Easy Hawaiian
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
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Easy Hawaiian
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
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"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.
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.
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.
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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.
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.
Last edited by Levi Gemmell on 31 Aug 2023 1:59 am, edited 3 times in total.
Commodore S-8
John Allison S-8
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John Allison S-8
JB Frypan S-8
Sho~Bud LDG SD-10
1966 Fender Super Reverb
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- Doug Beaumier
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I have free tab and audio of "Akaka Falls" on my blog that you may like:
---> http://playsteelguitar.com/akaka-falls- ... el-guitar/
---> http://playsteelguitar.com/akaka-falls- ... el-guitar/
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
Aloha
I wanna go back to my little grass shack........
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- Jim Fogarty
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- Nic Neufeld
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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.
Na Lei 'o Hawai'i is a good one too.
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
[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]
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
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For me it'd probably be Alfred Apaka (backed up by Jules). [glances left at avatar] I guess I am nothing, if not predictable!Joe Burke wrote:[Na Lei 'o Hawai'i]
Hey Nic - Do you have a favourite version or 2?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHqucFMBNoc
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
Thanks - love it!Nic Neufeld wrote: 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
- David Matzenik
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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
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
Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother.