Slack Key Guitar

molokinirum

molokinirum

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Can anybody recommend a beginner book on slack key guitar, or any site on the net? (I have been looking but with no luck!) I currently play the ukulele and want to start to learn slack key. (I love the music!) I already have a basic acoustic guitar.
Thanks!!!!
 
I'v had this book for years and it is very good. I am so psyched, Keola Beamer is going to be here in August doing 4 days of slack key guitar instruction. I'm there!
Mel Bay Learn to Play Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar by Keola Beamer and Mark Nelson

Here is another one that looks good.
Keola Beamer Teaches Slack Key Guitar

Mark Nelson put this one out not too long ago and I picked it up.
Slack Key Ukulele by mark Nelson.

I've also purchased one or two transcriptions from Keola Beamer's site. Here is the beginning slack key page.
 
You'll want to vist Taropatch.net, it's the UU of Kī Hōʻalu. The Beamer/Nelson book is excellant. Also look for Ozzie Kotani's book and DVDs.

That reminds me...I haven't had my guitar out in a couple weeks.

~Michael
 
AzMichael said:
You'll want to vist Taropatch.net, it's the UU of Kī Hōʻalu.~Michael
Click to expand...

Ah, a fellow Taropatcher. Here's Taropatcher Craig Pachett's list. He's a local San Diegan, too:

http://www.patchett.com/kihoalu/tarosongs.htm

Claudia Goddard of the Taropatch plays slack key at about 10:31 into this concert as Admin Andy Wang sits on the right:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M5067

Andy plays slack with the steel at about 16:30 While Claudia plays rythm on an ukulele
 
molokinirum said:
Can anybody recommend a beginner book on slack key guitar, or any site on the net? (I have been looking but with no luck!) I currently play the ukulele and want to start to learn slack key. (I love the music!) I already have a basic acoustic guitar.
Thanks!!!!
Click to expand...


Ho, Brah!


I highly recommend Uncle Ozzie Kotani's Ki Ho'alu - An Instructional Method for Slack Key Volume One. It's a must have. It's a book/cd ... I would also order the dvd, too! Here's a ling to Amazon.com ... they only sell the book/cd set:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...ds=ozzie+kotani&sprefix=ozzie+kotani,aps,1615


This is a link to Uncle Ozzie Kotani's site. You can buy the dvd off his site:

http://www.ozziekotani.com/instruction.html


I've been looking everywhere for Volume 2, but everyone's sold out.

Check out Uncle Fran Guidry from the Bay Area in Northern California. His story about how he hadn't played guitar in many years after playing for 30+ years, then vacationing in Hawaii and turning on the tv in his hotel room when he heard the most beautiful guitar instrumental music being played on the tv show - it was Ki ho'alu, Hawaiian Slack Key. The rest is history and today, Uncle Fran is a very accomplished Slack Key musician. Here's a link to his site:

http://www.kaleponi.com/
 
KimosTherapy said:
Ho, Brah!

Check out Uncle Fran Guidry from the Bay Area in Northern California. His story about how he hadn't played guitar in many years after playing for 30+ years, then vacationing in Hawaii and turning on the tv in his hotel room when he heard the most beautiful guitar instrumental music being played on the tv show - it was Ki ho'alu, Hawaiian Slack Key. The rest is history and today, Uncle Fran is a very accomplished Slack Key musician. Here's a link to his site:

http://www.kaleponi.com/
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing this site.
 
Ho, Bruddah Ray!


Don't mention it, Brah. Uncle Ozzie Kotani's Slack Key material really helps learning the intricacies of Ki ho'alu with all of the different embellishments unique to the style.

Uncle Fran Guidry tried to learn Slack Key on his own for about a year after first hearing Keola Beamer play when he turned the tv on in his hotel room in Waikiki, which only lead to feeling extremely frustrated and discouraged. Not until someone recommended Uncle Ozzie Kotani's Ki Ho'alu - An Instructional Method for Slack Key Volume One (The old version that included a cassette tape, not cd) did Uncle Fran finally learn and understand how to play Ki ho'alu and kick start his playing. His story is what sold me on Uncle Ozzie's material. Good kine stuff! Uncle Fran is a super nice guy and gave me great advice over the past few years to help me with learning to play.

