Whether I am sitting on a gorgeous white sand beach at home on or visiting Los Angeles, New York or India, the sweet, melodious sounds of smooth Hawaiian voices, guitars and ukuleles fills me with joy. Instantly I feel happy, relaxed and connected through time with ancient Hawaiian traditions.
Legendary guitar player Hal Kinnaman felt the same way when he first heard Hawaiian slack key guitar being played on a California beach. “I had just gotten out of the water after surfing and a Hawaiian man started playing it. I didn’t know what it was but I just loved it.”
Already an accomplished player and teacher of classical guitar, Kinnaman knew he had to learn how to play this intricate and soothing music of the islands in which one guitar sounds like many, with the thumb playing the bass line and the rest of the fingers playing the melody.
Slack Key Guitar: The G Kilauea Tuning
Kinnaman learned some techniques from the Hawaiian man whom he met on the beach that day and with whom he became friends, also teaching himself until he was skilled enough to share the art with students.
“Slack key doesn’t have to be intricate when you first start. It has to be puuwai, from your heart, tell a story, ” Kinnaman says. “When my students do these things, it comes out beautifully.
“I love teaching for the joy of sharing and seeing people play when they didn’t think they could do it. I had one student who was so shy, she couldn’t even look up at me when she first started her lessons, ” Kinnaman says. “Now she comes in and says, ‘Hi, ’ sings and plays slack key.
E Book) (guitar) A Short Hystory Of Hawaian Slack Key Guitar
“I play a lot of different musical styles and I always go to slack key to unwind. It makes you pono (right) in your life. It evens out the stress and helps you get back in balance, ” Kinnaman says. “You’ve got to have music. And it’s got to be shared.”
For more stories, visit www.stories.net for the book “ Stories: Life on the Garden Island told by ’s People.” To watch Hal Kinnaman play Flamenco on ukulele, click the Voices page.When Hal Kinnaman first heard slack-key guitar music being played on a California beach 50 years ago, he fell in love with it, and learned to play it so well that he became a slack-key master, and also became one of Hawai‘i’s premier slack-key instructors, helping keep this intrinsically Hawaiian musical art alive.
“Hal had the kindest heart ever, and was ridiculously talented, ” said his girlfriend, Mary Moss, who was with Hal as he passed peacefully in his home.
Makana, Master Of The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Comes To The Neptune
“I told Hal his music will continue to be heard, ” Togioka said. “I said, ‘Every time I play, it’s like you’re playing, because you taught me.’”
Other former students flew immediately from the East Coast to Kaua‘i to spend time with their beloved teacher and play music for him before he passed.
After Hal met guitarist Ray Patterson on a beach in California, Ray began teaching him the foundation of ki hoalu: playing the bass line of a song with one’s thumb, while playing the melody with the rest of one’s fingers, making one guitar sound like two or three. Hal was so grateful, he dedicated his 2000 CD “Revery” to Ray.
Learn To Play Slack Key Ukulele Arrangement Of 'koke'e'
Eventually, Hal began coming to Hawai‘i to learn more slack key and to surf. Hal had several teachers, one of whom was Kaua‘i’s own Raymond Kane, of whom he spoke often and with deep gratitude.
After becoming a slack-key master, Hal realized he had the skills to help others learn the art. He shared his knowledge at colleges on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, and created multiple instructional books, cassettes and CDs, teaching slack key in simple steps.
“Slack key doesn’t have to be intricate when you first start, ” Hal said in an interview in 2010. “It has to be nahenahe: sweet, gentle, flowing. It has to be pu‘uwai, from your heart.
Week #3 Ekk April 4 Wrap
“To students, all these things seem ridiculously hard at first. Then, all of a sudden, they’re inherently in their system, ” he said.
He was one of the early performers who shared the art of slack key beyond Hawai‘i, including in Fiji. A photo in his home showed him surrounded by Fijian children, their eyes looking at him and his guitar, entranced by the music.
