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Kihoalu.org Features - Articles, Interviews, and More
Kihoalu.org - Feature Article:
Slack Key TuningsThe term "Slack Key" refers to loosening the tuning pegs -or keys- for an alternate guitar tuning, usually an open tuning, and as the namesake implies is integral to the style. Much ado has been made about classifying the myriad slack key tunings, but if you ask Slack Key masters how many tunings one should know, you'll get the same answer countless times: "it's not about how many tunings you know..."
There are people who claim to know 40 tunings, etc., but most players focus their repertoire (especially live) around no more than 4-5 tunings using others sporadically for a little spice. Along these lines, it has also been said that knowing how to play the same song in several tunings is more impressive than playing several different songs in those tunings.
When it comes to your style, the most emphasis should be put on feel and repertoire, then technique, maybe your vocals... the number of tunings you know is relatively unimportant.
Of course you want to learn a few, but where do you start? While there are close to a hundred known tunings, only a relative few are in common use. Taro Patch is by far the most common tuning, with close cousins like G Wahine (Punahele Tuning) and Drop C also in common use. A little less common but still frequent enough to appear on the radar are Mauna Loa and "C" tunings, Open D and its variants, and finally - yes - standard tuning and some of its variants.
Taro Patch (Open G) D-G-D-G-B-E - is by far the most common slack key tuning in use today. Ninety percent of slack key songs are done in this tuning, or a close variant of it. As pointed out in the history page, the tuning is only a part of the equation. Open G is used in lots of other styles, including Delta Blues and Folk music; the addition of certain turnarounds, techniques, and -most importantly- feel is needed to play Ki Ho'alu.
Yet, just tuning up to Taro Patch is a good first step. To get there from standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E), lower your 6th and 1st strings to D to match your 4th; then lower your 5th to G to match your 3rd. Bingo - you're there.
Two variants on Taro Patch are also very popular among Slack Key musicians: G Wahine and Drop C.
G Wahine (Punahele Tuning, Namakelua's Tuning, Double Slack) D-G-D-F#-B-D - is reached from Taro Patch by lowering the 3rd string a half step. "Wahine" (Woman) refers to tunings with a Major 7th note. Much of the action in songs played in this tuning involves hammering on from the Maj. 7th on the open third string to the root on the first fret (Ray Kane's Punahele, for example).
Drop C (Leonard's C, C Wahine) C-G-D-G-B-D - is reached from Taro Patch by lowering the bass string a whole step to C. Drop C is handy for playing along in the keys of C and F (very common keys in Hawaiian music, especially with uke) while using shapes from taro patch.
Other less common variants of Taro Patch include G6th tunings (both Maori Brown Eyes and Half Taro Patch Versions), and "Keola's" C Wahine (C-G-D-G-B-E).
Mauna Loa: After the Taro Patch "Family" of tunings, the Mauna Loa is the second most popular group of slack key tunings. C Mauna Loa (C-G-E-G-A-E) is often tuned down to Bb and used most frequently of the group. Sometimes, this is also referred to as "Gabby's C," not to be confused with Gabby's C - Hi'ilawe (C-G-E-G-B-E), another variant. Finally, Atta's C (C-G-E-G-C-E) is also closely related.
Open D Tuning D-A-D-F#-A-D and some of its variations are also used in slack key. Variants on Open D include D Maj. 7 (D-A-D-F#-A-C#) and the D6/9th (D-A-D-F#-B-E) tuning sometimes used by Cyril Pahinui.
Standard Tuning E-A-D-G-B-E - is actually used a lot by Slack Key guitar players. Many musicians in Hawaiian bands play in standard because it's easy to get to any key in a hurry - a valuable asset during a gig. Yet as Led Ka'apana often points out, you can play slack key in Standard as well, if you "jus' press" the right notes. Popular variants include Drop D (D-A-D-G-B-E), and tunings equally close to the Taro Patch family such as G6 - Half Taro Patch (D-G-D-G-B-E) and C Wahine (Keola's C) C-G-D-G-B-E.
Start off with just 1-2 tunings and work your way into the repertoire slowly. Remember it's about feel first. - October '07
Slack Key Guitar Tunings Taro Patch (Open G, sometimes tuned down to F) D-G-D-G-B-D G Wahine (Punahele, Double Slack, Namakelua's)
D-G-D-F#-B-D Drop C (C Wahine, Leonard's C)
C-G-D-G-B-D G6th (Maori Brown Eyes)
D-G-D-E-B-D D-G-D-G-B-E C Wahine (Keola's C)
C-G-D-G-B-E C Mauna Loa (often tuned down to Bb)
C-G-E-G-A-E C-G-E-G-B-E Atta's C
C-G-E-G-C-E Open D Tuning (Sometimes lowered to Open C) D-A-D-F#-A-D D-A-D-F#-A-C# D-A-D-F#-B-E Standard Tuning E-A-D-G-B-E D-A-D-G-B-E (see above)