| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Uncle Mahi
Aloha
USA
12 Posts |
 Posted - 04/17/2006 : 12:34:23 AM
|
Aloha and thank you for your warm greetings I appreciated that. I proomise not to refer to this site as TP again.
As I mentioned previously, Aunt Mary, the only wahine slack key master I ever knew back on Molokai told me, "Mahi this tuning was made for only us wahines(women), she just might be correct. With its simple one and two finger chords, this tuning is the original wahine slack key tuning there was non before.
The G dropped C tuning was the alternate to D. Then after the 1950's the F and what ever else began showing up. Today you have numerous so called Wahine tunings. But the D tuning is the lady of slack key.
When you hear The D tuned wahine slack key played properly it is awesome, its bassing (?) coupled with the Molokai technique (never played on CD yet) makes this piece to me the most classic of all the slack key pieces. You make your own decision when you hear it. I play this piece quite often during many gigs.
One of the difficulties with this tuning is that you must retune four strings from the standard tuning placing much strain on the strings especially if you only got one guitar.
In the old days strings were hard to come by the only ones available were gut strings for the guitar and ukulele and the Black Diamond brand for the guitar only.
Interestingly, in order for us to remember tunings and especially this one (having four strings to tune) we had to use gimmick melodies to remember them. Remember in those days we had no digital or analog tuners, these words weren't invented yet.
The D tuning is limited to one technique of playing, maybe two (and so to eliminate breaking strings for certain melodies they avoid
the D and went to G dropped C.
The Dropped C has turned out to be beautiful in its own right it is also a magnificient tuning which can enhance a melody threefold.
We use to have to mail order to get strings or guitars.
For slack key lovers D tuning is a must, once you learn it you will be in ecstacy and will be experimenting with it and taking it beyond its current limits after a few years.
The simplicity of its chording and picking techniques onlymasks what appears to be difficult yet truly not. Imagine Hawaiian women in the late 1800's and early 1900's performing successive tripple hammers and base runs with unusual picking techniques, way before our guitar experts of today who got started only as early or late as the 1960's.
D tuning is easy to learn, my teaching techniques can teach a non guitar player to pla D tuning in atleast two lessons. I have developed nothing but quick learn methods without the use of regular tableture.
I do many slack key and ukulele workshops in the southbay and as far away as Boston and North Carolina. I too have a teaching background both militarily and corporate, although mostly technical subjects, and including some time in curriculum development. I did at one time hold a teaching certificate for the California school system.
In my slack key workshops I teach students a full slack key melody in a three or four hour workshop. Experienced guitar players can learn it within an hour most of the time.
I have a workshop planned for sometime in September this year, have not yet decided on a melody to teach, if I get enough response maybe we can do Wahine slack Key in D ? Keep an eye out for workshop date
I should set a date by late July.
About George Kahumoku's Wahine tuning, yes it is the same original D tuning. Although we all have different playing techniques depending on one's experiencelevel.He is much younger than I. I'll be 39 next month (Wishful thinking)like good old Jack Benny.
Peter Medeiros, I will be coming to Hawaii this thursday the 20th of April for a week, if I have some time I'll try to make contact. I have your phone number from Nanc.
Hope I didn"t bore you
Uncle Mahi, Chuck Kaimikaua
|
Charles M Kaimikaua Jr |
|
|
Uncle Mahi
Aloha
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2006 : 12:46:14 AM
|
| FRIENDS and Slack Key lovers, Don't judge me by my typo's,(just respect my age) see what time this message was written, (more excuses)thats why I started off spelling the word promise, proomise, using one eye, just had an ocular implant, when I finally opened the other eye after I sent message, saw two O's. to to late. |
Charles M Kaimikaua Jr |
 |
|
|
thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2168 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2006 : 04:23:06 AM
|
| Mahalo, Uncle! D Wahine was the first ki ho'alu that I ever saw played. A workmate originally from Hilo showed it to me back in 1972. Nice full sound for the "6" chord, easy to do the "2", just barre, and the "5" is just 2 fingers. Thanks for reminding us of another guitar possibility! |
|
|
|
Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2006 : 04:44:55 AM
|
Mahalo Uncle Chuck!
Sign me up for the workshop!!
n
PS: You are such a terrific additional resource for us, and very few of us can type or spell so you are in good company. |
|
|
|
Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2006 : 11:57:58 AM
|
Pua Kai (Nancy),
I (for one, and know I wouldn't be alone) would love to have Uncle Mahi come on down to San Diego to teach a workshop. Can you work your charm on your kumu to spread his aloha a little further south? We could arrange the venue if Mahi can arrange the time.
Uncle Mahi,
My dad was in the USMC and in Korea in the 50s (you are about the same age, I guess). He is a member of the "Frozen Chosin". He must have heard you play while touring around in theater.
Malama Na Koa,
Mika'ele |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
|
|
|
Ray Sowders
Akahai
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2006 : 12:54:34 PM
|
Aloha e Uncle,
If you come to Oahu from time to time, I would love to meet you for a lesson. I travel where I need to go to learn. It is always desirable to get with the Kupuna that still teach. Even if we just did it once. It would be an honor to meet and talk story with you. I'm sure you have limited time when you come to the islands, but perhaps we could arrange something. A hui hou,
Ray Sowders
|
|
|
|
Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2006 : 5:40:19 PM
|
Hi Mike -
My guess is that Uncle Chuck would enjoy coming down for a workshop - and to hang out and jam too. You missed him here in December. Rik, Dusty and Keith have all come up here for lessons.
See you soon - thanks again for your help last Saturday!
n |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
