I am most attracted to a guitar style that I think is referred to as "Chord-Melody"- that's what I'm after here.

Thanks.

Try the version I teach on youtube - simple, melodic and holds very close to the original. You can play it without back up tracks, or other instrumentation. I put the song itself up for the July Challenge here on the forum. It should be of interest to you (and me) that I just turned on the web cam and did one take (plugged the acoustic Johnson straight into the computer with reverb). I confess I'm not good, I'm saying the version I finally put together plays itself and you don't have to kill yourself to play it - you won't even get nervous in public performance because you are confident it will be true, and you don't have to sweat the wild riffs and hope you can get your fingers on the amazing chords that my mind can't even comprehend let alone these old fingers play. So try it, what have you got to lose? I listen to these real players doing the amazing stuff and admire the fire out of them. I won't ever be able to play that good - but I love this simple version that I worked out for people like me, folks who love to play but don't have the gifts and graces to cover the big boys. Raggy

[GADify]

Step 1: Buy "Dirty Boogie" by Brian Setzer Orchestra
Step 2: Listen to Sleepwalk (track 5)
Step 3: Repeat "I'm not worthy" 20 times
Step 4: Buy this: http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Setzer-G...9920484&sr=1-1



Step 5: Practice!

That book has the note for note transcription. Fabulous resource. That's how I learned it. Took me quite some time, but now people ask me to play it.

[Raggy]

Originally Posted by bobframe

Did you ever see your version written in tab?

I sent you a post but I still don't know how to do this (and this is a guess) but if you move down to Raggy a few boxes below you will see my original message. Raggy

[Raggy]

I give up! I can't send a message to anybody at all. I can't find any helps about how to respond in the same box to someone I want to talk with. I am looking at the Posting Rules as I type, it says You may post new threads, replies, attachments, etc. But to new folks just joining we don't have any idea what threads are (at least I don't) and I can't find any pages explaining how to navigate the site. I'm too old to simply jump from on place to another. It tells me I don't belong to a (I can't even remember) I tried but don't know what to do. Frustration. I been married thirty years - seems like fifty - I don't have the energy to try to figure out a new wife. Raggy

[The Marlin]

I have tabbed our the version of sleepwalk that I like, the one most easily found on Youtube (just Setzer, blue shirt, Gretsch and Amp (well, maybe a pedal/Echo or two). No band.

If you like I can PDF it next Monday, and then email it to whoever wants it. I need to go to the office to PDF it, hence Monday.

PM me if you want it. That'll give me the incentive to get off my behind.

All the best

Mr Marlin

[DevilYouKnow]

There's a great instructional YouTube lesson on this song. Can't post link from my iPhone but i looked it up I think the user is named Jgarcia. He instructs on a classical guitar. It's a terrific ten minute lesson that's easy to follow.

[big kenny]

I like Brians best but Carlton is sweet too. (Pedestal for Santo and Johnny)

YouTube - ‪larry...

[coreyman97]

Raggy, great job - your version is really nice and melodic. Going to dig into it later. It would be great to have it in tab format. Thanks for sharing.
Corey