It's Aloha Friday! Have a great day and a great weekend as well!


Aloha,

Bruddah Kimo
 
Last edited:
KimosTherapy said:
Ho, Brah!


I highly recommend Uncle Ozzie Kotani's Ki Ho'alu - An Instructional Method for Slack Key Volume One. It's a must have. It's a book/cd ... I would also order the dvd, too! Here's a ling to Amazon.com ... they only sell the book/cd set:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...ds=ozzie+kotani&sprefix=ozzie+kotani,aps,1615


This is a link to Uncle Ozzie Kotani's site. You can buy the dvd off his site:

http://www.ozziekotani.com/instruction.html


I've been looking everywhere for Volume 2, but everyone's sold out.

Check out Uncle Fran Guidry from the Bay Area in Northern California. His story about how he hadn't played guitar in many years after playing for 30+ years, then vacationing in Hawaii and turning on the tv in his hotel room when he heard the most beautiful guitar instrumental music being played on the tv show - it was Ki ho'alu, Hawaiian Slack Key. The rest is history and today, Uncle Fran is a very accomplished Slack Key musician. Here's a link to his site:



http://www.kaleponi.com/
Click to expand...


Mahalo for the help!!! I checked out the book and liked it as the reviews were really good. I ordered it and should be in my hands in a few days!!!

Mahalo again!!!!!
 
molokinirum said:
Mahalo for the help!!! I checked out the book and liked it as the reviews were really good. I ordered it and should be in my hands in a few days!!!

Mahalo again!!!!!
Click to expand...



No problem, Brah!

I always try to help out a fellow UUer anytime I can. Glad to hear that you ordered Uncle Ozzie's book/cd! Don't know if you want to spend the money on the dvd, but it makes a huge difference as you can watch his left hand technique with forming chord shapes and the technique for the many different embellishments like slides, hammers, pull offs, add-ons, and chimes or harmonics. I think being able to visually see him play and the close up shots really help with your learning curve ... it has helped me tremendously!

Good luck with learning to play Ki ho'alu ... you're going to have a blast!!!
 
KimosTherapy said:
No problem, Brah!

I always try to help out a fellow UUer anytime I can. Glad to hear that you ordered Uncle Ozzie's book/cd! Don't know if you want to spend the money on the dvd, but it makes a huge difference as you can watch his left hand technique with forming chord shapes and the technique for the many different embellishments like slides, hammers, pull offs, add-ons, and chimes or harmonics. I think being able to visually see him play and the close up shots really help with your learning curve ... it has helped me tremendously!

Good luck with learning to play Ki ho'alu ... you're going to have a blast!!!
Click to expand...

Aloha and mahalo again!!!

Just got the book in and can't stop playing!!!! Love how it sounds, but I am taking it slow!! The DVD will be my next step!!!
You are right....it is a BLAST!!!! :D

Mahalo and aloha!!!
 
Welcome to the wonderful world of slack key guitar. There is truly no more soulful music on the planet.

The best way to learn is from sitting down with someone who plays. There are very active slack key groups in both Southern & Northern California.

Ozzie's book is the best. Even better, find a way to get to Hawaii and study with him; he's a gifted teacher.

If you really want some great, in depth study, check out Peter Medeiros' epic "Hawaiian Slack Key: A Lifetime of Study." http://www.slackkeybypetermed.com/Home.html

Blowing my own horn for a moment (and who isn't surprised at that? :cool:) I've got a couple things you might be interested in. Besides the book I did with KB, I've got a CD and TAB book called "Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" and a pile of individual TABs on my website.

I've also got something like 45 hours of video lesson up at JamPlay.com. If you go to my website and click on the link, you can preview the lessons for one week free. (Ignore the awful free lesson Jamplay posted on YouTube--I was nervous and just rambled on and on without ever playing anything... someone needs a hook!)

http://www.mark-o.com

However you decide to proceed, I wish you much happiness in your musical journey.
 
molokinirum said:
Aloha and mahalo again!!!

