You can order a personally autographed copy of this book and CD set directly from Keola!

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (Ki Ho'alu) is one of the world's great acoustic guitar traditions. This tradition includes virtuoso guitar pieces, but the majority of songs played slack key are the classic Hawaiian melodies either played as instrumentals or accomaniment to vocals with instrumental breaks between verses. Slack key does not mean a type of guitar - rather, it is any guitar played slack key style.

The slack key tradition is one of the roots of mainland American Country music, since the pedal steel guitar came from the lap steel, which came from the acoustic steel, which came from the slack key guitar. The slack key guitar and the classic Hawaiian music tradition can have the emotional depth of the blues, but has more emphasis on melody.

Keola Beamer and Mark Nelson have put together this wonderful instruction book. Based on arrangements by Keola and Mark, it is another great means for preserving this most beautiful tradition. Keola Beamer put out the first ever instruction book on slack key in 1973, recently he released an instruction video on Homespun. He has been performing, teaching, and recording since the early 70's. and is one of the greatest and most influential slack key guitarists in history. Mark Nelson has been involved in recording and teaching in various traditions, including old time Appalachian music, Irish music, and Hawaiian slack key for many years. It is great that they and Mel Bay Publications have worked together in putting out this beautiful instruction manual.

Aloha,
George "Keoki" Winston

Aloha from Keola and Mark

Tiare Tahiti duet