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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
 Posted - 05/15/2013 : 01:14:35 AM
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I am a 60-something geezer, classically trained musician (accordion/piano/other keyboards, euphonium/low brass, double bass and classical/folk guitar, composer/arranger), and I love slack-key! I first read about it back in the '60s in James Michener's novel and tried to learn about it, but there was no information available in the Midwest at that time. Then I forgot all about it for decades.
Then recently I was researching some Hawai'ian Pidgin terminology that I was reading in Da Jesus Book, and it hit me -- I could pro'ly find some slack-key on Youtube! Ya think? The first video that I pulled up was the Ledward Kaapana - Fran Guidry "Black Sand" duet, and I am hooked, looking forward to listening to much more of this beautiful music and maybe even learning to pick a little myself on my classical guitar.
DaveBj
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ukrazy
Akahai
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2013 : 05:14:49 AM
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| Welcome Dave, Well you've come to the right place. One word of warning. Once you get hooked on slack key it's hard to go back to anything else. You couldn't have picked a more fitting video to watch, for a first one. I can listen to Fran all day. Combine him and Ledward and the music is always good. |
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ukrazy
Akahai
USA
69 Posts |
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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2013 : 01:11:58 AM
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Yeah, I had asked Fran about that, and he said that some folks do slack-key on classical. I hadn't specifically gone looking for it. My own classical skills are pretty basic. I did have a semester in college, studying out of the Carcassi book. I was a pretty decent folk-picker, but what I do, I do more by instinct rather than by actually applying skills. It will be interesting to see if any of that can transfer to slack-key. I have my classical 6 tuned to Taro Patch, and right now I'm just messing around. Eventually I'm probably going to get one of the basic books and start working out of that.
DaveBj |
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sirduke58
`Olu`olu
USA
993 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2013 : 09:21:37 AM
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Aloha & Welcome Dave,
According to you it took just about a 1/2 a century to contemplate learning slack key. Hahaha Just kidding But it's never too late & we're so glad to have you jump on the bandwagon.
If you want a little bit of structure on your journey to learning slack key there's no better place to get your feet wet than Ozzie Kotani's instructional book or DVD "Guitar Playing Hawaiian Style"
Here's a couple great examples of ki ho'alu played on a classical nylon stringed guitar. These are YouTubes of Taropatch.net member "slackkeybob" or Robert d'Entremont.
Hula Medley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHsaTOeIX6g
Goin' Country-Contemporary slack key piece written by Ozzie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44l6fgNeBGo
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Edited by - sirduke58 on 05/16/2013 09:33:30 AM |
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kihoaluatl
Akahai
USA
57 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2013 : 6:39:25 PM
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Hey y'all Dave,
I moved from Hawaii to Atlanta nearly twenty years ago and started learning kiho'alu about 5 years ago. Youtube has been a great learning tool for me. I listen to the song then look at how it's played on youtube. Sometimes it is close, other times not so much but it is a lot of fun and really the only way to keep me motivated. Hardest part with youtube is figuring out the tuning.
Last year I met up with Duke and the Abrigos at the Bishop Museum kanikapila and had a great time. What a great group and I am looking forwards to doing it again when I take my Hawaiian vacation.
As far as a classical for kiho'alu, there are many songs played on a classical (nylon string) guitar. I bought an old Yamaha just for that purpose, the softer mellow tones especially in C Maunaloa tuning.
No doubt that books are a great start, Ozzie, Keola and Mark Hanson's books are excellent. They helped me learn the tunings and timing which I found very challenging. Once you get those down then Mica'ele McClellan and Ron Loo's books are more advanced then there is Professor Peter Mederios book which has more tunings than I can comprehend.
Aloha from next door,
tom
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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2013 : 01:40:13 AM
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Hey, kihoaluatl :D
I'm going to be in Atlanta the last week of June, at Emery (or is it Emory -- I can never remember) for the International Euphonium Institute Festival (or as I call it, Euphonium Boot Camp). Maybe I can learn how to play slack key euphonium -- pull all the tuning slides all the way out? :-P
I'm going to be ordering a book; just not sure yet whether to start at the very beginning with the Mel-Bay book or jump in with Keola's.