Just got the book in and can't stop playing!!!! Love how it sounds, but I am taking it slow!! The DVD will be my next step!!!
You are right....it is a BLAST!!!! :D

Mahalo and aloha!!!
Click to expand...


WOW!!! You got the book/cd set super fast!!! :cheers: I'm glad you're having a BLAST!!! Yeah ... you gotta get the dvd! It's a little pricey, but well worth the $$$. It will really help out tremendously. Take it slow as Uncle Ozzie says, making sure to play clean. The more you practice, you will eventually be able to play up to speed. Keep me posted on your progress!
 
Mark-o said:
Welcome to the wonderful world of slack key guitar. There is truly no more soulful music on the planet.

The best way to learn is from sitting down with someone who plays. There are very active slack key groups in both Southern & Northern California.

Ozzie's book is the best. Even better, find a way to get to Hawaii and study with him; he's a gifted teacher.

If you really want some great, in depth study, check out Peter Medeiros' epic "Hawaiian Slack Key: A Lifetime of Study." http://www.slackkeybypetermed.com/Home.html

Blowing my own horn for a moment (and who isn't surprised at that? :cool:) I've got a couple things you might be interested in. Besides the book I did with KB, I've got a CD and TAB book called "Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" and a pile of individual TABs on my website.

I've also got something like 45 hours of video lesson up at JamPlay.com. If you go to my website and click on the link, you can preview the lessons for one week free. (Ignore the awful free lesson Jamplay posted on YouTube--I was nervous and just rambled on and on without ever playing anything... someone needs a hook!)

http://www.mark-o.com

However you decide to proceed, I wish you much happiness in your musical journey.
Click to expand...
Aloha Mark,
If anyone should be allowed to blow their own horn it would be you! You have done so much to teach and spred the aloha of Ki ho'alu for both guitar and ukulele.
I'll have to check out Ozzie's book and cd too.
 
kenikas said:
Aloha Mark,
If anyone should be allowed to blow their own horn it would be you! You have done so much to teach and spred the aloha of Ki ho'alu for both guitar and ukulele.
I'll have to check out Ozzie's book and cd too.
Click to expand...

Awww, shucks... 'tewern't nuthin'. :p

Thanks for the kind words. Good luck with your musical journey.
 
Mark-o said:
Welcome to the wonderful world of slack key guitar. There is truly no more soulful music on the planet.

The best way to learn is from sitting down with someone who plays. There are very active slack key groups in both Southern & Northern California.

Ozzie's book is the best. Even better, find a way to get to Hawaii and study with him; he's a gifted teacher.

If you really want some great, in depth study, check out Peter Medeiros' epic "Hawaiian Slack Key: A Lifetime of Study." http://www.slackkeybypetermed.com/Home.html

Blowing my own horn for a moment (and who isn't surprised at that? :cool:) I've got a couple things you might be interested in. Besides the book I did with KB, I've got a CD and TAB book called "Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar" and a pile of individual TABs on my website.

I've also got something like 45 hours of video lesson up at JamPlay.com. If you go to my website and click on the link, you can preview the lessons for one week free. (Ignore the awful free lesson Jamplay posted on YouTube--I was nervous and just rambled on and on without ever playing anything... someone needs a hook!)

http://www.mark-o.com

However you decide to proceed, I wish you much happiness in your musical journey.
Click to expand...

Mahalo Mark!! The lessons are GREAT!!!! I am going through them and I must say you are an excellent teacher!!!
Anybody interested in learning slack key should check out Mark's lessons!!!
 
Thanks for starting this thread. I signed up for a slack key guitar workshop with Daniel Ho in September and I haven't touched a guitar in almost 40 years. Should be interesting.
 
gyosh said:
Thanks for starting this thread. I signed up for a slack key guitar workshop with Daniel Ho in September and I haven't touched a guitar in almost 40 years. Should be interesting.
Click to expand...

Oh man you are going to have a blast!!! I am using Ozzie's book and Mark's lessons and it is real fun to play (I am not real good but it sounds real good!!) The biggest problemI have is I have been ignoring my ukuleles!!! lol Those lessons with Daniel Ho should be amazing...have fun!!!!
 
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