Slave Girl appeared on Santo & Johny Farina’s 1959 debut LP.  The song is based on the chord changes to “Malagueña” by Cuban composer, Ernesto Lecuona. Santo Farina’s penetrating steel guitar sound and phrasing married to an exotic Spanish/Middle Eastern vibe make this song  memorable and mesmerizing. 

My transcription of the tune is arranged for 6-string A6th tuning but is of course, playable on the 8-string version. Unlike most of my arrangements, this is intended as a pretty close transcription of what Santo played. Santo’s sound may seem simple but try to reproduce it! His sound was so unique and compelling that it still speaks to musicians more than 60 years after the song was recorded.

A6th Tuning (low to High)

6-string version:    

 NOTES: C# E F# A C# E 

8-string version

NOTES: F# A C# E F# A C# E  

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