DaveBj |
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ukrazy
Akahai
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2013 : 07:09:40 AM
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I'll put in a plug for Ozzie's book as a first one. The first couple of songs are simple, but still have the basic elements of slack key that you'll use forever. Alternating bass, pinches, slides, etc. I like the nearly bar by bar breakdown for left hand finger placements. Really helped me in the beginning by learning effecient hand movements. Most of the songs are in taropatch. The last few are slight variations with just one string pitch change.
With the book and a little effort, plus your guitar background, you'll be playing a song the first week. |
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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2013 : 1:31:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ukrazy
I'll put in a plug for Ozzie's book as a first one.
Are you talking about "Playing Guitar Hawaiian Style," Ozzie Kotani with Dennis Ladd?
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ukrazy
Akahai
USA
69 Posts |
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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2013 : 1:52:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by ukrazy
Yes that's it. I just have the book. Have not bought the DVD's. http://www.ozziekotani.com/music-instruction/
There is also two downloadable tabs at the top of the page under "slack key tab"
I've been reading the reviews on Amazon -- I think I'm going to go with this one. I'd rather start with a book that might be easier than my actual skills (whatever they may be  ; I can always work into the Beamer book next. The biggest problem (well, one of them) is going to be learning to read tabs. I'm used to reading music. But -- we'll see.
Edit: In spades! I just looked at the tab for Liloa's Mele -- I don't have a clue!
Edit #2: the curved line over the fret numbers -- does that indicate hammer-on and pull-off? If I got that right, I may be onto something.
Edit #3: I took my guesswork and entered the first 6 measures into Finale and played it back. It worked! I'm on my way 
DaveBj |
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Edited by - DaveBj on 05/17/2013 2:24:36 PM |
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ukrazy
Akahai
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2013 : 3:45:40 PM
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Sounds like you got it!!!
Here is someone playing the first song in the book. Title is "Kani Ki'hoalu" or slack key sound. First time thru he plays it as written. After that he puts his own take on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHGk6DN9sww
Liloa's Mele is a little busy for a first song, but it's what I started with while I waited for my book to arrive.
I was in the same boat. Tab confused me because I read music. You get used to it and after a while it all makes since. |
Edited by - ukrazy on 05/17/2013 3:51:25 PM |
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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2013 : 03:21:23 AM
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I love it when "karma" works. I sat down in Bojangles for my leisurely Saturday breakfast, fired up the netbook, hooked up with the Pandora site, which is set on slack-key; the first song came up, and I thought, "Hey, that sounds familiar!" Looked, and it was Liloa's Mele, the one I was playing around with on Finale last night :D
DaveBj |
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sirduke58
`Olu`olu
USA
993 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2013 : 07:24:42 AM
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Too bad there isn't a "Like" button here Dave 'cause that was pretty cool.
One of the free downloadable tabs from Ozzie's site is another Sonny Chillingworth composition called "Slack Key #2" aka "Mahina's Trot" Sonny wrote it for his daughter Mahina. This song is much easier than "Liloa's Mele" Which BTW Sonny wrote for his grandson.
Here's me covering "Slack Key #2" per those tabs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnD-eKkunLM |
Hoof Hearted?...Was it you Stu Pedaso? |
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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2013 : 08:13:30 AM
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Mahalo plenny for the link, sirduke. Your finger technique is very clear; I'm going to download that video and study it when I start working on that song, which will be in the next few days. I also have a couple church performances to get ready for, so these next two weeks are going to be kinda busy.
DaveBj |
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DaveBj
Aloha
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2013 : 1:52:52 PM
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Update: I got an Amazon gift card for Father's Day, so "Playing Guitar Hawaiian Style" is on the way :D
DaveBj |
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Aloha from Alabama