“It felt so good to get that recognition even though I wasn’t Hawaiian, ” he said. “It was one of the highlights of my life.”
Any Slack Key Connections On Kauai?
Over the years, Hal transitioned from guitar to ukulele, learning to retune the small instrument to play Bach, Spanish classical music and even flamenco.
“I love teaching for the joy of sharing, ” Hal said. “I love seeing people who thought they couldn’t play realize they can do it.”
Our Privacy Policy has been updated. By continuing to use our site, you are acknowledging and agreeing to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Service. I AgreeI'm going to take a guitar over for my one week on Kauai in September and would love to connect with someone for a couple of slack key lessons while I'm there. I can't find any action on any slack key focused forum, so thought someone here might have a connection.
Slack Key Package
Hopefully, Fran Guidry, a forum member here and fabulous slack key player, will chime. Though not in Kauai, he is very connected to the Hawaiian slack key community.
Yoiu might ask Bob or Karen Cox over there if you can find them. The're into all kinds of acoustic music, but main strength is bluegrass, on Kauai. Bob on banjo:
When I think of Hawaii and Slack Key guitar, I think of Jeff Peterson. I don't think he gives lessons personally, but I could be wrong. His website is jeffpetersonguitar.com. You may be able to inquire and find a resource through their contact page.
My Adventures In Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Here is one of my favorite acoustic video's on one of my favorite sounding acoustic guitars. Thanks for reminding me of it...
We're gonna take a break from all this sweat & steam & uproar & tumult and we're gonna break out our acoustic guitars and regale you with some wooden music.
Yeah, he is terrific...I was in a class he taught at a music camp once. He is one hell of a nice guy in addition to being probably the currently reigning king of slack key.
Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Check out Doug and Sandy McMaster. They play all over the island in Koloa, Poipu, and weekly at the Hanelei Community Center. Their website is no longer active so I am not certain they are still so active but the link below has their email and phone number. Maybe Doug can give some lessons. Sandy gives a nice history and Doug is a great player. They are super nice so just touch base with them and see where they are the week you are there. Have fun on my favorite place on Earth.
Last I heard Doug had some health issues, potentially serious. I hope they are OK, but now that you mention it I have not received an email from them in a while. They always put on a wonderful show at the Hanalei Community Center and we've gone every time when visiting Kauai. Their show was always my go-to recommendation for the slack-key curious. I have most of their CD's and many wonderful memories. Doug offered to let me try his Goodall baritone last time, but I was (then) unfamiliar with F Wahine tuning.
This is random, but my folks used to vacation on Kaua'i twice a year. My dad (a talented fiddle player) jammed every evening with a group of slack-key/ukulele buskers in the Safeway strip mall in Kapaa. This was years ago, but maybe the tradition has been carried forward.
Kauai Music Touches The Heart
The anecdote here is that my mom thought Pop should've refused to accept his share of the tips that landed in an open guitar case. She was concerned that he might seem like a rich haole who didn't need it. I have to side with my dad in thinking it would've been insulting to his pals (who all had day-jobs) to pass.
Check the online addition of This Week in Kauai. The little travel guide you'll see at the airport and in hotel lobbies. It will tell you who's playing where on the island. From there you can find their websites and make contact. Hope this helps good luck and Aloha.Experience the sounds of Aloha at the intimate Slack Key Guitar Concert Every Saturday in Princeville! Doug and Sandy McMaster have produced 10 cds perpetuating the knowledge and experience of the endangered artform of traditional Hawaiian slack key guitar and ukulele. Enjoy the magic soothing ambience of this fingerstyle, instrumental musical artform created by Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys) in the late 1700’s. Hear slack key music in the real old style while learning about its history, legendary players, and the history, culture, and natural resources of old Hawaii.
Weekly concerts are at the Princeville Community Center, 4334 Emmalani Drive, by the Prince Albert Park at the entrance to Princeville. Concert starts at 6:00 PM. Tickets are $25 (Ages 20
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