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pifarrell
Aloha
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
 Posted - 12/14/2007 : 10:10:59 AM
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Hi,
My name is Peter, I live in a small town called Penicuik, about 10 miles south of Edinburgh in Scotland.
I was a traditional musician for over 30 years (now retired), playing bars and folk clubs in Scotland. I only recently discovered and fell in love with slack key guitar and have started to learn it. I often used open G and D for Scots songs and tunes and although slack key is simpler, it's more difficult to play and I find I'm struggling a little. I'm enjoying learning something new though.
The downside is that there's very little on slack key available in the UK. So any advice would be much appreciated.
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bigeedjit |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 10:41:10 AM
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quote:
and although slack key is simpler, it's more difficult to play
Welcome to the patch Peter!! As Ozzie Kotani often says "Slack Key is DECEPTIVELY simple". This is because it sounds much simpler that it often is. Get Ozzie's books and His new DVD Video to start out and then there is a lot of other material you can follow up with such as Keola Beamers book (done by Mark Nelson) and Mark Nelson own book, and also Mark Hansons book (not to be confused with Mark Nelson), and other materials as well. But Ozzie is the best at explaining some of the subtle details (such as Hawaiian slurs and timing). Note, that most of this material is in Tab form and most also does not have timing information in the tab (but Hanson's does), so it is necessary to have a recording to listen to for timing and rhythm.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
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pifarrell
Aloha
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 10:57:13 AM
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| Thanks for that guys. This music is all new to me so it helps to know who to listen to. I've seen the stuff on Amazon but wasn't sure what to get and what to avoid. |
bigeedjit |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 11:34:46 AM
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Lawrence knows I love Ozzie, both as a musician, a teacher, and a person, and DO strongly suggest you get everything you can of his. But, Sarah and I are convinced that Ron Loo (a former fellow student with Oz of Peter M., as I recall), as a teacher of the "real old style", is without peer. Ron is a professor and his didactic methods are built subliminally into his material. You learn and later you realize what you have learned without really trying.
Look at:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Arena/7009/
BTW, I LOVE bigeedjit!
...Reid |
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 11:39:47 AM
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Peter,
Welcome to the 'patch. As people have already said, cruise around the forums for books and videos. That should help. Post questions if you have them. |
Andy |
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pifarrell
Aloha
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 12:06:38 PM
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Thanks again. I'm interested in the Ron Loo stuff. I've ordered the Ozzie Kotani book from Amazon as well.
"Bigeedjit" is my wife's pet name for me, mostly used when throwing things at me. |
bigeedjit |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 12:36:22 PM
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Please don't tell me she throws haggis at you (gulp). To rescue the good name of Scots cooking, I will tell you that the fresh-shot pigeon pie I had up there was amongst the best things I have ever eaten. The lamb was outstanding, and barley goes really well with lamb - as well as it does when converted to a Single (if different). I am also appalled at how much better TESCO (The biggest food retailer in the world) veggies are than those we get here in supermarkets. They fly in fresh veggies from Kenya, Namibia, Thailand and every other place the have a finger in. FRESH, picked by hand - because the places they buy from are poor, I guess - but that's what you get for being in the First World. You guys eat well, if you don't throw baps at each other.
...Reid |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 1:08:24 PM
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quote:
But, Sarah and I are convinced that Ron Loo (a former fellow student with Oz of Peter M., as I recall), as a teacher of the "real old style", is without peer.
I too, learned from Ron Loo at first, through his first set of cassette tapes (some 15 years ago). I was quickly bored from working through the first piece, and skipped all of them, except the last one (which was Old Timer's Hula). I do not know about any of Ron's newer material, but these first tapes were for RANK beginners and Peter appears to be an already accomplished player.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 1:23:41 PM
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OK, now for our side. . .
Where would I get good Scotch Whisky in the US? |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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pifarrell
Aloha
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 10:23:07 PM
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I started learning guitar at 15 and apart from a very brief foray into rock music, have been playing traditional scottish and Irish music ever since and I'm 55 now. I also play mandolin and Irish bouzouki. I thought I was an accomplished player but I've discovered that all those years playing one form of music actually limits one's ability.
traditional music has a very rigid structure, partly because of the classical influences and partly because of the way it was taught over the years. None of this applies to Hawaiian slack key which makes it rather difficult for me to get my head round the rhythms and form, so I'm pretty much having to relearn the guitar and adjust my attitude somewhat, It's amazing how set in your ways you can become.
I'm looking on it as a beginner and because there's nowhere around here I can get lessons It'll probably take a while but I'll get there. I've got nothing else to do so I'm not in a hurry.
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bigeedjit |
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pifarrell
Aloha
United Kingdom
32 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2007 : 10:43:15 PM
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You're right about TESCO reid, their fruit and veg is excellent, better even than the local grocers. Our local one also stocks superb Scottish venison and Aberdeen Angus beef and yes, these days we do eat rather well. I also do eat haggis occaisionaly, very nice so long as you don't think about what you're eating.
All this is making me hungry. It's now 8.40 am and I'm going to cook some Scottish reared pig and free range eggs for breakfast.
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bigeedjit |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2007 : 5:51:17 PM
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| E komo mai! I'm hoping to get to Europe someday. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2007 : 03:01:52 AM
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Hi Peter! I live in Sheffield, and probably passed very near to you in October, when I was on tour in the Highlands. I think we've got a lot in common!
I play the mandolin as well, and like you have recently (in the last couple of years) got interested in the Hawaiian music. I play guitar with a pleccy usually, and can get by with that, but my fingerpicking's not really any good - people who play American type music can adapt quite well, because they've already got that whole 'alternating bass' thing down, but I'm finding it tough. I have a full time day job as well as being in bands, going to sessions etc, and because we're in the UK, so I've not got much spare time and I've also got nobody to play Hawaiian music with. My rate of progress is therefore not that great. It's nice to know there are one or two more of us in our group of islands though! Welcome aboard! |
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gcolebeck
Aloha
United Kingdom
14 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2007 : 03:34:44 AM
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Hi All, great to hear of some other UK-based slack key players. I'm based on the south coast in Bournemouth.
I've followed the Ozzie, then Mark Nelson route - having downloaded his Old Time Hawaiian book yesterday, I've got loads to work through.
Just don't feel brave enough for Keola!! |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2007 : 06:07:52 AM
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How about trying some John Keawe music next? Or some of the Slack Tracks? Both are very enjoyable.
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