Lesson

Alice N?makelua was a gifted Hawaiian composer, kumu hula, Hawaiian language teacher, lei-maker, and slack key guitarist.  She composed well over 100 songs and was a mentor to many young students of Hawaiian slack key and Hawaiian language from the 1940s through the cultural Rennaisance in Hawai’i in the 1970s.

This song was used by Auntie Alice as accompaniment for many songs included Noho Paipai and Ka Manu.  She released a few recordings that are essential listening.  This song progression was used often in early slack key songs and continues to be played today with hundreds of variations including the songs Punahele by Ray Kane and the Whee Ha Swing by Sonny Chillingworth.

The song introduces the G Wahine tuning:  DGDF#BD

The thirds string is lowered a half step from G to F# from the Taro Patch Tuning

Sheet Music:

Auntie Alice Namakelua Slack Key

In this lesson we will strum away and play accompaniment to the paniolo song by John Pi’ilani Watkins Ulupalakua inspired by a visit to Upcountry Maui.  We will play many variations on this song in later lessons.  Starting to know a song by learning its chord progression is great way to build a foundation for accompaniment and solo playing.

Here is the progression in the key of G:

G  | G7   | C   | G   | E7   | A7   | D7   | G   | A7 D7 | G   |

Tuning: DGDGBD

 

Here is an introduction to a very common chord progression in Hawaiian music.  We will explore this more in later segments playing the melody and improvising over the song.  This is a great chord progression to memorize:

G   | G7   | C   | G   | D7   | D7   | D7   | G   | D7   | G   |

This is also a great song to work on your alternate bass patterns to keep a even and laid back tempo.

Tuning: DGDGBD

This lesson covers triad shapes on the top three strings in the Open G Taro Patch tuning for G, C, and D chords.  These chords are commonly used in the tuning and are easy to play on the top strings.  This leaves the lower three strings open for bass notes to create a full sound while having access to the entire guitar neck.

Tuning: DGDGBD

The Open C Tuning is from low string to high:

CGEGCE

Here is an audio reference of the tuning:

 

 

The C Mauna Loa Tuning is from low string to high:

CGEGAE

Here is an audio reference of the tuning:

 

The C Wahine Tuning is from low string to high:

CGDGBE

Here is an audio reference of the tuning:

The Drop C Tuning is from low string to high:

CGDGBD

Here is an audio reference of the tuning: