The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, or Kī Hō'alu, is an art form with indigenous Hawaiian origins that dates back more than 150 years. It began when Mexican cowboys gave the guitar to their Hawaiian counterparts, who then adapted it and made it evolve. The Slack key is a style of guitar playing that you choose with your fingers. Some musicians, such as Leddy Kaapana, use just two fingers, while others, such as Keola Beamer, use the four fingers of their hand of choice.
Most play with just their fingers, but Sean Robbins likes to use finger picks. According to Robbins, one thing that hasn't happened yet is someone touching the loose key Hawaiian guitar with a flat pick. Without this, the art of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar is a rare form; among the traditional Hawaiian arts, it is one of the least known and practiced. Old Time Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar is a set of books and CDs that includes challenging transcriptions of 24 classic and original Slack key pieces. During the 1960s and 1970s, at the height of the Hawaiian Renaissance, when Hawaiians regained their cultural identity after the imperial colonization of their homeland, many recordings were recorded in a discreet key.
Slack Key continued to be a private and family entertainment, and was not recorded until 1946 and 1947, when Gabby Pahinui recorded a series of albums that introduced the tradition to the public. Slack's key compositions show characteristics of indigenous Hawaiian and imported musical traditions. Influential teachers Raymond Kane and Sonny Chillingworth, who worked hard to teach and transmit the art of Hawaiian Slack Key to the next generation, were very strict about it. It's interesting to note that “alu” also derives the kaona (hidden meaning) from “combined” or “acting together”, which means an aspect that is crucial to defining Slack Key. As an expert in this field, I had the immense fortune to learn from some of the leading players in the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar. This began to change when the generation of players who currently consider themselves “living legends” realized that if they didn't start sharing with people, Slack Key would disappear.
They have a deep respect for their teachers and for all the wonderful musicians who have gone before them, without whom the Slack Key would not exist today, and the desire to share their love for this art form with everyone. Are there any special techniques for playing a hawaiian slack key guitar with electronic instruments? The answer is yes! Some players use just two fingers while others use four fingers. Sean Robbins likes to use finger picks. However, no one has yet touched the slack key with a flat pick. This could be an interesting technique to explore!The art of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar is an ancient tradition that has been passed down through generations.
It is an incredibly unique style of guitar playing that requires skill and dedication to master. With its roots in indigenous Hawaiian culture and its influence from imported musical traditions, it is an art form worth exploring for any musician looking for something new and exciting.
