What makes Hawaiian slack key solo guitar unique is playing bass, rhythm and lead. My grandfather and other Native Hawaiians combined three guitars into one and slackened the strings to open tunings to match their voices playing bass, rhythm and lead all on one guitar.

My great grandfather was one of the few who ended up with the Spanish guitars. In 1832 their contract ended and they left behind a few guitars and they left the islands. They brought the guitarro or four string bass, a six string cat gut for playing rhythm, and a four string tenor guitar for playing lead. They brought three different guitars with them. George: Slack key guitar came to Hawaii in 1830 via the Spanish speaking vaquero who came to help manage the wild herds of cattle by day on the big island of Hawaii, where I was born and raised.Īt night the vaquero shared their music. How would you describe slack key guitar to a novice? Read our Q&A with slack key guitar master Jeff Peterson. See the Masters of Hawaiian Music: George Kahumoku Jr, Led Kaapana and Jeff Peterson on Saturday, February 20 in Daniels Hall.

George caught up with us via email to discuss the history of the slack key guitar tradition and how it continues to influence new music. is the driving force behind the celebrated Slack Key Show and its touring counterpart The Masters of Hawaiian Music. Known as the “Hawaiian Renaissance Man,” slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr.