Category Archives: Songs

Monsarrat Ave (Kamaka HF-3D)

Songsblue sky guitar, blue sky ukulele, classical ukulele, diamond head, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaiian koa, honolulu hawaii, Honolulu Zoo Fence Art, kaimuki, Kamaka HF-3D, Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor, Kamaka Tenor Ukulele, Kapiolani Bandstand, Kapiolani Community College, Kapiolani Park, Leahi, Monsarrat Avenue, nick borho, peaceful ukulele, relaxing ukulele, solo ukulele, Telefunken M60, Waikiki, Waikiki Shell

Here’s a recent recording of “Monsarrat Avenue.” This original solo ukulele piece pays tribute to the mellow vibes of the area around Monsarrat Avenue, which runs near Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head towards Kapiolani Community College. There are so many little things to love on (or just off) Monsarrat: the Honolulu Zoo and its fence with local artists selling their wares, the wafting of music from the Kapiolani Bandstand or the Waikiki Shell, Kapiolani Park itself with the powerful beauty of Leahi, Diamond Head, in the background; nearby is a lovely little district of restaurants and shops. After that, you pass rows of Kaimuki homes with people riding their bikes on quiet side streets as Monsarrat Avenue meanders and changes name to Diamond Head Road; it then passes by Kapiolani Community College – home of a popular (crowded) weekly Farmer’s Market – and curls around the back side of Diamond Head.

After the Solstice (Early Take)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, guitar harmonics, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open tunings, original fingerstyle, peaceful guitar, playing a melody with harmonics, relaxing guitar, Taylor 912ce, taylor grand concert

After the Solstice and its harmonic laden chorus came to me one day after a winter solstice. It’s a quiet, peaceful time of year where the days are gradually getting longer and your mind turns to the hope of a new cycle. (I think it’s also fine for the already long days of summer too though.) Hope you enjoy.

Glass Ball Slack Key (Kamaka HF-3D)

Songsblue sky guitar, chicken in the straw ukulele, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaii, Kamaka HF-3D, Kamaka Koa Deluxe Tenor, ki ho’alu, nick borho, slack key, slack key ukulele, Telefunken M60

Glass Ball Slack Key is a favorite chestnut (or perhaps kukui nut) of uke players in Hawai’i; it’s a fun little ditty that is sure to please aunty or uncle. I learned this song watching and listening to the great Led Ka’apana over the years. A recorded version can be found on the classic Led Live album. Many other ukulele players have covered the song over the years as well. Hope you enjoy.

Here Comes the Sun – Fingerstyle Beatles Cover (Taylor 412ce)

SongsAbbey Road, acoustic guitar, beatles fingerstyle, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, George Harrison, Here Comes the Sun, honolulu hawaii, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open tunings, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, rosewood taylor guitar, Taylor 412ce, taylor grand concert

One of the classic George Harrison songs from the Abbey Road album, Here Comes the Sun is a bright, happy tune that sounds great on acoustic guitar. This is an alternate take of my fingerstyle arrangement of the song. Hope you enjoy.

4+ Minutes Ukulele Improvisation (Kamaka HF-3 Tenor)

Songsblue sky guitar, blue sky ukulele, fingerstyle ukulele, Hawaiian koa, Kamaka black nylon strings, Kamaka HF-3, Kamaka tenor strings, Kamaka Tenor Ukulele, Neumann TLM 103, nick borho, relaxing ukulele, ukulele improvisation

Here’s some improvisation I recorded one day on a standard Kamaka HF-3 tenor ukulele. The Kamaka tenor is a classic ukulele sound – for strumming of course, but also for single note lines. The strings are the stock Kamaka brand black nylon strings with a wound low G – the Kamaka nylon strings have a soothing, mellow, jazzy tone – but also some nice sparkle and definition. It’s a classic set that wears well. Hope you enjoy.

Keiki Slack Key (412ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, fingerstyle guitar, Fred Kelly, Hawaii, hawaiian guitar, honolulu, keiki slack key, ki ho’alu, love, nahenahe, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open G, open tunings, peace, peaceful guitar, Ray Kane, relaxing guitar, relaxing music, slack key, st louis heights, taro patch, Taylor 412ce-R, taylor grand concert, taylor guitars, thumbpicks, tranquil song

Here is another version of the Ray Kane classic “Keiki Slack Key” I recorded on my Taylor 412ce-R steel string guitar. Keiki Slack Key (not to be confused with the Sonny Chillingworth song of the same name) is one of the first slack key songs I transcribed, and has stayed on my setlists ever since. To me, Ray Kane is probably the best example of an ‘old style’ slack key player, and his tracks are always nahenahe. Hope you enjoy.

Warm & Cozy (Original Fingerstyle, 312ce)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, Elixir HD Light, fingerstyle guitar, Neumann TLM 103, nick borho, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, sapele tone, Taylor 312ce, warm n cozy

Today’s song is “Warm and Cozy,” a fingerstyle improvisation I filmed while trying a new recording set up one day. Hope you enjoy.

Meditation on Which Will (Nick Drake Guitar Part)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, double drop d tuning, Elixir HD Light, fingerstyle guitar, Neumann TLM 103, nick borho, Nick Drake, Nick Drake cover, peaceful guitar, Pink Moon, relaxing guitar, Taylor 312ce, taylor grand concert, which will

Nick Drake’s guitar parts (and music in general) seem to live in their own magical realm that we can tap into whenever listening to an album like Pink Moon. I was trying a new recording set up one day and decided to see how it would sound playing my version of the guitar part from “Which Will,” which is not really meant as a note-for-note copy of the original guitar part. Rather, I wanted to do a sort of meditation on the part and just enjoy the mellow vibes that Drake’s music always impart to me. Hope you enjoy.

Ki Ho’alu (Gabby Pahinui Slack Key Cover, Taylor Nylon Guitar)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, dennis kamakahi, Gabby Pahinui, Hawaii, kailua kona, ki ho’alu, mauna loa tuning, Neumann TLM 102, nick borho, open tunings, Ozzie Kotani, peaceful guitar, Pure Gabby, relaxing guitar, slack key, taylor 414ce-NR, taylor classical guitar, taylor nylon

Here’s an alternate version of my take on Gabby Pahinui’s classic instrumental simply and appropriately titled “Ki Ho’alu,” which of course is the Hawaiian term for “slack key.” I probably first heard this song on the stellar “Pure Gabby” album, although it has appeared on other compilations and been covered by numerous slack key artists, including Ozzie Kotani’s excellent version. My version is inspired by Gabby, Ozzie, and also Dennis Kamakahi who was prolific in the Mauna Loa tuning.

Crossing the Field (Original Fingerstyle)

Songsacoustic guitar, blue sky guitar, Crossing the Field, Elixir Polyweb, fingerstyle guitar, Hawaii, Holualoa, kona coffee, ksm141, nick borho, peaceful guitar, relaxing guitar, shure, Shure KSM141, taylor 310ce, Taylor Dreadnaught

Here’s another take of “Crossing the Field,” a song from my “Awake Again” album. “Crossing the Field” was recorded as part of a pair of songs (along with its companion song, “Moment in the Sun”) to set the stage for the second half of the album. Following the dramatic strumming of “Make” that closed the first half of the album, “Moment” & “Field” framed the mellower vibe of the album’s remaining songs. Hope you enjoy.

Nick Borho

Slack Key & Fingerstyle Guitar