Easy Hawaiian

[John Harmon]

I am trying to learn, and will if living long enough, Doug's Aloha Oe. After all a steel of any sort has to include a few songs of the Islands, right. Any suggestions of a very easy to learn song? Would rather listen to one than have the tabs, I seem to learn easier and do it my way I guess. Anyway thanks in advance, John

[David Matzenik]

"Ua Like No A Like" is probably the easiest Hawaiian tune for steel guitar that I know. Here's a simple rendition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-RL2ImfJmI&t=27s

It's also a good place to start to understand Hawaiian pronunciation. Its "oo ah leekay no ah leekay" The reason is the Hawaiians did not have a written language, so in writing it, the missionaries, quite wisely, chose Latin vowels as a basis.

A E O I U = Ah Ay Oh Ee Ooo.

[Levi Gemmell]

I guess it depends what you're going for, but I'd look at King's Serenade ('Imi Au Ia 'Oe), Green Rose Hula, things like that. I can't overstate how much there is to be learned from the very simplest Hawaiian melodies, if you really focus on the steel guitar techniques which emphasise the "Hawaiian-ness".

Nice and slow, really easy, but there is so much mileage to be had from working on vibrato, hammer-ons, harmonics, and phrasing with these.

[John Harmon]

Thanks Levi and David, I agree working on the "Hawaiianess" of it will take a lot. Will try to learn one or all of these. John

[Doug Beaumier]

I have free tab and audio of "Akaka Falls" on my blog that you may like:

---> http://playsteelguitar.com/akaka-falls- ... el-guitar/

[Tom Snook]

As far as Hawaiian-Ness goes I think that it's so important to know when to slide up to notes.That one fret slide at just the right time. Listen to Jules or any of the Masters, Barney, David Keli'i, Feets Rogers,Gabby.To me that's the Hawaiian-Ness
Aloha

[John Harmon]

Thanks Doug, very kind of you. Tom I really should listen more first, Bobby Ingano here I come. John

[Tom Snook]

Search YouTube for Benjamin Rogers,there's a couple Hawaiian albums he did of instrumentals,and some with vocals by Genoa Keawe really good stuff!
Aloha

[Jim Fogarty]

I 2nd Doug's "Akaka Falls". It's not too hard, but very sweet.

"Harbor Lights" isn't very difficult either.

[Nic Neufeld]

The easiest songs to learn are sometimes the ones you love. So for me, one of the first songs I learned (after Aloha 'Oe of course) was Sand by Andy Iona. It had my brain "captured", and so I learned it on uke and steel pretty quickly, even though it required the weird B11 tuning. Not that I would recommend it as a beginner tune necessarily, the point being, if there is a particular Hawaiian song that sticks in your head...that is often a great choice (I mean, as long as it isn't Hilo March or something more difficult!).

Na Lei 'o Hawai'i is a good one too.

[Joe Burke]

[Na Lei 'o Hawai'i]

Hey Nic - Do you have a favourite version or 2? I just listened to Lena Machado's version. It's great!

https://youtu.be/vymAv2EGO00?si=NCpNbMtjKfa5jk_x
[/quote]

[Nic Neufeld]

[Na Lei 'o Hawai'i]
Hey Nic - Do you have a favourite version or 2?

For me it'd probably be Alfred Apaka (backed up by Jules). [glances left at avatar] I guess I am nothing, if not predictable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHqucFMBNoc

[Joe Burke]

For me it'd probably be Alfred Apaka (backed up by Jules). [glances left at avatar] I guess I am nothing, if not predictable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHqucFMBNoc

Thanks - love it!

[David Matzenik]

Too much Alfred, not enough Jules. And I am not "down" with the liberties taken with the lyrics.

I base my version on these three renditions.

Joe Custino? Kodak Hula Show track 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezwOO6vnmAU

Hal Aloma Hawaiian Holiday track 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNYzfPfq-mA

Danny Stewart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfF_AwCVyUc