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ryan.agmata
Aloha
2 Posts |
 Posted - 08/21/2004 : 5:15:22 PM
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Alohas braddahs and sistahs,
I was wondering if anyone knows anything about slack key uke or of any products that I could buy to learn how to play slack key style.
If any of you can give me any information that would be solid.
Much Mahalos,
Ryan
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sandman
Lokahi
USA
181 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2004 : 11:15:12 PM
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Heeday Kimura has a 22 page booklet titled "How to Play Slack key Ukulele." I found it to be extremely helpful. Check his website at www.ukulelebooksbyheeday.com. My cost was $11 includign shipping.
Sandy |
Leap into the boundless and make it your home.
Zhuang-zi |
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finemc28
Aloha
14 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2004 : 12:01:35 AM
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If you already play guitar in Taro patch, just slack down the A string to G and try adapting your slack key pieces to the Ukulele. This works best with at "low G" set up.
I've found by playing along with recordings with my Taro patch Uke that some pieces are easier to play along with than with standard tuning.
Try "Kuhio Bay" on Facing Future by Bruddah Iz.
Have fun,
Mike |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2004 : 02:05:56 AM
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| I don't think it's listed on his web page but Heeday also has a tape available to accompany the book. Email him if you're interested. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2004 : 11:54:40 PM
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aloha,
i have the perhaps controversial viewpoint that you don't need to change tuning on a uke to play slack key uke. for example, http://www.ukuleleworld.com/uw_ins.html#brozman has a lot of ukulele "slack key" turnarounds in the context of hi`ilawe. the scale is so much smaller on a uke, you'll find yourself to reach all sorts of combinations.
if you already play slack key guitar, just slack the strings in the same way you would for a guitar (if you play drop C or taropatch, you'll just slack the first string down a full step), and you can try out what you already play. you'll find that the problem is you don't have those low two strings for doing the bass line. so, you'll need to improvise. the middle-voice and high voice parallel sixths and parallel thirds all work, of course.
if you want to plunge ahead, try working out a version of a simple song that you like. if you don't change any tuning, good keys to work in are C and F, since you can use open strings so readily.
aloha,
keith
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Tonya
Lokahi
USA
177 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2004 : 11:16:28 AM
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Okay, I'm going to admit the unmentionable: I don't really understand what "slack key" playing means.
I have lots of slack key guitar CDs, and I like the sound of it, but what does it actually mean/how is it done? I imagine, from my reading on this board, that it's using an alternate tuning that tunes "down" certain strings, but it seems that folks refer to a variety of different slack key tunings (and they have different names like taro patch and C). Does that mean certain strings are tuned in sets in different ways?
I've never played guitar, and only am a strummer and sometimes melody picker in my beginning ukulele playing. I understand that, in ukuleles, there is High G-CEA and Low G-CEA and at a workshop I was even forced to do a ADF#B tuning (yuck!). I'm now guessing that ukuleles can be tuned to a slack key sound, too, but which strings do what? Does it work for soprano ukuleles, too?
I've contemplated the Heeday Kimura book, but frankly, the one book I have of his (Christmas songs?) has artwork that seems a little "blurry" to me and it's hard for me to figure out which strings/notes are being displayed (perhaps, though, it's my 47-year-old eyes doing the blurry thing. Hmmmm...I'll go check out the book again).
Anyway, any clear explanation of what slack key is for this non-guitar-playing music novice? FWIW, I play a high-GCEA soprano. |
http://www.uketreasures.com
http://www.ukuleletonya.com |
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`Ilio Nui
`Olu`olu
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2004 : 11:57:10 AM
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Tonya,
Take a look at http://www.dancingcat.com/shorthist.shtml. It's a very nice tree-top discussion of Slack Key. Almost all of the Slack Key albums from Dancing Cat Records have explanations in the liner notes.
Tuning your Uke to G-CEG would be an example of Slack. This would be the equivalent of Taro Patch (G on the guitar) which produces a C on the Uke when strummed open.
Me ke aloha,
Dave |
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marzullo
`Olu`olu
USA
923 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2004 : 12:22:04 PM
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hi tonya,quote:
I've never played guitar, and only am a strummer and sometimes melody picker in my beginning ukulele playing. I understand that, in ukuleles, there is High G-CEA and Low G-CEA and at a workshop I was even forced to do a ADF#B tuning (yuck!). I'm now guessing that ukuleles can be tuned to a slack key sound, too, but which strings do what? Does it work for soprano ukuleles, too?
what didn't you like about ADF#B? anyway, for picking melody, i find having the low G helps, but there's plenty of existence proofs that you can do anything on a high G uke.
quote:
I've contemplated the Heeday Kimura book, but frankly, the one book I have of his (Christmas songs?) has artwork that seems a little "blurry" to me and it's hard for me to figure out which strings/notes are being displayed (perhaps, though, it's my 47-year-old eyes doing the blurry thing. Hmmmm...I'll go check out the book again).
i have a hard time with his books too. his notation takes some getting used to. but, i think the biggest problem is that without audio accompanyment, it's hard to figure out what exactly its supposed to sound like. he has tapes, but i don't have them...
aloha,
keith
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2004 : 1:25:39 PM
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Tonya, you're correct that slack key refers to altered tunings, assumed to be loosened. The style further refers to alternating bass played on the lower strings, which is why slack key ukulele is a stretch. Since you say you like the sound of slack key (the kani ki ho`alu, as it were) you might refer back to Keith's original idea - you can play most of those melodies, licks, fills, vamps on a standard tuned ukulele no sweat. Pick a simple slack key piece, hum the melody, and see if you can find it on your uke. Or perhaps even better, get the two CDs by Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta Jr. and soak up their interaction. They have done a gorgeous job of integrating slack key guitar and ukulele.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2004 : 2:47:19 PM
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Fran,
Can I give an alternate viewpoint (not a disagreement, please understand) of the "alternating bass" as a defining hallmark of Slack Key? I know lots of folks have that notion, but it simply is not a universal. It *is* true that alternating bass is on a preponderance of recordings at this time, because a lot (the majority?) of players use Taro Patch and can get the I/V and V/V drone going. However, in Aunty Alice's figures, which are representative of an earlier form, there is no such thing as alternating bass. Keola rarely (I say that because I can't remembe him ever doing it) uses it in his C tuning. In fact hardly anybody uses alternating bass in any C tuning. They use a single (or maybe 2 per measure) pedal note. Leonard (in his C)only used alternating bass once as far as I can determine. And, even though Oz uses alternating bass in his one example in his book, he does not do so in other C tuning tabs of his that I have. In his book with Steve Sano, Danny Ho extolls his tuning because the intervals between string allow more flexibility (he says, or implies) including alternating bass. In Sonny's Ho`omalu Slack Key and Moe Uhane, they both have G D'D' and D D' D' sequences, which certainly are not alternating.
So, while lots of pieces use alternating bass, you can play Slack Key perfectly well and properly without using it.
In the case of a low G `uke, a pedal note or two on the low G will sufice very nicely.
...Reid
PS. Danny and George's new Hula series (on Danny's label) demo this gorgeously with Danny playing most of the lead, and Keoki, on this latest tour with George, did the same thing, also gorgeously.
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Fran Guidry
Ha`aha`a
USA
1581 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2004 : 5:23:29 PM
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You're right, of course, Reid. I should have said "bass figures" rather than alternating bass.
Fran
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E ho`okani pila kakou ma Kaleponi
Slack Key on YouTube
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