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Intermediate Slack Key Guitar Lessons
Aloha and welcome to our Intermediate Level Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Lessons. This level of instruction consists of "repertoire pieces" or a selection of guitar pieces that are listed by their level of difficulty. Each musical selection is bundled with:
- Keola Beamer's recording of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Tuning (mp3 format)
- Keola Beamer's solo Recording of the piece (mp3 format)
- The Tablature & Music you'll need to play it (PDF format)
- Keola Beamer's Study Notes that clearly explain specific guitar techniques and Hawaiian insights into the music. (PDF format)
Keola has chosen these pieces from his Aloha Music Camp workshops on Moloka'i. They are some of his student's favorites. Each solo guitar piece has specific techniques and ideas that will enhance and improve your playing. You'll discover a world of different musical flavors that will add variety to your music.
We recommend that you start by selecting an individual piece and listening to the mp3 file of Keola performing it. Remember, the easiest pieces are listed first. If you think you'd enjoy learning how to play that particular piece, then click on the order link to submit your order. We will send you your username and password to access and download our copyrighted files. From your computer, you may then view, print and study the materials.
Since we've already shared these pieces with our very best students, we're sure you will enjoy them. Keola writes specifically to help and encourage his haumana (students), because he remembers how difficult it was for him to learn when he was a young man.
We ask that you keep your thoughts open to the Hawaiian cultural context of the music, and play with aloha in your heart. Keeping these two thoughts in mind will bring some wonderful new experiences into your musical life.
Plus... its really good fun.
The Lessons
This is a Solo Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Piece composed by Keola Beamer depicting the early morning on the Island Of Kaua'i.
Level: Intermediate
Tempo: Moderate / Slightly Fast
Guitar Techniques Illustrated: Mana'o (Phrasing), Ho'okaulike (Balance)
Tuning: F Wahine or Leonard's F
Length: 1:20
30 Bars / 2 pages
Listen Now! Mele Kakahiaka - Morning Song
Cost $5.95
If you have already ordered this lesson and received your download codes, you can click on the links below to download the instructional files.
This is a Solo Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Piece composed by Keola Beamer depicting the sweet darkness off the Island of Maui.
Level: Intermediate
Tempo: Moderate
Guitar Techniques Illustrated: Artificial Harmonics, Normal Harmonics and Hinge Bars
Tuning: F Wahine or Leonard's F
Length: 3:09
42 Bars, 3 pages
Listen Now! No Ka Po -
For The Night
Cost $5.95
If you have already ordered this lesson and received your download codes, you can click on the links below to download the instructional files.
Hula Na La'au - The Dancing Trees
This is a Solo Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Piece composed by Keola Beamer depicting the movement of coconut trees in the flowing tradewinds.
Level: Intermediate
Tempo - Moderate
Guitar Techniques Illustrated: Slurs, Artificial Harmonics, Hinge Bars.
Tuning: C Wahine or Keola's C
Length: 2:13
52 Bars / 4 pages
Listen Now! Hula Na La'au - The Dancing Trees
Cost $5.95
If you have already ordered this lesson and received your download codes, you can click on the links below to download the instructional files.
This is a Solo Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Piece composed by Keola Beamer depicting the starlight as seen from the Island of Maui.
Level: Intermediate
Tempo: Moderate
Guitar Techniques Illustrated: Arpeggios, Harmonics and Slides
Tuning: C Wahine or Keola's C
Length: 3:24
51 Bars / 4 pages
Listen Now! Ka Leileiona - The Milky Way
Cost $5.95
If you have already ordered this lesson and received your download codes, you can click on the links below to download the instructional files.
Kepania Paniolo - Spanish Cowboy
This is a Solo Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Piece written by Keola Beamer.
It was the Spanish who first introduced the guitar to Hawaii in the 1830's. This piece is meant to honor their influence and their enduring kinship with the Cowboys of old Hawaii.
Level: Intermediate
Tempo: Medium / Slightly Fast
Guitar Techniques Illustrated: Slurs - Pull Off's and slides, occurring simultaneously, Arpeggios, Harmonics.
Tuning: C Wahine or Keola's C
Length: 3:00
50 Bars / 3 Pages
Listen Now! Kepania Paniolo - Spanish Cowboy
Cost $5.95
If you have already ordered this lesson and received your download codes, you can click on the links below to download the instructional files.
This is an "Old Style" Solo Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Piece written by Keola Beamer.
"Puka" means hole in Hawaiian. Did you ever wonder why your favorite pair of shorts always seemed to have a few "pukas" in them? This is happy, warm guitar piece, with an easy, old time feel.
Level: Intermediate
Tempo: Fast
Guitar Techniques Illustrated: Rubato, Slurs -Hammer On's, Pull Off's, Arpeggios, Harmonics.
Tuning: F Wahine or Leonard's F
Length: 2:12
45 Bars / 6 Pages
Listen Now! Puka Pants
Cost $5.95
If you have already ordered this lesson and received your download codes, you can click on the links below to download the instructional files.
Mahalo to Keola Donaghy (our talented webmaster) and John Roberts for doing such a great job on Keola's Music & Tablature pdf's.