Fernando Perez lesson - How to Sound Hawaiian

[David Matzenik]

Brozman knew a lot about steel guitar, but not much about history.

The oft-repeated statement that Mexican cowboys introduced the guitar to Hawaii in 1830, is made without much reflection on maritime history. No doubt some of the mexicans had guitars, but the ports of Lahaina and Honolulu had been busy with shipping during the previous 30 years, and the foç's'le of sailing ships in those days, usually had musical instruments of some kind. Consequently, it is unlikely that Hawaiians were unaware of the guitar before 1830.

As to the statement that the Mexicans introduced falsetto or yodelling because of the Austrian Maximillian's brief adventure in Mexico, is another cliched unhistorical claim. Maximillian did not represent an Austrian or German presence. He was installed by the French Emperor Napoleon III, using French troops for 3 years, while the USA was distracted with its Civil War. Benito Juarez had him put against a wall and shot before he got a chance to teach yodelling.

[Hideki Hattori]

Alan Akaka describes P’Tah in this video past around 18:00.
https://youtu.be/TXkBKri9W_U

[Andy Volk]

Very surprised to see Alan uses a straight bar instead of a tilted bar position. Interesting!

[David M Brown]

I should rephrase to say I like it all - acoustic, electric - all eras as long as I'm listening to a player who plays well and a song a like.

Indeed - the acoustic music was wonderful, just not the only good steel playing.

[Einar Baldursson]

Alan Akaka describes P’Tah in this video past around 18:00.
https://youtu.be/TXkBKri9W_U

I mean no disrespect to mr Akaka of course but I was always under the impression that the P’Tah created the illusion of an unbroken melody line while switching strings and that the only blocking occurred in the left hand with a perfectly timed tilt, no right hand palm blocking involved.

[Bill Creller]

Listening to Jerry play Beautiful Kahana, really gets to me ! Been listening to him since the Renfro Valley days, in the early 40s, when I was a kid...