Main Forums => Artists => Topic started by: Queequeg on April 15, 2025, 07:09:45 PM

Title: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: Queequeg on April 15, 2025, 07:09:45 PM
Instrumental music of the Hawaiian Islands.
Watch for the mongoose running across in the background at 3:56.
https://youtu.be/3k6INzDr0ys?list=RDAnA_a4G6Uw8
Title: Re: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: mike in lytle on April 16, 2025, 01:10:56 AM
Nice easy listening. Thanks.
Is that open G?
Mike
Title: Re: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: Queequeg on April 16, 2025, 06:33:27 AM
Quote from: mike in lytle on April 16, 2025, 01:10:56 AMNice easy listening. Thanks.
Is that open G?
Mike
Open G is correct, Mike.
Here's another slack key performance by Doobie Brothers guitarist Patrick Simmons at NAMM years ago.
Includes an explanation why it is called "Soquel Slat Key Rag" on the album. Soquel is a little town on the northern coast of Monterey Bay California.
(The camera stops shaking just about the time he starts playing, around 50 seconds into it.)
Title: Re: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: unclrob on April 16, 2025, 11:51:22 PM
Been listen to it for years and trying to play had to stop a free years.Theres an old thread on it.Good info.
Title: Re: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: Silence Dogood on April 17, 2025, 09:33:16 AM
I've always been a bit confused about the term "slack key."  Isn't it just a guitar tuned down a bit?  If one tunes down a whole step, for example, isn't that technically slack key?
Title: Re: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: Queequeg on April 17, 2025, 10:23:24 AM
Quote from: Silence Dogood on April 17, 2025, 09:33:16 AMI've always been a bit confused about the term "slack key."  Isn't it just a guitar tuned down a bit?  If one tunes down a whole step, for example, isn't that technically slack key?

I only know the term to be used when referring to the Hawaiian slack key style of altered and open tuning, but it does refer to loosening the strings from standard tuning.
The primary difference between a slack key guitar and a standard guitar lies in their tuning. Slack key guitars are typically tuned to open chords (like G major), as opposed to standard EADGBE tuning. This alteration in tuning allows for a distinctive, chord-based playing style where alternating bass, rhythm, and melody are played simultaneously.

The most common slack-key tuning, called "taro patch," is open G tuning. Starting from the standard EADGBE, the high and low E strings are lowered or "slacked" to D and the fifth string from A down to G, so the notes become DGDGBD.
Title: Re: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: Silence Dogood on April 17, 2025, 10:40:15 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 17, 2025, 10:23:24 AMI only know the term to be used when referring to the Hawaiian slack key style of altered and open tuning, but it does refer to loosening the strings from standard tuning.
The primary difference between a slack key guitar and a standard guitar lies in their tuning. Slack key guitars are typically tuned to open chords (like G major), as opposed to standard EADGBE tuning. This alteration in tuning allows for a distinctive, chord-based playing style where alternating bass, rhythm, and melody are played simultaneously.

The most common slack-key tuning, called "taro patch," is open G tuning. Starting from the standard EADGBE, the high and low E strings are lowered or "slacked" to D and the fifth string from A down to G, so the notes become DGDGBD.
Very cool.  I might try this. Thanks.
Title: Re: Slack Key, anyone?
Post by: jweave69 on April 17, 2025, 01:34:32 PM
Subscribed... :smile: