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kyahi437
Aloha
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - 04/07/2004 : 8:28:17 PM
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aloha,
I am a beggining musician, raised in makaha and now living on the east coast...I recently learned the basics of standard playing on the guitar...(ebgdae) i can pick ok and am learning new chords everyday...my question to you is could you explain the basics of slack key (tuning, picking, strumming)should i wait until im profecient at standard or try to branch out? or provide a link for a lesson would be nice....(im a student so not to expensive)
also, growing up in hawaii i loved HAPA...would they be considered slack key? and can someone please let me know where i can get sheet music to play their songs.
thanks and much aloha,
Brudah Kens
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i like poi, how bout u |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 04/07/2004 : 10:57:48 PM
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Welcome Kyahi437,
Well the OLD HAPA had a rhythm guitarist (Keali'i Kaneali'i) with lead
guitar done by Barry Flanagan. I have watched Barry closely on stage and
he has tended to use a flatpick held by thumb and forefiger and also
picks with at least two of the remaining fingers some of the time. He
has generally played in open-G tuning (TaroPatch tuning) DGDGBD but
most folks consider slack key to be fully fingerstyle (no flat picks)
and with alternating bass, which Barry generally does not do. He has
done several "odes" to slack key where he approximates the style, but
I have not heard him play fully fingerstyle myself (does not mean he
can't).
There are lots of reasources for learning slack key at any level, and
some other folks here will likely guide you to them.
...Lawrence
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
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Darin
Lokahi
USA
294 Posts |
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huiohana
Lokahi
115 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 12:32:25 AM
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Aloha brada Kens,
No need learn standard or any other tunings to learn kiho'alu(slack). I still don't know how to play standard. But kiho'alu is so beautiful, I don't know why anyone would want to tune back up and risk snapping their strings. Once you learn couple of chords and then fool around and find some songs, you going be all stoked and no like put the kika down. Just like the first time you go surfing...surf all day. Same ting.
There are some instructional dvd's and vhs videos on this site to get and help you on your journey. Kanikapila Brada!!! Eh, how come you in NC? Military? I did'nt know they had Hawaiians up there. Nah...Keali'i K. |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 12:58:07 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by dl584
Not sure where to find it, but there are copies floating around. Maybe Andy (this site's administrator) knows where to hunt down a copy.
This is a tough one. I don't think many copies were made and I've never seen one pop up on ebay. Last available copy I knew of belonged to cmdrpiffle but I think he's long since given it away or sold it.
Regarding learning, no need to become proficient at standard first. It's completely up to you. There are people on this board who never learned to play standard. You can play slack key, standard or both.
Check the books and videos forums. Maybe Ozzie's book or Patrick Landeza's DVD to get you started? Perhaps others with have suggestions too. |
Andy |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 01:51:56 AM
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I would also suggest Keoki Kahumoku's DVD.
Patrick L has a good article in the issue of Acoustic Guitar now on the stands.
I, too, do not know "Spanish tuning," -- my "standard tuning" is Taro Patch
Enjoy |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 03:30:21 AM
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| Slack key is much easier to learn than standard tuning, IMHO, and there are lots of great slack key players who wouldn't know what to do with a guitar in standard tuning. Tune your guitar to DGDGBD (as opposed to EADGBE for standard) for Taro Patch tuning (or open G) and pick up a copy of the May issue of Acoustic Guitar for a great (and inexpensive) introductory slack key lesson. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Darin
Lokahi
USA
294 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 09:09:15 AM
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Hi Craig,
What is "IMHO?" I've seen it a few times, but haven't figured it out. |
Darin
http://www.hawaiiguitar.com/ |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 09:44:22 AM
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Darin,
Hey you're a young guy - supposed to know these things! 
IMHO = in my humble (or honest) opinion.
I did a quick search and finally found out what AFAIK means. Internet Terms
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Andy |
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cmdrpiffle
`Olu`olu
USA
553 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 11:19:23 AM
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Kayahi four three seven...come in..over...
Absolutely...I'd consider Hapa slack key. Some of it.
The boys are wildly talented and never stuck to
just one style of music.
