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Haolenuke
Lokahi
USA
117 Posts |
 Posted - 11/29/2009 : 6:44:01 PM
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Hi,
I have been attempting to learn slack key ukulele from Uncle Dave Heaukulani's book, "Ukulele Slack Key Hawaiian Slack Key Styling," and the videos that he has posted. In the text and videos Uncle Dave suggests that many slack key guitar players do not consider the ukulele to be an appropriate instrument for playing slack key music, due primarily to the lack of 2 low pitched strings on the ukes. In the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar / Hawaiian Music Taropatch forum there is a "Defining Slack Key" topic with 141 replies in which there is no mention of ukuleles being used to play slack key music. Is there a consensus about whether Uncle Dave's music is slack key or not? I sure like the sound of his music, even with a beginner like me playing.
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2009 : 11:30:04 PM
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| I'll leave a proper definition to the Professor. However, some of us that play slack key guitar also play ukulele or accompany others on the ukulele that are playing traditional hula ku'i songs with a guitar in one of the many tunings that support slack key. Again, even others of us have a six string tenor ukulele that is tuned in a typical slack key tuning. However, the instrument or the tuning doesn't make a song slack key. It is playing the instrument in the way that has come to be understood as slack key that makes the music fit in the genre. Just because you only have fours strings just means you have less available to support the bass patterns. I am of the camp that would say -- yes -- you can play slack key with an ukulele. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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berean_315
Akahai
96 Posts |
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1153 Posts |
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ricdoug
`Olu`olu
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2009 : 11:57:16 PM
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Forum member Mitch Chang (tafkam) played awesome slack key on the ukulele at the Inland Empire Ukulele Festival last year. I do not know what kind of ukulele Mitch was playing, but he certainly did more than justice with it. Ric
http://www.youtube.com/user/tafkam1 |
It's easier to ask for forgiveness, than permission! |
Edited by - ricdoug on 12/01/2009 12:07:23 AM |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 08:43:13 AM
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| It would be really interesting to hear a uke player team up with an acoustic bass player and try out some traditional slack key tunes. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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markwitz
`Olu`olu
USA
841 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 12:34:17 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wdf
Check these out for inspiration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTkXLmAbXi8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ka1UF801Ck
Indeed. I asked Led this very question at a concert one time and he said, "sure Brah, anything with strings you can play slack key". Of course, that was Led Kaapana talking. |
"The music of the Hawaiians, the most fascinating in the world, is still in my ears and
haunts me sleeping and waking."
Mark Twain |
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Haolenuke
Lokahi
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 1:17:36 PM
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Thank you for the responses. I'm not about to argue with Uncle Ledward about what slack key music is.
Is there any repository of slack key ukulele TABs? Uncle David Heaukulani's very helpful book has about a dozen slack key songs, and Heeday Kimura's book has an additional six. Are there many ukulele arrangements of slack key standard available in TAB format? |
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hikabe
Lokahi
USA
358 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 1:53:33 PM
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| Not too much, you need to write some! |
Stay Tuned... |
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Pops
Lokahi
USA
387 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 2:42:19 PM
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| I'm with Uncle Led. Go for it! Sheldon Brown, of Maui, is an amazing 'ukulele player who can play slack key style and it's beautiful. |
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Haolenuke
Lokahi
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 08:26:53 AM
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Hello hikabe,
I caught your excellent performance at the 2009 Napa Valley Aloha Festival. I wish you worked a bit further North. I definitely do not have the chops to write, or arrange, any ukulele slack key TABs. If anyone has hand written TABs that they want input into Power Tabs, I can help out.
Isn't Uncle Led amazing? |
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Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 08:35:28 AM
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quote:
Are there many ukulele arrangements of slack key standard available in TAB format?
I've got a few out there on my website & I'm gradually working up a bunch more.
But, not to put too fine a point on it, you can pretty much take any guitar TAB written in either taropatch or drop C tuning and play it on the ukulele with the A string tuned down to G. Just ignore the bass notes and play the stuff on the top four strings. 
quote:
Sheldon Brown, of Maui, is an amazing 'ukulele player who can play slack key style and it's beautiful.
I agree with that.
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Haolenuke
Lokahi
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 12:18:57 PM
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Thank you for your replies. Mark, I have one of your books and two on order. I hope to be skilled enough to start downloading some of your songs soon.
berean 315, that is some impressive slack key. I hope that my fingers will be able to pull that off someday. |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 6:56:58 PM
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Standard uke tuning,GCEA,is a C6 tuning. I would think any C6 guitar tab could be adapted, reversing the fingerings of the 1st & 2nd strings, & ignoring the missing bass strings. But that begs the question, is it slack key if you can't play the bass parts that are so integral to slack key? Or is it merely finger-style uke, as opposed to strum-style? The can is open, & the worms are a-wigglin'.
Unko Paul |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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tafkam1
Lokahi
USA
320 Posts |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2009 : 4:54:30 PM
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Paul,
That would theoretically work (C6) but in practice, it wouldn't sound the same as the C Maunaloa Tuning takes advantage of the 6th above the melody string (centered on the 7th fret second string in C6ML). In a low G ukulele tuning (GCEA), the melody string would be the first string and the harmony string the second would be the third below -- the same two chordal notes but a different sound because of degree. AND then you would nat have the E string as a bass option because it would normally be fretted in the melody. |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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Topic |
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Slack key ukulele?