If you're beginning on guitar I would concentrate on learning
the basic chord fingerings for standard (eadgbe) tuning.
This would be helpful for building the patterns and techniques
that will serve you always.
Should you also branch out to alternate tunings while learning.
Yes. Without a doubt you should.
A lot will depend on what you want to do with the guitar. The only
thing I would caution against doing is just learning an open tuning.
Like G taropatch, or D (dadf#ad). They are great for particular
styles, Blues, SlackKey etc. They are also quite simple to learn
when compared to say, standard tuning. If you're only going to
play a few styles, then they will serve you well.
As for what slack key is, well, in my opinion it is a gift from
the gods.
In a super simple explanation there are 3 ways to play a guitar.
1. strumming, as in chords. Used for rhythm, background and structure.
2. picking, as in melody. Used for 'leads', melodies, the 'sound'
of the song.
3. Fingerstyle, a combination of the two. Used at the same time.
Again, that is highly simplified. Slack key is a variation of
fingerstyle. Stepped up a notch. The melody may be simple, but
beautiful and the alternating bass rhythm is what completes it.
Again, a very simple explanation.
Add some technique, skill, aloha, and expression - and you've got
a style that WILL stop folks in their tracks to listen. It's a
music of the soul. I really believe that.
Some good advice is to listen to as much as you can in the slack key
world. Even if you end up deciding not to play the style, any other
style you do play will be enriched by it.
As for Hapa, Mr. Flanagan is about as talanted as they come.
Their book is out of print.
Of the songs on their first album, the 'slack key' sounding ones
are played in open G. Kaopuiki Aloha, and Justins Lullaby.
Interesting note is that they are really the same song. Different
structure/timing.
If you are interested I have MY transcriptions of these
songs in standard notation or tablature. That is assuming my
piece of **** laptop hasn't gone 'evil' on me again, I can e-mail
them to you.
I used to have the book but it was one of the things 'liberated'
in a property dispute. Maybe someday, she'll mail it back to me.
Mike
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my Poodle is smarter than your honor student |
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 4:27:39 PM
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Aloha mai e Kens,
I'm one more who never learned standard tuning. If you really like slack key, just jump right into taropatch tuning and go for 'um.  That's what I did.
Ron Loo's instruction materials are really good for beginning guitarists. He coaches you thru each piece.
http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44
Ozzie's book is a little more advanced, but easy to figure out once you're familiar with the guitar.
http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14
aloha,
Sarah |
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huiohana
Lokahi
115 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 4:37:41 PM
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Aloha cmdrpiffle,
I read that your Hapa book was taken in a property dispute. I do not know what your situation was, but I went through the same thing with my ex. I lost some things, too.
Please don't hold your breath that you will get your Hapa things back. I tried holding my breath and nearly passed out. A hui hou...Keali'i K. |
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lat21north
Aloha
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 5:23:10 PM
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Aloha e Kens,
As a fellow beginning musician for the past two and a half years, I'm accumulating a lot of experience at that level, and would still be one level below that if it were not for Ozzie's book. Fran Guidry recommended it as a step by step "first you put pointer finger here, then you play this string" and he was right. If you only buy one book, that is a great choice. Another two and a half years and I'll be most of the way through it.
Bill
Healdsburg |
E holo mua
Bill |
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huiohana
Lokahi
115 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2004 : 5:42:46 PM
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Ho Bill,
Another two years you are going to be a "Grand Master" kiho'alu artist, eh? Be sure to play for us when you achieve this status. Nah, just kidding. A hui hou...Keali'i K. |
Edited by - huiohana on 04/09/2004 04:58:04 AM |
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kyahi437
Aloha
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2004 : 8:23:31 PM
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| thanks for all the help gives me a lot to think about................aloha |
i like poi, how bout u |
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lat21north
Aloha
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/13/2004 : 4:17:25 PM
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Kens--
Yeah poi; large dose of slack key, little dose of poi, ummmm good.
Keali'i--
Appreciate the encouragement as I strive to become the oldest beginner. You learned "Radio Hula" by observation, quite a job. Have you figured out "I Kona"?
Bill
Healdsburg |
E holo mua
Bill |
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